For the third installment of back to college I have picked one of my favorites, supplies! I can remember being in elementary school and the day I got my school supplies list I would beg my mom to take us (my brother and I) shopping, it was one of my favorite things (okay, that sounds really nerdy, but it is so true.) This may or may not have continued through middle school, and potentially a little in high school. Anyways, here are the supplies that come with me to every class, every day.

Monogram Notebook : I came across these great notebooks that you can monogram (you can also have the pages be an agenda if you wish instead of a lined paper, graph paper, or blank.) I use notebooks all of the time. Depending on the class I take handwritten notes or type them. Either way notebooks are essential to my life and they are always in my school bag, purse, car and anything else I can put them in. They are one thing I could not live without in college.

Pencils : I really use pens more than I use pencils, but most of the tests in college use scantrons (fill in the bubble, SAT style.) Therefore, I now have more pencils than pens because for each test I require myself to have a three pencil minimum (unnecessary, but it makes me feel better.) Besides, these pencils are the cutest I’ve ever found!

Large Longchamp Tote : I have been using a lonchamp for a “backpack” for years now and they can hold so much more than you’d expect. They can even hold my heavy biology and chemistry books without me feeling as though the bag will break. I usually have an additional smaller bag for all of the little things so they are not floating around at the bottom. It does have a pocket  towards the top that perfectly fits pens and pencils.

Lilly Pulitzer Calculator : Okay, so this may not be the most practical calculator if you are taking any course that requires more than simple math, but it is easily the cutest calculator I have ever seen. Anyways, depending on your major you will need a good calculator, and yes, they do make pink graphing calculators (I put a monogram sticker on mine!)

Binder Clips : These are some of my best friends, I use then to organize handouts, keep my place in my agenda, keep papers and their drafts together and anything else a binder clip can be used for, they are something everyone should have with them.

Highlighters : The first thing I do when I get a syllabus is take my highlighters out. I usually come up with a color coded system to mark due dates for papers, tests, days without class (woohoo), and anything else important that I need to remember. They are also great to mark things that you write down in class that are of extra importance.

Sticky Notes : I use sticky notes mostly as reminders to myself but also to stick into my notebook and agenda when I need to add something in. I also stick them on the inside of my laptop with everything from due dates to blog post ideas and anything else I might forget.

Agenda : I would not be able to function without my agenda. This is pretty self explanatory of why I use one and why it is so important in college. I know many people use their phones now for an agenda, but there is something about having it written down, that for me, will never be replaced.

USB : You never know when you are going to need to quickly transfer a file from one computer to the next and when internet is down, this comes in handy!

Index Cards : I still use flash cards to study so I try and have theses with me all the time. If you are like me, you have a need to get to class early and with that spare time, making note cards or running through them to study is a great way to maximize time.

In addition to what I have mentioned above I also carry (always or sometimes) my laptop, iPad, hair ties, hair clips, chapstick, tissues, hand cream, and bandaids.

Do you have any essentials you carry in your school bag, if so please share!

Check out the back to college bedding post, and storage post too!