Insanely Aesthetic College School Supplies That Will Make You the Most Put-Together Student on Campus
Want to know the college school supplies that will set you up for success? Here are the college school supplies you’ll actually use every single day.
Whether you’re on your way to college, or are in the midst of college, there are certain college school supplies that will make your life a whole lot easier.
And if you’re thinking high school and college school supplies are the same, I’m here to tell you that there are a lot of differences that you probably haven’t thought about.
But that’s what this post is here for! No matter what aesthetic or vibe you’re going for as a college student, I’ve got you covered!
I know I’m not the only one who likes to look (and feel) super put-together and coordinated. You know the saying “Look good, feel good!”? Well turns out it’s very true, and when you walk into college prepared, you’ll feel a lot more confident and excited to go to lectures everyday.
Let’s face it – sitting in a two hour lecture is not always the most enjoyable. But when you have a cute bag, matching school supplies, and cohesive accessories, it doesn’t seem so bad!
That’s why I’m going to help you feel like the most put-together college student on campus!
You’re going to find out about all of the best college school supplies from college school supplies list, college school supplies aesthetic, college school supplies essentials, and more.
Here are the college school supplies that you’ll actually need to bring with you (categorized by aesthetic of course!).
This post is all about the best school supplies you actually need for college.
Best College School Supplies:
The Coffee Shop Student Pack
1. Split Snacks – Snacks are super important to carry around with you in your college bag! You’re not always going to have time to run to the dining hall or grab a snack somewhere on campus before your next lecture.
And let me tell you, going to back to back lectures without having a snack to tide you over is no fun. Get something that won’t expire and doesn’t need to be refrigerated, but can easily stay in your bag for an extended period of time.
2. Small Wallet – Even if you don’t think you’re going to need it, it’s always good to carry around your wallet with you just in case. You never know, and it’s better to have it with you than be caught unprepared.
Having a thin, small wallet is great for your college bag so it won’t take up too much room or weigh down your bag (we’re trying to keep your load as light as possible!).
3. Hydrating Lip Balm – This is kind of a no-brainer, but a hydrating lip balm is a must! You’re going to need to reapply throughout the day, especially if you’re in a state that’s a lot dryer (like Colorado or Arizona).
You should have one specifically for your college bag so it always stays in one spot and you’ll always have it with you.
4. Journal Set – In college, you probably don’t need to be bringing big notebooks to lectures (unless that’s your preferred way of taking notes), but it is nice to have a physical journal to write down some notes and reminders.
Having a little journal on hand is super helpful!
5. AirPods – You’re definitely going to want to be able to listen to music on your walks to class. Depending on how spread out your campus is, the walks from class to class can take anywhere from 5-20 minutes.
If you’re not a headphones person, AirPods or some kind of earbuds are a must! They also make studying so much more enjoyable.
6. Blue Light Glasses – In college, you’re going to be on screens a LOT. You’ll probably find that 90% of the time you’re doing assignments or taking notes or exams on your computer or tablet.
And when you’re on devices that much, it can strain your eyes and give you headaches. So blue light glasses are always a nice to have. It also makes you feel super studious and put together when you study with glasses. 🙂
7. Mini Hairbrush – You never know when you’re going to need a quick touch-up when you’re on the go. Especially after a long day of classes when you can’t make it back to the dorms or your apartment, it’s super convenient!
8. Teddy Bear Keychain – One or two keychains are a super way to spruce up your bag or backpack and make it uniquely yours. And if you’re going with a brown or neutral theme, a teddy bear keychain would be such a cute finishing touch!
9. Small Teddy Pouch – This is a great sized pouch to keep your essentials and/or lady products in. You can create a small emergency or to-go kit that you keep in your bag that has mini essentials you might need.
It’s always better to keep things in pouches rather than having them floating around your bag where you have to dig to find them.
10. Portable Charger – A portable charger is one of the most important college school supplies! You’re going to have a lot of devices with you that you’re using 24/7, which means the batteries will drain.
Even if you charge all of your devices the night before, a portable charger will save you in a pinch! It’s definitely worth keeping in your bag.
11. Natural Gum – Some type of gum or breath mints are always good to have with you. You never know when you’re going to need a little freshening up.
The last thing you want is to be walking around with smelly breath because of what you ate for lunch.
12. Hand Warmers – Hand warmers are an absolute life saver when you’re going to college in a state with real seasons. Nothing is worse than walking to class and not being able to feel your hands because of how cold it is outside.
Electric hand warmers are the way to go and they’ll last you a long time. You can thank me later for this one. 😉
13. Insulated Water Bottle – Do not forget to bring a water bottle with you! If you don’t want to lug it around in your bag or backpack, just carry it.
Most campuses have a lot of water refill stations in each of the different buildings, so your water bottle doesn’t have to hold too much water.
But you’re definitely going to want one that will keep your water cold so when it’s scolding hot outside, you have a nice refreshing beverage to cool you down.
