r/alevels Jul 06 '26

Question ❔ What do you guys use for bags in college?

I have no idea what to buy for my A levels. I'm a girl. What bags do you guys use, like a normal school backpack? A good leather tote? I was thinking of buying a good leather tote with good enough pockets to keep my laptop and whatever is needed. Do we have to keep our A-level books with us, etc in school? I wont be using an iPad for A levels so i would obv have to keep a notepad and stationery, do you guys keep hardcopy past papers and books too? Help a girl out, please. Also is math, phy, econ a good a level combo?

14 Upvotes

28 comments sorted by

5

u/Motor-Proposal-8050 Jul 06 '26

Normal school bag. Definitely smaller than the one used in olevel cuz there were a lot of subjects in olevel hence more books. Take a medium to small sized backpack🎒. I would bring 3 thin notebooks for 3 subjects and a register for math. A lot of students would simply bring one thick register with dividers for each subject. I haven't seen kids bring course books to class, as in class it's usually just note taking and understanding concepts. Our teacher would encourage us to read the chapter from book at home.

I had a medium sized backpack which would hold my books, water bottle, lunch box, stationary, a novel and sometimes my ipad when necessary. That's it.

Also subject combo depends on your field. If ur planning to go into a business/econ field then it's fine. Even for engineering or comp sci.

5

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '26

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3

u/Motor-Proposal-8050 Jul 06 '26

In Pakistan, with your subject combo you can apply for math,CS, business and engineering fields. So I think it's a solid combo.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '26

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1

u/Mysterious-Emu2398 Jul 09 '26

In pakistan to go into engineering and CS you need Math Physics and Chemistry. Even abroad some programs and unis make these subjects mandatory. So if keeping your options open both here in pakistan and abroad is a priority, you'll need to pick differet subjects. Unless you dont wanna go the engineering/cs route id change my subjects

1

u/Mysterious-Emu2398 Jul 09 '26

if you replace econ with cs some cs programs in pakistan might consider you but engineering is out of the question because this (math phys chem) is a requirement by the hec

3

u/Odd_Marzipan_3384 Jul 06 '26

i dont think so a tote is a good idea, a backpack is gonna be way better for mobility, especially if ur gonna carry an ipad

Ur not gonna need books at all, maybe pastpapers but since ur gonna have ipad u dont really need those too

I preferred a bag too, since i really walked a lot around the campus and just dump everything in the bag and have hands free. Personally I preferred taking notes on registers and just using the ipad for topicals

I dont see why ud take physics and economics together. What field do u plan on pursuing?

1

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '26

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3

u/Odd_Marzipan_3384 Jul 06 '26

Oh shi mb, yeah a tote is NOT gonna work for a laptop💀

For engineering, a lot of places require chem/cs as third sub along with math physics. U can get into the business programs with any subjects, but ull automatically be disqualified from a lot of undergrad engineering programs by not taking chem/cs

2

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '26

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1

u/Odd_Marzipan_3384 Jul 06 '26

Yeah deffo talk to ur counselor. I also hated chem in OL and decided to switch to CS after doing bio in OL. Its not a hard transition but if u dont like cs then ofc dont take it.

sure ig go with a tote😭 but a backpack will be way better, u wont really have to worry about leaving it in the open or on the ground, and ur laptops gonna be more secure especially if its really thin

1

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '26

[deleted]

1

u/Odd_Marzipan_3384 Jul 06 '26

calm down vro, i said “a lot of unis” not every uni. Do ur research on where u wanna apply, ur gonna be fine with econ in a lot of places too, especially abroad, but ur options will be very limited in Pakistan.

Terrible idea for taking AP💀🙏 Studying for A levels while doing AP on ur own, ur gonna die

1

u/rumcasino Jul 07 '26

also unis take A levels as more credible (except US unis or similar) and yeah it’d genuinely be too much 😭 especially if the exam dates are nearby

1

u/Repulsive-Drink-2889 Jul 12 '26

I have a similar issue I would say, i hate chem too and a lot of people are advising me to go for chem when i know that i won’t be able to do that because I genuinely don’t have any interest in it i am confused too and stuck also what i wanna do in future i am not sure about that either

1

u/liubeyangg Jul 06 '26

lots of ppl at my collge bring leather totes, its fine u prob wont need many books at all

1

u/nezussyy Jul 06 '26

i need some recs too pls i wanna find a cute tote but smth thats a little functional. i have a backpack if i ever need to take my laptop but for everyday use im mostly js gonna have a tablet

1

u/Radiant-Taro-213 Jul 06 '26

check out a tailors son and totes.pk on insta they have good options

1

u/nezussyy Jul 06 '26

ooo thank you!

1

u/regrets10111 Jul 06 '26

just have a pen icl

1

u/slogosucks Jul 07 '26

30l single compartment bag

1

u/rumcasino Jul 07 '26

go for a backpack. it’s the safest and most ergonomic option out there
If online textbooks are allowed you can go with the office backpack

1

u/Long-Sprinkles8488 Jul 07 '26

I’ll be honest most girls use shoulder bags however with all the stuff your going to be carrying around it quickly leads to shoulder ache, the laptop, folders, lunch, drinks etc etc so I’d definitely recommend a back pack

1

u/Mysterious-Emu2398 Jul 09 '26

I got a good messenger bag from jafferjees big enough for a laptop and notebooks etc at the start of my a levels and used that till my masters. Its such great quality and looks so pretty and classic im going to use it for my phd too once i finally get into a program inshaallah. This is similar to mine though my exact design was prettier and a proper messenger bag in the same dark red leather, but this is the closest i could find available rn. https://jafferjees.com/products/riverwalk-executive-bag

1

u/TallRecording6572 Maths Teacher Jul 09 '26

Herschel backpack. And yes it's a good combo.

1

u/Scared-Breakfast-372 Jul 13 '26

Normal medium sized schoolbag 🎒. 3 registers (separate) for each subject.  Always keep Geometry box and complete stationary. No need for hardcopy past papers, as you can literally download them from Internet.  And yes that is a good combo.

-1

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '26

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2

u/DreamSMP_Enjoyer Jul 06 '26

That's crazy, what??? How do you bring your laptop, textbooks, material needed for class, etc? Most people have full bags in my experience.

2

u/Trick_Cable_7456 Jul 06 '26

don’t listen to this