The most shallow University question I've ever thought of!

OK, here it is.

Starting my course on Monday and I need to know quickly:

Big bag to take the A4 folder but all my stuff a bit lost at the bottom (apart from the phone and computer, which have pockets). Stuff is: purse, keys, make-up, camera, DS (as in nintendo, not Liebling), umbrella, hairbrush and knowing my son I'll have some trains in there by the end of the day too because it doesn't seal.

OR

Small bag that holds purse, make-up, keys, palmtop, phone, camera and DS but not the folder, which is carried - but in a cloth shopping bag or just loose?

Both bags are perfectly fashionable and match my coat and hat, not to mention 95% of my outfits, but I'm still at a loss which to pick! I have the small one loaded up ready to go but it won't take long to do the big one.

I'm really torn! What do you girls think? Can I use a small bag and then I can change it to match outfits (I have a few bags this size) or do I just use the one big one?

I always used one big bag that took everything... It was a back pack, which made things easier for jumping on and off trains and buses so I always had my hands free. Wasn't exactly fashionable and probably matched none of my outfits but it was convenient. Perhaps I'm not the best person to ask...

BW

big bag but put your "smaller" things that get lost into a smaller bag inside.

When I'm at uni, I've got my stuff in my backpack, my work stuff in my briefcase and have a small handbag for the essentials which then gets shoved into either my briefcase or backpack depending on where exactly I'm heading.

I agree with the big bag with a smaller one inside for things that might get lost in the depths of the bag... if you go to the library and borrow out books or get handouts, you really want somewhere to shove them and it sounds like your little bag may not cut it...

Have fun going back to Uni!

MG

The big bag so that you have hands free if you need them for DS (not the nintendo)

hi Rosehip,

I would have a practise with both, practise taking things out and finding things in bags etc. I would be extra cautious of how easily something might fall out while you're looking for pen etc. Knowing the crowds, noise and nerves its easy not to notice say your wallet falling out while trapped in between folder pages. Unfortunately thieves are well and truly out there at unis. The separate bags sounds easier to me, bulkier maybe but things have own place, plus you can have a dedicated uni bag that things could stay in and if you needed something you know exactly were to look. If its just a folder and pens etc it shouldn't be too bulky and certainly wouldn't be unusual.
Sori to go on, caught me on my first coffee of the day!

i would be going two bags, even if the smaller gets thrown in the larger one for convenience... if you're not keen on taking two bags, maybe go and buy one of the folders that has everything in it (pen holders, disk space) that seals up with velcro or something - i used them for labs at uni all the time - could cart everything without needing to have a huge bag (or carry folder, have lab coat, books etc in bag) - but i lived on campus so only a few minutes walk to swap things over - didn't always need a full day of stuff with me...

I am starting uni classes tomorrow too. I am going to be using one big back pack so I dont loose anything. It it all in one place and only one bag to remember to pick up.
Mine has two pockets. One for folder, pens, etc and the other for my purse, phone, etc.
Haveing the tow pockets makes it easier to seperate studies stuff and personal stuff and easier to find what you need with out makeing heaps of noise in the class room.

Maybe it's just me, but I never get the matching bag with clothes??? as long as it serves the purpose you need it for with out damaging your back which carrying around heavy books will do, then what does it matter if it is a wrong colour or pattern???

Good luck with your studies.

i always used just one bag for uni, found it much easier to have my hands free. but i know what you mean about losing things at the bottom so i used a bag with a zip pocket that i could put all those sorts of loose things in.

good luck with your studies :)

I just had a big backpack that was my DH's. It had one big pocket for the books, jumpers and folders, a smaller one in which my purse, phone etc when in and then a smaller one with pens etc. I found as the year progessed I took less and less with me as I just didn't need it.

Since I was combining Uni and Work, I was lucky that the bag was neutral and it went with my office wear that I wore to work. I tried my laptop bag that was much more 'classy' but it really hurt my shoulders and so I gave up on that and went back to the comfy backpack.

Try out both bags with full weights and work out which is most comfy - it may help in the long run!

Personally, I always went the smaller bag and carrying the folder. Mainly beacuse it made me feel a bit more fashion- in that American college, carrying a stack of books kinda way.

