12 College School Supplies Every Online Student Needs

It's about that time again! I'm not sure about anyone else but I have always found school supply shopping to be an enjoyable experience. However, if you do not have a clear-cut list of all the items you need to purchase, shopping for school supplies can quickly become a chore.

Unlike grade school, in college, there is usually no school supply list provided—at least not when it comes to your classes. And while this is the case, there are many supplies you are still going to need over the course of the school year, especially as an online student.

Many like to keep it simple and only opt for supplies that are absolutely necessary, but I have decided to take it even further and lay out a few things that you probably haven't considered you might need as an online student in college.

Here are 11 college school supplies every online student needs!

1. Laptop

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

This one is pretty much a no-brainer.

As an online student, a laptop will be your bread and butter; without it, navigating your studies will be quite tedious. As I have already warned, taking online classes using a phone should be a no-go, unless dire circumstances have left you with no other choice.

Laptops can vary in price and specification, but you do not need all the bells and whistles to navigate and complete your assignments as an online student. All you need is a laptop that affords you the luxury of word processing, file downloading, and a webcam.

I personally recommend any model from the Acer Aspire 5 lineup. Chromebooks are also great if you are on a tighter budget.

No matter the price or model, most laptops on the market today will give you all of what you need to tackle your studies and get things done!

2. WiFi

To access class materials and submit your assignments, you are going to need a stable WiFi connection at home or wherever you will be spending most of your time studying.

I understand that a home WiFi connection isn't accessible for everyone, but if it is doable with your current budget, I highly recommend you invest in the service.

If an internet service provider isn't affordable, wireless carriers like AT&T and Verizon now offer what are called prepaid hotspot tablets.

Yes, there are plenty of establishments that offer a public internet connection, but as an online student, you want to ensure that you have a stable connection wherever you spend most of your time throughout the day.

3. Laptop bag or Backpack

Photo by nappy from Pexels

If you like to switch up your environment and study on the go, a secure place to store your laptop is very important. Some people like to use a traditional laptop bag while others opt for a backpack with a laptop compartment attached.

Whatever you choose, you want to ensure that the bag is durable enough to protect your device. The last thing you want is to compromise the health of your computer.

4. Printer

Maybe it's just me, but printers seem to be so underrated when it comes to school supplies. I believe this is the case because many of us have grown accustomed to using a printer in a public setting (i.e library) or that of one of our friends or close relatives.

Printers can also be bulky and expensive to maintain so I get it.

However, I think that it is still a good idea to have your own printer at home. As an online student, you never know when you'll need to physically fill out an important document or scan something to be sent off to your school.

Sending important documents off through the mail can take days, even weeks to receive, depending on how far you are located from your college's main campus. Having a printer available to scan your documents will save you so much time and even money.

Furthermore, having your own printer will also give you the luxury of printing off copies of class material, which in many cases will make studying easier and keep you from having to waste time, shifting from tab to tab.

5. Pens, pencils, and highlighters

Although most of your assignments will be completed digitally, having pens, pencils, and highlighters as an online student is still important. There will be many instances where you will need to jot down a quick note or take notes by hand while tuning into lecture content.

We can all agree that sometimes writing by hand is more convenient than typing on a keyboard. In fact, a study found that writing your notes with a pen or pencil activates more areas of your brain than a keyboard.

You just might see more positive results in your efforts to learn and retain information just by handwriting your notes.

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

6. Paper

Pretty much the same reason why you need pens, pencils, and highlighters.

7. Planner

In online classes, the curriculum is already laid out with important assignments and due dates so using a planner is crucial. This is especially important if you are someone who lacks strong organizational skills.

Those due dates will come at you fast if you fail to keep things on track.

I highly recommend you invest in a planner that includes pages where you can create daily to-do lists in addition to the traditional calendar layout. Planning ahead is always a good idea!

Related: 5 Positive Affirmations for Online College Students

8. Scientific Calculator

Since middle school, many of us have grown accustomed to using a calculator to accommodate us in our math courses. If a math course is on your upcoming schedule, then you should definitely go ahead and grab yourself a scientific calculator.

In many respects, the calculator on your phone or computer will get the job done but having those extra functions of a physical calculator is unmatched.

I personally recommend any of the budget-friendly Texas Instruments Scientific Calculators (in the $10-20 price range), which can usually be found at Walmart.

9. Folders

Keeping things organized is very important as an online college student. If you are a heavy note-taker or like to keep track of physical copies of important documents then you should definitely grab a cheap pack of folders.

There is nothing like having your papers organized and exactly where you need to find them.

10. Earphones

Student listening to music while studying

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

One awesome perk of being an online student is that a lot of the lecture material is pre-recorded. This is great because it gives you the ease of access to tune in from almost anywhere with an internet connection.

I personally find that I grasp lectures much more easily when I'm listening with earphones as opposed to listening out loud. You may just be the same way.

Earphones are also good for multitasking. Listening to a lecture while taking care of things around the house can be so peaceful.

11. Sticky Notes/Tabs

As an online student, sticky notes and tabs will be your best friend, whether to jot down a quick note or to take tabs while reading a chapter in your textbook.

Depending on your major, you will be doing a lot of reading, planning, studying, and preparing for assessments so sticky notes/tabs are a school supply you do not want to skip out on buying.

12. Comfortable Desk Chair

Office space with desk and comfortable desk chair

Photo by Lisa Fotios from Pexels

As an online student, you are going to spend a lot of time sitting so having a comfortable place to sit is very important. Yes, desk chairs can be quite pricey, but they are well worth the investment.

Not only will studying be less of a chore with a comfortable desk chair, but your back will thank you in the long run. Comfort should always be a top priority!

- - - -

If it hasn't started already, the new school year will be here before you know it. Hopefully, this list of college school supplies was helpful in giving you a general idea of what to get as an online student.

Don't panic if some of these items do not fit into your budget. Just ensure that you get the basics and whatever extra supplies that will be most useful in your classes and the goals you aim to achieve this school year. Happy studying!

Cover Photo Credit: Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels