For a summer checklist, textbook info, school supplies info, and much more, check out U of T’s Engineering Guide to First Year.
The right school supplies are essential to your university experience. You’ll use them to take notes in lectures and tutorials, complete problem sets and practice questions, perform calculations and engineering design, and much more! In this post, we’ve compiled a list of important supplies and how they can be used to help your first year in EngSci be as successful as possible.
Digital School Supplies
Laptop – Operating Systems
A laptop can be very useful throughout your time at university. Some students also take notes with laptops, using programs like markdown, LaTeX, or OneNote (include in the free license of MS Office for all U of T students). A potential upgrade to this setup would be to buy an external mouse (especially useful once you start doing CAD) and a pair of headphones (especially if you’re commuting). Given the amount of time you’ll spend on your laptop, these investments will pay for themselves through increased comfort, usability, and convenience over the next few years.
In terms of operating systems, Windows- and MacOS-based are both suitable options. If you’re not sure which OS to pick, here’s a comparison of the two based on your blog admin’s experiences:
| Pro: Windows is compatible with almost any computer program, including most engineering software you may need in EngSci. | Con: Many engineering design and simulation software, such as SOLIDWORKS, Altium, etc. are not compatible with MacOS. |
| Con: Windows laptops may include certain features that add to the overall price. Powerful processing and graphics features can be very useful. However, you may be paying for more than what you need. | Pro: While some Macs may be more expensive, they generally come with fewer potentially “useless” software and hardware features. |
| Pro: If you’re hoping to use another OS on the same device, virtual machines and dual boots are easy to set up on a Windows system. | Con: If you wish to run another OS on a Mac, it can be much more complicated and annoying to setup and use. |
| Con: Windows devices may not have direct integration with your phone. | Pro: If you have other Apple devices, the convenience of your workflow is greatly improved; you can better integrate/transfer your data and files between them, and various iPhone apps can be accessed on Mac, and vice-versa. |
Note: If you already have a Windows or a MacOS laptop, switching to another OS solely for specific software is not required. In the rare case that OS-specific software is required, you can use workstations in the Engineering Computing Facility (ECF) labs as well as remote login even when you’re away from campus.
Laptop – Technical Specifications
Throughout your time at EngSci, you will use various engineering software inside and outside of the classroom that require above-average computing power. You will soon find yourself checking the specifications requirements for various computer programs. Below, we’ve listed some minimum and recommended specifications based on commonly used software in EngSci to help you determine whether you need to upgrade your laptop. You can look here for the full recommendation list.
*Note: many students use their laptops for additional tasks such as computer gaming. If you are interested in doing so, you might want to consider laptop specs more powerful than those listed below, as games are typically more resource-intensive (and new games increasingly so). Typically, if a laptop is good for gaming, it will be more than enough for your engineering work; we recommend you do your own research to learn about these topics. For anything regarding computer specs, you can also ask the Blog Admins; they both have experience with Mac/Windows, laptops and PCs, gaming, and more.
Windows laptops: We recommend a 13th Generation Intel Core processor (or newer) or an AMD Ryzen 5 processor (or newer).
MacBooks: We recommend an Apple M2 and higher chips.
These processors meet the requirements for the software commonly used throughout the EngSci program.
RAM or Random Access Memory is the storage that your CPU uses to temporarily store and access information. So, more RAM will allow your laptop to run more applications simultaneously without slowing down.
While 4 GB of RAM is deemed the minimum on the U of T Recommended Technology Requirements page, we recommend at least 8 GB, with 16 GB being ideal.
Note: When checking software system requirements, note that if a software lists 8 GB as the minimum and your laptop has just 8 GB, avoid running multiple other programs simultaneously to prevent slowing down.
As a U of T student, you’ll have access to Microsoft 365 for your personal workstations and an associated 1TB OneDrive storage. This will be more than enough to store your course materials. You can use other methods such as Google Drive for additional storage.
