What to take to UNI?

SamMoffatt28

HI all,

I know there are alot of threads about starting uni, but I really just want to know what I should take on my first day? (I'm livng at home so dont need to worry about the usual essentials for living in halls)

I'm assuming I'll need a folder, paper, plastic pockets, pens etc - but is there anything else?

and also I am thinking of getting a laptop ( I already have a desktop pc). What are peoples views on this? should I get a laptop - will I need it, and will it be more useful than my pc??

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance

annie-c

Take a diary to make a note of appointments/timetables and a notebook/addressbook to jot down names and numbers of tutors/new friends etc. Enough money to buy lunch and drinks, etc, or a packed lunch... on a first day I'd try to take money though, if you can afford it, as you'll want to socialise and make friends, I imagine. Maybe a little money to join societies/clubs but best to take your time before signing up to everything as many of the things that seem exciting on the first day may not fit in with your new routine.

I wouldn't personally rush to get a laptop - check out the Uni facilities first. Maybe get (a second hand?) one later on when you better know the requirements of your course - would be a shame to splash out now and then fin out it isn't high enough spec in a few months.

lellie

OK..

just take a pen and an a4 lined pad.. that's all you'll really need.

A diary can be useful for noting down deadlines - but I never really seemed to use it.

A folder can be good if you want to put course guides and things in them - they're often too thick to go in plastic wallets so either a hole punch or a document wallet type folder can be better. Your ruled paper will go in without plastic wallets too - I never bothered with them.

Some people like to have a dictaphone to record lectures - but many lecturers don't like being recorded, so you may have to ask first. I recorded a few lectures though and never listened to them back - so a bit of a waste of time - I just found paper notes easier. To be fair, most lecturers give out handouts these days that you can just annotate.

As for getting a laptop - you won't use it for lectures - there's never any plugs for you to plug it in with - no one else will have one so you'll look silly if you did and it's a pain in the !!!!!! to carry around uni. You're better off just making notes on paper - a laptop will distract you when you should be listening too. The only use for a laptop over a desktop is to have the internet in bed! If you do need to go online when you're at uni you can just go to the library or computer clusters.

Get a pen drive - then if you do decide to do some work in the library or clusters you can take the work home with you - most unis have a P Drive that is accessible over the internet from home - but I find it easier just to use a pen drive.

Make sure you have a sturdy bag too - carrying books home from the library is a nightmare if you forget to bring a bag - get a tote bag or strong shopping bag that will fold down into your normal day bag if you'd prefer to carry a smaller bag. This will allow you to carry home the heavy books easily - Carrier bags break!!

Another thing is to take a drink with you - buying soft drinks/water on campus is often hideously expensive or you don't get the time when you're really thirsty.

CrispyUK

lellie wrote:

As for getting a laptop - you won't use it for lectures - there's never any plugs for you to plug it in with - no one else will have one so you'll look silly if you did and it's a pain in the !!!!!! to carry around uni. You're better off just making notes on paper - a laptop will distract you when you should be listening too. The only use for a laptop over a desktop is to have the internet in bed! If you do need to go online when you're at uni you can just go to the library or computer clusters.

I switched to a laptop before uni and I couldn't have lived without it, but then I'm at uni over 200 miles away so only get driven to/fro at the start/end of the year. It's great being able to take the laptop home with me.

We get several people using laptops in each of our lectures, although the number of people using them to aid the lecture in any way is debatable. I'm on a computing course so maybe that's why we have more people using them?

ollyshaw

Hi, just to go along with some of the other replys really.

Pen, paper and a USB key will cover most things.

As for a laptop, using one at uni wont really be happening (unless you can type faster than you can write!). However your own computer at home desktop or laptop will be very usefull. Most uni courses revolve around computer documents for coursework, there is nothing worse than being restricted by uni cluster opening hours or not being able to get a seat!

Good luck,

Olly

lellie

ollyshaw wrote:

Hi, just to go along with some of the other replys really.

Pen, paper and a USB key will cover most things.

As for a laptop, using one at uni wont really be happening (unless you can type faster than you can write!). However your own computer at home desktop or laptop will be very usefull. Most uni courses revolve around computer documents for coursework, there is nothing worse than being restricted by uni cluster opening hours or not being able to get a seat!

Good luck,

Olly

See I can type much faster than I write, but I still wouldn't make notes on a laptop.

My uni is miles away from my parents too, but I don't ever go home. I just use my desktop - I'm hardly ever in uni though with my course so do all my work at home..

My boyfriend who is a computer science student uses his laptop a bit for coding, but he just got an old P3 IBM laptop as that's all he needs - means he doesn't have to sit in the labs all the time.