It can be rather overwhelming to prepare for your first year of college. You know about what you need to bring for your dorm, but what about classes? Aside from the textbooks required, it’s important to come up with a list of items you’re going to need. That’s where we come in. Instead of aimlessly wandering around office supply stores feeling lost, here is a comprehensive list of items you’ll need to buy for your school year. We’ve got everything covered. Before we get into it, however, you need to take a moment and figure out how you’re going to take notes this upcoming year. Will you be doing so on your laptop or go the old-fashioned route with notebooks? Of course, there is a reason people still use notebooks despite the fact that they’re seemingly outdated. The act of writing will help you remember the information taught in class. So, choose which method works best for you! Now that you have that figured out, let’s get into what items you’re going to need this year:
Daily Planner
Keeping organized is key when you want to do well in your classes. Getting yourself a daily planner is absolutely essential since it’ll allow you to write down everything you’ll need to remember, from assignments to obligations and other reminders. Having a planner will help you stay on top of things and keep you from getting overwhelmed or forgetting crucial things.
Pens and Pencils
This might seem rather obvious, but you should get yourself some good pens and pencils (and erasers, for that matter). Even if you take notes on your laptop, you’ll be needed a pen on-hand for all kinds of things, like signing documents or taking tests.
Highlighters
If you’re someone taking notes by hand, you’ll want to get yourself a good set of highlighters. Aside from making your notes a little more attractive, they will be a crucial part of studying down the line. You’ll need them to mark anything important you want to remember most.
Wall Calendar
Another item you need to have is a wall calendar for your dorm room. Similar to a daily planner, this is to keep on top of everything going on at all times. This is where you’ll keep track of all those extra events like parties or exams.
External Hard Drive
For all those who do take notes on their laptops, this is crucial. Get yourself an external hard drive and back up all your work to it on a regular basis. Not to mention, even if you don’t use your laptop for note-taking, you’ll want this to back up all your pictures, music, and everything else on your computer. No one wants to lose all their information.
Portable Charger
It goes without saying that the last thing you need while having a busy day is your phone dying. Keep a portable charger with you to avoid this disaster. Obviously, you’ll be able to charge your phone while in class.
Sticky Notes
A fun and colorful way to mark different things in your books without ruining them is by using sticky notes. Aside from not costing much, they’re a great tool for memorization and studying. Stock up on them at the beginning of the year to make things easier for yourself down the line.