That being said, you’ll still need local storage for installing software. Generally, 512GB of SSD storage will be enough if you’re using it mostly for schoolwork. But if you think you’ll need more storage for personal projects and files, a 1TB SSD is optimal. Overall, an SSD (solid state drive) is recommended over an HDD (hard disk drive).
When checking disk space requirements of software, keep in mind that some software will allow you to install the main application without all add-ons, saving disk space.
In your upper years or when working in design teams, you might need to render complex CAD models that require high-end graphics processing units (GPUs). Other simulation programs, and especially machine learning computations, will require strong GPUs and potentially CUDA-compatible GPUs. However, in those cases, the ECF (Engineering Computing Facility) workstations will usually suffice (you can access them remotely as well.) Some design teams also have their own computers with dedicated graphics cards and high-end CPUs. There are also cloud services such as Google Colab which can be used for machine learning.
Modern laptops have relatively decent integrated graphics, but getting one with a dedicated GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) would future-proof your device and allow you to do graphic-intensive renderings in upper years, if needed. Most NVIDIA GPUs are CUDA-compatible.
Tablets For Notetaking
While pen and paper is still a very common method of notetaking, many students use a tablet and stylus for. Common setups include an iPad and Apple Pencil, a Samsung Galaxy Tab and its included pen, or Microsoft OneNote with a stylus (certain laptops such as Microsoft Surface Pros can double as laptops and tablets).
We suggest carefully reflecting on your learning style to determine if a digital method is for you! Often, students start with paper notes and transition to tablets later in the year. Here are the pros and cons of the two based on your blog admins’ experiences:
| Con: Can be very expensive; touchscreen/2-in-1 laptops cost more than their regular counterparts. Digital pens are typically not included in iPad purchases. | Pro: Taking notes on paper is significantly cheaper. You only require stationery, which is often given out for free. |
| Pro: Tablets greatly help with organization; they keep all your notes digitally and cloud backups allow you to access them with any device. | Con: To access your notes, you’ll need to carry around all your notebooks and stationery. Furthermore, you’ll need to print various assignments. |
| Pro: Digital notes are easily searchable and allow you to include internal and external links related to the content | Con: Links to online materials will need to be stored separately and searching through handwritten notes can be difficult based on your individual organization methods. |
| Con: Devices can run out of battery power at inopportune moments. You’ll need to carry around a charging block and cables to combat this issue. | Pro: No batteries required and virtually fail-proof. Writing by hand also eliminates digital distractions, and some studies suggest that taking notes on paper can improve memory retention and comprehension. |
| Pro: Notetaking apps allow you to move, resize, erase, modify, and change absolutely anything in seconds with only a few taps (no more eraser dust, different colors of highlighters, and frustration that your answer didn’t fit in the box provided). | Con: Sometimes professors may erase or change the content they’ve written on the blackboard, needing you to make modifications to your notes. With handwritten notes that means using an eraser or striking through, which can become frustrating and messy over time. |
Amanda’s Experience
I started the semester using an iPad because that’s what I did in high school, and I found that a lot of our first-year professors used posted slides for lectures. The iPad worked well for classes where professors mainly wrote on the chalkboard, like Calc I, since I could copy notes directly into my digital notebook in Goodnotes. I also found that using a digital notebook made it much easier to quickly erase, reorganize, and format notes during fast-paced lectures. It also worked well for lectures with posted slides because I could download them before class and add the professor’s annotations and important speaking points.
My strategy was to take notes during lectures and then only work on problem sets and homework at home. However, once midterms came around, I realized that simply taking notes in class without revisiting them later meant I wasn’t retaining the information as well as I needed to. Because there was so much content happening all at once, I found that most of my studying became relearning the material instead of practicing problems.
I knew this study strategy was not working for me. One of my friends used a five-subject notebook for all her classes, and I realized that could be a good compact solution. I liked that I could keep all my notes in one place and easily bring it with me everywhere.
