What every college student needs to survive and enjoy college life!
This post is all about college must haves.
Whether you’re preparing for your freshman year or well into your college career, it’s never too late to get some college must haves that will make your life way easier as a student.
As a college student myself, I LOVE finding new products that improve my life in college… and I know you do, too. So, I decided to make a few round-up posts of all the most popular college must haves from the past year!
First, I wrote a post on all the best college essentials according to LVD Letters readers (aka you guys!) and this post is going to be all the best products I’ve personally gotten this year that I would 10000% put on your university must have list!
This post is all about college must haves.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll earn a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Our full disclosure policy is pretty boring, but you can read it here.
BEST COLLEGE MUST HAVES THIS YEAR:
1. FlexiSpot Electric Adjustable Stand-Up Desk
I’ll be honest that was gifted to me by FlexiSpot, but I’m also being honest when I say that it is seriously the best desk I’ve ever owned.
If you’ve moved from a dorm room to an apartment already and you need your own desk, I highly recommend this FlexiSpot desk because it has seriously made studying so much easier!
The thing I love about this desk so much is that the bamboo top is super high quality, easy to keep clean, and the best part… the height is ADJUSTABLE! So you can turn it from a sitting desk to a standing desk whenever you want!
It’s so much better not to be slumped over your desk all day, but to have the option of standing for a bit if you want to. Seriously the best thing ever and totally worth the investment if you can swing it!
2. MUJI Gel Ink Ballpoint Pens
These MUJI gel ink pens also made it onto the list I made of the top 10 most-purchased college items by LVD Letters readers. And honestly, I’m not surprised, because these are the best pens ever and they’re my favorite pens to use as well and definitely one of the top must haves for college!!
3. This Free Budget Planning Template
A couple years ago, I made these free budget planning printable templates and since then we’ve had hundreds of people download them. I use them every single month myself to plan out my budget, and I give them a lot of credit for keeping me on track!!
If you’re looking for a way to get better at budgeting this year, then you can download and print these templates completely for free!
I also have a post here that walks you through how to use the budget template.
4. Conair Hair Straightening Iron
For the past few years, I haven’t used really any heat on my hair, but this year I just decided I wanted to have something on hand so that I could do my hair a little differently from time to time, without spending a fortune.
I was skeptical about this Conair hair straightener because it’s sooo affordable. But it honestly ended up being the best hair straightener I’ve ever had! And for the price, you really can’t go wrong.
5. Breville Cafe Roma Espresso Machine
This espresso machine isn’t something I purchased this year (I’ve had it for a couple years now), but it is something I use every. single. day.
It’s so easy to make lattes, americanos, cappuccinos, or whatever else you fancy with this. I literally use it every morning and it saves me so much money because I don’t have to go out to buy a good latte!
6. Javy Coffee Concentrate
If you’re a fan of coffee but don’t like the hassle of an espresso machine or coffee maker, then you need to add Javy coffee concentrate to your list of college must haves!
Javy Coffee gifted me a bottle of their coffee concentrate and not only am I hooked, but I seriously think any college student would be. It’s one of the most perfect college must haves for dorms because all you really need to do is pour their coffee concentrate in a mug, either with some hot water or steamed milk and you’ve got yourself a coffee as good as Starbucks in less than 5 minutes.
It’s like instant coffee, but actually GOOD coffee. And you can just as easily use it to make lattes and cappuccinos!
7. This Etsy laptop case
This past year, I finally had to get a new laptop after almost 6 years of having my previous one.
Naturally, I wanted to get a really good (and cute) laptop case to go with it. This is the one I got, and 7 months later I am still obsessed!
8. This Etsy laptop sleeve set
I think having a laptop sleeve is really important, because your laptop is your most important possession in college, so you really have to protect it as much as possible.
I bought this laptop sleeve off Etsy this past year, which comes with a matching case for your charger and a mousepad (both of which I use daily).
This is one of my highest recommendations of college must haves for commuters (which I am) because if you’re carrying your laptop around a lot, you’ll definitely want it protected!
9. Revlon Blowout Hair Dryer Brush
A lot of people have been going crazy over this Revlon blowout hair dryer brush, and once I bought it, I could totally see why!
If you’re wondering what every college girl needs, put this at the top of your list. It seriously makes getting ready in the morning so much easier and faster!
