College is a fun, great experience, but it can quickly get scary without your college survival kit.
Our Editorial Board, with the help of some of The Collegian’s Instagram followers, created a list of college must-haves that will not only help you survive, but also help you thrive at Fresno State.
First up, a water bottle. Water is a must on a college campus; with classes spread out from one end of campus to the other, you’ll be walking everywhere and sitting through hours of classes. Staying hydrated is vital, especially for girls like me who drink coffee, soda, energy drinks or literally anything before they drink water. Put it in a cute cup. It helps, and your body will thank you later.
Next is a good bag, whether it’s a backpack, tote bag, book bag, etc. Unless you’re someone who comes to school with nothing except for your phone and a notebook you carry in your hand, a solid bag is a staple in making your college experience more comfortable. I carry a tote bag, and I love it so much. It’s cute and comfortable, a win-win!
A laptop, iPad or some sort of digital device apart from your phone is super important. Classwork is mostly digital, and while using your phone for classwork is tolerable, it’s not the most ideal. We know how the phone version of the Canvas portal can be; if you don’t, not worth finding out.
Chargers. Nothing is more frustrating than opening your laptop at the beginning of class, ready to take a quiz, and it’s dead. Been there, done that. I’ve had moments where I spent my entire day at school, then looked down at my glitching phone that’s at 1% battery. Let’s move past the part where I probably should’ve just charged my devices at home and address the fact that it’s always best and definitely doesn’t hurt to carry chargers with you! Bonus points if it’s portable.
Fresno State’s on-campus food options can be questionable and easily outgrown. They’re simply not for everyone, and that’s okay. Bring your own lunch or at least a few things to snack on, like granola bars, chips or maybe some Chomps to get you through the hours of school. They’re sustainable, energy boosters and save you from the $20 Habit meal that most of us fall victim to one way or another.
Headphones are another good one. I’ll admit it. I don’t only use headphones to listen to good music while I’m concentrating on schoolwork or walking around campus. Sometimes, I simply would prefer to have my personal alone time and not really interact with people. Stick those little earbuds in and no one will know. It’s not mean, it’s just the reality sometimes.
Sunglasses, to block out the haters. Duh.
On a more serious note, medical items are a huge necessity for college students. Medications like Tylenol and Advil, vitamin C supplements, Band-Aids, hair ties, deodorant, hand sanitizer, antibacterial wet wipes, masks and feminine products are just some of the very important items to have on hand. If you don’t and are in need, do not worry. The Fresno State Student Health and Counseling Center, as well as the wellness-to-go vending machine on the first floor of the Resnick Student Union, have all of these products in stock for a very discounted price.
You can’t forget about the little miscellaneous things, like some personalized notebooks or smooth gliding pens. This is a little more of a niche category, but I can attest to the fact that they are super helpful with organization and a more aesthetically pleasing work routine. Other miscellaneous things can be an extra-large stack of notepads, neon highlighters that brighten your day or a planner to help keep your life together. Lip gloss and lip balm are also necessities. Having your Bulldog ID on hand also comes in handy and is sometimes needed for testing, so be sure to carry that with you. To get one, you can go to Bulldog ID Cards under Student Accounts on the Fresno State website.
I hope this list helps you with your journey at Fresno State!
Happy learning, Bulldogs!
