<p>If you like binders, use the binder. A lot of commuter students show up on campus with a backpack stuff with things they’ll need for the day, plus a lunch bag plus sometimes a gym bag or computer bag. Some of them eventually leave stuff in the car (which can be inconvenient), some decide to do something like leave the binder at home most days and just work from a notebook and transfer pages when they get home, some get lockers on campus in the commuter lounge, some just live with the inconvenience. Do what works for you…but if it turns out not to work, you’ve got some great suggestions for alternatives here.</p>
<p>Most of the time, I don’t even bring my binder to class. I carry around sheets of looseleaf and write notes on it. When I get home I insert those notes into my binder and I have it to study from. I also keep a smaller binder for when I need to take parts of the large binder away from my dorm, whether it be to study in the library or for long outside study sessions.</p>
<p>I think a binder that size can easily break if you are cramming a semesters worth of things in it. The issues with binders is the lack of flexibility it takes up a lot of room. I would hate for you to throw it away but as others have said maybe keep it for an end of semester review and buy something smaller. You can move notes into the big binder at the end of each unit. What I STRONGLY recommend using are Meas brand Flex Notebinders. They have the convenience of a binder because of rings that you can open but they take up the space of notebook because the rings are on the outside and they come in many sizes. They are a bit pricey, but after coupons they’re pretty decently priced and they last forever. I’ve had mine going on 3 years now.
<a href=“http://m.target.com/p/mead-five-star-flex-hybrid-notebinder-pink-1-5/-/A-14103051”>http://m.target.com/p/mead-five-star-flex-hybrid-notebinder-pink-1-5/-/A-14103051</a></p>
<p>I personally hate binders as they are bulky and take up valuable backpack space and I hate making repeated trips to the hole puncher. (Most classes require a lot of handouts or printed materials to go with lectures). I’ve only ever used binders for certain projects or for those godawful loose leaf textbooks that were popular for a short time. For note taking, I usually get two, decently thick five-tab notebooks (with loose leaf paper) and section off the subjects accordingly. Depending on my schedule I may get a “MWF” notebook, one for “TTh” and one for labs only, etc. For storage of reference material that I need to access throughout the day, I use a standard two pocket folder or a small file folder and then I have a larger file folder I keep at my dorm/apartment for storage of old stuff I want to keep. Honestly it’s up to you, but being as lightweight as possible makes things so much better.</p>