Four College Necessities to Get Before the Semester Starts

I don't know about you, but my seventh and final semester starts in a few weeks and I'm starting to get a bit antsy about it. Maybe it's because I know it's the end or maybe it's because I just ache for a somewhat normal schedule again. I'm sure a majority of it comes from me loving the act of back to school shopping. I always get excited for stationery overloads, buying seven too many notebooks just because I think they're all cute and can't decide which one I want to use. But along with college comes other necessities, whether it's thing to carry with you to campus or items to use while you're at home, in your dorm or apartment. I'll do a separate post all about fashion and beauty necessities (and have a post here about all of the necessary school supplies) but for today, let's dip our toes into all of the random little bits and bobs and make college life easier.

1. Agenda or day planner

You knew this one was coming before you even read it. I swear by my agenda and I will never stop pushing people to get their own. Life becomes infinitely easier where you have one place to write down your assignments, important due dates, plans with friends, and whatever else you see fit to put in your agenda. You can customize its uses for you and you can even use two separate ones if you want to keep everything separate. I use one for planning out my blog and one for keeping track of my class assignments and things I need to get done for work.

2. Reusable water bottle

Even if you're not on campus for hours on end, it's still important to stay hydrated throughout the day. Cold water can be refreshing on hot days at the beginning of the semester and it will help you stay more alert during class! Being dehydrated can make you sluggish and tired, so definitely try to avoid that at all costs, especially when you're on campus. I know my campus has specific water fountains for refilling water bottles, but I'm sure there are regular drinking fountains on campus that you can refill your water bottle in, too.

3. Google Drive 

This costs you absolutely nothing and will be your biggest savior throughout the semester. USB drives are small and easy to lose and unless you carry it on your keychain or something, it might be difficult to remember to grab it. Google Drive (or something like it, like Dropbox) is the easiest way to keep your important documents in order and portable. I can access my documents on any computer on campus to print out at a moments notice without have to wonder whether or not I brought a USB drive. Or, if I have a study guide on there, instead of having to whip out a printed version, I just open the Google Drive app on my iPhone and can study it from there. The possibilities are endless and Google Drive just allows all of your important school files to be easily accessible no matter where you are.

4. A sturdy backpack or tote

I suppose this could fall under the fashion category, but at the same time, this is much more essential than a cute pair of boots (as much as it pains me to say). I've been using the same canvas tote from Kate Spade since my freshmen year and it has been through hell and back, let me just tell you (*shudders at the thought*). It's really important to have a functional bag that can hold all of your campus necessities, whether it's a notebook for every class and all of your textbooks or just a laptop and a wallet. Your campus necessities may vary depending on the day and your work load and whether or not you like to type or handwrite your notes. But it's important to pick a bag that is sturdy, well made and comfortable to carry. I prefer the tote style for fashion purposes, but I also made sure to get one with thick, well made straps and a complete zipper closure to keep all of my personal belongings safe inside (especially from the rain and snow). There are plenty of options out there, but a lot of brands I see on my campus are: Herschel, Vera Bradley, Kate Spade, and North Face. I also love the idea of a Madewell leather tote, but the biggest size doesn't zip close. I know people who swear by them, though!