College backpack essentials
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Your college backpack is essential. It should have all the essentials you need and might need to avoid stressing out or running back to your dorm.
In high school, I could literally go to school with just a notebook and a pen and I will be fine because the school provides us with everything we need while in school.
Once I started college, I realized that things were entirely different. You had to make sure you have everything you needed. You are basically on your own.
To make sure you avoid countless trips back to your dorm room the way I did just because you forgot something, here are 20 college backpack essentials you should have with you all the time.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
High-quality Backpack
The first and most important thing is the backpack. You need a backpack that is strong, waterproof, and can carry all your college backpack essentials. I also make sure I go for neutral colors like black, brown, and grey so that they will look good with all my outfits. Here are a few you should consider:
During my junior year of college(2020), I wanted to become that girl so I switched to a tote bag with pockets. I really liked it because it was cute and I wasn’t carrying a lot of things in my junior year because I finally figured out what I needed always when I’m in school. If tote bags are your style, Here are my favs:
laptop/iPad
As a college student, you probably own a laptop or an iPad, or even both. Investing in a good laptop will save you a lot of $$$ in the long run. So far, Apple has some of the best laptops out there. If you’re into digital note-taking, an iPad and an Apple Pencil are a must. I already have a laptop but I really want to get the iPad Air 5 this year so that I can transition to digital planning and note taking. I will let you know when I finally do that.
Notebook(s)
Even if you’re a digital person, having a notebook or two with you will always come in handy. Since I take physical notes, I have a lot of notebooks in my backpack. They are really essential. You can use your notebook to quickly jot things down, make a to-do list, or solve some equations.
I recently came across a smart notebook called rocket book. It has 42 pages each with a QR code. Once you’re done writing, just scan the QR code with their app and the entire page will be saved into your desired location like google drive, Evernote, iCloud, one drive, etc. once You’re done just wipe the page with a damp cloth and it’s ready to be used again. How cool is that?? This means you can easily turn your physical notes into digital notes without having to rewrite anything.
One thing you should be careful of is that the app can access all the files in your chosen storage account. I highly recommend you create a new Dropbox or google drive account just for school and save your notes there to avoid data leaks. Hope this helps.
Personal items
This includes your phone, wallet, keys, ids, etc. You should always make sure you have these things with you all the time, especially your phone and ids. If you want to access certain buildings on campus, you need to show your student id so make sure you have it with you all the time.
Portable charger
This has been a lifesaver. If you need to have only one college backpack essentials, this should be the one. I can’t begin to tell you how a portable charger has saved me on so many occasions. You can’t always find an outlet on campus and even if you do, the chances of it being occupied are pretty high. Having a portable charger allows you to charge your devices on the go. Make sure you invest in a good one that will last longer and have an extra cable.
If you want to reduce the number of items in your backpack, get a charging case. They are great but they tend to make your phone heavier and I personally don’t like how they feel with my phone.
Headphones
Especially those with the noise cancellation feature. You don’t have to get chunky headphones like the Sony headphones if they’re not your type. A pair of AirPods or earbuds also get the job done. I always have my headphones with me because I love to listen to podcasts on my way to school. They instantly put me in a better mood.
Pencil case
A pencil case is very essential because it allows you to keep all your school supplies in one place. This will help you to keep your backpack clean and more organized. Let’s talk about college school supplies you will need and use. I will also be linking to my favorites.
- Pencil
- Pens
- Sharpie
- Post notes
- Highlighter
- Mini stapler (very important)
- A mini ruler
- Calculator
Reusable water bottle
You need to stay hydrated, especially on sunny days, and having a water bottle with all the time makes it easier to do so. I started using a reusable water bottle to save money on plastic water bottles and now it’s a college backpack essential for me. A hydro flask will keep your water cold or warm for a while so it’s my preferred choice.
Cosmetics bag
Trust me you need a cosmetics bag, even if you don’t wear makeup. Having a cosmetics bag doesn’t mean you have to fill it up with makeup products. You should use one to keep all the other essentials you might need apart from stationeries. This includes:
- Pocket tissues
- Hand cream
- Hair ties
- Sunscreen
- Chapsticks
- Tampons and pads
- Some pain relievers
- band-aids
- Hand sanitizer
If you can get the travel sizes for some of these products, that will be better because it will help you to save space.
Some money
Having some money on you is very important so that’s why I’m adding it as a college backpack essentials. You might not know when you will need it and the money I keep in my bag has saved me so many times. Although we walk around with our debit cards and have apps like PayPal on our phones that make payment so much easier, you still need to use physical money for something like a vending machine.
Don’t carry a lot of money as that might not be safe but having At least $20 is always a great idea. Just remember to replace it as soon as you’ve used it up.
Seasonal college backpack essentials
depending on where your school is and what time of the year it is, having seasonal items should also be essential. These include:
- Sunglasses
- A small umbrella
- Cardigan
- Gloves
- A small portable fan
Final thoughts on college backpack essentials
That brings us to the end of this post and I hope this has finally answered your question on what are some of the college backpack essentials.
If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you check out these posts on all the dorm room essentials you Will regret not bringing, the ultimate college packing list, and dorm room decors that will make your room very aesthetic.
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