9 Must-Have Electronics to Make College Easier

1. Lightweight Laptop

Before college, I didn’t have a laptop of my own. My sister and I would hog our parents’ desktop computers day and night, which wasn’t exactly charming. You can imagine my excitement when we went out to buy laptops as graduation gifts. Pre-freshman-year-me was hellbent on purchasing something trendy, silver, and medium-sized with a decent CPU. Unfortunately, there was one thing I overlooked: weight.

If you’re in the same boat I was–looking to buy a laptop before freshman year (or any year for that matter)–I highly recommend taking weight into consideration. Bear in mind how often you’ll be carrying it around campus, between classes, to the library, and so forth. You can compare specs across one hundred different models, but make sure to opt for something lightweight to make college easier on yourself.

2. Book Light

College is admittedly packed with late-night study sessions. Some nights are meant for a caffeinated study group in the library, whereas others are meant for curling up in bed with Professor B’s 100-page assigned reading that he seems to think is your only obligation. If you’re experiencing the latter of the two, but your high-maintenance roommate demands lights out at 10PM, purchasing a book light may be in your best interest. A book light affords you the convenience of late-night reading in bed without disturbing your roommate’s grandmotherly sleeping habits. It’s a win-win.

Check out:

➯ Amazon’s rechargeable book light for under $10

➯ Amazon’s #1 Bestseller in Book Lights on sale for $16.95

3. String Lights (Hear me out on this one)

While string lights make for stellar dorm decor, they serve an even greater purpose: lighting. If you are suffering from a bad case of my-roommate-goes-to-bed-before-me or even I-wake-up-before-my-roommate, string lights are a must-have. They illuminate the room at a minor level, which benefits both parties. You can see just enough to get dressed or maneuver the room, all the while being courteous of anyone asleep.

An added bonus: extra lighting! Last year, the overhead lighting in my dorm was dull, almost grey. My friends in the same building said it was reminiscent of a cellar (yikes). But, with both the overhead and the string lights, the lighting made for a very pleasant space.

Try throwing these up on your walls:

➯ Dailyart 13ft Long Globe String Light $12.90

➯ Everglow Clear White Wire Light set $7.89

➯ Target’s Multi-Size Ball String Lights $14.99

If you’re not into the string light look, a dim lamp acts as a great alternative:

➯ Room Essentials Stick Lamp $14.99

➯ Multi-Head Floor Lamp $17.99

4. Sturdy Phone Case

This one isn’t so much an electronic as it is an electronic accessory; nevertheless, it’s a must-have. I’ll let you in on a not-so-secret secret: college students are reckless. That means, for whatever reason, college students are prone to breaking expensive and sometimes sentimentally valuable items. To prepare yourselves and your overpriced iPhones, I recommend buying a sturdy phone case. This is one precaution I will always swear by, as it’s easy enough and goes a long way.

➯ Here’s my current case that saved me on multiple occasions $10.95

Whatever model phone you have, try to get a case with a hard cover and a back. I’ve seen too many gummy cases that are flimsy at best or backless cases that only protect edges.

5. Instant Film Camera

These teeny cameras bear widespread popularity among undergrads–and with reason! They serve a dual purpose: generating room decor and capturing memories. I’m not the first and I won’t be the last to say a film camera makes decorating considerably easier. Covering your naked walls can seem like a daunting or, at the very least, a time-consuming task. Film is an easy solution, combatting indecision about which posters suit you best or your school’s strict ‘no nails’ policy. Not to mention using the film camera is a joy in itself. Bring it on a nature walk, to brunch, or to a football game and make a day out of capturing memories.

6. DIY Alternative to Instant Film (will also save you time)

Let me introduce everyone to a printer.

If you aren’t the photographer type, you can skip the camera altogether. Instead, something I’ve done is grab your favorite photos from Facebook and print them on glossy photo paper. Easy! This gives you much more creative license to edit, resize, or reformat any photos you choose. Meanwhile, the glossy paper gives them a professional, finished look. You can even crop photos on your computer, paste them onto this template (click here), and print yourself some DIY polaroids. Be mindful of the photo paper you buy to make sure it fits your specific printer.

Another arguably-more-important characteristic of printers is their ability to save you time in college. Many schools offer free printing in the library with the cost of tuition. While I think this is a superb use of tuition dollars, it’s not necessarily what’s most convenient. Say you finish an essay at midnight, but the library closed an hour ago; now you need to wake up early to print. Or maybe you forgot your notes and want to print them during lunch, but the library is on the other side of campus and you’re not sure you can make it. Having your own printer in the comfort of your dorm will save you time and energy.

Best Buy printers on sale:

➯ EPSON Expression Wireless All-In-One Printer $44.99

➯ Canon PIXMA Wireless All-In-One Printer $59.99

Glossy Paper for your decor needs:

➯ Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts Canon Letter 20 Pack $13.99

➯ Kodak Glossy Letter Size 100 Pack $18.25

7. Simple Earbuds

This one speaks for itself. A pair of simple, noise-isolating earbuds are a college staple. Good for walking to class with your favorite playlist in the background. For listening to audio clips in spanish class. For blocking out distractions in the unexpectedly loud library. For one hundred other things.

➯ Panasonic ErgoFit Best in Class In-Ear Earbud Headphones RP $8.79

➯ Microsoft Skullcandy Ink’d 2 Earbuds with Inline Mic $24.99

➯ Ultimate Ears Logitech 350vm Noise Isolating Headset $19.99

8. Speakers

I’m sure many of you like to kick back with music when stress hits hard. Music can be extremely therapeutic, especially for specific moods. My good friends have their fair share of angry playlists, breakup playlists, etc. A nice speaker set will lend you some quality audio and hopefully a chance to ease your nerves. Speakers are also a great investment if you’re looking to invite a group of friends over every once in awhile. Everything’s better with a little music!

➯ Best Buy Insignia Portable Bluetooth Stereo Speaker (sale) $24.99

➯ Cambridge SoundWorks OontZ Ultra Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker $27.99

➯ XBOOM Mini Portable Capsule Speaker with Rechargeable Battery $14.99

9. Spare Batteries For Your…Anything

Although we’re transitioning into a digital age of rechargeable everythings, there are still a few essentials that need a regular battery change. Calculators are a big one. Imagine running out of battery during an exam. No thanks! Make college easier for yourself by bringing spare batteries with you. For your calculator or whatever else might run out. It’s always a good idea to be prepared.