10. IGK Good Behavior 4-in-1 Prep Spray
I started using this hair product this year, and honestly, it has made doing my hair so much easier. Whether I’m letting my hair air-dry, blow drying it, or curling it, this IGK good behavior spray ensures that it really does stay on its best behavior!!
11. SAND + FOG Room Spray in Tahitian Vanilla
When I smelled this glorious room spray, I could not help but buy it. It seriously needs to go on your list of college house must haves because it will make your house or dorm room smell so good!
12. Black Rain Jacket
I got this black rain jacket for Christmas and I’m including it in my college must haves clothes because everyone could use a good rain jacket and this one is so cute!
13. Charles Henry Long Sleeve Dress
Dresses are such an easy way to put together an outfit that’s guaranteed to be cute.
If you love wearing dresses but struggle to do so in the winter, this full-length dress from Nordstrom is seriously one of my favorite purchases I’ve made all year!
14. Nike Benassi Slides
Lots of college students already have these, and I’ve had them for years because they are by far the best comfortable pair of slides I’ve ever had.
I got my first pair in 2015 and finally JUST replaced them over 6 years later after wearing them literally every day… Yep, that’s how long they last!!
They’ve especially been my best friend for online classes because I’m always wearing them around the house. So I would definitely add this to your list of online college must haves!
15. ThermoFlask Water Bottle
If you don’t already have a good water bottle, a ThermoFlask will seriously be one of the best purchases you’ve ever made.
They’re just as good as HydroFlasks, but for a better price. I literally use mine every day, whether I’m out or at home, and I carry it with me everywhere I go!
It keeps my water at the right temperature, and I’ve dropped it 1000 times but it’s still in amazing condition.
16. Undated Dollar Store Planner
On Pinterest, I did a semester-planning tutorial using an undated planner I bought at Dollarama, and people keep asking me where I got that planner!!
I wish I could link it, but since it’s just from Dollarama, it’s not available online. I found this really similar undated planner on Amazon, or you can head to your local dollar store to see if they have something similar.
I’ve been buying this same planner for the last couple years and it’s so simple but seriously my favorite planner I’ve ever had! There’s no point in spending $30+ on a planner when you can get this for literally a few dollars and make it look just as good.
17. Pastel Highlighters
I’m obsessed with these pastel highlighters that I bought a few months ago and would definitely put them on your list of college must haves for class!!
If you’re tired of the neon highlighter colors, these pastel highlighters will make your notes so much more aesthetically pleasing!
18. 5-Pack MUJI Notebooks
One of my favorite college must haves Amazon has are these MUJI notebooks.
Of course, you can get them right at the MUJI store, but when we were still in a lockdown I needed some notebooks really quick, so Amazon was my best option. These notebooks did not disappoint!
19. H&M Wide Leg Jeans
A few good pairs of jeans are definitely must haves for college students. H&M jeans have always been my favorite because for some reason they just fit me better than a lot of other jeans.
I got so many compliments on these black wide leg jeans this year!
20. Ankle Rain Boots
I needed some spring/summer rain boots and found a pair of ankle rain boots for about $20 from Marshall’s. I can’t believe how great they still look after months of use so honestly, worth the $20!!
Since I can’t link the exact pair from Marshall’s, here’s the link to a similar pair I found on Amazon.
21. LogiTech Bluetooth Keyboard
My old bluetooth keyboard broke halfway through the year, and since I got so used to having a bluetooth keyboard so that I could use a laptop riser and second monitor, I felt like it was worthwhile to invest in a new one.
Maybe this is a bit extra, but I really wanted it to be something aesthetically pleasing!! So I got this pastel pink LogiTech bluetooth keyboard. It’s cute and works great because the keys are so seamless and it’s the perfect size!
22. AirPods
I mean, duh!!
Pretty sure every college student has AirPods, but I got a new pair this past year and since I use them every day I figured it needed to get thrown on this list of college student must haves!
23. The Skinny Confidential Skincare Set
This might seem random to be on a list of college must haves, but trust me. If you’re a girl who loves her skin care routine, this Skinny Confidential skincare set is going to be your favorite addition to your morning routine!
This face oil makes me feel so refreshed in the morning and makes my skin absolutely GLOW (I’m not kidding).
The bundle sold by The Skinny Confidential will be way better than your current drugstore skincare routine.
Which of these back to college must haves are you getting?
This post was all about college must haves.
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