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1. A classic Moleskine notebook for taking notes in — or for doodling, because sometimes classes can be boring. These notebooks come in a variety of colors and sizes to satisfy all your note-taking needs.
"I'm a big lover of Moleskin and have many around my house. I use them for both writing and art. There's a reason stand the test of time." —Tasia Bass
Get a hard cover from Amazon $18.53 (available in 10 colors, four sizes, and five paper types), and check out the rest of their notebooks (including soft covers) here.
2. A Logitech wireless mechanical keyboard that is not only adorable but comes with a wrist rest. It has colorful backlighting and 25 hours of rechargeable battery life, making it great for a student on the go.
"It comes in a sleek, gorgeous white, but you can get colored top plates (like the pink one I'm currently using, shown above) direct from Logitech's store for $19.99!
I've been using the wired version of this mechanical keyboard for months, both for gaming and for everyday work, and absolutely love it. I had a full-size keyboard before, so I really appreciate the more compact tenkeyless design of this keyboard (which fits on my desk better). The keys sound perfectly clicky and feel great to type on, and the cloud wrist rest keeps my wrists supported really comfortably. And even though I've been using wrist rest cloud for 8+ hours a day for so long, it still looks totally new! My favorite thing is undeniably the aesthetic, though. It's the prettiest keyboard I've ever had, in a really sleek and modern way. I highly recommend it, even if they only play on PC occasionally (like I said, it works great for WFH life too!)." —Jenae Sitzes
Get it from Amazon for $179.99 (also available wired, and with or without a mouse).
3. A pack of not only functional but cute pastel highlighters. They're easy to hold and so vibrant, that they'll have you wanting to highlight everything.
"They are thick and allow you to cover more surface with one swipe. These colors are extremely vibrant but soft enough that you can easily read the words you highlighted. There's a reason they are very popular amongst the bullet-journaling community." —Tasia Bass
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $9.95.
4. A Mead Five Star, the classic three-subject notebook that allows you to keep notes from several classes in one book.
"The one notebook that ruled them all, college-ruled to be exact! Yes, the Five Star costs more than regular notebooks but if it was a three-subject or five-subject you were also getting some built-in folders too. But the real reason to make the investment was that the plastic front cover would never tear off no matter how savagely it was shoved into your Jansport a number of times a day for an entire school year. Pretty sure I still have one or two lying around that are 20+ years old and still look like they did in high school. Fortunately, the same can't be said for me!" —John Mihaly
Get it from Amazon for $4.78 (available in four colors and three sizes).
5. A reliable mug warmer for anyone who's like me and ALWAYS gets super focused on studying Japanese and French, that they need to remember to drink their coffee before it gets cold.
"Look, my worst habit is putting down my coffee and forgetting about it for hours. So it gets cold and unappetizing. But this has helped me keep it warm and drinkable for when I finally remember I made coffee. It has three temperatures, and to be honest, medium keeps it perfectly hot but not too hot that you can't drink it. It also has an auto shut-off, that kicks in after four hours. It's a smart buy that really helps cut down on wasting your drink." —Tasia Bass
Get it from Amazon for $23.29+ (comes in eight colors and styles).
6. A splurgeworthy pair of Beats headphones that are not only noise-cancelling — allowing you to block out even the loudest roommates — but also have a long battery life that will last several days without needing to be charged.
"I am serious when I say that these headphones are the best noise-canceling headphones I own. They are great at drowning out everything, seriously I am sitting in a coffeeshop right now as I write this and despite all the students laughing making noise, all I hear is Tessa Violet singing in my ears. They sit comfortably on your ears and the sound quality is top notch! They are definitely worth the price tag. Also, I am really bad at remembering to charge them, and although they say last 40 hours, I have definitely used them for longer without having to charge. In fact, I haven't charged them in about five days and they are still going strong. I own a ton of different headphones, and these are definitely in my top three, which is why I find myself wearing them more often than not. Seriously, you can find me walking (dancing) around with these on my head, just in a world of my own." —Tasia Bass
Get it from Amazon for $129+ (available in three colors and two styles).
7. Or a set of wireless Bluetooth earbuds, with a ton of rave reviews for their high quality and comfortability — perfect for someone that's looking for something without the hefty price tag.
These come with a wireless charging case that provides up to 14 hours of charge (with the earbuds able to play for four-plus hours with each full charge).
"I was able to wear mine comfortably under my bucket hat while I slept on a very rocky bus ride from the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland. And while I was out exploring, the charging case easily fit in my coat pocket. I also use these on the reg in my everyday life to listen to Spotify and podcasts, and even talk on the phone. I have to charge them about once a week and always keep them in my coat pocket." —Elizabeth Lilly
Get it from Amazon $39.99+ (available in five colors).
