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For us college students these days, there are so many little gadgets and goodies that can make our lives SO much easier.
As a student myself, I am constantly reaching for certain products and items on a daily basis that I can’t imagine my life without.
Now, there are certain must-have products for college students that have to do with dorm and apartment life. That’s a conversation for another day 😉.
In this post, I’m going to be talking about everyday essentials that every college student needs for a healthy and successful lifestyle.
These are all products that I actually reach for super often as a student, and I thought it would only be fair to let you all in on all the juicy product secrets too!
I know you are just itching to get to the good stuff, so let’s get into it!
1. Crazy-Good Laptop
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Ok, I know what you’re thinking: “Mona, everyone has a laptop these days. It’s the 21st century.”
Hear me out. As a college student, there are certain laptop styles that make studying SO much easier.
As someone who has owned a few laptops over my lifetime, there is one computer style that has been killing the game: a 2-in-1.
If you don’t know what this laptop is, let me introduce you to the best thing you will ever discover.
A 2-in-1 laptop is basically a computer and a tablet combined. You can flip the keyboard to the back and use the laptop as a tablet to write on with a special pen.
Let’s be real. When your professor is spewing 1 million words per second in class lectures, you probably won’t have time to hand write it all.
That’s where the computer part comes in.
But what about when your professor starts drawing graphs and charts on the board, and you all of a sudden need a way to jot those down on the same document.
Voila! That’s when tablet form comes to the rescue.
I’m telling you…a 2-in-1 laptop has been saving my life since high school, and that has yet to stop.
I’ve been using the HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 laptop for the past 9 months, and OH MY GOSH!
When I say this laptop is high quality, I mean it!
There is a reason the best laptops come at a heftier price tag.
You’re paying for quality, longevity, and practicality. Period.
I’ve also used and loved the Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1 so much for 7 years that it got used and abused to death.
It doesn’t matter what your major is or how you approach studying, you need a 2-in-1 laptop in your life as a college student.
End of story.
For my Canadian friends, click here for the HP laptop and here for the Lenovo Yoga laptop.
2. Airpod Pro Earphones
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Let’s talk wireless earbuds.
Whether you’re studying at the library or at Starbucks, having wireless earbuds to block out any noise is essential.
As a plus, it’s nice to jam out to some music as you walk from class to class or eat your lunch in the dining halls.
As a student who goes to a HUGE university, I ALWAYS use earbuds in between classes or as I sit and study in a noisier place.
Instead of hearing the girls next to me gossip about their daily drama, I can pop the earphones in, play some chill music, and get my work done!
Now, I recommend the airpods because they’re crazy good quality.
There are cheaper alternatives that will give the same vibe, though.
If you’re not ready to splurge on the OG Apple version, check out this more affordable option.
For my Canadian friends, click here for the Apple earphones and here for the affordable version.
3. Tons of Flash Drives
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As a college student, you’ll constantly be collaborating with other students for projects and papers, so you’ll need a way to backup you work and transfer files.
I know we tend to get lazy about backing up our work, but please get in the habit of doing that.
I always keep at least 2 flash drives in my backpack in case I need to turn something into a teacher or share a file with another student.
You can literally get a pack of 15 or so for less than $30.
I’ve learned my lesson plenty of times before about not leaving the house without flash drives as a student.
Don’t make the same mistake as I did!
For my Canadian friends, click here for the flash drives.
4. Lightweight Backpack
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Alright, I know you think this is way too basic for a college must-have.
But the right backpack will determine whether you go back to your room with a broken back or not.
Some backpack brands out there are already super heavy without anything in them. We don’t want that.
You’re going to be lugging around books, notebooks, a laptop, and even more! You don’t want to feel like your shoulders are slowly dying.
Picking a light, practical backpack will help your day-to-day life by lightening the load a bit.
I love the High Sierra brand (this is the one I have) because it has a laptop slip, lots of pockets, and a super lightweight structure.
I’ve the same backpack for nearly 3 years, and it’s still going strong!
Trust me on this one!
For my Canadian friends, click here for a similar backpack style.
5. Yeti Mug
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There is nothing worse that being a dehydrated student walking from class to class!
I always make it a habit to carry a Yeti mug of ice-cold water (in the summer) or a warm drink (in the colder months) to keep me hydrated.
Out of all the mugs I’ve tried, nothing has maintained the temperature of my drink like the Yeti mug.
It’s literally a miracle product.
I can put iced water on Monday morning, and it’ll still be cold and fresh 24 hours later.
This is definitely a must-have product for any college student to keep in the side of their backpack!
For my Canadian friends, click here for the Yeti mug.
6. Portable Charger
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Don’t you hate when your phone dies and you don’t have any way to charge it?
That’s definitely me.
No matter where I am, I always bring a portable charger with me so that I’m not walking around with a dead phone.
Portable chargers are super light, thin, and easy to carry around in your backpack.
This is definitely a basic essential!
For my Canadian friends, click here for the portable charger.
7. Planner
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Oh gosh! This one is a must.
It’s so difficult to be successful in college if your mind and schedule are all over the place.
Different professors assign things for different days and times, so you need a way to organize it all.
Planning out your weeks or months will make your studying life so much more productive and effective.
For more on how to be a successful student, read my post on How to Ace Any Class.
Even if it’s just writing down important due dates, a planner will change your life for the better.
For my Canadian friends, click here for a similar planner.
8. Pepper Spray Keychain
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Let’s be real. College can be dangerous, especially if you’re walking around campus at night.
I’m a believer that every college student should have a pepper spray keychain attached to their backpack.
When it comes to safety, more is better!
I have a couple of these on hand to keep on my backpack as well as the self defense knuckles.
Definitely consider hopping on the self defense train and getting yourself some cutely packaged pepper stray!
For my Canadian friends, click here for the spray and here for the self defense knuckles.
9. Portable Hand Sanitizer
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No one wants to walk around all day with nasty germs collecting all up on their hands.
Gross!
College is a great experience, but it’s a hub for germs and bacteria.
Let’s be honest. Some students are nasty humans who don’t bother washing their hands or applying sanitizer.
Keeping a portable sanitizer bottle on your backpack is the perfect reminder to be hygienic.
I always have some mini-wipes, hand sanitizer, and a travel size Kleenex in my backpack at ALL times.
This is definitely an essential you need if you want to avoid getting sick every 5 days!
For my Canadian friends, click here for portable hand sanitizer bottles.
10. Mini Umbrella
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I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten absolutely soaked because I didn’t have an umbrella with me.
Don’t make that mistake because it’s super uncomfortable to sit in dripping rain for the whole day.
Do yourself a favor and always keep a mini umbrella in your backpack at all times.
Ya never know when mother nature will surprise you with a million inches of rain as you’re walking to class.
Save yourself some soaking wet clothes and get an umbrella to always keep with you!
For my Canadian friends, click here for the mini umbrella.
Well, there you go! Those are 10 college essentials that every student absolutely needs.
These are all products that have saved my life on a day-to-day basis, and I’ll never step foot on campus without them again.
Now that you know what is worth your money, I’ll let you stock up on those college must-haves!
Feel free to leave a comment letting me know what your favorite college essentials are!
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