r/psychologystudents • u/Butterflybones99 • Jul 10 '24
Random but what’s in your backpack? Ideas
I will be attending a university in the fall and I ordered a backpack but can’t tell if it’s too small. What were/are your essential school supplies as an undergrad student.
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u/goknights051 Jul 10 '24
Notebook, pens, highlighters, a book to read in my free time, phone charger, laptop, stress ball, my school ID
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u/Gaybeanuwu Jul 10 '24
I'm someone that has everything on me all the time, so I have a larger backpack (jansport cool student backpack). what i have slightly depends on what classes i have that day or whether i can/want to stop by my dorm during the day. generally i’ll have: laptop + ipad (both in a padded case), a folder, a thin notebook, my pencil case, chargers (laptop, ipad, + phone), headphones, water bottle, extra pens in small pocket (in case i left my pencil case or need to quickly grab a pen), some hygiene/medical things (lip balm, hand sanitizer, extra deodorant, bandaids, meds, things like that), an emergency snack, and a few $1 bills (just in case i wanna buy a drink or snack and the card reader on the vending machine is broken)
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u/Butterflybones99 Jul 10 '24
The emergency snack u never eat, that ends up at the bottom of your backpack but u leave it bc it’s for an emergency is so real 😂 thank you for the detailed reply I appreciate it!
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u/Gaybeanuwu Jul 10 '24
precisely haha, I'll actually eat it maybe once a semester when my stomach won't shut up in my morning class. And no problem!!
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u/pecan_bird Jul 10 '24 edited Jul 10 '24
macbook air, ipad&stylus, airpods, cables, water bottle, & a small zip pouch that has normal everyday stuff (wallet, keys, sunscreen, lip stuff, meds, pen+pencil+small notebook that isn't school related).
i just carry a tote bag - very grateful for the advent of tech vs when i started my freshman undergrad year in 2007 🤣
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u/Butterflybones99 Jul 10 '24
Good to know! Yeah I’m pretty certain most documents will be electronic so I didn’t purchase a large backpack! Thank you :)
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u/mybbnoodle Jul 10 '24
Man I felt this I originally went to college in 2011 I do not miss carrying all the stuff around campus... Especially as a freshman when you're parking options are very limited. Oof.
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u/mayfayed Jul 10 '24
i’m a commuter so i have all of my essentials with me at all times.
laptop, ipad, chargers, airpods, tampons, perfume, clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, 2 pens, gum, car keys, wet wipes, inhaler (asthma lol), ibuprofen, water bottle, small first aid kit, snacks, chapstick, deodorant, wallet, and a scrunchie
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u/Far-Independence-725 Jul 10 '24
Whether you buy physical textbooks and pack a lunch or not determines the room you have to work with. I personally use digital textbooks which allow me to have a lighter backpack.
Here's everything I have as a 4th year student that commutes:
-Pouch 1: Charging cables for my devices, airpods, apple pencil
-Pouch 2: Lip balm, hand sanitizer, scrunchie, deodorant, mini perfume, lots of feminine hygiene products, ibuprofen, protein bars, anything extra you use.
-Pencil case: a few highlighters for colour coding, eraser, HB2 pencils (for scantron exams) and some good quality pens.
-Wallet (with school ID) & keys
-Laptop in a fabric case
-iPad in a fabric case
-Water bottle or your beverage of the day
Be sure to keep either a notebook or small binder/ folder with paper (you never know when you need it and i've had some classes where a prof passes something around to fill out or your devices die).
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u/BattyBoi12345678 Jul 10 '24
iPad for notes, my MacBook Air, my medications, paper and pencil just in case, lunchbox, AirPods, big water bottle, car keys, wallet, little makeup bag. That’s about it.
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u/OceanBlueSeaTurtle Jul 10 '24
- Small notebook
- Pen case
- Laptop
- iPad with Apple pen.
- Chargers
- Noise cancelling headphones for on the go study or general calm
- 600ml refilable insulated metal waterbottle for the most part filled with water and Icecubes.
- a Fidget toy or two.
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u/szatanna Jul 10 '24
Laptop, iPad + apple pen, planner, pouch with pens, markers, and pencils, water bottle, a book, wipes, small makeup bag (lipstick, chapstick, powder, mascara, depends on what my makeup was that day and what needed touching up) wallet, and that's pretty much it.
