Among the many things that new students have to worry about is what to buy for university. Often, we panic and buy all sorts of things that we never use. So, Brig brings you this handy guide of what you do and don’t need to buy for university.
What should I buy?
Going to uni in Stirling may look all nice and summery on the leaflets but trust me when I say harsh
weather is the norm. Of course, bring some summer clothes for the odd warm day but make sure to
invest in some fluffy socks, waterproof shoes, and a decent winter coat.
Laptops – so many to choose from, so which one do you get? Well, unless you are studying a course
that demands high performance equipment (such as computing, coding, graphic design, or film),
you don’t need a high-end laptop. Funding your way through student life is difficult enough without
shelling out close to £1,000 for a laptop you’ll only ever use for Word or sending emails.
Personally, I have an old Dell laptop that has seen me through four years of education and it’s still
going strong!
Lastly, bring a sturdy backpack. Tote bags and handbags are cute – and useful for small trips around
campus – but when you have several books, a laptop, and any other essentials for studying they
become heavy and uncomfortable very quickly.
What not to buy
Excessive stationary. Unless you solely take notes with pen and paper, buying stationary usually ends up pointless as taking notes on your laptop can be much quicker and easier. I know those pastel highlighters look pretty, but are you really going to use them?
I know that uni is often shown as a fashion show on television, but you don’t need a new outfit for every single day. Go for comfort over looks and save your nice outfits for a night in town.
Finally, while it is a good idea to bring a flask and lunchbox to campus (it saves money and means you can have your lunch on the go), don’t go overboard. You don’t need multiple flasks, soup cups, and tubs for lunch –unless you’re going to be using them all.
Either way…
This article is just meant to provide tips for new students. Go bananas with stationery and clothes if you really want to! The main thing is that you enjoy your first year at Stirling, everything else can be learned from experience.
Featured image credit: Pexels.com
Fourth year student journalist studying Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Journalism Studies.
Words at Brig, The Daily Evergreen, Alloa Advertiser, Discovery Music Scotland, and The Mourning Paper.
