School supplies for college

[Kirby]

My son is entering college in the fall and I was wondering what school supplies you used the most or came in the most handy.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Stapler. Make sure it's a good one too. At times mine was stapling 20+ pages
Other than that, just the basic school supplies. Pens, pencils, notebooks (I used spiral bound for most of my classes, but binders for a couple), paper. Don't forget printer paper and printer cartriges. If he plans to use binders for his classes, invest in a three hole punch. Make sure he has a jump drive so that he can back up his work, and a few CD-R's. Sharpies in a few colors aren't a bad idea either. The occasional poster still has to be made. A few manilla envelopes are good too, for turning in the massive research papers. My profs all required that we turn them in in those, and I know some people had to go hunt them down the night before they were due. It was nice to have a stack of them in my desk drawer

 

[Kirby]

Manilla envelopes, I would have never thought of those. Thanks for the info!

 

[PrincessJen09]

Flash cards or note cards are useful, especially for studying. Plenty of pens. I swear I went through a pen a week at times. Thumb tacks and a cork board if his doesn't have one. It was so helpful to see assignments in front of my face. Also a desk calender. I would have forgotten half of my assignments if it wasnt for that. Also white out! You never know when you might need that.

 

[coasterj]

For my notes i used composition notebooks they always seemed to hold up better

 

[Kirby]

Great tips! Thank you!

 

[wdwgirl03]

I'd say post-it notes. I obsessively use post-its for marking pages in books and writing to-do lists, etc. I'd also say index cards. I like to use them for making flashcards for tests. If he uses binders, definitely get a hole punch.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I second the post it notes. My desk was always covered in post it notes with things to do, reminders of when to be at various meetings, observations, even dinner with a friend I didn't typically eat with.
For marking pages in books I really liked the post it flag things

 

[becjlek]

Thanks for the ideas. I too have a son going to college this fall. I have started a list to keep in my wallet so I can look for these things over the summer.

What is a good laptop back pack for a college student to have?
thanks



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[iggbees]

i know these really aren't school supplies, but useful nonetheless. my sister is entering college in the fall as well. i bought her some things i forgot when i went:

- nail clippers
- tweezers
- target gift card
- umbrella (you totally forget about it until you need it one day)
- shower sandals
- some kind of shower caddy (you never know where you'll be in relation to the bathroom and bringing shampoo, soap, razor, etc.)
- extra printer ink (i ALWAYS forgot that and then i'd run out of ink and be screwed)
- at least one mug, plate, fork, spoon and knife (more than 2-3 is really overkill though)

freshman year i brought a lot of stuff that i thought i'd need, but didn't end up using. also, most colleges have some kind of target or walmart store within a reasonable driving distance, so last minute forgotten things can be bought.

 

[RangerPooh]

I have a supplies drawer where I have...
-pens (multiple colors because notes are better to read that way, esp when dealing with graphs and such)
-pencils and erasers
-pencil sharpener
-highlighters (fat and skinny), and highlighters with built in post-its for flagging
-post it notes (big and small for flagging and general notes)
-ink cartridges
-white out
-crayons and markers (you still make posters)
-stapler and staples
-paper clips (I use the ones designed to hold a TON of pages with the foldable clips)
-ruler
-graphing caculator


Other supplies that I keep in milk crates for the ease of starage...
-notebooks (hit Target when they are $.10ea!!!!!) I usually buy a box so it lasts me the entire school year
-binders
-binder paper
-divders
-3-hole punch
-large manilla envelopes
-clear plastic sleeves
-printer paper

Other supplies that I have found useful...
-a calling card if you don't have a cell phone
-a good backpack
-I second the umbrella
-I second the shower caddy (our school suggested the ice cream tubs, but any caddy or bucket will do)
-power strip/extension cord
-wall calander
-a decent printer (I like the scanner/copier ones as trying to find a copier at midnight can be tough)
-flash drive and extra burnable cds
-gift cards for nearby stores (Target, WalMart, Safeway, Gas)

 

[monarchsfan16]

What is a good laptop back pack for a college student to have?
thanks

I actually found it really convenient to just get a laptop sleeve and use my regular backpack. My laptop sleeve is a Tucano. It's made out of neoprene and zips around my laptop. Then I just slip it into my regular backpack. It makes it less obvious that I'm carrying a laptop (those laptop backpacks are really bulky and pretty much scream "There's a laptop inside") and it takes up a lot less space than having a separate bag for my laptop. I can just slip the sleeve into my desk drawer when I'm not using it. My school computer store sells them, and you can also find them on ebags.com I've found it to be really convenient and my dad actually had me get him one after he saw mine, to use on his business trips.


And yes, pack an umbrella. Also have a pair of boots that can be worn in the rain. It's no fun to have wet feet. My winter boots are more like hiking boots, and so I can use them both for snow and rain.

 

[Kirby]

Wow! I need to start making my list now and picking stuff up. This is great!

 

[AllyGirlie]

Thanks for the ideas. I'm going to college at the end of August (I'm actually at the school right now as I type this for orientation). You're telling me things that weren't really on the list of supplies they gave us...go figure..

 

[AladdinJay]

Just having completed my third year at college, the #1 thing IMO is a STAPLER. Seriously, get a GOOD stapler that can handle a lot of pages. Every single class the professors REQUIRED work to be stapeled. In fact, they would not accept it unless it was.

Also, always have some extra computer paper and an ink cartridge for your printer. You never know when you may need to print something, and it's the worst feeling in the world to have to print something RIGHT NOW and you can't because you can't find any paper. Save yourself the frustration and have extra paper/inkjets.

 

[OCSurfCity]

I remember my college days and what I needed was MONEY! Ok, no more jokes.

I loved the Papermate Slim-Line ink pens which they no longer sell. They cost about $4.79 each in 1980. But because those pens were my constant companions in junior and senior high school, I bought about 5 boxes of those pens. I still have some today that I just replace the ink refills.

College ruled paper was the next thing I used up a lot. Remember this was the days before the lap top computer.

I think today a new college student will need a laptop computer, a good printer, ink cartridges, mechanical pencils (refillable type) and erasers. At home, a good electric stapler would be ideal for the desk.

 

[Kirby]

I've passed on all your suggestions to a friend of mine who has a son entering college also this year. Ya'll have been so helpful!!

 

[Mary Anne]

My son is getting ready to leave for school and I've found t his thread to be so helpful. I never would have thought of the stapler. Great tips in this thread.