2018 will be my 3rd and final year of university. Scary, I know.
Because of this, I finally feel equipped enough to offer some practical advice to new students and start a series of posts that I have wanted to do since I began blogging two years ago.
To get the ball rolling, I’ve decided to talk you through the many things that fill my Mary Poppins-like uni bag. I’m one of those overly prepared people who like to carry things that are usually pointless, simply because ‘you never know’.
If you’re heading into uni for the first time or if your loot needs a bit of an update, grab yourself a pen and paper and start a shopping list.
Pens
Pens. Pens. Pens.
Whether you’re using a laptop to take your notes or not, ALWAYS take a minimum of 3 pens with you.
I personally like to type in my lectures and take physical notes in my tutorials as it reduces distractions and helps me to focus considerably more.
While a big pack of cheap pens will obviously do the trick, I strongly suggest investing in a few thicker ballpoint pens to take a bit of pressure off your hands if you’re writing all day. The Paper Mate Ink Joy pens are my absolute favourite for uni as the ink is delightfully smooth and the grip is nice and comfortable.
EXTRA TIP: I always like to carry around a few cheaper pens for backup. These are also the ones I loan to people so that it’s not as big of a deal if they chew or steal them AND being ‘pen girl’ really wins you some points in the social department.
Colour
Depending on the type of work you do, colour coding can be one of the most effective ways of staying organised.
I always like to have either some highlighters or coloured felt tip pens for making notes in my text books and to annotate my notes while I’m studying, but coloured pencils can also do the trick.
If you want to resell your text books at the end of the semester, it’s better to use sticky notes in them as writing and highlighting depletes resale value. I also like colour coding my page flags so I know which topic/assignment the page will be useful for once I start working on them.
All in all, colour also brings a bit of fun to otherwise boring tasks, so go hog wild and experiment to see what works best for you.
Planners
While electronic calendars are great and super convenient, nothing can really beat the level of organisation that comes with a physical planner.
Any old planner will do the trick, but I personally LOVE Kikki K’s ‘Study Planner’ system. I began using this at the beginning of last year and it was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Whenever I’m set a task or find out about an event, I immediately record it in the monthly calendar view section. Then, each Sunday evening I set aside a few minutes to plan out the coming week in the weekly view section.
The thing I love most about their system, is that it’s fully customisable. The pages are all in a grid formation- each row is one day. This way, you’re able to dedicate each column to a different category of tasks, which you can change week by week to suit your plans- hopefully you can see what I mean in the image above.
The refill pack also comes with handy pages for recording references, assessment details, events and timetables, which you can pick and choose to create a layout that works for you and your lifestyle.
Skin Protection
Sunscreen is something we’re all guilty of forgetting, but if you’re pale as a ghost like me, it’s EXTREMELY important. Once again, any old sunscreen will do, but carrying a mini bottle is always a good idea if you need a top up throughout the day.
And for anyone joining me at the University of Newcastle, I BEG that you get yourself some strong insect repellent. Otherwise, the ever-so-friendly mosquitos will quite happily make a five course meal out of your flesh.
Hard Drive
Thumb drives can tide you over for the first few weeks, but I strongly recommend investing in a decently sized external hard drive.
I know you’ve probably heard it a million times, but you need to make backups of EVERYTHING, as computer problems are never ever a valid excuse. Hard drives are far more reliable than thumb drives in my experience, and they’re considerably harder to lose.
Chargers and Earphones
This part is pretty self explanatory but never ever go to uni without your chargers.
I can’t speak for all degrees, but I also find earphones to be pretty essential in mine. I have to watch quite a few videos to prepare for classes so I always have some with me so I can work in the library without getting dirty looks.
Water
This year, I’m making a conscientious effort to bring more of my own water to uni.
Not only will this save me the $80+ I spent on bottled water last year, but it will also reduce a significant amount of unnecessary plastic waste, and thus, my contribution to the declining condition of the environment. It’s a win win situation really.
Opal Card
Even though I personally drive to uni, I always bring along my Opal card in case of an emergency.
I also like to have a small amount emergency cash in a safe place to be extra prepared.
Random Emergency Bits
Inside my bag I like to keep a little makeup bag to hold some powder and lipstick of the day, as well as a few extra bits that I may need:
- Hand sanitiser
- Band-Aids- Disney Princess ones because they’re extra fun
- Lip balm
- Safety pins
- Hair ties
- Bobby pins
- Deodorant
- Mini insect repellant
While this may be a little overkill, my theory is that the less prepared you are, the more bad luck comes your way. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Eye Care
This isn’t necessarily essential, but I strongly suggest that you book in for an eye test before university starts- ESPECIALLY if you’ve never had one before.
The last thing you want is eye strain, especially when you’re cramming or working on an assignment. So be proactive and take care of those precious eyes.
If you have any specific questions or any other recommendations, feel free to leave them in the comments below.
Until next time, 😉