A pain in the bum? Totally. But it does indeed look very cool.

im still yet to find my bag! i want one bag with a few different pockets but i want a one strap...i found one the other day but not sure isf i can justify $80 for it....

i always used a back pack with a few pockets to keep thing easy to get to, i also went for ease, convenience and comfort over fashion.

Don't take a shopping bag. It always looks funny when people are using them as a handbag, and definately not fashionable.

I am with the majority, go the big bag with a smaller bag inside to keep the stuff you need accessible.

Big bag, and you can keep a smaller bag in the big bag, even a funky cloth zip up bag (hellooo etsy), for your purse and other stuff.

My advice - go to the very first conference you can wangle student attendance to get to in your chosen professional field. They hand out really groovy bags at ALL of them - I have 2 FANTASTIC satchels that have folder-sized spaces AND all the little pockets and zips for all the other sort of stuff you want to carry around. PLUS it's a conversation starter for any other students who've been to the conference as well. :)

GOOD LUCK on Monday!!!

Cheers all. Thoughts and replies much appreciated.

I'm driving this week and it's induction week, so I'm thinking small bag and carry the folder tomorrow. Then see if I need the big bag (with a small bag in it, great idea!).

I'm a small bag person. I did try a big bag and it just doesn't go with me. And I'm paranoid about backpacks being easy targets because I can't see it all the time. (Handbag on right side only!) I also don't have one big enough for a folder.

So my handbag will have in:
Purse
Make-up
Keys and keyring memory stick
Phone
Calculator
multicoloured pen, pencil, ruler, small highlighter
Hole puncher (for handouts)
Computer

If I need to take the textbook too I'll have to consider a big bag. Or even a big bag for a packed lunch. But I just hate big bags, even with pockets! Maybe big bag for when I'm on the train next week. Then I can put my nintendo in there too: I have that for playing on the train so I don't waste my computer battery for coursework (to do on the way home). Liebling will have to walk as that DS won't fit in any handbag any more. Hmm, maybe I can get a bag to fit a baby in, like a nasty yappy dog bag that seems to be in fashion with various even more shallow people than me.

Maybe when the course gets going I'll find I don't need my folder every day and can just use the computer. That would be good. And then I can take a small/medium satchel bag/bowling bag to carry everything and handouts just need folding once to fit in.

It's just lesson, lunch, lesson, home so I don't have to worry about carrying the folder around too much during the day.

AAAAAGH! And DH thinks I have enough bags. How can I have enough bags when I have this dilemma?

Next thing: clothes. Obviously funky boots, jeans, blouse and fitted jumper with my smart purple wool knee-length coat over it. But the jumper I want to wear didn't dry today! Have to hope it's ready for tomorrow. I get my photo taken for the whole "so the faculty know who you are" thing tomorrow so it's a tough decision. Perfect hair and make-up needed too. So stressful!

(And I know, soooo shallow!)

Just a quick suggestion about your memory stick - keep it attached to your keys or something else bulky so you wont forget it. I didn't have mine attached to anything to begin with and I accidentally left it behind in the computer rooms 3 times! :doh:

Just to update before I start a new, unrelated thread here.

You know those trendy young people who carry their folders? Where do they live? Is it somewhere sunny? Why yes! Is it England? Oh no, it's sunny in the trendy films.

Stupid English weather. I'm not singing and dancing in the rain - I'm trying to stop my brolly blowing away and also to leap over puddles at the smallest, shallowest point without getting wet.

I did try the big bag and no, not going to happen for me - I feel stupid and it's heavy and looks silly on me. So it's a medium-sized bag and no folder, I can file things at home. At least my computer's small! (The memory stick came on a keyring so that's good for me!)

Stupid bags. Why do we have to be women and have this issue?

In Australia there is a fantastic bag/satchel/backpack etc company called Crumpler which is highly favoured by uni students. Not sure if you can access them in the UK but they make really great large/medium satchels etc that I think would really suit you. I received a Crumpler backpack for Christmas from my DH. There's a piccy of it in my gallery. Love it. Asked for a backpack because with kids in tow you often need hands-free. They are also extremely well made. There's a also a BB thread about them... do a search on "Crumpler" if you are interested.