Which bag, notebook etc etc. to buy for uni

[Junepassing]

Hi I'm a mature student starting uni in September.

It's not a course that seems to attract as many mature students as something like nursing for example. I wouldn't normally care, but I'm desperate to fit in and make a couple of friends. I want to do well on the course and there is a fair bit of group work involved. As a result I'm second guessing every little trivial thing.

I've been looking at bags, I'd like a big bag that can easily hold books, a laptop and papers etc. I want something effortlessly chic, but also a bit fun/bohemian/colourful and relaxed. I'm just wondering what bags the other mostly 18 year old students will have?

Also will they have books and notepads or solely be using a laptop/kindle/tablet? Do you need to bring pens etc? What other essentials do I need to buy for uni? Are books/pens/stationary obsolete now? I'm a dinosaur, help!

I’m no longer 18 but, when I was and at uni, I can’t say anyone paid any attention to what bags people had other than to say they liked it. It wasn’t a mean girls situation where people cared and made fun of an uncool bag. I did a teaching degree.

I had a large shoulder bag that would fit a notebook, diary, my chrome book and lunch. A lot of people used laptops/tablets… because it’s quicker to make notes that way. I also used to have a notebook though in case of technology malfunctions.

Good luck on your course. I’m sure you’ll make friends easier than you think. I joined my second uni during the second year of the course so everyone knew each other. I thought I’d never make friends and would just keep to myself. I met my best friends on that course and we’ve known each other nearly 10 years now.

Interesting …

I was probably considerably older than you when I started my MA - and I never gave a thought to choosing a bag for its youthful friend gathering potential! But with hindsight I wish I’d bought a rucksack rather than using a tote / shoulder bag - because I was never given a locker and the heavy bag twisted my back and nearly made me cry with exhaustion.

Look, you know you’re being daft, and I get it - but desperate to fit in is the wrong place to start. If you are not 18 no one is going to think you are. But no one will care. For group work / collaboration the brightest students (ie the ones you want to be working with) will only be interested in the contents of your brain. Which they will discern through conversation with you, and observing your conversations with others. So that’s what you need to concentrate on.

The best of your new peers will be friendly. If you are considerably older then there is no reason at all why you should expect them to become friends - beyond the remit of the course.

Given that you have got onto this course you presumably already have your own way of studying? Why not do that, and see how you go?

I’d strongly recommend a properly up to date laptop, hardware and software. (If you actually know how they work that’s a bonus …)

Congratulations , btw!

Thanks for your kind comments. I know I'm being utterly absurd and 'desperate to fit in' is probably the most tragic sentence ever uttered. Like I said I wouldn't normally care but I really want to enjoy the course and do well. I already feel like there are so many things that will make me stand out, but all for the wrong reasons :(

Anyway, I realise that all sounds quite pathetic! I'm mostly worried about practical stuff like easy to lug around, room for laptop, books, notebooks etc.

I think I'm going to buy a big fabric tote that everything can just fit in and I can sling over my shoulder. Backpack would be more practical, but I don't like them for some reason, I prefer shoulder bags.

Does anyone know do most students use laptops to take notes or notebook and pen etc? Do students tend to buy or borrow the books or use kindle? I like my kindle for casual reading but I think I'd struggle to read textbooks on it!

Thanks again.

I would definitely recommend using a laptop or tablet for notes. Much quicker and easier. It’s also then with you if you want to work on any assignments.

I borrowed most of my books from the library. Don’t think I bought any that were meant to help me with the course.

Do what you want op - what’s comfy and works for you. I’m at uni teacher training. Many of the youngsters sit there tapping away making notes. I’m a pen and paper person - that’s what works for me. Get yourself lots of lovely new coloured pens if you want them. And a nice pencil case 😉 I must say I did a science gcse recently and a fellow student had one of those touchy-feely sequinned pencil cases. I was so jealous and used to ask to play with it! Yes. I am 6! 🤗

Meant to say - the constant keyboard tapping drives me bonkers. But you wouldn’t know 😳

Second PP recommendation of a rucksack rather than a tote. I’d recommend this: www.trekitt.co.uk/rucksacks/day-packs/fjallraven-kanken-no-2-dark-olive__41197 a classic design that is lightweight, hardwearing and waterproof.

i bought this one and find it good for laptop, note books and heavy text books (can’t believe it’s still compulsory to buy books)..I prefer to have hard copy book though it helps me to highlight quotes and key info.

I also bought the additional packet bundle which are great and mean I can also use the bag for short trips/weekend breaks:

nordace.com/en/product/nordace-siena-smart-backpack/

I much prefer paper and pen for notes. It's defo just personal preference and you'll figure out yourself what works best for you. Love a stationary haul from Paperchase.

It's perhaps a generational thing. The first time I was at uni (20 years ago) no one had laptops. So, I've just automatically fell in to how I done it before.

Good luck OP!

The books for my DSs course are all available online via the unis portal, but I guess it depends on your course and how you will need to use them.

He uses a plain black rucksack from Primark. Importantly it is waterproof.

He uses a laptop in some lectures and pen/paper for others. I imagine some of it will depend on how used to taking notes on a laptop you are.

I know there was a mature student on his course in the first year who drove them all and. He spent every tutorial telling the younger students how they should do stuff, how experienced he was, what he'd done at every stage of his life etc. Don't do that!

Thank you all for your helpful advice!

@Squidgly and @DayDreamAway those are lovely!! Still not sure if I'm a massive fan of backpacks, although I could be converted for those!

@Seeline Oh don't worry I definitely wont be like that, if anything I'll have the opposite attitude towards the younger students! I'm thinking they're all going to be very bright, savvy and organised. I on the other hand can't help feeling like a fraud for being accepted on to the course in the first place. I'm not very clever, suffer from brain fog and have very little relevant experience to the course. I think I'll learn more from them than they can from me! 😁

I bought one similar to this after seeing another student with one. So practical for finding everything

Stationary is obsolete! Even laptops are a bit dinosaur like
all the students seem to have a tablet and stylus
i still like a Notebook because it helps me remember the information if I actually write it down, but I get a few comments!

books are primarily online now, and I’ve certainly never needed to actually carry one around campus, even though I did choose to buy a few key ones for essay writing because I am a dinosaur and find the tangible things a bit easier.

i would definitely do rucksack over tote though.

good luck on your course op, you got accepted for a reason, just enjoy it!

One for these this is my colour but they’re are others Nordace.

Depends whether you can type or write faster I suppose... and the nature of the note taking.

Eg if it's a course with drawing diagrams pen and paper might be best.

Heavily text based you'd want s keyboard. Can't imagine typing on a tablet touch keyboard would be easy so I'd avoid that. All right for a txt msg but not for note taking.

Hmm a lot of the students on my course do ‘write’ rather than use a keyboard, but it’s just on their tablet
they annotate lecture slides, set readings, draw diagrams etc.
but yes it probably depends on your course and how you like to learn too