New tech for college?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

I currently have a 2017 13 inch MacBook Pro with 8GB memory and 251GB storage. My dad has been wondering if this will be too small of a screen for college and asking me if I want to trade in my computer for a new 16 inch MacBook Pro. I’m also considering an iPad of some sort plus Apple Pencil so I can actually write notes instead of typing (since apparently writing helps you remember notes better?)

Anyway, my options are:

  1. Stay with my current computer, the 2017 13inch MacBook pro
  2. Trade in my computer for a 16 inch MacBook Pro with 16GB memory and 512GB storage.
  3. Keep my current computer but also get a 12.9 inch iPad Pro with wifi only (do I need cellular?)
    3*) If I do go with option 3, then should I get the Apple Pencil 1st or 2nd generation? I would only use it to take notes, I don’t plan on drawing or anything.
  4. If anyone has any other suggestions in terms of how much storage I actually need or if an iPad Air would do just fine or anything, please let me know.

I’m an EECS major, so I assume I’ll be doing lots of coding and programming. I don’t game or anything, so other than bluej and whatever python application I need to download, I won’t be using too much storage. For reference, right now I’m only using about 60GB of my 250GB storage.

2

I should clarify - my only issue with the 13 inch laptop is that the screen is too small to fit two windows side by side. It’s a hassle when I have a website open and also a document and I keep having to switch. BUT, it is something that I can live with if the 13 inch laptop is the overall better option, and if that’s the case I’ll probably just stick with my current computer until next year at least.

3

Oh also, for option #3, I chose the 12.9 inch iPad Pro because I wanted the screen to be about the size of a 8.5 by 11 piece of paper for note taking. I haven’t seen the iPad in person, so if that’s not the case please let me know.

4

I no longer need any help for this topic.