<p>sorry, dumb question, but i need to know.</p>
<p>do people actually use backpacks in college? Real ones? Or do people carry messenger bags more, or nothing at all? Are they really neccessary at all?</p>
<p>Also, school supplies. Do people still use binders in college? Or just notebooks? I'm so clueless gah. I'll just bring my pokemon trapper keeper and be done with it i think.</p>
<p>Backpacks are always a norm in college, unless you have breaks between classes where you can find time to store away your stuff and switch off and on with class materials. Backpacks are FINE.</p>
<p>I am carrying a backpack at college. I saw a good amount of people at my school using backpacks. I also saw some people using messenger bags( is that what they are called...I called them tote bags).</p>
<p>As for supplies, I am buying notebooks...</p>
<p>Yes most definitely. On my visits I saw messenger bags, but a majority of backpacks. A lot of students have laptop backpacks if they take their notebook to class. Some people probably don't need backpacks but if you have any classes in a row, it is probably advised to use some sort of bag.</p>
<p>If you buy a binder, make it a 1 inch. You want to have 1 or more for each subject, none of that combined subject 3" binder.</p>
<p>What I am doing is using the cornell notes system mentioned in a previous thread and taking notes either using my comp or handwritten (I will have to test to see what's better).</p>
<p>I'd prefer notebooks to a binder. Itd be easier to stay systematic and organize.</p>
<p>I carry a backpack, lots of spiral notebooks, calculator, and lots of blue pens. That's about it. I hate binders. If I have loose papers (you do get a lot in some classes) I collect them in folders like these: <a href="http://www.folders.com/product-filetabfoldr.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.folders.com/product-filetabfoldr.html</a>.</p>
<p>I'm using a messenger bag simply because I've had a traditional backpack since preschool. I don't plan on taking my laptop to class. And I plan on using 1-subject notebooks for each class. With me, if I use a binder all my papers and notes will get seperated.</p>
<p>When you'll say backpacks, what size do you guys mean? The full sized trekking types?</p>
<p>I am talking about the regular go-back-to-school backpacks</p>
<p>Backpacks are way easier on your neck and back than messenger bags. </p>
<p>I use spirals as well as little cheapo duo tang folders. The most important thing, after everything has been said and done, is to make sure your notes are organised as well as your syllabi. You never know if a prof will swap things around with the syllabi. And you need all your notes for finals for sure.</p>
<p>L.L. Bean makes really neat backpacks because they last forever. Army Navy Surplus makes nice ones also.</p>
<p>trekking backpacks? i bought a messenger bag</p>
<p>I love my messenger bag, but for my laptop I bought an actuall backpack.</p>
<p>And just for the record...to the above...Cornell notes are the devil</p>
<p>i had a notebook and a one inch binder for each class. the notebook was precisely what youd think: a book that was ONLY used to take notes. the binder was used to keep the syllabus, printouts/handouts, looseleaf/graphing paper and returned work, which, for most classes, i couldnt imagine fitting into a regular folder. (i had one class that forced me to purchase TWO four inch binders for my printouts....)</p>
<p>my system took up a bit of space, so it likely wont work for anyone who has to carry around 'stuff' for more than two classes at a time, but i was far more organized than anyone i knew... and come finals week, thats what matters.</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>on bags, anything youd see in high school is fine. regular backpacks are still a staple. messangers have their fans. and totes are extremely popular with the 'girls who are too cool to carry a backpack' crowd. watch out for them, though, as the 'cool' tote seems to change about once per semester.</p>
<p>anyone use these expanding file things? they always seemed practical to me.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.staples.com/sbd/img/cat/enl/s0112190_enl.jpg%5B/url%5D">http://www.staples.com/sbd/img/cat/enl/s0112190_enl.jpg</a>
<a href="http://www.officedepot.com/pictures/SK/MD/476536_sk_md.jpg%5B/url%5D">http://www.officedepot.com/pictures/SK/MD/476536_sk_md.jpg</a></p>
<p>are they handy?</p>
<p>I just have a small shoulder/tote bag type thing. I don't need notebooks for some of my classes and even when I do I don't have to carry more than 3 at once and no books, so it's not that heavy. I used my bookbag the first year but I quickly got annoyed with it because it's so huge and cumbersome compared to what I actually carry in it. I mostly use the bookbag for carrying art supplies and groceries now. </p>
<p>Occasionally I see people with those paper file things, but I never had that many papers from any of my classes so I just made sure to buy single-subject notebooks with folder pockets in the front. I never see people using binders.</p>
<p>I use a backpack. It's just an ordinary Jansport backpack. I carried a messanger my last two years of high school and it was murder on my back. Most people on my campus use backpacks. I use binders for some classes and spiral notebooks for others. Really depends on the class
And those expanding file things are great outside of class. I use one to keep all my paper work (housing forms, bank statements, bills, etc) organized. It's also a great place to throw all the random papers/take out menus/maps that you accumulate throughout the year, but can't necessarily throw away. But I wouldn't use it for classes</p>
<p>Does anyone use those backpacks with the wheels?? I really hate those,but I am going to college in Boston...and some of the classes are blocks away from each other...and long walks with a backpack can really cause pain</p>
<p>.....I wouldn't advise walking around a college campus with a rolling backpack. It just seems so 6th grade, but in the end it's up to you. If it's between scoliosis or a rolling backpack then by all means use the rolling backpack!</p>
