Gradmunkey

I'd wait on the laptop, if you don't already have one. I have found almost all of the classes I attend forbid using them in class. I can use a tablet when researching at the library, and I can pull most papers from the library electronically from my home or office. I also read papers on my tablet, like an e-reader. I have a desktop, a laptop, a netbook and a tablet, and I rarely use anything but the desktop and the tablet. I also still print out most papers and make notes and highlights by hand. YMMV.

On filing vs scanning: I scan my own returned papers to archive. But I wouldn't scan student papers. Keep the hard copies. Just box them in banker's boxes and alpha order by course and term. You can toss the whole box when the storage period ends. That's how most of my profs did it. I would think unless you have a fast auto-feeding scanner, scanning all those papers by hand would be insanely time-consuming. FWIW, most print and copy shops will fast-scan for you for a very reasonable fee. So if you want to scan whole boxes at the end of a term, consider taking it to be done.

How has no one mentioned alcohol yet? Get a beer making kit and buy wine by the dozen - you will save bundles of $$. AND don't forget to get some "fast recipe" books too. You really do save money (and eat better) when you cook at home. I also agree with investing in all-in-one LASER printer. Toner costs about $40, but lasts me almost a year.

Coffee supplies are a must, of course, and everyone else has made some great suggestions. Just remember that although you may like being digital, having analog copies can be very helpful. I personally like having digital copies of articles for record keeping and paper copies for notating that I organize in 3" binders. I have a color coded highlighting system that really helps me get through a stack of them in a relatively short period of time. I know I *can* highlight on Adobe Pro, but it just is not as fast and for me, and not as memorable as when it is in my hands.