8. A large pencil case that'll hold so many writing utensils and supplies. It has a roomy main compartment and interior pockets that'll fit pens, pencils, erasers, and other desk-friendly goods. No more rummaging through a drawer trying to find a pen that actually writes.
"I got this for myself when I started wanting to do art outside my home. I wanted something that was big and roomy but also could fit in my purse with a small sketchbook. This pencil case is just that.
This case comes with a couple of pockets for your smaller items, as well as a spacious main compartment. The front unzips so you can stick pencils or pens into the loop easily.
Once, to test out how much it could fit, I had about 15 pencils, an entire travel watercolor set, several erasers, and a variety of markers at the same time and it zipped and closed up perfectly fine. I actually think this could be a good travel makeup bag too." —Tasia Bass
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 20 colors).
9. A Fezibo standing desk, a lifesaver for anyone who spends way too much time at their desk. It has the ability to save three preset heights, so no more sitting bent over for 10 hours doing your entire group project the day before it's done because the rest of your group won't respond to any messages.
"I work from home and found myself sitting way too much that I began to have really bad back issues. This helps me so much, that even when I am sitting, I can raise the desk high enough that my laptop is at a comfortable level so I am not hunched over. Other days I just do not want to sit at all and can stand and work, without breaking my stride. It came so fast, within two days. I had called my dad to help me put it together but it wasn't even necessary because it was easy to put together and move around the room, if you're like me and constantly reorganizing to match your current mood. You can save 3 heights as presets if you want and you also have the ability to lock it at a height, if you want." —Tasia Bass
Get it from Amazon for $199 (available in several sizes and colors) or Fezibo for $239.99+ (available in several styles and colors).
10. Or a FlexiSpot electric standing desk, that provides you with a ton of room to work on, so you can have your textbooks spread all over while you study. It's sleek and can easily fit in the corner of your room, without taking up too much space.
"I have a FlexiSpot electric standing desk at home (this one, specifically) and love it — it's a great brand, and mine hasn't given me any issues over the past few years." —Jenae Sitzes
Get it from Amazon for $499.99+ (available in five sizes and 12 styles).
11. A Zebra Co. Z-Grip pen that will glide across the page and make writing notes so much easier during those classes where the professor is determined to speak 300 words per minute.
"When looking for a good pen, the first question I always ask myself if how does it feel in my hand? The Z-Grip feels absolutely lovely in the hand. It has a nice heft to it without being too heavy or bulky to write. I often use this pen for when I am taking notes during a work meeting. It is smooth and glides across paper without smearing as I quickly scribble down everything being said. Not to mention the ink flow feels incredible. It is one of those reliable pens that you will find yourself reaching for when you need to quickly sign a check or trying to write a grocery shopping list. Definitely worth the buy." —Tasia Bass
Get a pack of 24 from Amazon for $10.46.
12. A Kindle Paperwhite so you can avoid having to lug around those heavy textbooks everywhere. It's glare-free and has a lot of storage. Plus you can highlight and save important sections for later.
"I've been an avid Kindle user for the past five years, but when I saw this version, I knew it was time to upgrade. The main selling point is the fact that this one is waterproof. So waterproof, in fact, that it can be in up to 2 meters of fresh water for more than 60 minutes. Plus, it's lighter, has more storage, and the battery lasts for WEEKS. I took this on vacation with me after I got it two years ago, and I was so impressed. I was able to sit on the ledge in the pool and read without worrying about getting the device wet. And I even put it in the water to test, and it still works perfectly (see above!). Plus, I used it every day and didn't have to charge it the whole time I was on the trip." —Abby Kass
Get it from Amazon for $129.99 (available in two sizes, with or without ads, and in four colors, also available in a newer version with a bigger display and adjustable warm light for $139.99).
13. A mushroom night-light, that is not only whimsical but super helpful when you're trying to walk to the restroom during the middle of the night without waking up your roommates.
"I love this night-light! I bought it six years ago when I had roommates and would come home late and try to quietly grope my way to my room in the dark. I didn't want to turn on the hallway light and wake them up, but this gives off such a soft light that makes it easier to see without being overly bright. This is so reliable. It was only $5 and still it's working years later. It's just so much fun!" —Tasia Bass
Get it from Amazon for $5.94.
14. A HP Sprocket, an instant photo printer so you can print out all the amazing photos you took on your phone with your friends at last week's football game, because not everyone wants to lug around an instant camera.