I started a new strategy where I continued taking notes on my iPad during lectures and wrote down important speaking points, but later in the week I would revisit the lecture and make more organized notes in my notebook. These notes combined lecture content, professor annotations, and textbook material. I tried to stay as consistent as possible and make notes every week, so I was not cramming right before midterms or exams.
This combination ended up working well for me because by the time midterms came around, I already had all the content organized in one place and could spend much more time doing practice problems instead of relearning concepts. I do not think this study method will work for everyone. I had friends who could learn everything directly from lectures and retain it well, but that just did not work for me, and it took some adapting to figure out what did.
I think first year is the perfect time to figure out which note-taking methods and materials work best for you, whether that’s using a tablet, notebooks, or a combination of both. It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed by the number of lectures and content each week, and it’s okay to spend time outside of class revisiting and relearning material in whatever format helps you learn best.
Monika’s Experience
Going into second year, I’m leaning towards only using a tablet for all my course notes and only using paper for practice work that I don’t need to keep. In first year, I was always switching between paper and my iPad. I would say that if you want to use a combination of both, then you should still choose one primary method for each course. For me, I was using a mix of both in most of my courses.
Looking back, that may also be one of the reasons why I usually did not use my personal notes very much when studying for tests or exams. My system was ideal for not having consistent notes in any course (which is obviously an exaggeration), but I still think it highlights an important point: I would avoid mixing note-taking methods too much within a single course.
My strategy for second year is to continue using Goodnotes, which I’ve been using for several years, and create a dedicated notebook for each course, adding all notes to that notebook throughout the semester. I have found that when I simply create a folder in Goodnotes and start a new note for every class, there is too much clutter. It becomes harder to find information, and sometimes the files end up organized in a confusing order if I am not consistently following a naming convention.
I still think practicing on paper is valuable, so I plan to continue what I do now: printing physical copies of past papers and solving them by hand. This gives me the benefits of a fully digital note-taking system while still allowing me to practice problems in a way that feels natural and exam-like.
Summer Student Tip!
Enrolled engineering students receive a free ECF printing quota for use in Engineering Computing Facility lab. At the beginning of the semester, you’ll likely receive instructions in your ESC180 course on how to create an ECF account. Once your account is set up, you can log into computers in the labs using your credentials and print for free within your quota. You can also check your remaining quota on the ECF Services website
Internet
On U of T campus, you’ll have access to school WiFi. Off campus, UTORvpn can be used for accessing resources restricted to on-campus networks. To stay safe online and protect your privacy, make a habit of using the VPN.
Students are also common targets for phishing scams especially through email and social media. Be cautious when clicking links, downloading attachments, or responding to unexpected messages asking for personal information. U of T’s Information Security team maintains excellent resources on common scams, phishing awareness, and online safety that are worth reviewing before the semester begins.
U of T Approved Calculator
You can find a list of allowed calculators for assessments and exams on the U of T Engineering Undergraduate website, and in the Guide to First Year.
Based on our experience, the Casio FX-991EX and the Sharp EL-W516 are both effective calculators. The Casio FX-991CW is another approved calculator that’s sold in the U of T Engineering Store. Our advice is to choose whichever approved calculator you prefer and become familiar with its functions, since features for topics like complex numbers, physical constants, and statistical tables can be very helpful throughout your courses. Keep in mind that calculators in EngSci are almost always used for simple calculations – so your choice of calculator will not greatly impact your success in the program.
From your academic advisors: make sure you know each course’s policy for calculator use during assessments, in particular midterms and final exams!
Traditional School Supplies
Notebooks and Binders
Notebooks or binders are crucial if you plan to take your course notes with pen and paper. Depending on how many notes you take or your writing style, you’ll use between 150 to 500 pages per semester. Many students use notebooks and binders for lectures, scrap work, and practice problems. This can be an efficient method of storing notes.
