Whats in my bag for College?

Patricia

I bring a huge leather shoulder bag to college. I got it off Vinted and it's definitely from the 90’s. It's so old that it's kind of gross but it really does give “Devil wears Prada” imo. Its great because it's huge and is just one big compartment so I can just throw everything in, in one go, I definitely don't have to think about it. 

I bring a bunch of stuff, to be honest it's a huge mess. The first thing I bring is my laptop, obviously, it's a really shit chromebook, and it has honestly ruined my life. Its also so heavy that sometimes im tempted to leave it in the library so I don't have to bring it home, this temptation is compounded by the fact that a) no one in their right mind would steal it and b) that if they did I'd be able to buy a new laptop in good conscious, and get a new sob story out of the whole thing. 

My other essential is my water bottle, I put peppermint tea in it every morning. Especially during winter because the tea keeps me warm in the early hours of the morning when I have to begin my stupid commute. I have two charging cables, one plug, a pukka pad, 2 highlighters, and a few pens that are all tangled up with each other. I also bring a plastic folder for any papers I'm given which also has a copy I have specifically for finance. 

Lastly I bring deodorant, a 20ml bottle of my perfume from “Phlur”, hairbrush and I also have a tub of the glossier concealer that has been used up, cleaned and had moisturiser put in. I use the Kiehls moisturiser which is, although expensive, a lifesaver for my chronically dry skin. All in all, I always feel pretty prepared for college, I used to bring makeup and loads of unnecessary stuff, but with just how stressful final year is I've really cut back. I just feel like I want to be out the door as fast as possible, and having all of this in my bag and ready to go is super helpful.

Kamila

I use a fur tote i got from NEXT, it sounds tacky but I swear she’s cute, I have the issue of losing stuff in my bag 24/7 and having to stop everyone I’m walking with because of course I can't find my phone, or my lip liner or my leapcard or even a pen for class.and i am the type to literally empty out my whole bag before i find that ONE THING I NEED. So I religiously organise my bag most evenings to empty out the clutter. And keep it semi empty.

 My top priority is to bring my laptop, for one I use that to do my assignments but I also treat it almost like a power bank and plug my phone into it when I'm on the go because my phone battery disappears in the blink of an eye istg. 

Then it’s just a process of elimination of what i genuinely need for the day, because the minute my shoulder starts feeling sore from carrying the stupid laptop and like even two notebooks i turn into a raging b-

I went through a phase of bringing a cute pink metal water bottle like one of those stanley ones, but i got it from my work… but that shit destroyed my shoulder carrying it around so i just accept the fact I’ll realistically buy a red bull once I’m on campus or going to class and then another drink throughout the day, the bottle is not worth the shoulder pain for me. Other than a random notebook here and there for classes I make sure to throw my laptop charger in, headphones, wallet and makeup.

I’d say 90% of the time I have a full face of makeup done so I NEED my charlotte tilbury pressed powder in my bag to touch up, if not i walk out of the library shining like a disco ball especially if it’s buys in there and the air gets all musty and warm ( disgusting i know) and obviously a lipliner and gloss for the day. ( I have a collection of videos on my laptop at this point putting on my lipliner discretely in the library)  

Ciara

I bring a dark brown faux leather bag with me to college every day. It’s the perfect over-the-shoulder bag -  stylish but practical, which is exactly what I need as a marketing inal year student running between lectures. It fits all my college essentials while still looking put together.

Inside my bag, you’ll always find my laptop, which is probably the most important thing I carry. As a final year marketing student at TU Dublin, nearly everything is online, lecture slides, assignments, group projects etc so my laptop is non-negotiable. I also carry my charger everywhere because there is nothing worse than your laptop dying halfway through a three-hour lecture. Along with that, I usually have my phone charger too, just in case.

I keep a notebook and pens in my bag for quick notes. Even though most of my work is digital, I still like physically writing things down especially when planning assignments or mapping out marketing concepts. 

Then there are my everyday essentials: lip balm, a hairbrush, and painkillers - absolute survival items for long college days. Lip balm is especially necessary in winter, and the hairbrush is there for quick fixes before presentations. Painkillers are just a safety net for headaches during stressful weeks (and there’s a lot of them).

At the start of the year, I used a tote bag for months because it was easy and trendy. However, the Irish weather quickly became a serious issue. Walking to campus in the rain with a tote bag is not ideal, especially when you’re carrying an expensive laptop. After one too many close calls with rain soaking through the fabric, I realised I needed to invest in something more durable.

That’s when I switched to a faux leather waterproof bag. It gives me peace of mind knowing my laptop is protected, especially considering how expensive it would be to replace. It’s practical, weather-resistant, and still matches most of my outfits, which is key.

Overall, my college bag is a mix of practicality and personality. It holds everything I need to get through busy days of lectures, assignments, and group projects, while also reflecting my style.