Students across the country will be starting back to college soon. Although summer isn’t over yet, now is the time to start stocking up on essentials and other supplies for the upcoming semester. With so many products o the market, school supply shopping may feel overwhelming. We’ve compiled a list of the best and most important things a college student might need both in class and at home. Whether you’re a returning college student or an entering freshmen, the items below should make college student life much easier.*
MATEIN Travel Laptop Backpack
The MATEIN laptop backpack fits 15.6 in laptops and has plenty of compartments for storing other supplies. It also features a built in USB charger outside and charging cable inside for on-the-go phone charging. And unlike many laptop backpacks, there are several colors to choose from.
Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Straw
Staying hydrated is essential for performing well and maintaining stamina. The Owala stainless steel water bottle is made for travel, is BPA free and has double wall insulation to keep beverages cold. The carry lid doubles as a lock, the wide opening makes cleaning and adding ice easy, plus the base fits most cup holders. It comes in a wide range of colors and is budget friendly at less than $30.
Academic Planner 2023-2024
A planner is essential for staying organized. This planner from BooQool has everything you need in an academic planner – monthly and weekly views, a notes section and quick reference information. It also features a flexible cover, twin wire binding and premium ink-proof paper.
PAPERAGE Lined Journal Notebook
In addition to a planner, you’ll want a journal for general writing. Whether it’s for brainstorming or letting out your thoughts and feelings, the lined PAPERAGE journal notebook is perfect. It comes in a variety of colors, has a durable and water resistant cover, inner expandable pocket and elastic closure band. At less than $10, you can buy several to suit different needs.
iBayam Journal Planner Pens
You’ll want nice pens that come in a variety of colors for your planner and journal. The iBayam journal planner pens come in an 18 pack and are less than $10 making them a great option for students on a budget. The fine tips work for writing or drawing, creating intense water-based colors.
SHARPIE Tank Highlighters
Highlighters are a must-have when studying. Using different colors can help categorize topics or prioritize reading materials. The SHARPIE tank highlighters have chisel tips, 12 assorted colors and resist smearing of most pens.
Rosmonde College Ruled Composition Notebooks
Composition notebooks are a must-have for any college student. Always one or two in your bag for essays, general notetaking and written exams.
Post-it Flags Miami Collection
The Post-it Miami collection provides 320 assorted color flags for bookmarking important pages. With a variety of colors and sizes you can stay extra organized when studying and planning.
Amazon Basics Woodcased #2 Pencils
#2 pencils are another item you should never go to class without. Keep an ample supply on hand and several in your bag so you don’t have to panic buy before the big exam.
Bostitch Office Twist-N-Sharp Manual Pencil Sharpener
The Bostitch pencil sharpeners are cute, compact and work with regular and colored pencils. The easy open hinge tray allows for easy, mess-free disposal. With this three pack, you’ll have sharpeners handy both on the go and at home.
SKYDUE Expanding File Folder 5 Pockets
Keep all of your documents organized with this expandable file folder from SKYDUE. It’s small enough to fit in most bags and holds up to 200 pages of letter sized papers. It also comes with tabs and labels to make finding paper easier. The folder comes in multiple colors to suit any aesthetic.
EASTHILL Big Capacity Pencil Pen Case
If you struggle to contain your collection of pens, highlighters, pencils and other supplies the big capacity case from EASTHILL is a must-have. It can store up to 50 pens or 90 pencils and has a mesh bag for small supplies. Choose from black, pink, gray, blue and more to fit with your color scheme.
gianotter Paper Letter Tray Organizer
The paper letter tray organizer from gianotter offers the ultimate desktop organization. Features include four trays, a magazine or book rack, two pen holders and a sliding drawer with three compartments. In addition to being highly functional, it’s available in multiple colors to keep your desktop stylish.
MOSDART 64GB USB Flash Drive 5 Pack, 64 GB
Backup your projects, papers and other documents on the go with a flash drive. This five pack comes in different colors so you can color code your files by course, topic or other classification.
DormDoc 175 Piece Emergency First Aid Kit for College Students
An emergency kit may not be on your mind when shopping for school supplies. But a fully stocked kit can literally be a life saver in case of an emergency. The DormDoc First Aid Kit includes 6 essential OTC medicines, bandages, creams, scissors and non-latex gloves. The items are arranged in color-coded pockets for easy identification and dispensing.
Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes Singles, Fresh Scent Wipes
Stay safe and healthy by regularly washing your hands. If soap and water aren’t available, hand sanitizing wipes work as a great substitute. The Wet Ones single wipes can be thrown in your handbag or backpack.
Blue Summit Supplies 25 Black Plastic Report Covers with Prongs
Make your projects, reports, portfolios and resumes stand out with professional looking report covers. The Blue Summit covers feature durable PP plastic, ensuring papers won’t tear or stain with time.
BIC Wite-Out Brand EZ Correct Correction Tape
Mistakes happen – that’s why you need Wite-Out to keep your notes and papers neat looking. The tape applies dry so you aren’t slowed down by errors.
Amaredom Laptop Bed Desk Tray Bed Table
If you don’t have a designated workspace in your dorm to study or just feel like working in bed, the Amaredom laptop desk tray bed table has you covered. It features an iPad holder, cup holder, built-in storage drawer and non-slip silicone legs. It also has a hangable design for easy storage in tight spaces.
The above list should get you started on your back to school shopping. Start planning your semester now so you won’t miss out on your must-haves and can focus on settling in at school rather than last-minute supply shopping.
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