Adult college students....

[luvmyfam444]

As far as what I use in class is just a plastic folder (it lasts for a long while) & a 3 or 5 subject notebook. I bought one that was also plastic on the outside & loved it (sad when I filled it up!) The pockets in the notebooks aren't always big enough - or strong enough for the papers - just depends on the teacher - if I don't have a lot of papers coming in then I don't take the folder -just the notebook.

Rarely does anyone take a laptop to class. I'd love to take mine - but I think the tapping on the keyboard would drive everyone else nuts.

When I was taking numerous classes in a day I did take a backpack - cause I was too lazy to walk back to the car - when I had an hour or more between classes I sat in the snackbar & "studied"

The textbooks are rarely used in class Ive found - they are for home reading. (of course that's not the case for math) but most classes never crack it open.

 

[Sparx]

DD17 carries her books in her arms. She hasn't used a backpack for the last 5 years. When I was on the college campus last year I saw students trekking around with their books under their arms, but never in backpack, rolling or otherwise. Like the rest of the students, I just carried my notebooks and books in my arms.

I see a lot of backpacks CRAMMED full of 5 or 6 classes worth of books on my campus. I think its mostly freshmen/sophomores who haven't planned their schedules out with breaks in between to drop books off at their dorm/car.

 

[minkydog]

Maybe it's a regional thing I"m just saying what I experienced. YMMV

 

[ElizK]

I finished my 1st semester of college in Dec. I'm 41! I was only taking 3 classes, one of them online. The other two were at different campuses, so I drove between them. I had no need for a backpack. I did use spirals, computer paper, folders, and ballpoint pens. I didn't have any math, so need for a calculator. My English class had a desktop computer for each student to use during the class period, so no need for a laptop, either.

One thing I found helpful was to use my iPod when I studied. It helped me concentrate, because I could tune out distractions better when my music was playing.

Good luck! It's pretty exciting! I start my 2nd semester at the end of August!

 

[tonilea]

I appreciate everyones tips and advice. I am not replying to each post, but I am certainly taking notes!

Thanks again, and keep 'em coming!

 

[Sparx]

during your breaks it might be a good idea to go explore the campus and familiarize yourself with the library and locations of computer labs and things like that.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

At the college where I lived in a dorm, I was able to drop my books off in my dorm. But at the school I go to now, there are no dorms and the closest parking lot is four blocks away. I also don't drive. So I'm one of the people who has to lug their books to class, since my profs require the books at every class. My backpack has a lot of pockets in it and I have mild OCD, so I tend to keep things in certain pockets and in a certain order.

I use single-subject spiral notebooks for each class, unless I take more notes during the semester. Then I buy another one and put 'volume 2' on the cover. I like Bic pens and any highlighters that aren't blue or purple, since they're usually pretty dark. I also make my own flash cards for certain subjects, because then they have the information I need to know, whereas storebought ones don't always have the information I need. When I got my CNA certification, I made flash cards and then gave them to a classmate of mine because I understood the terms faster than she did. Instead of folders, I have a three-hole punch for handouts and such and put them in my binder with dividers.

I tend to be extremely organized, though.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Great tips, most importantly, figure out what works for YOU.

Here's my two cents: Sharpie brand highlighters will highlight writing and printing without the ink running.

 

[golfgal]

When DS17 signed up for classes he was told to come with a notebook and a writing implement and that each teacher would let them know if they needed anything different. I noticed on his composition class they list note cards for a suggested "book" on the website so I am guessing he needs those.

Staples starts their 1cent sale today and there are some good things on there today.

 

[declansdad]

PENS!!!! make sure you have pens. I hate it when students come to class without a pen.

 

[fraggle551]

Just find a system that works well for you. Be it notebooks, one subject, 5 subject, or binders, or whatever. As long as you like it and can keep it organzied, then its good!

I do highly recommend an agenda type book though. I like a big one with the month in advance, with lots of space for each day so I can write in when tests and assignments are, and then after the month, a big long space for each day. I believe MEAD makes the one I love.

Usually the college bookstore will be more expensive than other places like Staples or the drug store.

Good luck!!

 

[tonilea]

You all don't know how much I appreciate your help!

 

[dollydell]

When DS17 signed up for classes he was told to come with a notebook and a writing implement and that each teacher would let them know if they needed anything different. I noticed on his composition class they list note cards for a suggested "book" on the website so I am guessing he needs those.

Staples starts their 1cent sale today and there are some good things on there today.

Something like this is what I suggest, something like a notebook with a folder attached or a small amount of loose leaf paper in a folder, and wait to get anything else until after going to class the first time. Quite often I found that I didn't actually need a notebook and/or a folder, or that I needed a different thing that what I would have gotten on my own.

 

[NotUrsula]

Depends on the class and it depends on your style.

I was a history major and I didn't take much math, etc. I always just used letter-sized legal pads for class notes. (Blue ones, actually -- I found that color easiest on my eyes when reading under florescent light.) One pad carried around all day -- I just wrote the date and the name of the class at the top of the page.

