Everything You Need in Your College Backpack (and How to Keep It Organized)

In the nine years between when I got my undergraduate degree and headed back for my master's, a lot changed. When I was an undergrad, we were still turning in a majority of our assignments on printed-out paper. The idea of doing that less than a decade later was absolutely laughable. I took hand-written notes when I was 18, only transitioning to carrying a laptop with me in my final year of college. In grad school, I don't think I wrote with a pen a single time. Still, for as much as has changed, I still needed a bag to carry the things I was using, same as I did all those years ago. No matter what year it was or level of degree I was pursuing, a bag full of essentials was a constant necessity.

How to choose the right bag for college

As soon as I found out I got into grad school, I bought a backpack. I knew my usual big totes and purses wouldn't cut it was I was hauling a laptop, workout clothes, snacks, and extra sweatshirts from work to school every day. The first thing I recommend in a backpack is a USB charger and numerous compartments. You want the charger for obvious reasons, but the compartments serve a major purpose, too. When you're organizing your things, you should store similar items together and make sure everything has a designated spot. Multiple compartments give you the chance to put all your papers and resource materials in one, your computer in another, smaller tech in another, and so on. All of that said, try one like this:

Essentials for any college backpack

I won't insult your intelligence by linking out to notebooks and pens, but it doesn't hurt to have some anyway. I never took written notes, but your program may be different. Plus, research shows you do retain the notes you take by hand better than the ones you type, so be a better student than I was.

If you don't want a backpack with a USB charger, that's cool, you should still have all kinds of charging supplies with you. There's no guarantee you'll always be by an outlet, so portable chargers are a must, in addition to the regular kind you plug into the wall. Consider this one, which has multiple adapters for different devices, as well as a wall plug.

Here's where organization comes into play. Hauling around charging cables for your phone, smart watch, computer, tablet, headphones, or whatever else creates a big, tangled mess in your bag, regardless of how carefully you designate your compartments. For that reason, I have a Dapper Wrapper, which features small compartments for every cord and folds up into a small bundle that sits at the bottom of the bag. In addition to cords, you can put your AirPods, portable charger, and other tech items in the compartments to keep them safe.

If you're in a program that does require writing utensils, make sure those are packed into a container with dividers so they stay organized. In fact, even though everything is in a large bag, I err on the side of caution and tend to put it all into smaller bags within the bag for extra protection and organization. That means a laptop sleeve, a tablet sleeve, and mesh bags for any extra clothes I'm toting around. College is busy and you may not always have time to run back home to get things you need, so a big bag full of smaller bags is a necessary evil. On an average day in grad school, I was teaching at least one spin class, working my full-time job, and going to one or two in-person classes, so having enough smaller bags to hold gym clothes, school supplies, and work supplies was essential. I also tried to carry around a lunch box for my meals, and I really loved my Umami Bento Box in theory, but I won't lie to you: I did not have a lot of time to cook, let alone meal prep, so that was kind of a waste. Keep in mind that some organizational bag items are more realistic than others—maybe just try packing some sustainable, reusable utensils for your trips to the cafeteria.

On the subject of food and drink, it's time for me to recommend a water bottle. Everyone is going to have a water bottle. It's healthy, it's trendy, and sometimes, getting up to go out and refill it is the most exciting thing you'll do for hours. When I mentioned getting sleeves for all your tech, I said you wanted to protect them. Protect them from what? Your water bottle. Mine spilled in my bag in my second semester of grad school and, through grace alone, I was spared a horror because my laptop was out at the time. Still, you want to be extra safe. I have since upgraded to an Owala FreeSip, which features a locking lid for extra protection. You can't be too safe, so get this one if you can.