"I love taking photos of literally EVERYTHING. In fact my phone has over 2,000 photos on it currently and I have a couple of instant cameras (including my favorite Instax Mini 11). However, I don't always have an instant camera on me and I want to preserve a photo I took on my cell phone and this lets me print them with ease. It is really simple to use. Just load it with the photo paper, connect your phone to the printer, and hit print. The photo takes about 30 seconds to print. Also, the photo paper is actually sticker paper, which is great for me when I am trying to add a photo to my adventure journal. The starter bundle also comes with a photo album and frames, so you can display all your photos." —Tasia Bass
Get if from Amazon for $79.99+ (available in four colors and three sets).
15. A floral desktop weekly planner that'll help you stay organized and plan out your semester, so you won't fall behind and become swamped right before finals week.
"I have and love this Rifle Paper Co. desktop planner. It's *so* pretty, obviously, but it also has double-sided sheets of paper that include a daily breakdown of the week on one side and a notes/to-do checklist on the other side. It's been super helpful for keeping both my work day and my day-to-day more organized. It has, honestly, given me a lot of peace of mind as someone who both works from home and has a child galavanting around the house. There's a lot to be done, and this has helped me keep it in check!" —Heather Braga
Get it from Rifle Paper Co. for $22.
16. Or personalized list notepads so you can stay motivated and get the satisfying reward of crossing out every task you've accomplished. This comes in a pack of three and you can customized each one to be different so you can share them or keep them all yourself and use them for different situations.
"I am a list maker but in recent years have moved more into making them on the Notes app on my iPhone. It's just not as satisfying as writing something down and then slashing through it (checkmarks be damned!). Enter these notepads. They're beautifully made and the cover flips over the top of the notebook to make it easy to hold. And the notepads having my name on them is just a bonus!" —Elizabeth Lilly
Get three notebooks from Papier for $18 (customization included, check out more patterns).
17. Wireless sleep headphones, an incredibly comfortable sleep mask with built in earbuds that you can wear on a run, while cleaning your apartment, or even during your nap in between classes.
"Ok, so I originally bought this for running because my earbuds kept falling out. It's super comfortable and sits flush against your ears. However, I started using it to sleep one night after my loud neighbor decided to have guests over on a weeknight, when I had work in the morning. It really helps! I played soft classical music and drowned them all out. It is easy to recharge, I just plug it into my outlet in the morning and grab it at night. This would have been great to have back when I had a roommate, who was a loud snorer." —Tasia Bass
Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in three sizes).
18. A Fellow electric kettle to help you make a cup of tea, ramen, and much more in your dorm room, so you don't have to trek down to the shared kitchen.
"I make a ton of coffee and tea, so I actually had this in my cart awhile before someone ended up getting it for me as a gift. I love this kettle so much. I know it seems like a ton of money, but it is totally worth the price. It has a gooseneck spout that allows for precision, which makes my pour overs so much better. You can control how hot the kettle gets, which is important because different teas and coffees need to be heated at different temps. Plus there's a hold button for those like me, that often get distracted and walk away from the kettle for 20 minutes. It will keep the kettle at the temp you need it to be until you finally make your drink. Also you can change it between Fahrenheit and Celsius. It's easy to clean, easy to store, easy to use. I've had it for a year now and it has been one of my most used kitchen appliance." —Tasia Bass
Get it from Fellow or Amazon for $165+ (comes in a variety of colors).
19. A laptop stand and organizer to prevent you from hunching over while working on your computer. Plus it has a built-in dry erase board and a power hub so you can easily charge all your devices and only need to use one outlet.
Great Useful Stuff is a small biz based in Sonoma, California, featuring a selection of home and lifestyle products that are...you guessed it...great and useful.
"Before this, I just had a cheap laptop stand, and this one just looks so much nicer. The stand also comes with its own power hub, so you can plug in your computer right on top of the desk — no need to fish it behind and down to the plug every time. This is so convenient, and I love that there are holes on the side so the cords can come out easily. I really only use it to charge my laptop, but there's plenty of room to charge other devices as well. *And* I can't forget to mention that the lid also flips over and becomes a white board, which is a cool feature that I haven't had much need for...yet. Overall, I love that this laptop stand is multi-functional. It really adds so much to my workspace." —Abby Kass
Get it from Great Useful Stuff for $44.99 (available in two colors).
20. A pack of 48 Ohuhu brush tips alcohol-based markers that are not only affordable but are also high quality! Seriously, they perform almost as well as a certain name brand, for a fraction of the cost, making them perfect for art students on a budget.
