Ten Essential College Supplies for the Fall Semester

1. Laptop/Netbook

When I look back on the money I've spent on just the basics- pens, pencils, notebooks, binders, folders, laminated reference sheets for each class- I realize that I have spent more money on college supplies than it would take to buy a simple netbook that would allow me to organize all my stuff electronically and just do away with all the excess paper. Geeks.com, for instance, offers netbooks from $150, and laptops from $299. For just $144.90, I got a refurbished Asus Eee PC with a Celeron M 900Mhz processor, and 4GB Solid State Drive- more than I need for word processing, note-taking, and surreptitious Facebook-ing while in class!

Or I could have stepped up to an Intel Core i5 powered HP G62-149WM 2.26GHz notebook laptop with 4GB of memory and a 250GB hard drive for just $569.99. Either way, I would have a valuable college supply to make my studies that much easier.

2. Messenger bag

Backpacks are for high school, in my opinion. Messenger bags are so much more wieldy than backpacks. Most are perfect for keeping the essentials on-hand, such as books, notes, and your laptop. College supplies that are larger than normal school supplies, such as art supplies, medical tools, etc, can more easily be carried in a messenger bag, and the across-the-body design keeps your hands free. A good selection of messenger bags can be found at Ebags.com.

3. Day planner

Most college students who do poorly, do so because they are unorganized. They forget assignment due dates, important notes, and test dates, and their grades suffer accordingly. Something as simple as a day planner can help improve a college student's grades tremendously. The collection of essential college supplies must include a day planner. Dayrunner is the best-known name in day planners, and they have a wide variety of planners to suit the needs of every college student.

4. Digital Voice Recorder

Have you ever had one of those days where you couldn't seem to write or type quickly enough to get everything your professor said? I certainly have, and it's a pain to go back and ask classmates to let you borrow their notes, or a teacher to repeat everything you missed. That's why a digital voice recorder is essential for the college supply list.

Voice recorders are an affordable way to take notes to play back at your convenience. Olympus offers some good ones to fit any budget. For just $50, for instance, you can get a VN-8000PC recorder with over 420 hours recording time, up to 51 hours battery life, and fast-access USB 2.0 support to easily transfer files to your computer. Add a digital voice recorder to your list of essential college supplies, and never miss another word.

5. Hoodie/Jacket

It is the Fall semester, after all. With the nights growing longer and the days getting colder, a good hoodie or jacket is essential for the college student. Hoodie People offers affordable hoodies from a variety of leading brands, most in the $40 to $60 price range. I love hoodies because they are like sweaters with pockets and hoods. Most of the body's heat escapes from the head, and much is lost through the hands, so hoodies offer that extra warmth when needed.

For those who live in colder climes, there are all kinds of great, affordable jackets to be had at Debenhams, a British company that offers stylish, classic clothing at an affordable price.Jacket choices include Blazers and sport coats, trenches, pea-coats, military style, and regular winter jackets.

6. Bicycle

College students with a car may not consider a bicycle to be an essential college supply, but if they care anything about their health and the environment, college students will ride bicycles as much as possible. When I was in college in Austin, Texas, I was amazed at how many people rode bicycles. I decided to give it a try, and within a month was in the best shape of my life, looking good and feeling good. Plus, I got to help reduce my carbon footprint at the same time.

For college students who choose to include a bike in their list of essential college supplies, Haro makes a variety of bikes for off-road, city, and in-between. And their cruisers are, in my opinion, just really cool. Specialized also makes a good bike. I had a Specialized Rock Hopper in Austin, and loved it. So why not include a bicycle on your college supply list? Bicycles today are a stylish, lightweight, sturdy, environmentally friendly means of transportation that is much needed in this country. Save yourself and the planet, man!

7. MP3 Player

I prefer Creative MP3 players. They are quality products that have a better price tag than the more popular brands. I bought my first Creative Zen MP3 player years ago, and still enjoy it today. MP3 players are great not only for listening to music or a favorite audio book- they can also play back lectures that college students have recorded with their digital voice recorder.

8. Bento Box

Goodbye, metal lunchbox. BENTO is the Japanese word that, basically, means 'lunch'. As in, "I bring a lunch to campus rather than eat at the dining hall." Bento Boxes and chopstick holders, insulated bottles, fun plastic utensils, interesting spices and snacks, and reusable lunch bags can all be found at Jbox, a great site offering authentic Japanese products. And don't worry, it's not all Hello Kitty stuff. The guys will enjoy things like the traditional laquered wood Bento boxes, or the awesome Practical Progress Bento set.

9. Caffeine

That's right. Caffeine is a great stimulant that can help you stay alert in those long, boring classes. And, despite what many people say, it's not bad for you. Think Geek has a great selection of caffeine products such as caffeinated drinks, candy, and other edibles. Ever tried Crackheads chocolate covered espresso beans? Black Black caffeinated gum? Buzz Strong's Caffeinated Cookies? Monkey Picked Tea? No? Then head over to Think Geek for all your caffeine essentials. And while you're there....

10. Toys

Yep. Toys. College is serious, but it doesn't have to be so serious that you lose your grip. Playing helps people of all ages to relax and free their minds of worries and cares, if only for just a while. Playing is healthy. Ergo, toys are awesome. Think Geek has great toys for that every college student should include as a part of their college supplies. Acrobots, Smart Mass Thinking Putty, Singing Monkey Balls, Annoy-A-Trons, and Stainless Steel Insects are just some of the great toys you will find at Think Geek.

I hope all college students get the essential college supplies they need to make this semester fun and enlightening. Good luck in your studies, and enjoy these essential college supplies. You will thank me!