@missinghome21, That is a great idea! When I go to Hkiss, I will try to make that happen! I would have gone to Ilvermorny but they were overenrolled 
On that note, I’m a Horned Serpent.
@FunintheSun1211 Ooh if that does happen do tell me! And pfft Ivermorny! What a rip off of our glorious Hogwarts! (I can’t remember my Ivermorny house…ugh!) What house are you by the way?
The lanyard is to hold your dorm key (or key fob.)
Ravenclaw all the way. Honestly, you should see my bedroom. Walls painted blue, Ravenclaw posters ALL OVER. My Betta fishes living in a tank with blue rocks and Ravenclaw crests as a background,ravenclaw throw blanket on my bed, my wardrobe is comprised Ravenclaw shirts, Ravenclaw poster signed by my favorite Ravenclaw, Evanna Lynch from the Celebration of Harry Potter. (Yes I am completely obsessed with Harry Potter and I hope my roommate next year is ok with that). And embrace Ilvermorny, it’s awesome. Who wouldn’t want to go to a school on a mountain where you can pick your house (sometimes)!
@carpoolingma Don’t the schools give you your own lanyards?
And I’m sorry for anyone else unfortunate (or forunate) enough to come across the Harry Potter section. I’ll move it to DMs!
No brand suggestions here either, but you should consider how weatherproof the backpack is as well. CaliKid is very pleased that we got a waterproof backpack, given how much electronics are carried.
@missinghome21
Yes, the school will either give you a lanyard or have a school branded one available at the school store. But, when you misplace it, your school-wide email will be something along the lines of…“Has anyone seen a GLADCHEMMS layard just like all the other GLADCHEMMS lanyards? I seem to have misplaced mine.” instead of “Has anyone seen a pink NY Yankees lanyard? I seem to have misplaced it.”
Or, if someone sees a pink NY Yankees lanyard laying around, s/he could think, “Hmmm, I better give this back to Jessica. She probably doesn’t even realize it’s missing!”
DS Swissgear backpack has been virtually indestructible and has just enough pockets and features to help him keep things organized. He especially loves the pocket on the strap where he keeps pens and pencils and I love that it protects his laptop. He fell in love with one during back to school shopping, but I didn’t want to spend what they were asking (he’s only in middle school now and doesn’t really need a top of the line backpack). After reading how they last for years and him swearing he’d use it at BS, I figured it was worth the investment and I haven’t been disappointed. I looked for sales and had them price match it at Office Max.
If you’ll be flying back and forth, he’s also used this for traveling and it has worked very well. At the moment, it’s filled with about 30 lbs of snacks for his trip to DC.
(This is the model he has and the price is great. They usually run closer to $70). https://express.google.com/u/0/product/15161183751685032351_3036979123152203365_6136318?mall=Chicago&directCheckout=1&utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=product_ads&utm_campaign=gsx&dclid=CNvT6-6vq9oCFZKZyAoddYwAnQ
We’re a hiking family, so we swear by outdoor brands for day packs/backpacks - they’re meant to comfortably carry heavier loads, are made to withstand a lot of abuse, and aren’t quite as ubiquitous as other types/brands. Most major brands make a variety of day packs - I would strongly recommend going to a store to try some on, as best fit will depend on your torso length and shoulders. DS has a bright orange North Face backpack that we got for something like 90% off because it was such a hideous color, but as he’s pointed out, he’s easy to find in a crowd and has never lost it/isn’t ever worried about anyone taking it.
@vwlizard It seems really helpful! I’ll check out the link you kindly provided for me. Thank you! 
@momof3nyc I’ve heard North Face is pretty good as well and if they’re hiking backpacks they should have a load of good back support and light weighted ness. Thank you for your suggestion!
@CaliPops What brand does CaliKid use? And a great point, I forgot all about that!!
The LL Bean bags for school are different than the hiking ones. They are a thinner material and more school focused (i.e. spot for a laptop, bottom zipper section for extra shoes/cleats, etc.). This is the model my DD has: https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/88638?page=turbo-transit-pack&bc=50-816&feat=816-GN1&csp=f
DD22 insisted on a North Face one last year and it is just not meant for school. Trying to cram everything in there is no fun.
DS took his old LL Bean backpack from middle school to school for this year (monogrammed). It did eventually give out, and he replaced it with the same one. LL Bean shipping is quick and often free (or always free if you have an LL Bean credit card). I think backpacks get more wear and tear at BS since they get carried around all day and dumped everywhere rather than stuck in a locker for the day, so it’s worthwhile to get something durable. He also has a rigid case for his laptop, since that gets carried around all day too.
@CTMom21 Might look into getting a Jansport actually as it has a lifetime guarantee and should last more than 3 years, hopefully it’s durable!
@CTMom21 Do you also have any good cases for laptops to recommend? I’m pretty sure all of us will be carrying them around at some point and I really do not want it to fall and crack
@plumgem, I will check with my son and see what he has and will report back. So far his has been fine…crossing my fingers that the laptop survives another 3 years!
Lulu lemon has really big bags and back packs. I like there’s bc there big but also really comfortable to where. Also they keep the design of the bags really simple which I like.
@plumgem, my DS has a Thule case for his laptop. So far, so good!
While I was, in fact, present at the birth of my oldest child … I am now convinced that I wasn’t fully paying attention because clearly @FunintheSun1211 is her long lost twin separated at birth … 
Although it should be pointed out, perhaps, that the only Ravenclaw twin who appears in the series (Padma Patil) has a twin who is not in Ravenclaw . . . just had to geek out about it a little