"Quality alcohol markers are expensive. The best alcohol marker brand costs $7 a marker. And if you're like me, you don't want to waste that pricey marker ink for silly sketches. Enter Ohuhu. It's actually funny. The first time someone mentioned them to me years ago, I didn't like them. But then they changed their formula and basically blew it out of the park. They don't sputter out ink and the colors are sooo saturated. They blend smooth like butter and have a wide variety of colors. Whenever someone comes to me and says, 'I want to start using alcohol markers but can't afford a certain brand' I point them to Ohuhu. I find them comparable to Spectrum Noir markers (who will always have a special place in my heart because they were the first set of alcohol markers I bought myself) but are good for artists of all skill type. Honestly, I've done so many videos on my TikTok comparing them to other markers and sometimes viewers can't even tell which side was done by Ohuhu markers and which side is done by the name brand markers. They handle paper like a champ and won't tear at it. I drew the picture above with just a basic mixed media sketchbook I walk around with and it did not bleed onto the next page. They are my every day marker, for sure. They may not be perfect but they are pretty darn close." —Tasia Bass
Get it from Ohuhu or Amazon for $39.99+ (come in various sizes and sets; or check out the Back-To-School bundles on sale on the Ohuhu website.)
21. A Buddha Board, to release stress after a particularly difficult day filled with classes and homework. Plus it's mess-free! Seriously, all you need is water and you can let your creativity flow.
"I gifted this to my mom and it's been such a hit! All you have to do is fill the stand with water, dip the bamboo brush in, and start creating! It's surprisingly super soothing and is great because you don't have to think long and hard about what to draw since it disappears anyway! It's a great practice in the "art of letting go" and is honestly a lovely way to spend an hour unwinding." —Heather Braga
Get it from Amazon for $37.95.
22. A fabulous SodaStream, that'll have you ditching store bought sodas and sparkling waters, to make them at home. With it being so easy to use and having so many different flavorings available, the only issue you may have is your roommate drinking all of your carbonated water.
"I've only had this for a month or so and it is an absolute game-changer. I am a sparkling gal. I am always drinking carbonated water, even without flavoring. I was hesitant to buy one because I was worried I'd spend the money and then never use it. However, it went on sale during Target Circle Week. It is exactly what I needed. It lets me make amazing sparkling water with a push of a button. All you have to do is fill the bottle up with cold, still water and with three presses of the button, you have carbonated water. It takes less than 30 seconds to make. I know a lot of people complain about the price of the gas cylinders but I have yet to replace mine and I've been using it every day for over a month. I think it is a great investment if you drink as much sparkling water as I do." —Tasia Bass
Get it from Amazon for $72.99+ (available in four colors and two bundles types) or the Terra starter kit from SodaStream for $99 (available in various styles and bundles).
23. A variety pack of chili crunch that will take your next midnight ramen to the next level. Just because you're eating ramen in your dorm, doesn't mean you should have to sacrifice taste. Seriously, these are incredibly flavorful and will enhance even the blandest microwaveable meal.
"I think we can all agree that school cafeteria meals are questionable at the very least. If you're looking to enhance bland food, this is definitely what you need. Just drizzle as much as needed onto your food to take it to the next level. This pack comes in four flavors: original, extra spicy, black truffle, and hot honey. My favorite is definitely hot honey which adds a nice kick to my tea. This will definitely help add back the flavor they've managed to cook out of the food." —Tasia Bass
Get it from Momofuku for $49.
24. A set of pop culture-themed pencils with your favorite fandoms that will make writing more fun — even if that writing is your Physics lab notes.
Longhand Pencils is a woman-owned small business based in Texas that specializes in foil-stamped pencil sets, stationery, and accessories, as well as custom orders.
"I have seen FIRST-HAND how beautiful these pencils are (Longhand Pencils' Taylor Swift sets were to die for) and can attest that they make beautiful gifts, particularly for friends with niche interests. You can also work with them to create your own customized sets!" —Emma Lord
Get them from Longhand Pencils: the Gilmore Girls set for $18 and the Legally Blonde set for $18.
Check out the rest of Longhand Pencils' sets for more fandom-friendly options!
25. A water-resistant ’73 Originals backpack has a built-in laptop sleeve to protect your laptop and textbooks while walking to your next class during a downpour after the weatherman swore it wasn't going to rain.
"I was in the market for a perfect day pack (not as big as the one I take traveling, but big enough to hold a laptop), and this beauty is PERFECT. I love the vaguely retro but timeless design, and that it doesn't look overly bulky even when it's loaded up. It has a laptop *and* tablet sleeve, an interior mesh pocket, and an outer zip pocket, so it's very easy to stay organized. Plus, it's made of heavy-duty Cordura fabric that's incredibly durable, water-resistant, and easy to clean, so I feel confident taking this bag out for every kind of adventure." —Danielle Healy
Get it from 73 Originals for $65 (available in five colors).