Backpack Essentials for Every College Girl

Carly at The College Prepster recently posted about all the essentials she carried around in her tote bag for college. Instead of using a tote bag at college, I use a backpack. The problem is that my backpack is basically my life--I'm never in my dorm room. I'm either at class, the library, volunteering, downtown, or in a research lab. Since I'm always on the go, I have to bring everything with me. I wish I could use totes...there are some adorable ones out there! But alas, I wouldn't have enough room in them for everything.

If you're a backpack girl, here's all the essentials you've got to bring with you as you pave the way through your hectic, busy days!

Backpack Essentials by preppypremed featuring Incase

Starting with the backpack and going counter clockwise:

I bought a Northface backpack for college two years ago and it's still in perfect condition. It might be a little pricier than some of the more fashionable backpacks out there, but you're paying for quality. I also made sure to get a black backpack because it would match with anything and people wouldn't notice if it got dirty.

A wristlet is a must for any college girl. You can fit your school ID, keys, cell phone, money and debit cards all into one little pouch, therefore never losing anything! 

I'm lucky enough to own a Nook Color, so I always have that with me wherever I go. It has my teachers' PDFs on it, my textbooks, books for my English class, "just for fun" novels and a few magazines as well. It definitely has freed up some space in my backpack (and saved my back). Don't forget a cute cover for it so it doesn't get scratched.

Here my obsessive-compulsive side comes out: I use a cheap travel electronics bag to hold my cell phone charger, computer charger, Nook charger and extra headphones. You never know when these devices will run out of battery!

ALWAYS carry extra index cards with you. You never know when you might need them. Trying to make notecards out of looseleaf scrap paper doesn't work...trust me, I've tried.

I have a little makeup pouch that carries all of my Emergency Backpack Items. I'm saving that list for a different post!

Every college student always has a water bottle with them. Backpacks are perfect for water bottles, as they usually have those mesh holders for them at their sides. Plus, refillable water bottles are so much cheaper than continuously buying plastic ones.

I think a lot of people do this so it's not very innovative, but I have a binder for my Monday/Wednesday/Friday classes and Tuesday/Thursday classes, so I only have to carry one binder around with me each day. 

A flexible pencil pouch is essential. It's a pain to rifle through the bottom of your backpack, trying to find some stray pencils when you have your test starting in a minute. I'm a fan of these cute, colorful pencil pouches here. 

Finally, last but not least we have your computer! Even though most backpacks have a special padded section for your laptop, I still put a slip-on cover around it just in case. Hint of caution: don't buy your case at the Apple Store or right from Dell. They're so much cheaper on Amazon! 

I will be going into detail about some of these items in upcoming posts. What do you consider essential to carry in your backpack?