Everything You Need in a Student Backpack (and How to Organize It)
A lot changed in the nine years between finishing my bachelor’s degree and going back to graduate school. When I was a student, we still turned in most assignments on printed paper. The idea of doing this less than ten years later was simply ridiculous. I took handwritten notes when I was 18 and didn’t start carrying a laptop until my senior year of college. In graduate school, I don’t think I ever wrote with a pen. However, even though a lot had changed, I still needed a bag for the things I used, just like I did many years ago. No matter what year it was or what level of education I was pursuing, a bag full of essentials was a constant necessity.
How to choose the right bag for college
As soon as I found out I was going to graduate school, I bought a backpack. I knew my usual tote bags and bags wouldn’t cut it because I was lugging a laptop, workout clothes, snacks, and extra sweatshirts from work to school every day. The first thing I recommend in a backpack is a USB charger and multiple compartments. You need a charger for obvious reasons, but the compartments also serve an important purpose. When you organize your belongings, you should keep similar items together and make sure everything has a designated place. Multiple compartments give you the opportunity to place all your documents and supplies in one, your computer in another, smaller equipment in a third, and so on. With all that said, try something like this :
Everything you need for any student backpack
I won’t insult your intelligence by referring to notepads and pens, but it doesn’t hurt to have them anyway. I’ve never taken written notes, but your program may be different. Plus, research shows that you remember notes you take by hand better than notes you type, so be a better student than me.
If you don’t need a backpack with a USB charger, that’s cool, you should still have all sorts of chargers with you. There’s no guarantee that you’ll always be close to an outlet, so portable chargers are essential in addition to the regular chargers you plug into the wall. Consider this option , which has several adapters for different devices, as well as an outlet.
This is where organization comes into play. Carrying charging cables for your phone, smartwatch, computer, tablet, headphones or anything else creates a lot of clutter in your bag, no matter how carefully you label your compartments. For this reason, I have a Dapper Wrapper that has small compartments for each cord and folds into a small bundle that sits at the bottom of the bag. In addition to cords, the compartments can be used to store AirPods, a portable charger, and other tech items to keep them safe.
If you’re working on a program that requires writing utensils, make sure they’re packed in a container with dividers to keep them organized. In fact, even though everything is in a large bag, I err on the side of caution and tend to put it all in smaller bags inside the bag for added protection and organization. This means a laptop case , a tablet case , and mesh bags for any extra clothes I carry. College is busy and you don’t always have time to run home to get the things you need, so a large bag full of smaller bags is a necessary evil. On a typical day in graduate school, I taught at least one spinning class, worked a full-time job, and took one or two in-person classes, so I had enough small bags to store gym clothes, school supplies, and work. supplies were needed. I also tried to carry a lunch box with me for food, and in theory I really liked my Umami Bento Box , but I won’t lie to you: I didn’t have much time to cook, let alone cook, so it was a waste time. Keep in mind that some items in organization bags are more realistic than others—maybe just try bringing some eco-friendly, reusable utensils for trips to the cafeteria.
When it comes to food and drink, it’s time for me to recommend a water bottle. Everyone will have a water bottle. It’s useful, it’s trendy, and sometimes getting up to go and restock is the most fun activity you’ll find yourself doing for hours. When I mentioned cases for all your equipment, I said you want to protect them. Protect them from what? Your water bottle. Mine spilled into my bag during my second semester of grad school, and it was only by grace that I was spared the horror because my laptop wasn’t there at the time. However, you want to be extra safe. I have since switched to the Owala FreeSip , which features a locking lid for added security. You can’t be completely safe, so get this one if you can.