A maths perspective on what you actually need
What you need
The essentials for uni really depend on the course first and foremost. Humanities students are ever equipped with their laptop, whereas many science students opt for a 2-in-1 instead. However, the specific kind of laptop or 2-in-1 is very important. I have a MacBook because they’re light, portable and have a longer battery life than alternatives. You might want to consider a more gaming-oriented laptop, but those are often heavier with shorter battery life. I opted to lead an analogue life in first semester, attending my maths lectures with nothing but a pencil and paper, but the utility of a 2-in-1 was pretty self-evident. Obviously, the major downside to all of this is the ludicrous cost, so a great way to get more affordable tech is to use second hand sellers, one of which is Backmarket. However, the library is absolutely full of good computers so nothing is truly essential if you do prefer the more minimalist approach. As a maths student, a laptop has been really useful for my Mathematical Programming and Skills module, where we use Spyder. Although you could manage without one, being able to do your coursework in bed is always a plus in my eyes! It’s not just strictly coding that requires specialised software though, where both statistics and pure maths use R Studio and Maple respectively, to solve complex problems for you.
What you might want
A speaker. Absolutely not an essential, and there’s a pretty high chance that a flatmate will have one too, but it’s a great social tool. When you invite people to your room then it’s absolutely ideal to pop on a bit of music for background. If you bring a computer, then prepare to for your flatmates to mooch as much as possible (I was the moocher). It’s an automatic way to turn your room into a pseudo-living room. Headphones are also an essential for most people to block out the inordinately loud sounds your flatmates will inevitably be making (who knows what they’re doing). Further, if you need peace and quiet as you work then it’s advisable to have headphones with good noise cancellation for the studious buzz that the library often attracts during the exam season.
Extra-curricular uses
Tutoring is a brilliant job to do alongside studies and a touchscreen or 2-in-1 is extremely useful for this. I borrow my friends Chromebook every time I tutor because I didn’t have the foresight to get one. A laptop can also be a good tool for socialising in that many flats choose to play games together online or spectate one another, so it’s important to not neglect the other value tech can provide!
A note on analogue
Amidst an increasingly digital world it is of course necessary to mention the value of choosing more bespoke tech so as to get away from your phone. CD players, cameras, and projectors are all great alternatives to your phone or laptop. It makes listening to music or watching films more experiential and tangible. There’s a crucial thing to note when considering what type of camera to buy: digital or film. The latter is more expensive in the price of film and development costing £12-16 per roll to develop. With a digicam, although you do not get the tactile process or higher contrast aesthetic, it is far easier to share photos with friends and is much faster too.
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