What to get for college?

Iamcool

What do people normally use for university for all of their books and stuff? Would it be weird to use a normal school bag or does everyone just use handbags?

Also do people need to buy things like a full pencil case, hard back copies, folders and all that kind of thing? Or does it all depend on what course you're doing?

For lunch and stuff would it be normal to have a packed lunch in a lunchbox or would people make fun of you?

Sorry for the stupid questions but this has been confusing me for a while now and my family just laugh at me when I ask them, they think all I need is a plain handbag and like one pen!!

CavanCrew

Yeah bring a hardback copy and pen. pencilcase if you wish.
Bringing a packed lunch saves money on spending it on the real things (nights out), sadly i wasnt always that organised and got the cheap chicken fillet roll.

College is a lot different to school, there are so many different types of people and nobody really gives a **** what the other person thinks of them.
Bring whatever you wish, everybody is in the same boat. Most of all Enjoyyyyyyyyyy. :cool:

Siuin

Personally I wouldn't use a hardback- with college notes you'll be rewriting them, re-organising, adding things etc the whole time, so you're much better off using an A4 refil pad.

At the start of each year I make headings of all my subjects on one page, and under each heading I put the course code (eg ENG104200), the module co-ordinator, the lecturer, your tutor (if applicable) and important email addresses for asking questions, such as your lecturer's or tutor's. It saves you from rifling through all your stuff at the end of the year when you need to submit an assignment before the deadline or ask a last minute question.

For lecture notes, I put a shorthand title of the course (eg English Literature = E.Lit.) in the corner and VERY IMPORTANT- the date! Number your pages and when you (hopefully!) do further reading later, include it in those notes and staple them together. However, it's usually better to staple by topic, just in case a lecture runs over a bit. During the week, I have a hard folder (so it doesn't get messed up in my bag) and a pocket for each subject, but at the end of the week I file my notes into one of those envelope pockets and start again. By the end of the year you should have all your subjects in chronological order and you'll be able to notice straight away if you missed a lecture because you'll be missing a 'week'.

So in short, I'd buy:
- Highlighters (don't underline stuff- it doesn't work as well)
- Blue and red pens
- Tip Ex
- Stapler
- Memory key (for backing up all your stuff- a real must)
- A few A4 refil pads (preferably ruled with feint lines)
- 1 hard folder (to keep in your bag throughout the week)
- Approx. 10-15 plastic pockets for the folder
- An envelope folder for each subject (preferably colourful- makes it easier to find)
- Labels for folders

Also- don't throw out notes after each year. You'd be surprised how many people do this... even if it's a subject you don't think you'll ever do again, you'd be surprised how it can come in useful. I was so annoyed when I realised I'd thrown out my classical studies notes from the leaving cert, as I later decided to do an elective which covered the works of Plato in first year arts- ahhhh!

PS I pack my lunch and don't give a sh!t what people think- it saves me about 25euros a week. Also, I bring a backpack - too much crap to carry and I'm not becoming a cripple to look cool!

heathcliff

Siuin wrote: »

Personally I wouldn't use a hardback- with college notes you'll be rewriting them, re-organising, adding things etc the whole time, so you're much better off using an A4 refil pad.

At the start of each year I make headings of all my subjects on one page, and under each heading I put the course code (eg ENG104200), the module co-ordinator, the lecturer, your tutor (if applicable) and important email addresses for asking questions, such as your lecturer's or tutor's. It saves you from rifling through all your stuff at the end of the year when you need to submit an assignment before the deadline or ask a last minute question.

For lecture notes, I put a shorthand title of the course (eg English Literature = E.Lit.) in the corner and VERY IMPORTANT- the date! Number your pages and when you (hopefully!) do further reading later, include it in those notes and staple them together. However, it's usually better to staple by topic, just in case a lecture runs over a bit. During the week, I have a hard folder (so it doesn't get messed up in my bag) and a pocket for each subject, but at the end of the week I file my notes into one of those envelope pockets and start again. By the end of the year you should have all your subjects in chronological order and you'll be able to notice straight away if you missed a lecture because you'll be missing a 'week'.

So in short, I'd buy:
- Highlighters (don't underline stuff- it doesn't work as well)
- Blue and red pens
- Tip Ex
- Stapler
- Memory key (for backing up all your stuff- a real must)
- A few A4 refil pads (preferably ruled with feint lines)
- 1 hard folder (to keep in your bag throughout the week)
- Approx. 10-15 plastic pockets for the folder
- An envelope folder for each subject (preferably colourful- makes it easier to find)
- Labels for folders

Also- don't throw out notes after each year. You'd be surprised how many people do this... even if it's a subject you don't think you'll ever do again, you'd be surprised how it can come in useful. I was so annoyed when I realised I'd thrown out my classical studies notes from the leaving cert, as I later decided to do an elective which covered the works of Plato in first year arts- ahhhh!

