The right school supplies are essential to your university student 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 have compiled a list of important supplies and how they can be used in EngSci.
Digital School Supplies
Laptop – Operating Systems
A laptop can be very useful throughout your time at university as you can carry it around for lectures, online meetings and schoolwork. Some students also take notes with laptops, using markdown, LaTeX, etc. A potential upgrade to this setup would be to buy an external mouse and a pair of headphones (especially if you are 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, a Windows or MacOS laptop is recommended by U of T for remote/online learning. While you will most likely have in-person classes this year, a Windows or MacOS based laptop will still do you well, especially when it comes to using specialized software. If you are not sure which OS to choose between Windows and MacOS, here is a pros and cons 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 but may not be necessary for everyone (e.g., premium antivirus software, high refresh rate screens, RGB backlit keyboards, etc.). As an engineering student, powerful processing and graphics features can be very useful. However, keep in mind that these extra features might lead you to pay for more than what you actually need. | Pro: While some Macs may be more expensive, they are generally more fundamental (i.e. there are fewer potentially “useless” software and hardware features). |
| Pro: If you are 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 have an Intel-based Mac, you can set up a Windows partition on your hard drive and use both Windows and MacOS on the same device (however, this requires partitioning the drive, and you can only use one OS at a time). Most modern Macs use Apple silicon, which prevents dual booting in the first place. |
| 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 either 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 have listed some minimum and recommended specifications based on commonly used software in EngSci, to help you determine whether you need to upgrade your laptop.
*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.
If you decide to major in Electrical and Computer Engineering, you will learn all about Central Processing Units (CPU) and even how to design them in ECE352 Computer Organization. For now, when looking at processor details, you want to pay attention to the architecture type, number of cores and clock speed.
Most windows-based systems will use either Intel or AMD x86 architecture processors. Either will be just fine, but you want to make sure that it is a 64-bit processor as most CAD (Computer Aided Design) software only runs on 64-bit systems.
For MacOS based systems, if you are buying a new MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, the only options are Apple M2 and higher chips, which will cover most of your needs. If you have an older intel-based MacBook, a processor with at least 4 cores and 2 GHz clock speed will suffice. These are close to the minimum CPU requirements of Autodesk Fusion 360 which have been used by students in Praxis III in previous years. One of your blog admins uses a 2020 MacBook Pro with a 2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 processor, and they have not had to install software for courses in Year 1 and 2 that requires more high-performing CPUs.
A processor with 6 or more cores, and a clock speed of 3.5 GHz and higher will serve you quite well (usually, the recommended system requirements will require at least 6 cores).
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 (anything beyond that might be overkill). MATLAB’s System Requirements, which you’ll use for ESC103, CIV102, and many other EngSci courses, also suggest these minimum and recommended values.
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 will 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. For reference, one of your blog admins used only 100 GB of the available 1024 GB for Year 1 and 2 course material. You can use other methods such as Google Drive for additional storage.
That being said, you will still need local storage for installing software. MacBooks usually start with 512GB SSD storage which will be enough if you are using it mostly for schoolwork. But if you think you will need more storage for personal projects and such, 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. However, consider the disk space required for a complete installation with all plug-ins, as you may need to install these later – which is very true in the case of MATLAB and it’s library of Add-Ons.
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, which you can log into remotely as well. Some design teams also have their own computers with dedicated graphics cards and high-end CPUs that members can use. Furthermore, there exist cloud services such as Google Colab which can be used for machine learning.
Modern laptops have relatively decent integrated graphics, however, 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.
Tablet and Stylus
Many students use a tablet and stylus for notetaking. Common setups include an iPad and Apple Pencil, 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 is a pros and cons comparison of the two based on your blog admin’s experiences:
| Pro: Tablets greatly help with organization; they keep all of your notes digitally and cloud backups enable you to access them with any device. | Con: To access your notes, you will need to carry around all your notebooks and stationary. Furthermore, you will 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 our individual organization methods. |
| Con: Can be very expensive; iPads will need to be purchased in addition to a computer. Touchscreen/2-in-1 laptops cost more than their regular counterparts. Digital pens are typically not included in purchases. | Pro: Apart from a notebook and pencil, taking notes on paper is significantly cheaper. |
| Con: Devices can run out of battery power at inopportune moments. All lecture halls, tutorial rooms, labs, etc. will have charging stations at every desk to combat this issue. But you will still need to carry around a charging block and cables. | Con: While it does not require power, you will still have to carry multiple notebooks or loose leaf paper for taking notes during lectures. If you are not regularly restocking, you may run out of loose leaf papers at inopportune moments as well. |
| 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 fix 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 over time. |
| Con: For certain courses, you will need to write your own aid sheets to bring with you to exams. Professors will often require you to write them on paper rather than digitally. | Pro: When preparing for midterms and exams, creating a handwritten aid sheet can help you engage with the content. If you’re accustomed to digital notes, however, handwriting might be initially frustrating as it requires more planning. |
| Pro: Lecture slides, files, and images can be easily inserted to be written-on directly, and you can export notes to PDFs without needing to scan. | Pro: Quizzes and exams will all use paper, so using paper for notes and practice will effectively help you prepare for a real exam-style setting. A convenient setup is using a laptop to display the assignment questions, and working through the problem on paper |
Internet
On U of T campus, you will have access to school WiFi. Off-campus, UTORvpn can be used for accessing resources restricted to on campus networks.
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. 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.
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, your writing style, font, etc., you will range from 150 pages 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.
Another physical alternative to notebooks is binders. Here is a pros and cons comparison of the two based on your blog admin’s experiences:
| Pro: Notebooks keep all notes in a sequential order, making it easy to find information from specific lectures. | Con: If you are not 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 are 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. For many midterms and exams, submissions in pencil are not eligible for regrade requests, though pencils may be allowed for diagrams. Pencils are useful for scrap work, math, and drawings, but some prefer tablets.
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.
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 is 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 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 Calculus I and II in first year (ESC194 & ESC195), as well as in second year (AER210). You can also find extra copies of older editions in the common room.
Backpack or Bag
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 just bring a tablet for note taking you can select a small compact bag. However, if you are bringing every one of your notebooks/textbooks in, you will 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 all your electronic devices safe in case of a downpour
- Comfortable straps and padding so that your 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 fully comprehensive and may not be exactly right for you. We recommend that you explore around for tools, supplies, and other resources that help keep you 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.