2024 Back-to-School

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The start of the school year is coming up quick. So, like it or not, it’s time to get ready. This year is a massive year for me. It’s the beginning of my master’s journey, so you know I gotta get set.

This is the first time I am sharing my back-to-school list like this, and I must admit, it’s a bit daunting. Yet, giving you a peek inside my backpack can provide a unique opportunity for us to share on this journey.

If there is anything you think I have forgotten, comment below. I will also do a separate list of the apps and programs I plan on using. If you need help planning your study sessions, pick up a copy of my free Study Tracker and Activity Planner to help you organize your study needs.

Technology

Technology makes life easier, and who can’t get behind that? Let’s start there!

MSI Prestige Laptop

Your laptop is the backbone of nearly everything you do in College or University. I picked up the MSI Prestige last year and have no regrets. I do everything on this laptop, from gaming, to content creation, and schoolwork, and it has never let me down.

I am very much a Laptop/Android girlie. You can use an app called Phone Link to link your phone and Android devices to access your phone files directly on your laptop. This is super helpful because I find that I take a lot of pictures of the front boards during lectures. This just lets me skip having to upload to the cloud, etc.

In saying that, when I upgrade, I will probably grab the MSI Creator Laptop if I continue to do a lot of video editing and content creation.

Logitech Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo

I am not very proficient with a track pack and don’t ever plan to be. So, when I am at home, I insist on using my wireless keyboard and mouse. It just makes life worth living.

I’ve tried a few, but this Logitec combo is the easiest to use. It feels the best while typing, it’s the most responsive, and I’m not changing out batteries every week. Easy peasy!

Samsung S6 Tablet

I am a girl that likes to have choices. While I usually prefer to take my notes by hand, I admit there are some classes where I take notes by typing. When I do this, I don’t always want to lug around my laptop. You know, choices!

That’s where my tablet comes in. I love the versatility of having a tablet or iPad. You can use the S pen or a keyboard case to give you the flexibility to take notes however you want.

Tablet case with keyboard

A keyboard case with a tablet is the best option for the days you want to pack light. I found that this was especially nice when I had long days with labs. Carrying my laptop with my lab coat and supplies just became tedious and cumbersome. I much preferred to take my tablet because it weighed nothing.

Attaching the keyboard case to my tablet made it basically like a little touch-screen laptop. It merged all the benefits of being able to type my notes if needed while being aero-dynamic!

Planning and Organization

My planner is essential to my day-to-day functioning. I use it to help me plan my days, keep track of my dos, and log my progress. Because being organized is so crucial to my success, I like to indulge myself when it comes to my planning accessories.

If you have been following me, you know I am a huge fan of a company called Cloth & Paper. They are an amazing company that specializes in luxury planning and stationery products. I post regular reviews of their products on my YouTube channel if you are interested.

Heirloom Leather Folio | HP Classic

If you have met my planner in any of my videos or live streams, you know she thicc. I prefer the HP Classic because it is roomy, and I don’t feel intimidated to fill it with all my various lists and brain dumps. This size fits 7x9.5 inch inserts or the 9-disc size.

Choosing a planner size is highly personal. These covers come in all size preferences, so make sure to select the one that best fits your lifestyle.

Investing in this planner took me a lot of time and contemplation, but ultimately, I decided that if I was going to make big girl moves, I needed a big girl planner.

2024-2025 Dated Academic Planner Inserts

Cloth & Paper has an insert bundle specifically designed for students. This allows you to track your assignments and exams and plan your entire year. If you are just getting started with your planner journey, this is an excellent place to start. Having all the spaces already mapped out will limit how overwhelming staring at blank pages can be.

2025 Year Overview Planner Inserts

I will also be picking up these Year Overview Planner Inserts. These will be specifically for business and content creation tracking. There are many templates and layouts for nearly anything you can imagine. I’m sure you can find the perfect one for your needs.

Blank Side Tab Planner Dividers | Low Profile | Tinted

These are the dividers that I use. They are coupled with these label stickers to track the different sections.

Cloth & Paper has a ton of different inserts to help you organize each area of your life. Which you choose are highly personal and are not always static. I change mine out regularly depending on what areas of my life I am focusing on. Check out this video for my last planner reorganization session.

Note-Taking & Homework Essentials

KOKUYO Campus Notebook

These are the highest-rated notebooks in the world, and for good reason. They are butter smooth, lay flat regardless of what page you are on, and are the perfect hybrid of lined and dot-matrix sheets. This helps to space out your writing, diagrams, and charts more easily to make the best use of every page. They are probably the most satisfying notebook I have ever owned.

Stationery

You might not get this if pens are just pens to you, but I am obsessed with pens. I have different preferences depending on the use.

Mitsubishi Pencil Uni-Ball One – is a great all-around pen, especially if you like a thinner tip.
Muji Smooth Gel Ink Ballpoint Pen Knock Type — Muji pens are the holy grail of many stationery enthusiasts. While some people prefer the traditional version with the caps, I find these click ones more my cup of tea.
BIC Gelocity Quick Dry Black Gel Pens – This is my jam when I’m slumming it at the back of the lecture hall. These are some of the best note-taking pens around. They are thicc, smooth, and oh-so-satisfying. If I am going for speed or distance, this is my go-to.
Pencil Pouch – You need something to hold it all together.
Zebra Pen Mildliner Double-Ended Highlighter Set – Mildliners are by far my favourite highlighter. I’m pretty sure I have every colour.

Sticky Notes

I purchase my sticky notes from Cloth & Paper as well. They have so many colours and shapes. It is easy to find ones that fit with the aesthetic. I use them for both my planner and my school notes.

The Easiest Essay: Absolutely Studying’s Step-By-Step Guide

Last but certainly not least comes my book, The Easiest Essay. This book will help you write any academic assignment without all of the stress and overwhelm you get from staring at that blank paper. As a very special back-to-school welcome, it’s half off, but this won’t last long, so scoop yours up right away!

So, what did I miss? Chat it out in the comments below. But first, grab my free Study Planner and Activity Tracker for the smoothest, most efficient semester on record!

free study guide planner and activity tracker

I would like to be transparent so that there are no misunderstandings. As an affiliate, I may earn a small commission from any products linked in this post. This is not a sponsored post, and I was not asked to recommend these products. These are products that I genuinely love and want to share with my audience.

Everything you need for the semester you want!