The Ultimate Back-To-School Checklist for College Students

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This year’s summer break is coming to an end. 

Students in the US have a few weeks left before classes begin. 

And this means that they have to start preparing for the transition from the holidays to school/college life. 

This can be easy for some, while for others it often causes a ton of stress. 

If you belong to the latter group of people, we’re here to help you out. This blog gives you some valuable tips to make sure you start the new school year in flying colors. 

From things to get during back-to-school sales to the best mobile phone deals in the USA, we’ve explored all aspects of this topic. 

Even if going back to school isn’t a nerve-wracking experience for you, you’re sure to find something useful in the sections below. Head right in! 

Get These Essentials During Back-to-School Sales 

Almost every business, whether established brands or mom and pop stores, runs back-to-school sales during this time of the year. They usually last a few weeks. In some cases, they even run for a month. 

During this time, you can expect all essential school supplies at discounted prices. Some businesses may request that you provide a valid school/college ID to avail the discount. But for most of them, you can just get the product at discounted prices. 

So, if you’re looking to capitalize on back-to-school sales 2026, then here are some items you shouldn’t miss. 

Essential Supplies 

We’ll start off with the basics. 

You’ll need a lot of stationery to get through a school year. Although you can resupply in the middle of the school year, you may not get the prices you get at this time of the year. 

Carry this list with you if you’re out to buy supplies for the new school year. 

• Notebooks 
• Planners 
• Folders 
• Erasers/sharpeners 
• Pens/pencils/highlighters/sticky notes 
• Document pouches 
• Glue sticks 
• A pair of scissors 

That’s for the stationery. Here’s another list of school supplies that you must buy for the new school year. 

• A sturdy backpack with a laptop/tablet compartment (preferably water-resistant) 
• A reusable water bottle 
• A coffee mug 
• Hand sanitizers and masks 
• A first aid kit 

Essential Devices 

Everything’s digital these days. You’ll need a bunch of devices for your school year to be a useful and fun one. 

Here are all the electronic devices you should consider buying during back-to-school sales. 

• A laptop 
• A tablet 
• A pair of noise-canceling headphones (preferably wireless) 
• An external hard drive or a USB flash drive 
• A surge protector 
• A portable power bank 
• Keyboard and mouse (preferably wireless) 
• A laptop stand 

This list is missing a smartphone because we assume you already have one. If you haven’t upgraded your device in a while and your budget allows it, consider purchasing a new smartphone as well. 

Essential Apps 

This goes hand in hand with the devices list. The ideal combination of devices and applications will make school life a smooth one. 

Although many in this list are paid options, consider looking for free, open-source alternatives if you’re on a tight budget. 

• A note-taking app  
• A grammar checker 
• Citation tools 
• A cloud storage subscription to access your files on the go 
• A time management app to keep track of deadlines 
• Focus and habit tools to reduce distraction 

How to Stay Connected on Campus 

Now that you have the essentials sorted out, the next step is connectivity. 

Everyone knows that you’re going to have a hard time at school/college if you don’t have the right mobile plan. 

Thankfully, most schools in the US have free Wi-Fi. This makes it easy to stay connected while you’re on campus. 

But what happens when you leave the campus? 

Surely, you cannot rely on Wi-Fi, as public Wi-Fi can be a bit sketchy. 

This is where a mobile plan comes in handy. 

With one, you don’t have to rely on public Wi-Fi when you leave campus. 

The mobile plan comes with call, text, and data benefits. This gives you a reliable way to call/text any local number at any time without the need to be connected to Wi-Fi all the time. 

So how do you choose the right mobile plan for the new school year, especially when there are lots of back-to-school mobile plans? 

Let’s find out! 

How to Choose the Right Back-to-School Cell Phone Deal 

You will need a reliable mobile plan to use along with the free Wi-Fi available on campus. 

But choosing the right one is not as straightforward as one might think. 

So here is a quick guide on how students can take advantage of back-to-school sales. Ask yourself these questions before purchasing a mobile plan. 

What is my budget? 

Setting a budget is essential before you go hunting for a back-to-school cell phone deal. The student mobile plan you choose might have the right combination of benefits at a reasonable price. 

Fix a budget and set how much more you’re willing to spend above it before you go looking for a plan. The key is to not go above this limit. 

How much data do I need? 

Mobile data is an important component of a phone plan. If your data needs are light, then any back-to-school cell plan with less than 5 or 10 GB per month will do. 

However, if your data needs are on the higher side, then you should consider looking at unlimited plans. 

Run a quick analysis of your monthly data requirements and arrive at a number. Also, don’t forget to consider your budget during all this. 

How strong is the coverage? 

The operator you choose must offer reliable coverage, especially in places you regularly visit. 

A great way to check this is by using the mobile operator’s network coverage checker. Most operators have a map where you can enter all the possible zip codes you’ll spend a lot of time in, and the map shows the network strength in the area. This is a clear way to identify which operator is strong in your location. Here is what Lyca Mobile’s coverage checker looks like. 

Should I go with postpaid or prepaid? 

This is another important decision to make. 

Both have their own sets of pros and cons. The most obvious ones are the credit checks and payment methods. 

In postpaid mobile plans, you pay for the benefits after you have used them. As this is the case, you must pass a credit check before you can even purchase one. 

Postpaid plans also come with lengthy contracts. You’ll have to pay a termination fee if you’re changing the plan before the contract ends. 

This is not the case if your back-to-school cell phone plan happens to follow the prepaid model. You pay for a set number of benefits before you use them. Once the validity ends, you’re free to continue with the same plan or choose a different plan. 

A prepaid mobile plan is beneficial for students as it doesn’t require a credit check and gives students the freedom to switch between plans every 30 days. 

Should I select an eSIM? 

This is more of a quality-of-life improvement. 

If you have an eSIM-compatible device, then, by all means, go with an eSIM. 

It’s 100% digital, and you can switch between plans without swapping SIM cards. They’re also an eco-friendly alternative to physical SIM cards. 

Will I use my phone as a hotspot? 

If you carry your laptop/tablet with you all the time, then you’ll need a reliable source of internet as well. A mobile plan with dedicated hotspot data comes in quite handy in such instances. 

Very few mobile plans include generous amounts of hotspot data. So you’ll have to search a bit. 

Also, before you finalize a back-to-school cell phone deal with hotspot data, double-check whether the allocated hotspot data is a part of the monthly data allocation. 

Will I make international calls? 

This is a must-have feature for international students. A back-to-school mobile phone deal with dedicated international minutes makes it easy for students to stay in touch with their friends and family back home. 

Most mobile operators in the US often include international minutes. Some MVNOs include generous amounts of international minutes as a part of the mobile plan. Look for such plans and pick one that ticks other boxes in the list as well. 

The Top Back-to-School Cell Phone Plans from Lyca Mobile 

Now that you know what to look for when shopping for mobile plans during back-to-school sales, let’s look at some awesome mobile plans from Lyca Mobile. 

Lyca Mobile has a combination of monthly and long-term back-to-school cell phone deals. All these plans follow the prepaid model, and there are no credit checks involved. 

Conclusion 

You’re now fully equipped with everything you need for the new school year. 

The back-to-school sales in the US is a great time to grab some exciting deals on school supplies, laptops, and other similar gadgets. 

Lyca Mobile has some pocket-friendly back-to-school mobile phone deals with huge discounts. 

These plans feature all the benefits you can expect from the ideal mobile plan, from unlimited local and international calling to high-speed 5G and dedicated hotspot data. Just one Lyca Mobile prepaid plan will easily carry you through the school year. 

So pick a Lyca mobile prepaid plan and tackle the school year head-on. All the best!