A laptop is a necessary tool for any college student. Not only does it help you keep track of your assignments, but it also helps you search for information to complete your tasks. Plus, it’s easy to carry in your backpack and doesn’t take up too much space. Purchasing a good laptop should be one of your priorities if you don’t already own one. It will make your life easier and help you ace your assignments. Today, we’ll explore why every student should own a laptop in college and how you can pick one that fits your exact needs.

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Why Should Students Own a Laptop in College?
There are so many ways in which a laptop will help you succeed academically. Check out some of the most important ones – and then start saving for the one you like.
- Your assignment completion process will be smoother. You need to continuously check the work that your professor assigns you to ace a class. Otherwise, you won’t be able to keep track of all the things you’ve got to do. A laptop helps you stay connected to schoolwork at any time.
- Plus, your laptop is a real communication device and a bridge between you and your professors. You can now set up Zoom or Skype meetings and have professors answer any questions you might have. Shooting them an email when you’re not completely sure what the next step is could be another good reason for purchasing a laptop.
- Typing is faster than writing, so you could also use your computer to take notes during class. This will make you more efficient since you’ll be able to acquire more information in less time. You can also use your laptop to prepare important school presentations such as PowerPoint projects, for example.
- A laptop will be necessary to write essays and complete your school research, especially if you’re a senior. Your paper won’t write itself, so having a laptop will accelerate the learning and writing processes. Plus, you can always pay for research paper at Studyclerk to have your research paper written for you, in case you’re feeling under the weather. Many college students use this option in case they run out of time; instead of getting an F and failing the class, they choose to go with the more feasible option. Professors should learn to normalize this option. In the end, there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for research help. Research can be complicated and quite tricky, so having someone help you is normal and shouldn’t be stigmatized.
- Convenience. Most students carry laptops around for convenience. Instead of finishing up their work at home, they choose to study at the library or in the common studying area with other students. If you don’t own a laptop, you won’t be able to do that since you’ll constantly need a computer nearby. You can study wherever you want if you own a laptop.

Buying Your First Laptop in College
Here are some of the most important things you should look at when buying your first laptop in college.
- The size and weight of your device. Depending on your education degree, you might need a larger/smaller device. If you’re studying English Literature for example (and writing essays all day), you won’t need a super-complicated gadget, so your device can be light. If, however, you’re a Computer Science major, you might need to invest in a more serious and thus heavier piece of equipment.
- Battery life.Think about this seriously, as this feature is super important. Make sure you buy a laptop that lasts for up to 14 hours.
- Display and resolution. Again, you need to consider what display and resolution you need for your work. Going with a 1080p resolution should suffice for most students.
- RAM. Random Access Memory or RAM shows you how many programs can run on your laptop at the same time. The bigger the RAM, the more space to run those programs. Look for 8GB RAM if you can.
- Processor. This is one of the most important components, so look for a well-known processor. You should go with Intel Core i3 or i5 if you can. For more sophisticated programs, try i7 or i9.
- Hard Drive and Storage.Choose an SSD if that is a possibility you’re looking atsince it runs faster than other standard drives. Aim for at least 128 GB.
- Operating System. Depends on your preferences – I usually recommend Mac OS, but if you’re a Computer Science student, you might want to go with Windows.
- Price.Finally, you’ve got to check the price, of course. Spending anywhere between $400 and $700 as a college student should be more than enough.
Wrapping Up
These are all the necessary things you should know before purchasing your first laptop. Now that you know how a laptop can help you, you can start saving up.