Top 10 Essential College Survival Tips
Sure paper, pens, text books and notebooks are back to school essentials, but this list addresses some helpful extras that you may or may not think about. Ever left class only to be caught in the rain?
Do you always find yourself borrowing erasers during a math test? Forgot to charge your phone the night before and left to school on a 48% charge? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might find this list especially helpful!
1. Spare eraser
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found myself in the middle of a math test with 5 pencils in my backpack and not a single eraser in sight! Do yourself a favor and keep an extra or two in your backpack. Sure your teacher might be nice and have some spare pencils, but that doesn’t guarantee it won’t be the cheap lottery style pencil.
2. Compact umbrella
An umbrella isn’t an item, it’s an investment! Weather can change in minutes and while everyone is trying to figure out how to get to their car / bus stop without getting soaked, you’ll be thanking me I suggested it on this list.
3. Cologne / perfume
Let’s be real, College is hard and time consuming! Even if you forgot to shower or it’s just a really hot day and your class room’s a/c decided to break, you’ll be covered. But in all seriousness, you never know when you might run into a job fair on campus or perhaps need to make a good impression on someone and being able to freshen up in an instance so you can focus on the task at hand is priceless.
4. Headphones
Listen to your music where ever you want, whenever you want!
5. TI – 89 Graphing Calculator
The most recommended calculator in history, personally I think it’s really overpriced but teachers don’t like students using their smartphones during tests. Honestly, yes it is a great graphing calculator, but if you can find a comparable graphing calculator at an affordable price, buy it.
6. TI – 36x Pro Scientific Calculator
This one’s a little newer than the TI – 89 but not a graphing calculator. On the plus side its thinner, cheaper, lighter, solar powered, and graphing aside it shares many features with the TI – 89! Many classes don’t allow the use of graphing calculators during tests but they do allow scientific calculator. If you don’t have a favorite calculator yet, seriously consider this one!
7. Spare cell phone charging cable
For those times when you look at your phone and it’s already at 18% battery life.
8. Portable computer
Computers are become a more important educational tool every day. Sure some colleges provide their own desktops… and that’s great too, but there are countless reasons to bring your own computer. Whether it’s because you didn’t finish the class assignment but want to continue later, the computers at your school take forever to log in or just like having everything in one place. There are a lot of great affordable and capable options out there like the new Eee PC 1025C or X101H.
9. Smart phone
Make calls, receive emails, and work on last minute assignments all on one device? It’s like the Swiss army knife of the digital world.
10. Emergency snack money
Maybe you forgot to eat lunch? Maybe you forgot your wallet? You’ll be grateful you had enough pocket change in your backpack for a soda and some chips between classes.
Have some more tips or suggestions? Let us know in the comments below.
LOL calculator? What a joke.
forgetting condoms, coffee, credit card, and beer.