There are some school supplies every collegiette should have—pencils, pens, folders and notebooks, just to name a few! But once you’re through with the generics, it’s time to focus on major-specific items. Whether you’re a math whiz or aspiring artist, we’ve got the perfect suggestions for tools that will help you succeed this coming semester! Just locate your major’s division in our list and get shopping!
Arts
Drawers, designers, videographers and future broadway stars—we’ve got suggestions for every creative type!
Supply Case
Artists have tons of supplies to lug around, from pencils to paint brushes and a whole lot more. Keep them all stored safe and secure in an incredibly posh pouch. But don’t settle for just anything—you need a bag that’s just as artsy as you are. Lee Coren’s line of bags should do the trick—grab this Portofino Pouch in Confetti Blue ($36, Lee Coren).
Sketchpads
Fashion designers, your prayers have been answered. These mini sketchpads come with discreet model templates so you can skip the struggle of figure-drawing ($9.95, Chronicle Books). Not a fashion major? Artists of all sorts should have sketchpads on hand—just find some that are right for you.
Flash Drives
Digital artists need a place to store their portfolios, and flash drives are the perfect place. Instead of settling for boring black, let your flashdrive showcase your unique personality with a sleek design and rose gold accents. (starting at $16.85, Zazzle)
Business
Expert marketers, PR stars and future business leaders of the world—here are some perfectly posh and professional items to keep you classy in the classroom.
Subscriptions
Want an edge in the classroom and in the business world as a whole? To be an incredibly successful business student, you need to stay updated on the latest industry news. Get subscribed to journals or magazines that speak about your specific field—The Wall Street Journal is always a good option ($12 for 12 weeks, store.wsj.com).
Professional Pens
While gel pens are our go-to writing utensil when we’re craving color in the classroom, they’re probably best left in primary school if you’re aiming to appear professional! Look the part of businesswoman extraordinaire by swapping in an elegant pen for your notes—both in the classroom and out in the field ($10, Anthropologie).
Padfolio
Padfolios are just what they sound like—a blend between a notepad and a portfolio. They’ve got space for note paper and pockets for pens, supplies and all of the business cards you’re likely to collect at school networking events! Business professionals adore them, and you should too! ($30, Anthropologie)
Humanities
Linguists and philosophers alike will benefit from these must-haves!
Hole Punch
You’re gauranteed to have stacks of notes and handouts in any humanities course. Stay prepared with a hole punch so that all of these valuable resources can stay put in an organized binder! A sleek, white style will match any room decor. ($20, Poppin)
Highlighters
Opting for a humanities major means tons of reading. Avoid getting lost in the text (or put to sleep by the dull, tiny words) by investing in some gorgeous highlighters—you’ll remember all the important stuff and can ignore that wordy gibberish. ($6.50, Jetpens.com)
Mini Stapler
Those essays and reports aren’t going to staple themselves! Find a mini stapler to keep on hand so you never have to be that kid begging for one before class! These flirty patterns are to die for ($11.95, praxxispro.com).
Journalism and Media
An incredible writer needs incredible tools. Look no further than these!
Reporter Notebook
While your typical notebooks are great for class, make sure you also have a reporter’s notebook for all of those interviews you’ll be masterfully conducting! This one is bright and cheerful, sure to brighten your spirits even after a long day of interviews and research. ($8.95, Amazon)
Voice Recorder
Transcribe those interviews (and lectures, if allowed!) with a handy-dandy recorder ($42.99, alexnld.com).
AP Style Guide
Any journalist needs to follow formatting rules. Keep the full AP Stylebook on hand to ensure you’re staying on track—your professors will appreciate it ($22.95, apstylebook.com).
Social Sciences
Psychology, history, political science and education majors will stand out with these stylish and supportive suggestions.
Flash Cards
Social sciences require what seems like endless memorization. Take down those terms like a pro with these colorful index cards. ($7.99, Staples).
Sticky Notes
Like your friends in the humanities, you’ll have your nose in quite a few textbooks. Keep a tab on what you read with these oh-so-chic sticky notes ($19.95, Papyrus).
Notebooks
Taking notes is a no-brainer, but those bland Five Star notebooks everyone has can’t compare to the luxurious pattern of these marble journals ($16, Urban Outfitters).
STEM
If you’re an aspiring scientist, mathematician or engineer (or simply technologically advanced) you won’t know how you lived without these tech supplies.
Convertible Tablet
Hate taking notes by hand, but hate lugging around a heavy laptop? Convertible tablets were made for you. The Surface Pro can handle all of your complex software and programming needs while remaining compact. The colorful keyboards are sure to stand out in the sea of silver and chrome in your morning lab, and if you ever miss handwritten notes, you can always take them on-screen with a techy tablet pen (Starting at $799, Microsoft).
Graphing Calculator
This tool is vital for making it through the plethora of equations and formulas floating in your textbooks. But believe us when we say that math is far from boring—especially when it involves a popping shade of pink. The TI-84 Plus CE Color Graphing Calculator never disappoints with it’s incredible graphing capabilities and ease of use ($149.99, Office Depot).
Coffee Maker
Those incredibly early lectures and late-night labs will require a consistent helping of caffeine. You’ll thank us for suggesting the Keurig K250, we promise (just look at that gorgeous turquoise shade). We apologize for your newfound coffee addiction in advance ($129.99, Keurig).
With these suggestions, your back-to-school transition is sure to be a breeze, no matter what courses you’re enrolled in. Have a great semester, collegiettes!