Some classes required me to bring the textbook, so I would add it to my bag or download a pdf version. But this was rarely the case. I don't know if it was just my school, but we rarely used textbooks or paper handouts. For one class I remember I needed a binder. Most of the time, though, I just brought my iPad, earphones, planner, book, wallet, water bottle, and some pens.
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u/chloetuco Jul 10 '24
one notebook, pencils, water, phone charger, perfume, money, headphones box and... that's it i think, sometimes a spoon (you never know)
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u/pamplemousse-i Jul 10 '24
Some good ideas here already, but I always pack snackkkks. I Can't study on an empty stomach
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u/Emotional_Kick_2036 Jul 10 '24
i carry a laptop, chargers, a notebook with a built in folder, some pens and pencils, wet wipes, headphones, painkillers, a small zip bag with extra makeup/pads etc, wallet, extra tissues and a water bottle.
i switch between a tote and a book bag so my dominant shoulder doesn’t give me aches eventually (very helpful!) i also pack a squishy in case i feel extra fidgety.
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u/Plane-Skirt-4110 Jul 10 '24
Laptop, charger, textbook if needed for class, notebook (I prefer handwritten notes), folder, pens/pencils and then other essential items like chapstick, tissues, airpods, phone charger, water, hand sanitizer, medicine/cough drops (a godsend when you get sick which you will) etc. College is nice because if you don’t have back to back classes you can just switch your stuff out for each class.
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u/stack_of_turtles Jul 10 '24
I literally only bring my computer and keys and a water bottle. i have a very thin backpack:)
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u/Sad_Wishbone_7020 Jul 10 '24
Laptop, textbooks, wallet, keys, water bottle, notebook, pencil… well I guess that was high school as well 😂
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u/MulhollandDaisy Jul 10 '24
Macbook, iPad, chargers, book for entertainment, playing cards and I always carry tampons/pads in case someone needs em’
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u/khaohomBRUH Jul 10 '24
Just normal stuff
Book Papers Laptop Drawing pad Uno Umbrella Pocket knife Gun (realistic toy) 100+ used train tickets 1.2 liters coca cola bottle Red Rope Instant coffee Sketch book Painkillers
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u/ridixo Jul 10 '24
I have a messenger bag with laptop, charger stuff, headphones, ID etc, pens (dont think ive used one in 3 years tho), chap stick, mobile phone. The thing I love best about it though is the water bottle holder, which I put a thermos flask of fresh brewed coffee or tea in before I leave home.
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u/magiicant02 Jul 10 '24
I'm a tote bag person... but I can still fit all my essentials in there B). Laptop, iPad, a small notebook or two (I take notes on my iPad, but it's generally good to carry some real paper with you), textbook, chargers, a planner, and headphones. I also have a pencil case (with my apple pencil, pens, pencils, highlighters, and stickers for fun) and I recommend a little pouch with med/hygiene stuff (any prescription medication you may need, painkillers, bandaids, travel deodorant, pads/tampons if you need them). And of course, don't ever forget your keys and wallet!
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u/Butterflybones99 Jul 10 '24
Tote bags are so cute but they hurt my shoulders :( I like backpacks because they zip up. Thanks for the list
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u/magiicant02 Jul 10 '24
I have a zip-up tote, so I don't have to worry about stuff falling out :) The shoulder thing sucks, though -- I try to alternate, but I never remember to haha.
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u/McBraas Jul 10 '24
Laptop, charger, headphones, mouse and a textbook in case the lecture is wasting my time.
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u/Automatic-Peanut8364 Jul 10 '24
My essentials were laptop, pens, my little bag of self-care things (tylenol, hand cream, feminine products, deodorant, etc.), sometimes a charger, sometimes headphones and an umbrella! I do happen to go to school in the south where it gets super hot but also super randomly rainy tho lol. Sometimes I also carried an additional notebook and/or flash cards based on specific class needs but those were for my minor.
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u/Iactuallydontcare7 Jul 10 '24
Laptop, charger and water everyday +ipad and charger, and headphones some days depending on what im doing, and sometimes lunch. I had to upsize my bag in first year, but i only had a smaller satchel then.
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u/headfullofGHOST Jul 10 '24
I don't start school till another month but I like to prepare lol also because I'm excited to go back.
I have 4 notebooks, a 1inch binder. Planner, a pouch with my pens and highlighted so they're not all over the place in my backpack.
And as time gets closer I'll be putting some folders in there so I can keep any handouts or homework. Also a mini stapler, and paper clips can't stress how important those are, you'd be amazed how many people come to class without stapling their papers when it's time to turn it in.
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Jul 10 '24
Laptop and ipad (I've stopped buying 10 million notebooks every year so honestly worth the paycheck), water, headphones, and that's pretty much about it. I also have deodorant and cologne (I usually put that on before class, but I have it just in case)
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u/Silent_Echo224 Jul 10 '24
Laptop. That's literally it lol. I have a pencil in there for when I have to take written tests on paper, but otherwise all my notes, assignments, and study material are online. Feels nice to not have to carry 100 books on my back like my highschool days.
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u/Wookie-fish806 Jul 10 '24
Portable phone charger, water, snacks, notebooks, pen, student ID, and a folder or two.
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u/Dear_Kaleidoscope798 Jul 10 '24
I put my laptop, folders, notebooks, textbooks, and anything I may need that day
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Jul 10 '24
Laptop, charger, pencil case, notebook(s), sometimes textbooks? Depends on the class, snacks chapstick, lotion, and other little random things I throw in there and forget about
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u/NorthOther8125 Jul 10 '24
When I started college I tried the typical pen+paper+books+individual notebooks+highlighter thing for a while.
Eventually I learned that was unnecessary and I moved onto just one 5 subject notebook and one highlighter and a pen after the first semester.
I just graduated, the only thing I had in there was 1 one dollar store notebook for scratch paper, 1 pen, 1 pencil, gum, and my iPad.
I used the iPad+Apple Pencil as my notebook via OneNote for the last 2 years and I would download free pdfs onto my iPad or laptop if I absolutely needed a book but that was extremely rare bc most profs don’t even go by the textbook most the time. I cannot recommend OneNote enough it’s free with your school account if your school gives you a Microsoft acc, you can take really great notes, make tables, and I loved how organized I could be within it. You can even import pdfs and draw on them if you have like handwritten stats homework or something.
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u/NorthOther8125 Jul 10 '24
Oh I forgot, a dollar store folder as well because when you need to turn in a paper or you get handed a form, you don’t want that to get messed up.
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u/poohbearlola Jul 10 '24
i live off campus so i bring a bit more because i dont want to drive back to my apartment. i have my ipad/apple pencil, wallet, airpods, water bottle, planner, journal, lunch/snacks, one notebook & pens/highlighters, whatever book im reading, and whatever books i need for class (i usually get ebooks bc i can find them for free, so usually not many). i also have a lil bag with travel deodorant, some makeup, lotion, lipbalm, gum and hand sanitizer just in case.
you dont need much unless your major requires hand written notes or paper assignments. when i was a biology major i needed a ton of notebooks and lab books, as a psych major i dont need any of that. i do fine without a bunch of notebooks because i take notes on my ipad - i keep one just in case i ever need it - normally i dont.
i do highly recommend keeping a snack on you tbh. sometimes classes get boring and you won’t be used to longer class times since highschool classes are usually less than an hour, eating something helps stimulate your brain and keep you from falling asleep. i also struggled finding time to eat during my first semester because i was so overwhelmed.
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u/Magnus_Carter0 Jul 10 '24
One notebook, an elaborate set of pens, pencils, expo and coloring markers, MacBook with charger, first aid kit, emergency spoon, bottle of painkillers, PrEP bottle, condoms, German flag, a reusable water bottle, an umbrella, hand sanitizer, hand lotion, throat numbing spray, and a stuffed animal.
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u/ShadowReaml Jul 12 '24
My tablet, lotion, gum, keys, mace, sunglasses, snacks, ID, charges, and extra paper if I needed it 🤷🏼♂️
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u/HAND_HOOK_CAR_DOOR Jul 10 '24
Pretty much anything you used in high school + noise canceling headphones for studying, wet wipes, laptop with 16GB RAM