10 Essential School Supplies for College Students

Laptop MacBook Pro or a PC

I almost decided to not even put this on the list since I figured every student has a laptop. But that may not be the case. If you have extra financial resources, I suggest calling your local community college or university to see if you could donate a laptop to a student who may not be able to afford one. Just an idea.

Dorm caddies

A collapsible dorm caddy tote helps a student carry essential items from the room to the shower stall and back again. Dorm caddies and shower caddies are available online from Amazon.com or through stores like Bed Bath and Beyond.

Cell phone plan

Maybe the student already has a cell phone; however, if an upgrade is necessary then the advice is college students should buy cell phone services online instead of purchasing from a retail store. The website, slashmybill.com, states that online stores typically offer much lower prices on cell phone equipment.

Towels

If you're going to shower, you need to dry off! Having a few towels available is a good idea. Keep small hand towels on stock as well. Towels can also help college students stay dry if they get involved in pranks like stocking the school fountain with laundry soap - not that I ever knew anyone who did such a thing.

Backpack

A backpack is almost as important as having a cell phone. Get a sturdy one that's sewn well at the seams. Make sure the material is durable. Expect to pay from $25 to $45 for most brands. The Lands' End Multitask is rated high by Good Housekeeping. It has a number of usable pockets.

Walking shoes or running shoes

Keep those feet protected while trudging from the dorm or frat house to class, or running away from the local police after fighting at the local pizza joint. Whatever the reason, sturdy shoes are a necessity and could encourage exercise. Some shoes, like the Avia brand, are sturdy to last during a semester of heavy walking and running.

Snacks

Cashews and snack bars are among the popular snacks students can use. Trail mix is another food item that has calories but tastes good! Get it for the athlete.

Headphones

Get headphones to help a student plug in to their laptop and block out the distractions around them - or to create distractions and block out the world around them. The Sony MDR-V150 headphones were rated high on wize.com and they retail for $20.

Notebooks

Stock up on notebooks at Walgreens, the 99 Cents Only Stores, or Dollar General. I'm a big believer in saving a few bucks since I believe most of the notebooks at Office Depot or Office Max cost too much when compared to the discount stores.

Flashlight

I recommend a Maglite for students to shine their way during the darkest time of the year. Is it any coincidence the darkest time of the year falls during first semester finals? I think not!

Honorable Mention: Frisbee

This All-American pastime can't be forgotten! Even if your kid isn't really good with a Frisbee he or she can use it as a wall decoration. Speaking of which, no kid can go to college unless they have a damn good poster to hang up. I still remember the days of Farah Fawcett.