This is a weird question but I was wondering what kind of backpacks do students bring to campus? Do most people bring backpacks or like tote bags. LOL sorry if this is a stupid question.

Some people bring one or both. Depends on how much you're carrying though you should only bring the notebooks you need for the day and/or a laptop. Don't bother lugging your textbooks to class (unless your prof specifically says you'll be using them in class). Don't need to buy a new backpack just for uni though. Your high school backpack is sufficient.

What you want to have is like a leather folder with a zipper, that you use for your resumes and other stuff when you come to job fairs and job interviews (especially the latter, since going to an interview dressed in business casual and with a high school backpack is pretty ghetto).

Just a backpack. All you need to carry to class is a notebook and calculator and pen and stuff. FFS leave your laptop at home unless you need it for labs.

Hi Paula! Welcome to macinsiders! No question is a stupid question on here.

Your question is a really good one. And it all comes down to personal preference. If you have a laptop, most people I see usually have cross body messenger bags that hold your laptop and a textbook or two.

Some students are in classes that have a lot of textbooks each day, which is a good reason to have a backpack so that you're able to carry the heavy weight of the books in an ergonomic way.

If you have a lot of textbooks and don't want to carry them around all day you do have the option of renting a locker on campus so you can store your books in there in between classes.

Most Note taking these days are done on a computer, so your laptop will be your primary tool for notes and stuff like that.

Some people who ride bikes to school prefer backpacks which are easier to transport.

Originally Posted by Chad

Unfortunately you don't get to pick your locker though, they are randomly assigned. But you can store your books in there in between classes.

Is this new? I was able to choose from a list of available lockers last time I rented one in 2014 (a first come, first serve approach)?

Originally Posted by Brendan

Is this new? I was able to choose from a list of available lockers last time I rented one in 2014 (a first come, first serve approach)?

Hi Brendan, thanks for this tip. When I was at Mac it was randomly assigned, you were only able to pick the areas first-come-first-serve. You're saying that now you're able to actually pick the specific locker you want by number and area? That's a great improvement since when I was at Mac

I've removed that point from my post as to not confuse new students.

Thanks!

Messenger bag is nice and light, but a backpack with straps over both shoulders is safer for your back. At some point during the year you'll be carrying 20 pounds of stuff somewhere, and bearing that much weight sideways across the spine is very bad.

Also, it seems professors are starting to ban laptops from class because they're such a distraction. I know the story is that they're "taking notes", but a lot of students are just surfing the internet during class, which is an incredible distraction for everyone sitting behind them.

Messenger bag is nice and light.

Get a locker! It makes it so much easier. Figure out which bank of lockers is in a place you will pass most often going to and from classes and then take down the numbers of a range of lockers, which building and go in to the bookstore and they will assign a locker.

And, unlike previous years, they actually are changing the locks now so that the former owners cannot go into your locker (I know, right?)