If you’re preparing to start or return to college, your back-to-school shopping list may seem quite intimidating — especially if you’re living on campus. Between dorm room accessories and classroom essentials, where does one begin?
To put you a bit more at ease while you cross the bridge between summer’s end and the upcoming fall semester, we’ve compiled a list of back-to-school items that will make your transition into college life as seamless as possible, sourced straight from the greatest college resource of all — TikTok, of course!
1. The go-to emotional support water bottle
The emotional support water bottle isn’t just any old trend — it’s a lifestyle. Consider purchasing a reusable water bottle to carry around with you on campus and to your classes. It’s important to stay hydrated throughout the day to keep your body energized and your brain on task. As an added bonus, reusable bottles are better for the environment!
Reusable water bottles — from chic to cheap — can be found at various stores, both online and in person. You can look everywhere from your local grocery store to Amazon!
2. A dependable backpack
A backpack to fit your laptop, along with all your textbooks, notebooks, and midday snacks, is one of the most important purchases you’ll make for your academic career. Your backpack will be your closest acquaintance throughout your college journey, carried with you nearly every single day — so make sure you pick one that feels sturdy and comfortable!
Check out this list of the 14 best backpacks for college students and get to shopping!
3. A fun planner for staying organized
Keep organized while adding a touch of personality to your daily routine with a fun daily planner. A visually appealing planner can make staying on top of assignments, deadlines, and activities more enjoyable, encouraging you to use it.
Check out this list of the best planners of 2024.
4. Personalized dorm room accessories
On to the fun part — dorm room accessories! Your dorm room will become your safe haven away from the stress and chaos of classes and a bustling campus.
It’s important to decorate your room the way you want to promote relaxation; a space that is optimized for comfortable study and work time. Cover your walls with pictures and posters or opt for a more minimalistic look — whichever your preferred vibe is!
Utilize Dormify to shop for bedding, furniture, accessories, and more. The website allows you to shop by aesthetic, and even test out a bed visualizer.
Sidenote — scrolling through Pinterest for fun decor inspo is a great way to spend your last few days lounging beneath the sun.
5. A portable charger for your long days on campus
For the long days on campus (or when there are no available outlets in the library), a portable phone charger can be a lifesaver.
Your phone is a great classroom and study tool, full of essential apps that can aid in your learning. So, it’s very important to maintain a full charge. You can find a wide variety of portable chargers on Amazon. They’re compact enough to fit easily into your backpack!
6. A compact and convenient lunch bag
A busy class schedule often means long hours away from your dorm room. If you don’t have enough time to hit the dining hall for a quick bite, you might find your meals becoming infrequent, which can negatively impact your performance in the classroom and in your extracurriculars. It’s important to carry around snacks to keep your energy levels high, which is why lunch bags and other portable food containers are a vital addition to your semester shopping list.
Buy a lunchbox that fits your aesthetic to eat on the go.
7. Rhino moving bags
Make your move-in day a bit more manageable by using Rhino heavy duty moving bags. These bags can hold up to 50 pounds and 24 gallons of items!
Both water and puncture resistant, these bags can survive even the most hectic of move-in days. Use these moving bags to store everything from bedding to clothes to decor. The convenient handles will make them easy to carry, while the labels will make your life much easier when unpacking.
8. Wall or desk calendar to stay on track
One important aspect of transitioning into college life is developing a sense of responsibility for your schoolwork and schedule. To stay organized, we recommend buying a wall or desk calendar to keep in your dorm room.
Keep tabs on your exam dates, study sessions, appointments, and more!
Use Shutterfly to create a personalized calendar to fit your dorm room aesthetic.
9. A laptop case
Let’s be honest — we can all be a little abusive with our laptops from time to time. If your backpack doesn’t include a laptop sleeve, make sure to have another way to keep your computer safe as you lug it around campus. Uplevel your back-to-school style with a customizable, padded laptop case or skin from SkinIt.
These cases are custom designed to fit a wide range of laptop models and combine personalization with protection. Express your creativity by uploading your own design, artwork, or photo to craft a one-of-a-kind laptop skin that showcases your unique style.
10. Purple Knight swag
And finally, perhaps the most essential item on your list — University of Bridgeport merch!
Show off your Purple Knight pride on campus with a sweatshirt, hat, t-shirt, and more. We can’t wait to see you rocking UB colors this upcoming fall!
As summer ends, it’s the ideal moment to tackle your back-to-school shopping. Gear up for the upcoming semester and ensure a smooth transition with our reliable checklist.
Happy shopping, everyone!