tangentlineRegistered UserPosts: 1,116Senior Member
Never used any of these as an engineer... The one time I had to make a poster for a GE class there's free poster printing on campus as long as it's for a college assignment.
My D used materials liked those occasionally, both as an elementary ed major and as an RA. She was known for giving out coloring book pages to new residents and having a getting to know you crayoning night - BEFORE it became a thing for adults. She would decorate the hallways with the artwork. She would also make posters, etc. as part of her RA duties.
Bring them if you have room - they might come in handy for something. I remember having a couple of classes in college that required them (markers, technical pens, colored pencils, etc) and the materials were always listed on the syllabus. But also I had classes where I did projects and specific materials weren't listed - you were just expected to purchase them on your own if you wanted to get creative.
I think it's more likely you'll use them if you're in clubs -- making signs for a team member, advertising something, that kind of thing. I'd bring them so you have them just in case; they don't take up much room and they'll cost a lot more to buy on campus.
I happen to have some of these materials still and I know sometimes it has to be specific colored pencils, crayons, glue, or markers to be used. If it's glue that's needed and it's for something like a Popsicle bridge usually it needs Elmers glue and not a glue stick because glue from a glue stick is not strong enough.
My kid takes all of this stuff to college with her. She color codes flash cards, does a lot of lab drawings with colored pencil, and likes to do adult coloring books with friends as a stress-buster. You're never too old for art supplies. A cute little note with a drawing illustrating a question.... is a terrific way to get a professor's attention (provided they have a sense of humor and are personable). Hand made cards are handy for when your lab manager has a baby or your PA gets sick....or anytime you want to thank someone for doing something really thoughtful. Sometimes you can break down and organize information more effectively using a color coding system. None of this stuff is expensive, and it doesn't take up much room....bring it. Also, bring a good pair of scissors, a sewing kit and a small tool kit with screwdrivers, a hammer, pliers, etc.
I don't think you will have any classes that will require these items, I think you just might find them helpful for a few things - in class and outside of class. If there is some type of work that will be required in any of your classes that does require certain things, the professors usually give you a list of exactly what is needed. I've taken art classes, mapping classes, and a surveying class that had special materials requirements, but we were told exactly what we needed.
But I had another class in Outdoor Recreation where we had to select some type of park or recreational area and write a plan on how we could improve it, and I used colored pencils to draw a map of the area I selected. The map wasn't required for the report, but I just wanted to do it, so having pens and colored pencils was handy.
I think you should just bring what you have and wait to see if you'll need anything else once you start school.
Replies to: Are class materials such as glue, markers, and colored pencils ever used in College?
But I had another class in Outdoor Recreation where we had to select some type of park or recreational area and write a plan on how we could improve it, and I used colored pencils to draw a map of the area I selected. The map wasn't required for the report, but I just wanted to do it, so having pens and colored pencils was handy.
I think you should just bring what you have and wait to see if you'll need anything else once you start school.