The College School Supplies That You’ll Actually Use Every Single Day
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.
Let’s be real for a second. Nobody talks about how much your school supplies actually affect your college experience. But they do!
When you have a planner you actually want to open, a laptop sleeve that makes you feel put together, and headphones that block out your roommate’s 8am alarm, showing up to class just hits different.
The right college school supplies are not just functional — they are part of your whole college aesthetic. And if you are going to be carrying these things around campus every single day, they might as well be cute.
Before you start shopping, make sure you have your college dorm room essentials covered first so you are not missing anything important. Then come back here and find your perfect school supply aesthetic!
Whether you are a clean girl, a chocolate edit girlie, a timeless scholar, or a neutral queen, I have got a full edit of college school supplies for every single vibe right here. Let’s get into it!
This post is all about the best college school supplies you’ll wish you bought freshman year.
Best College School Supplies:
The Clean Girl Essentials
1. Leather Notebook – 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. Especially if you’re a visual person, a notebook is a must!
2. Portable Hard Drive Sleeve – If you’re someone who carries around a hard drive with your computer (major storage booster!), this sleeve will make your life so much easier! It attaches onto the back of your computer and acts like a little pocket to hold your hard drive while you’re on the go.
Honestly, I wish I had known about this sooner cause it’s so darn convenient!
3. Lip Butter Balm – One of the best lip balms! Smells like sweet vanilla (not too overpowering) and has a slightly beige tint that layers super well. This is the lip balm that you’ll be reaching for 24/7.
4. Cuticle and Nail Cream – I can’t tell you how many times I re-apply some sort of hand cream throughout the day. Love that this treats your hands and cuticles at the same time!
5. Silicone Apple Pencil Grip – This is the number one accessory that made writing with my Apple Pencil seamless! If you’re someone who plans on using their iPad in college to take notes or do homework, this will make writing so much more comfortable. You can thank me later. 😉
6. 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.
Speaking of being prepared for college, check out this college move in checklist to make sure you have not forgotten anything important!
7. Bento Lunch 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 starving by the time you get home.
8. Correction Tape – I don’t know about you, but I always write with pens. So correction tape is a must in my pencil pouch. It’s saved me so many times!
9. The Pencil Case – The size of this pencil case is actually perfect! I’m someone who doesn’t carry a ton around in her pencil pouch, so having something sturdy and compact is a bigger priority for me. This one is also so stinking cute!
10. Undated Daily Planner – If you’re not someone who used a planner before college, you’re definitely going to want one in college. There’s always so much going on that it’s nearly impossible to keep everything straight in your head. Coming from someone who tried to get by freshman year without one, a good planner will be your saving grace!
11. 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, so your bottle doesn’t have to be massive. But you’re definitely going to want one that will keep your water cold for those 20 minute walks to class. Hydration is key!
12. Classic Number Two Pencils – Don’t wait to get your number two pencils! You are going to have at least one, if not multiple professors that require these for scantrons. You should always have a couple of these on hand.
13. Mini Label Maker – If you’re someone who likes to stay extra organized, a label maker will be your best friend. This one is mini, so you can easily throw it in your bag too.
14. Medium Canvas Tote Bag – If you go the tote bag route (speaking from experience), make sure you get one that isn’t just cute, but sturdy as well. This was THE bag to have on my campus, and it wasn’t just because it was cute (although that was part of it haha).
The Chocolate Edit
1. Brown Leather College Planner – I am absolutely obsessed with this planner! The chocolate brown is to die for. Plus, it’s a planner specifically made for college students (that’s how you know it’s good). The brand itself is one I would highly recommend for planners in general, but their college planners especially.
2. Folding Brush – I am always doing little touch-ups on the go. You know what they say, “look good, feel good.” It really does make a difference, and makes you feel better about going to lectures. 😉
3. Bluetooth Tracker – Your college bag is going to have a lot of valuable items in it (e.g. your laptop, iPad, wallet, etc.). So having a little tracker that you stick in a small pocket couldn’t hurt!
4. Brown Gel Pens – Brown gel pens are so chic! Not as loud as colorful pens, but not as basic as black pens. It’s a fun way to make note-taking a little more fun.
5. Noise Canceling Headphones – If you read the clean girl section, you already know how I feel about noise canceling headphones. But it bears repeating because they are that important! They will single handedly get you through college without losing your sanity.
6. Leather Pencil Case – A minimal leather pencil case is the way to go! It’s a step up from the basic one you used in high school, and it holds the perfect amount of pens and pencils.
7. Mild Brown Highlighter – These highlighters are the best! You can get a variety pack with different colors, but the brown ones are definitely some of my favs (coming from a big neutral girl!). The fact that these highlighters can fit perfectly into your college supplies aesthetic is so perfect!
8. Key Chain Charms – Adding charms to your bag is one of the best ways to personalize it! And this charm on a dark brown bag is chefs kiss! It’s a fun way to spice up a simple bag.
9. Medium Tote Bag – A chocolate brown bag will always be classy (and easier to keep clean haha)! I’ve seen so many people with this tote bag on college campuses, and I understand why. It’s a super solid bag, but it also looks really nice. I would say investing in a bag that you’ll have throughout your college career is better than getting a new one every year.
