Most college students are looking for the “college experience” – whatever that is exactly. Let’s just say that COVID-19 gives you one of the most unique college experiences. Whether you planned to take some or all of your classes online, the novel Coronavirus has forced millions of students to take classes online. Although you need a backpack, notebooks, and pens, online courses require unique supplies. We’ve put together an online college supplies checklist for you; check it out below.
A designated “classroom”
One of the biggest mistakes you can make during online classes is not having a routine. An essential part of your routine is your workplace or “classroom”. Nothing in our current climate is normal, so you should try to recreate a normal routine. Find a place in your home that you can consider your classroom; this way you are in the right frame of mind every time you go to that place.
All software
Most colleges require students to use Office 365, especially Word and PowerPoint. In addition to Office 365, however, you’ll probably also need to download Zoom. Depending on your specialty, you may also need additional software, so make sure you know exactly what you need. Pro tip: Many software companies are offering great deals for students, because life is pretty much online right now; use these discounts to your advantage.
Headphones or earphones
If you already have headphones or earphones, good job, you can skip to the next part. If you don’t have headphones or earphones, you need to get some. Between listening to your jams and all those Zoom calls, you’ll need something clearer than your computer or laptop speakers. You should consider your home environment before buying headphones or earphones. Some homes are louder than others, and you might want to spend a little extra money on noise-canceling headphones to reduce distractions.
High-speed and reliable internet
Like we said, life is mostly online, so you better make sure your internet can keep up. If you can afford it, make sure you have high-speed internet access. No one wants to attend a Zoom class that gets delayed because you don’t have a good internet connection. Naturally, every company will try to convince you that they have the fastest internet available, but it’s essential that you understand what ranks high speed internet and what does not work.
With this checklist of online college supplies, you’ll be prepared to face the term head-on. You will also be prepared for the upcoming terms, as no one knows how long it will be before we can return to in-person learning.
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