[KDPMeluv]

Hello, i'm still in hs and i was wondering what stuff people in college use.
I'm pretty sure only experience can tell for this question, so I wanted to ask all the college students.

i heard that lightweight is the best way to go in terms for laptops unless you're majoring in engineering or something and need special functions.

but what about notebooks? 5subj or one for each class? what's the best way to organize your stuff, etc.

if you could all say what you use that would be great. thanks~

[be_mellow]

A binder with looseleaf and some dividers would be good enough. Most of the time there's lecture notes (you can print it out) from professors so you can follow that and add notes on the side or use looseleaf to write....I didn't use notebook specifically. I'm a bad note taker so I can't really say much...I prefer reading off the textbook.

Yes I use pens.....

Laptop? Unless you plan to bring it with you to class then get a lightweight one, otherwise any size is fine.

[Chanellas]

Hello, i'm still in hs and i was wondering what stuff people in college use.
I'm pretty sure only experience can tell for this question, so I wanted to ask all the college students.

i heard that lightweight is the best way to go in terms for laptops unless you're majoring in engineering or something and need special functions.

but what about notebooks? 5subj or one for each class? what's the best way to organize your stuff, etc.

if you could all say what you use that would be great. thanks~

If you're a design/art/photography major, you cannot skimp on the laptop/desktop!

As for notebooks/organization it's your own preference.
I have one notebook for each class because lugging around a heavy 5subj for one class I have on Monday is not my thing lol

[sleeps_in_library]

I use folders and notebooks. i've been using folders since highschool. the binders are just too bulky.

plus, you really just need notebook and pen. i like to use different notebooks for different subjects. then use diff notebooks within a subject for like notes/hw

you should def get a laptop. since you might be bored out of your mind sometimes and will need it.

[laris]

pen/pencil & notebook. i want to start using the one quicknote from MS Office... it looks as though it'd work well

[dolcedor.]

I use a clipboard and a pen. I stuff all my notes from all my different classes into the clipboard, but I keep them organized with paper clips. When it starts getting full, I move the older notes to a separate binder.

I never bring my laptop to school. It's just too heavy.

[jphase]

nobody at my school brings their laptop to class.. it might be because classes are small or what not. You don't need an "ultra-light" laptop for college, my friends have either a macbook or a desktop replacement dell laptop. They rarely take it out of their room because there's a computer lab in every building and a computer in every class room at my school.

As for as organizing, I like to keep it simple and cheap as much as possible. During "Back to school" season, I go to walmart or target and buy the cheap notebooks. The ones that are one subject with 70 sheets. They're really cheap if you shop around. For example, this past summer, I bought a 5-pack of 1-subject notebook for 79 cents at target! thats about .16 cents a notebook! Then I bought folders for 8 cents each, and a box of pens for about 4 bucks. Sure cheap notebook and cheap folder but hey, I can write my notes in it just as well as I can in a "Five Star" brand notebook so why not save a couple bucks?

Overall it really depends on how you're used to organizing things. I never really liked the whole binder thing so all throughout high school I just carried a 5 subject notebook in my back pack with the books and some pens/pencils. It's the same in college except cheapo 1 subject notebooks and a folder for each class. More money in my pocket to spend on textbooks!

Good luck and just do whatever you did in high school. and like others have mentioned. Laptop really depends on your major but a lot of students get a macbook and always rave about it. There's really no need to spend extra to get a ultra-light laptop, just get a regular one and think long-term when you buy it.

[c i n d y]

So far, I've been taking notes in composition notebooks. They have a semi-hard cover and they're lightweight...kind to my shoulders when I carry them in my shoulder bag. Each class has they're own notebook and it's been effective so far. I don't like the wide-ruled notebooks. College-ruled are better

[rago08]

For laptops I highly recommend you look at getting a good one for your first one and not being cheap. My friend's dad bought her a cheap one and now it's causing her too many problems so she has to get another one. I prefer my light weight one because it's easier to carry around, not just for classes but for studying other places/with people as well. One thing you should definately look at before you buy one is the battery life and how much space it has. Don't worry too much about it though, just make sure you get a functional one because they are really useful.