When I got home to study I transferred the sheets to my study binders, and in some classes I read them aloud to myself and recorded them so that I could study when driving or walking, if it was the kind of class where the instructor wanted a lot of recap of the lecture points on exams. In a few classes I used bound marble-cover notebooks -- these were for the notes that I knew I'd need to keep for years.

These days I'm sure I'd scan the notes every night so that I could study using my laptop, and also have a backup for the legal pad pages.

PS: One thing I absolutely never touched again once I finished HS was a spiral-bound notebook. I always hated the bent wire and the little fluff edges.

 

[ajk912]

For your first year (freshman year) leave the laptop at home. YMMV but my profs (also first year) wouldn't even let you have a laptop out at all. It's distracting to the people around you, and they wanted you to pay attention to the lecture.

I took notes in a composition book, I found them to be sturdier especially when you are dogearing the thing all semester long.

Wheeled backpacks are fine if you don't mind sticking out like a sore thumb. I only saw two people with them all semester, and you can hear them coming down the hallway. I looked out the hallway, and yup, just the girl I thought (disregard what I just said about paying attention to lectures... )

Most people used a traditional Jansport type backpack, took a trip to their car, or just carried their stuff.

 

[honugirl]

I just started back to school summer quarter after a number of years off.

I use a backpack, just a regular Jansport one. Lots of people used wheeled ones though. Why ruin your back if you don't have to?

On calculators, check the supply list at the bookstore before buying one. What you need for algebra, you generally can't use in chemistry class. No graphing calcs allowed in chem because you can store formulas on them.

Assignment notebooks are pretty much worthless if you're starting summer quarter since they run August to August, so mine doesn't start until next month.

Check your textbooks in the book store before you attempt to buy them online. At my college they are using more and more texts that are specifically for my college so you want to make sure you're getting the right edition.

Target has some really cool looseleaf paper. It's got reinforcement on the holes already so it'll last a whole quarter in a 3 ring binder without ripping out.

Have fun. Try not to stress too much (you will though...). Go to the library and/or computer lab and learn how to use any of the blackboard programs that the profs use so you can see your grades and communicate about the class before you start. Go to the advising/counseling center. The counselors (not the advisors) have really good tips on test taking and stuff and are really helpful to those reentering school.

 

[MrsPete]

One large spiral-bound notebook, which will hold notes for all your classes. When I was in college, we didn't often get handouts or turn in homework . . . so our notes were really just for us, ourselves. I always found it most convenient to have all my classes in one book.

At the front of that notebook I'd always make a calendar for the semester . . . and then after I received my syllabuses on the first week of school, I'd go through and COPY THEM ALL onto that calendar so that I'd have ONE LARGE MASTER SCHEDULE for my personal semester -- and I'd add in social plans, work commitments, etc. It was a good thing because it kept me on top of things; I'd realize weeks in advance, for example, that ALL IN ONE WEEK I was going to have to write a paper for history, take a test in Psychology, and read 6 chapters of science. If you know that ahead of time, you can plan: Put some casseroles in the freezer, do some of the reading ahead of time, etc. On the other hand, if you're looking at 4-5 separate syllabuses, it's easy NOT TO REALIZE that everything's going to hit you at one time.

Something no one has mentioned is a computer (which, obriously, you have). You're going to need to communicate online with professors and other students. And obviously, you'll need printer paper and ink from time to time.

Smart Reply systems (Sentos being the most common) are fast becoming a college staple. They're essentially remote controls that work together with the professor's Smart Board. Professors can use these to take attendance (which they never did back when I was in school), to interact with students during lectures, to give quizzes, etc. I think they run $40-50, and unfortunately, it's possible that different teachers might require different models.

And textbooks. That's where your money's going to go. I'm not "up" on the best ways to save on these any more. When I was in school the best deal was to go in the week before classes started, buy all used textbooks, but NOT unwrap them from their shrink wrap 'til after the first day of class (sometimes the professor changes his mind -- infuriating!). If they were still shrink-wrapped, you could return them to the bookstore for full credit. And if you found the book "for sale by owner" on a bulletin board, you could return your used-copy to the bookstore. If you waited 'til after the first class, however, all the used copies were gone. That's probably very outdated advice, though, because the internet has revolutionized book buying.

Do you consider a parking pass a school supply? It'll cost plenty.

 

[disneygirl_wdw]

A tip with the textbooks, you can usually find them online cheaper. Just search by ISBN. I like amazon and half.com to buy mine.

 

[tonilea]

Do you consider a parking pass a school supply? It'll cost plenty.

Thankfully, this is one expense I won't have. I asked and no passes, parking is first come, first served.

I was hoping to order books online from Amazone or half.com. I keep checking the school website for a book list.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

Thankfully, this is one expense I won't have. I asked and no passes, parking is first come, first served.

I was hoping to order books online from Amazone or half.com. I keep checking the school website for a book list.

You can also email the professor and ask for a booklist. The professors at my school encourage us not to use the campus bookstore so they have no problem emailing us the lists.

With parking first come be prepared to leave some time open before classes to search for parking spots.