10. Leather Card Holder – A card holder is going to be a staple in your college bag! You’re going to want to carry around your student ID, regular ID, and a credit card or two without the big bulky wallet. You can just slip this one in your bag to keep you prepared without making your load heavier.
11. Blue Light Glasses – I seriously don’t know how people make it through college without wearing blue light glasses. The amount of time you will spend on screens is kind of crazy! So do yourself a favor and grab yourself a cute pair from Amazon so you don’t have to deal with all of the headaches.
12. Mini Supplies Kit – I love little kits like these that allow you to carry around all of the essentials without taking up too much space in your bag. These tools will come in handy more than you think!
13. Tab Sticky Note Set – You’re going to want some good sticky notes and tabs for your textbook, especially if you’re renting them. These will allow you to take good notes without being charged for marking in the book.
The Timeless Scholar
1. Laptop Cover – Laptop covers make all of the difference! They’re not always necessary, but it’s fun to have a case that makes your laptop look different than all of the others in the lecture hall. Any school supplies that make going to class and actually doing work more manageable is worth it in my books!
2. Softening 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.
3. Small Canvas 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!
4. Hydrating Hand Sanitizer – Since using this hand sanitizer, I have never gone back! It smells amazing and doesn’t leave a weird residue on your hands (it actually makes them softer!).
5. Breath Mints – Never go anywhere without breath mints. You never know when you might need to freshen up on the go. The fear of having bad breath alone makes me carry a pack with me wherever I go.
6. AirPods Case – This and the laptop case are just too cute together! Cases in general are just a fun way to give your devices a new look.
7. Stone Glass Bottle – This bottle is my new obsession! I think I’m up to three colors now haha. They’re so minimal, but so adorable! Also amazing if you like bringing your iced coffee to class in the morning (the perfect way to get yourself out of bed and on the way to an early morning class).
They’re also the perfect size to fit in your school bag!
8. Mini Hand Balm – Hands down one of the best hand balms! It’s a little nicer than your average hand lotion, but a little goes a long way. It’s one of the little luxuries that’s actually worth it!
9. Personal Safety Alarm – This is such an important one to carry in your school bag! Hopefully you’ll never have to use it, but it’s always better to be prepared.
10. Pocket Planner – If you don’t want to carry your big planner around in your school bag, a pocket planner is a great workaround! It gives you a place to write everything down, but it doesn’t bulk up your bag.
11. Small Tin – A small tin like this one is a great place to put some mints, maybe some Advil. It’s super discreet and can be used for so many different things! I’ve also seen people store their wired earbuds in these tins – actually genius.
12. Burgundy Pencil Pouch – A more roomy pencil pouch, perfect for the avid note taker! And even more perfect if you’re trying to stick with the burgundy school supplies aesthetic.
13. Linen Notebook – 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 at least one on hand. Chances are, you’re going to need it at some point and it’s better to be prepared!
14. Jasmine Scented Pencils – Hello?! I had no idea these were even a thing. But they definitely beat regular pencils any day! Talk about an elevated school essential.
If you are also looking for the best dorm room appliances to go along with your school supplies, check out this post on dorm appliances every college student actually needs.
The Neutral School Set
1. Travel 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.
2. 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!
3. Pocket Calculator – A lot of people don’t think to bring a small calculator with them to college. But chances are you’re going to have a professor (or multiple) that don’t allow you to use devices in class. And you’ll be prepared!
4. 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.
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 – 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!
7. Mild Beige Highlighter – Another super aesthetic highlighter! Love how subtle the color is and how easy it is on the eyes. This is every neutral girl’s dream!
8. 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. 😉
9. 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.
10. Sticky Note Set – Whether you need to write down small reminders or take notes in a textbook, you’re going to be glad you packed some sticky notes in your bag! I love the variety packs with the lined options and the graph options (super helpful for math classes).
11. Teddy Pencil Case – To match with the little teddy pouch of course! Such a cute neutral pencil case that will make you feel put together every time you go to take out a pen or pencil.
12. 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.
13. 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!
14. Mini Screen Cleaner – Nothing is worse than a screen with a hundred fingerprints all over it. I don’t know how it happens so quickly, but they’re pretty darn annoying. I always, always keep one of these with me pretty much wherever I go (I even keep one in my car). Super helpful!
Ready to Feel Like the Most Put-Together Student on Campus?
There you have it, the most aesthetic college school supplies for every vibe and every style! Whether you are going full clean girl, leaning into the chocolate aesthetic, keeping it timeless, or sticking with neutrals, you now have everything you need to walk into college feeling confident and prepared.
Which aesthetic are you going with for your college school supplies? Drop a comment below and let me know! And if you found this post helpful, save it to your Pinterest boards so you can come back to it when you are getting ready for the school year.
Check out my posts below on the best dorm room organization ideas and the cutest dorm room decor aesthetics to make sure you are completely set up and ready to have the best college experience!
This post was all about the best college school supplies you’ll wish you bought freshman year.
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