14. Academic Planner – One of the best ways to stay organized in college is with a planner! If there is one piece of advice I could give you to keep yourself and your schedule as organized as possible, it would be to have an academic planner.
It doesn’t have to be labeled “academic”, but it definitely helps because these planners are meant for students and will have spots to write down homework, assignments, and tests, which is so helpful!
15. Leather Tote – Depending on your style and how much stuff you have to carry around, you can either go the tote bag route or the backpack route.
If you’re going the tote route, you want one that has a good amount of room and is comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
This is a great all-around tote for students that looks luxury, but is actually under $50. And most importantly, it’s big enough for your laptop!
The Vanilla Girl School Essentials
1. Hydro Flask – A hydro flask is one of those heavy duty insulated water bottles that will last you a long time! You’ll have this water bottle for years, so it’s definitely worth finding a good one that will keep your water cold.
2. School Supplies Organizer – If you’re someone who likes to take physical notes, or writes in a physical planner (my kind of gal), then you’re going to want something to hold your school supplies.
This one has room for all of your pencils, pens, highlighters, and some extras like cords and chargers too. It’s super helpful for keeping all of your college essentials together and organized!
3. Blue Light Glasses – You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a good pair of blue light glasses. Amazon has some great choices, that also look super cute!
When you have to spend hours on end working on your computer and/or tablet, you’re going to want a pair of blue light glasses so your eyes don’t burn haha.
4. iPad Mini – An iPad is one of those college investments that is totally worth it! You will use it every single day. And it’s way easier to carry around a tablet than a thick, heavy notebook.
It’s rare that any professor doesn’t let you take notes electronically. It also makes taking notes a lot more fun! Which I know, isn’t the most important aspect. But it’s definitely motivating and a lot easier to want to actually take good notes and pay attention.
5. Quilted Tote Bag – This is by far one of the best bags to use for college! I used this one my freshman year and it was the best!
It holds sooo much in it, and no matter how much I stuffed in there, it wouldn’t hurt my shoulder. It’s the perfect combo of cute but super practical.
6. Vanilla Fragrance – There’s nothing a little bit of vanilla fragrance can’t fix. When you feel like you need a little freshening up, it’s good to have a small perfume or body and hair fragrance that will make you smell sweet and fresh again.
A scent like vanilla is a good choice because you won’t get tired of it, and it’s not too strong.
7. Mini Fan – It can get super hot on campus during the summer months. Especially when you have to walk across campus to make it to a lecture.
8. Fine Tip Gel Pens – Even if you don’t plan on taking notes by hand, you’re going to want one or two pens and pencils to keep in your bag because you will end up needing them at some point.
9. The Dailee Academic Planner – This is one of the best academic planners! It’s so detail-oriented and has so much space to organize and schedule not only your school life, but your life outside of school as well. It’s every Type-A’s favorite planner!
10. AirPods Max Covers – If you have a pair of AirPods Max, you know just how dirty they can get. If you have the black ones, you’re pretty safe. But the lighter colors get stained super fast!
Covers will keep your AirPods pretty and clean. And silicone covers are so much easier to wash than the headphones themselves.
11. Puffy Laptop Case – Puffy laptop sleeves not only look super cute, but they’re great for protecting your laptop. If you’re worried about the color, I would just throw mine in the wash and it would come out looking brand new. It’s a lot easier to keep clean than you would think.
12. Claw Clip – It’s so easy to just throw up your hair into a cute style with a claw clip. Sometimes your hair gets in the way and you just want it out of your face. A good neutral claw clip will always look good, and make you look effortlessly put-together!
13. Vanilla Lip Butter – One of the best lip balms! Smells like sweet vanilla (not too overpowering) and has a slightly beige tint that layers super well. It’s a great two-in-one – it hydrates super well and will give you a pretty tint at the same time.
14. Quilted Micro Pouch – If you have or get the quilted bag, this micro pouch will be your new favorite add-on. It’s so stinking cute and is the perfect place to put a hand sanitizer and some other small essentials.
The quilted bag is pretty big, so any smaller items that you want easy access to should go in this pouch so you always have them within easy reach.
The Soft Girl Starter Pack
1. AirPods Case With Strap – If you have AirPods, you need a good case for them! It’s better to have one with a strap so you can attach it to a keychain. Either way it’ll help you keep track of yours since everyone has AirPods.
2. Collapsable Charger Organizer – This gadget is so helpful to keep your computer cord organized. Just attach it to the charging block and wrap your cord around it. It’ll keep it from getting tangled and damaged.
3. Blue Light Glasses – These blue light glasses are super cute and you would never know they’re from Amazon! You’re definitely going to want a pair at some point in your college career. They really do make such a difference!
4. Quilted Laptop Case – Another puffy laptop case that will keep your computer nice and protected in your bag. Is there anything better than a puffy laptop sleeve?
5. Small Pouch – This is the perfect-sized small pouch and you can do so much with it! It’s also really nice because it’s super easy to wash and clean up so you don’t have to worry about the lighter colors getting super dirty.
