Posted today on the Tippie Class of 2013 Facebook group:
Kyle, I love your enthusiasm!
After seeing Kyle’s post, we brainstormed about what supplies we might recommend for an incoming MBA student here at Tippie. The list below is not required — it’s just a set of suggestions and recommendations. Everyone is different, and you know how you work best. Stock up accordingly!
A few ideas for back-to-school
- Pens
- A highlighter or two
- #2 mechanical pencils
At least a couple, for tests - Calculator
Jon Garfinkel recommends the JP10B II. It’s inexpensive and does what’s needed. The TI BA-II Plus is also a good option! - Paper
Loose leaf, notebooks… whatever you prefer. - Backpack or messenger bag.
Be sure it can comfortably accommodate your laptop if you plan to have one. And on a side note, when you buy your laptop, take WEIGHT into account. You’ll be carrying it a lot, so it shouldn’t kill your back.
- Planner, or some sort of time organization system.
How you do this one is totally up to you. You could use a planner, your phone, your Hawkmail calendar… whatever you like. But know that you’ll have a lot of claims and commitments made on your time, so you will need a way to manage your days. Avoid getting a reputation for never showing up — plan ahead to stay organized! 
3 ring binders, pocket folders — basically some sort of paper organization system
Again, this is totally up to you — only YOU know how best to organize yourself. Some use binders, some use folders, and others use a combination of both. You will have papers to keep track of, and you’ll be better off if you can spend less time finding stuff and more time working. Again, planning ahead is the best way to stay ahead of the curve.- Flash drive
This is handy so you always have your really important documents on you — particularly your resume. You might also elect to use Dropbox or another cloud-based service for document storage, but you may not always have access to the web, which is where the flash drive comes in handy. - Reusable Water Bottle
This is my own personal recommendation. Many students don’t get enough sleep and definitely don’t drink enough water. You can buy bottled water for about $1.50 at Pat’s Diner in Pappajohn Biz Bldg, but for $0.60, you can refill your water bottle with cold filtered water at a vending machine a few feet away. Or if you are a water fountain person, you can fill up in Pappajohn or Pomerantz for free! Better than dropping $1.50 on a bottle every time (and better for the environment, too). I personally love Nalgene bottles with the pop-top. Make sure your backpack has a pocket/hook for a water bottle! - A smartphone with email.
Again, this is up to you, but being connected to email even when you’re away from a computer is really helpful. Particularly when you communicate with potential employers!
These were the ideas we had from brainstorming this morning, but I’m sure we have overlooked something. Tell us in the comments below — what else should we add to this list?