PS I pack my lunch and don't give a sh!t what people think- it saves me about 25euros a week. Also, I bring a backpack - too much crap to carry and I'm not becoming a cripple to look cool!

Great tips!!!! Starting in September and this was great to come across!!!
Thanks
H

Mr_Man!

Bring whatever you feel comfortable with. Nobody really cares/notices things like that in college.

For taking notes and whatever, after a couple of weeks you will learn which way suits you best and get into you're own routine..or become a bum and never attend lectures.

Relax and take it all in.

heathcliff

Mr_Man! wrote: »

Bring whatever you feel comfortable with. Nobody really cares/notices things like that in college.

For taking notes and whatever, after a couple of weeks you will learn which way suits you best and get into you're own routine..or become a bum and never attend lectures.

Relax and take it all in.

I am gone too old to be worried about what people think of me!!!...:cool:...What I am concerned about is the note taking and organising myself !!..And I have no intentions of becoming a bum!!!...( not after the effort I put into getting into college..Personal Statement, need I say more!!!!)
Thanks Mr Man!!

jdooley28

depends on the course a memory could be way more important than copies. Just make sure you have to be organisd the first few days you will quickly realise what you need. Def go for a packed lunch some days if you can saves a lot of cash eating in college is expensive. And no nobody will laugh college is a lot different to school in that people wont really care what you do and tend to grow up a bit.

Manzoor14

Siuin wrote: »

For lecture notes, I put a shorthand title of the course (eg English Literature = E.Lit.) in the corner and VERY IMPORTANT- the date! Number your pages and when you (hopefully!) do further reading later, include it in those notes and staple them together. However, it's usually better to staple by topic, just in case a lecture runs over a bit. During the week, I have a hard folder (so it doesn't get messed up in my bag) and a pocket for each subject, but at the end of the week I file my notes into one of those envelope pockets and start again. By the end of the year you should have all your subjects in chronological order and you'll be able to notice straight away if you missed a lecture because you'll be missing a 'week'.

totally agree, maybe include lecture number as well so it's easy to spot if you miss one, weeks can appear to be missing if its a reading week!

a method that worked for me was one A4 hardback for each module/subject.
take lecture notes etc on right hand page and then add in additional notes on the left page hand page later when required. any handouts etc can be just inserted inbetween pages... get a locker and just carry whichever hardbacks are needed for each day around.

got me tru 4 years degree and a masters!

Rasmus

Siuin wrote: »

Personally I wouldn't use a hardback- with college notes you'll be rewriting them, re-organising, adding things etc the whole time, so you're much better off using an A4 refil pad.

At the start of each year I make headings of all my subjects on one page, and under each heading I put the course code (eg ENG104200), the module co-ordinator, the lecturer, your tutor (if applicable) and important email addresses for asking questions, such as your lecturer's or tutor's. It saves you from rifling through all your stuff at the end of the year when you need to submit an assignment before the deadline or ask a last minute question.

For lecture notes, I put a shorthand title of the course (eg English Literature = E.Lit.) in the corner and VERY IMPORTANT- the date! Number your pages and when you (hopefully!) do further reading later, include it in those notes and staple them together. However, it's usually better to staple by topic, just in case a lecture runs over a bit. During the week, I have a hard folder (so it doesn't get messed up in my bag) and a pocket for each subject, but at the end of the week I file my notes into one of those envelope pockets and start again. By the end of the year you should have all your subjects in chronological order and you'll be able to notice straight away if you missed a lecture because you'll be missing a 'week'.

So in short, I'd buy:
- Highlighters (don't underline stuff- it doesn't work as well)
- Blue and red pens
- Tip Ex
- Stapler
- Memory key (for backing up all your stuff- a real must)
- A few A4 refil pads (preferably ruled with feint lines)
- 1 hard folder (to keep in your bag throughout the week)
- Approx. 10-15 plastic pockets for the folder
- An envelope folder for each subject (preferably colourful- makes it easier to find)
- Labels for folders

Also- don't throw out notes after each year. You'd be surprised how many people do this... even if it's a subject you don't think you'll ever do again, you'd be surprised how it can come in useful. I was so annoyed when I realised I'd thrown out my classical studies notes from the leaving cert, as I later decided to do an elective which covered the works of Plato in first year arts- ahhhh!

PS I pack my lunch and don't give a sh!t what people think- it saves me about 25euros a week. Also, I bring a backpack - too much crap to carry and I'm not becoming a cripple to look cool!

Excellent tips, Siuin. Maybe there's a sticky thread you could add this advice in.

Noodleworm

school bags are perfectly normal if your carrying a lot, you'll get a feel for what you need very quickly.
some essentials include refill pads, a folder, a variety of pens, pencils and highlighters, rubber, etc.
Other things that you might find handy, include some food containers, or a bag to keep the heat/cold in your food. Bringing your own food will save a ton but you can always deviant away from the standard sandwiches.also recommend a flask or some kind of hot drink container for tea/coffee.