For classes, I use both notebooks and binders. I use binders for my smaller classes because they usually are the ones that will require you to turn in things and are the ones that give you handouts to put in them. For my bigger lecture classes I use notebooks because it makes keeping notes organized so much easier. In the end though, its alot about preferences. For pens/pencils, I perfer pens because they dont smudge away but if your in any math or science classes you may want a pencil so your not consistently scribbling things out.

College is a drastic change from high school, but it's also similar in other ways. Don't worry about it too much

[Maruchan Ramen]

The only thing I use is a laptop (tablet so I can write notes and do homework), plus a pen and pencil to take tests. This varies a lot by person though, you probably want to play around with it to see what works.

[KDPMeluv]

thanks for the good advice everyone!

[xthefirst]

how about notebooks with just 50 pages? do you think those are okay? because i like using my cute notebooks that are small so that i have space in my bookbag for other stuff.

[nanshi]

Personally, I think it kinda depends on what kind of student you are (what type of major you're in).

My friends who are all engineering and comp-sci majors lug around their laptops all the time. But they need it because of the programs they use and homework and stuff. Since their classes are very laptop-oriented, they usually have these fairly big desktop-replacement laptops. Personally, for classes in other depts, I don't think it's very functional and it's just one more thing to carry around. But some people just prefer tying... or surfing the 'net when class gets too boring (I just do crosswords and Sudoku. The old-fashioned way).

I, on the other hand, am a very messy notetaker. I draw arrows and lines (since I tend to copy down almost everything the prof. says) and make all kinds of small notes in the margins and at the top so it's more functional for me to have a real notebook (I can just work faster). Just a regular ol' 5-subject notebook (I like to keep things together because it's too hard to keep track of when you... don't). I usually don't finish one fully by the end of the semester, but that varies by what kind of note-taker you are.

For keeping things like syllabuses and handouts, I like to use one of those expandable folders. They're super useful for keeping everything together rather than having a separate folder for each subject. It's also loads more functional especially if you want/need to cross-check exam dates, paper due dates, reading assignments, etc.

--> Personally, I think it's much easier to keep everything together in ONE notebook and ONE "folder." I remember when I used to keep things separate, I'd color-coordinate them, but you're bound to mess up sooner of later and while it's not totally devastating it is an extreme annoyance. If anything, I used to keep ALL my syllabuses in one folder and carry that folder with me all the time, and then switch out folders according to what classes I had that day. Yeah. That turned out to be a huge pain too. So when I saw this really awesome expandable-folder at Staples, I jumped at it and bought it. My only regret is that I didn't buy a few extra (I hope they'll have them on sale this summer too. My current one is sorta falling apart).

Buying college supplies on-campus is really expensive. So prepare accordingly.

[agnuque]

It depends on my professor cos one doesn't allow laptops, one gives us handouts, one relies on the book, and others just write on the board so yeah. But usually I bring a laptop cos they usually send us the files they'd discuss.

[x kisekiboshi]

i like having one subject notebooks for each class and folders to color coordinate with the notebooks. although i think there are some subjects that may require you to get two (possibly history for your notes + professors notes).

i'm associated with a liberal arts school, and honestly all the classes i have do not require to bring a laptop to class. if anything it's inconvient (gotta drag extra weight around) and plus if there's wifi in the room, you might not be able to concentrate on the professor. but yeah, light weight for sure because it sucks having your textbooks + other stuff lugged around for some time.

[MarsCrescent]

I have a five subject notebook, expandable folder thingy, hilighters, pens, pencils, etc. I'm at CC right now so I don't have a laptop but next year, when I transfer to a four year, I'm going go be buying a macbook, but it's only going to be for papers, internet use, etc. (Not for taking notes.)

[milly]

I use:

-laptop
-spirals (one subject)
-mechanical pencils
-pens

[meimei__KOUSEKI]

i sometimes bring my laptop for classes, but usually it's just a big clear book stuffed with needed papers and things, a binder and a pen.

[Daikirai]

Laptop.. that I don't bring to class, and a one subject notebook, for all classes.. ><
I really should separate my notes.

[Mr. Chan]

For my general ED classes, I usually carry notebooks and a pen.