Here’s a comparison between notebooks and binders:
| Pro: Notebooks keep all notes in a sequential order, making it easy to find information from specific lectures. | Con: If you aren’t regularly organizing your notes into the correct categories in your binders, information from specific lectures may be difficult to locate. |
| Con: Not as flexible in terms of storing additional materials, such as the occasional handwritten quizzes, printed handouts from lectures, etc. | Pro: You can keep your handwritten quizzes in a binder for easy reference when studying for midterms/exams. |
| Pro: Instead of needing to manage many individual sheets of paper, you can keep track of your notes based on sections in your notebook. | Pro: Binders offer flexibility – you can move papers around and insert pages into existing categories without having to start a new notebook. |
| Con: Can be bulky if you’re carrying separate notebooks for all your classes. | Pro: You can simply carry a pack of loose-leaf papers to your classes and then sort them into the relevant categories in your binders. |
The takeaway is that the best system is the system that works for you. Some people will use notebooks, others will use binders – and some may not use paper at all!
Stationery
You should bring pens, pencils, erasers, and rulers. Optionally, you can also purchase set squares, protractors, and compasses.
Invest in good pens and pencils. Each course and professor is different, but in our experience, both pens and pencils are usually allowed during midterms and exams. Be sure to check with your instructor, though, as policies can vary. A lot of our peers have preferred pencils because they’re erasable and often you do need to erase a lot.
Rulers are important in exams for drawing charts and diagrams. For classes, a ruler can keep your notes straight, draw that perfect truss bridge, or create the cleanest Cartesian plane axis.
Monika’s favorite pens:
A lot of my friends and I have found love for the MUJI pens and stationeries for their minimal design and feel.
Textbooks
Most courses will use a textbook for problem sets or just course material. Having the textbook is (usually) not mandatory, and it’s often up to you to decide how often you want to use it. It’s recommended to check with your professors during the first week of classes before purchasing one.
Personal Take #1: Historically, some courses (e.g., PHY180) have required students to purchase textbooks for online homework. However, make sure to check with your professors to see if there is a homework-only option. In previous years, students were often offered a textbook + online submission package for ECE159 but were able to get only the access codes for homework for a cheaper price by emailing the professor.
Personal Take #2: If you really want a physical copy, you should consider getting the Stewart textbook, which is used in ESC194 and ESC195 in first year and AER210 in second year. You can also find extra copies of older editions in the common room.
Stewart Calculus Textbook used in ESC194, ESC195 and AER210
Monika’s Experience with the Stewart Calculus Textbook
I was one of the people who decided to buy the textbook, and for several months – especially toward the end of the first semester – I carried it around almost everywhere (it’s really huge and heavy). I liked the fact that, because it was mine, I could write in it and highlight things. However, looking back, I think getting the physical book is most useful if you plan to study at home, because it’s really inconvenient to carry such a large book around. I would often need a second bag just to bring it with me, and there was not much advantage compared to the online version. During the second semester, I still used the textbook when studying at home, but I stopped bringing it to libraries.
Bags
No matter how you study, you’re probably going to need a solid backpack or bag to bring all your supplies to class. The size and type of bag that’s right for you will vary depending on your study strategy and learning style. If you’re planning to bring a tablet for note taking you can select a small, compact bag. However, if you’re bringing every one of your notebooks/textbooks, you’ll need a heavy-duty backpack with industrial straps. Regardless of your pick, we recommend a bag or backpack that fulfills these requirements:
- Water resistant material to help keep your electronic devices safe in case of a downpour.
- A tip from Christina: Rain covers for backpacks are inexpensive, weigh almost nothing, and are really great in the rain or snow.
- Comfortable straps and padding so that walks to class don’t ruin your posture
- Quick-access pockets so you can easily access your T-Card, keys or PRESTO cards
Other Organizational Materials
The list we’ve compiled above is not comprehensive and may not be exactly right for you. We recommend that you explore tools, supplies, and other resources that help you stay organized. Many students love to highlight their notes using a variety of neon colors, some mark each page in the textbooks with different tabs, and some like just writing everything down in a plain old notebook. The supplies that you need are the ones that will help you study and stay organized the best, so keep an open mind and try some new things until you find the right strategy for you.