You can also use this as a pencil pouch too.
6. Hand Lotion – If you haven’t heard of the Salt & Stone brand, you’re seriously missing out! All of their scents are subtle but smell so amazing!
They’re also an all-natural brand which is always a plus. If you’re looking for a hydrating hand lotion that will make your hands feel super soft, this is one of the best ones!
7. Micro Pouch – A micro pouch is a great accessory to clip onto your bag or backpack. It’s pretty small, but has just enough room for a hand sanitizer or a couple of smaller items that you don’t want to go searching for in your backpack.
8. Mini Gym Kit – If you’re a gym gal, this kit was made for you! It has all of the gym essentials you need (in mini form of course) so you will never be caught unprepared. Plus it won’t take up much space in your bag so you can always carry it around with you.
9. Hand Sanitizer – Hands down the best hand sanitizer! It’s one of the only ones that won’t leave your hands with a sticky or weird residue, and it smells heavenly! Once you try this, you’ll never go back to a regular hand sanitizer.
10. Foldable Leather Wallet – This wallet has a little bit more room for extra cards and cash but is still pretty compact so it’ll fit in your backpack pocket without a problem.
11. Insulated Coffee Mug – If you need your morning coffee to get out of bed (or matcha), then an insulated mug is a staple! It’ll keep your drink hot so you can enjoy it on your walk to class. It definitely makes waking up early a lot more manageable when a yummy beverage is waiting for you.
12. The North Face Backpack – The North Face is one of the best backpack brands for college students. They’re built super well and can hold a lot of weight so you don’t have to worry about it falling apart after a year.
A good backpack is worth the investment, especially in college. And if you want to get one that will last you, this is a great option!
13. Notebook Set – You probably won’t need a notebook for every class, especially if you’re taking notes on your iPad or laptop, but it’s definitely good to have one or two on hand. Chances are, you’re going to need them at some point and it’s better to be prepared!
14. Pastel Highlighters – Highlighters make taking notes so much more enjoyable. It’s also a lot easier to study notes that are color coded.
Quite honestly I didn’t really use highlighters for notes so much as I did for my planner. Nothing is better than a color-coded planner. Talk about organized!
The Minimalist School Set
1. Silk Scrunchies – Nothing will beat these silk scrunchies. You’ll never want to use a regular hair band after you try these out. They’re so much better for your hair and won’t damage or crease it. The only thing I use to put my hair up are silk scrunchies and claw clips.
2. Small Pouch – Another mini essentials bag that can hold all of your school supplies or turn into an emergency pouch. This pouch is in the sweet spot of not too big, but also not too small. It’s just right!
3. Hair Slick-Back Stick – If you’re a slick back girl, keeping a slick back stick like this one in your bag or backpack will keep your hair looking flawless all day. No more annoying baby hairs! It’s also super convenient and easy to use for quick touch-ups.
4. Everyday Backpack – This backpack is so lightweight but also structured. It doesn’t have as many pockets as The North Face one, but is still has a ton of room and is a little less bulky which is super nice.
5. Chomps Sticks – One of the best snacks for a busy college student! If you’re a little suspicious, I was too at first, but they actually taste really good! And if you’re not a beef person (like me) the turkey ones are going to be your new favorite obsession.
6. Hand Sanitizer – This hand sanitizer smells like coconut paradise! I seriously savor this hand sanitizer because it smells so good. Definitely one of the best scents.
7. Pencil Case – If you want a simple but structured pencil case, this one will get the job done. It has a little more room than using a small pouch. So if you take handwritten notes on paper, you might be better off with an actual pencil case.
8. Digital Academic Planner – When I couldn’t find an academic planner out there that had everything I needed to stay organized as a busy college student, I created my own! It’s the perfect Academic Planner for college students, created by a college student.
9. Neutral Hat – You’re going to want a couple of hats to have on hand. When you don’t want to do your hair or just want to keep to yourself, a hat is the way to go!
As long as you have one or two neutral hats, you’ll be set!
10. AirPods Max – If there is one investment that you won’t regret, it’s investing in a good pair of headphones. When I tell you noise canceling headphones are everyone’s saving grace in college, I mean it.
These were the ones I used and continue to use to this day, and they’re sooo good! But if these ones aren’t appealing to you, find a different pair. But just know you’ll be using these all of the time so it’s worth it to spend a little more money on ones that are better quality and will last you several years.
11. Individually Wrapped Sanitizing Wipes – It’s always good to keep a couple of hand sanitizing wipes in your bag or backpack in addition to hand sanitizer.
When your hands are messy, you don’t want to just spread the mess around with hand sanitizer, so a wipe will be your best bet!
12. Bento Lunch/Snack Box – These are great for meal prepping and bringing your lunch/snacks with you on the go. If you know you’re going to have a busy day, save yourself the hassle and pack yourself some healthy snacks so you’re not going hungry the whole day.
It’ll help you focus and stay more productive as well.
This post was all about the best school supplies you actually need for college.
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