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How I set up my college desk

How I set up my college desk and organized the attached drawers and peripherals.

Whether I was moving into a new dorm or getting ready for a new semester taking virtual classes, one of the very first things that I set up before the first day of class is my desk. I spend a lot of time at my desk working on school assignments, attending virtual classes, working on writing projects and writing posts for my website, so it is important that my desk is well-organized and has everything I need to focus on a task. Here is how I set up my college desk as a student with low vision, including what I use for virtual and hybrid classes.

About my desk

College dorm desk

When I lived in a furnished college dorm, my desk was chosen for me as students are not allowed to switch out furniture in their dorm unless they have a specific disability accommodation. These are the measurements for my dorm desk in the four years I lived on campus:

Originally, my desk when I was a first-year student had a hutch screwed on the top of it that had additional shelving. However, I couldn’t fit my desktop computer underneath the hutch, so I asked my brother to unscrew the hutch from the top of the desk and put it in a closet. I didn’t need a disability accommodation for this and didn’t get in trouble, though I did request that the hutch be unscrewed in future semesters.

My current desk

When I was choosing a desk for online classes, I wanted something that would accommodate my desktop computer and provide an option for placing the screen closer to my face so I could read the monitor. The desk I had been using for years was a perfect fit, as I can fit my desktop computer and several peripheral accessories on the tabletop, plus I can fit a set of plastic drawers next to it that has chargers, cables, magnification aids and other tools that I might need.

After completing an ergonomics assessment as part of an assignment for a graduate course, I realized that it would be helpful to adjust the height of my desk to make it easier for typing and reading from my screen. Since my desktop computer has a unique design that makes raising the tabletop impossible, my mom and brother added concrete pavers (along with a foam mat) underneath my desk to raise the height to a more comfortable angle. This has been tremendously helpful in improving how I work at my desk, but they did jokingly say that they would refuse to help with any future assignments that involved moving furniture!

Using a desktop computer vs laptop computer

I prefer to use a desktop computer setup with an external monitor, keyboard and mouse over a laptop because of the larger screen size and the fact that the vast majority of my class assignments are computer-based, requiring a lot of typing and access to specific applications. When I was attending in-person classes during undergrad, the majority of my upper-level data science classes took place in a computer lab, so I would usually complete in-class assignments or exercises on a lab computer and take notes on my iPad, so I didn’t need to bring my own laptop for many classes.

When I was an intern at Microsoft, I used the Surface Dock to connect my laptop to an external monitor, keyboard and mouse. I loved this setup, and it would be perfect for students who want to use the Windows operating system, or that are looking for an option that offers both portability and options for using a larger screen.

Using a dry-erase board

I love using dry-erase boards because I can write more neatly on a slanted or vertical surface, and I can scan a copy of the whiteboard and attach it to my notes. This was especially helpful for math classes where I could easily erase and re-write different numbers, as well as for making lists or brainstorming ideas for different assignments. I have a 14″ x 11″ whiteboard on my desk at all times, which is positioned on a DIY “Eileen” stand that I built for another homework assignment.

In college, I covered my desk with contact paper to protect against spills and scratches, which had the additional bonus of converting the desk surface into a dry-erase surface. This was helpful for writing large reminders (sticky notes are too small), but I also converted a portion of my closet door with contact paper to a dry-erase surface so I would have a vertical workspace for working out ideas and moving around during study sessions.

Adding peripheral accessories

Peripheral accessories are additional devices or components that connect to my computer, and I have several on my desk for working on various tasks. Everything is connected to a larger USB hub, which is easier than reaching behind my computer to find cables, and all of the devices are a different color than my computer and desk so that they don’t get lost or become harder to find on similar colored surfaces. I currently have the following peripheral accessories on my desk or on my computer:

When I lived in a dorm, I also had a printer connected to my computer, which was placed on top of the mini fridge next to my desk. With my current desk set up, the printer is now in another room since I don’t need to print things as often.

Organizing cables with low vision

When I was living in a college dorm, I honestly didn’t put much thought into how I would organize or identify cords for charging technology, connecting peripheral devices to my computer or arranging items that are connected to a surge protector – I sort of just plugged everything into wherever it fit and accepted that it would take me a while to locate cords. It wasn’t until one of my friends sat down with me and taught me how to better organize cords and cables that I realized how much of a difference proper cable organization makes, and I wrote an entire post about it linked below.

Using wall storage

I purchased the Perch modular wall organizer (then known as Urbio) back in 2015, and love using the magnetic modular containers to store items around my desk. Having the option to customize the layout of the Perch whenever I want makes it easier for me to store writing utensils, papers, folders, small assistive technology devices, whiteboards or other items I want to keep handy but don’t necessarily want on my desk. Other magnetic hooks or decorations can also be placed on the modular organizers to provide even more storage options.

Another wall storage option that has helped with desk organization is cork boards with Pinhooks, which I use to hang necklaces instead of using a tabletop jewelry organizer. In college, I would hang cork trivets from Ikea with Command strips to save space and create a fun design.

Other items on/around my desk

Due to the large size of my computer, I don’t really have room for much else on my desk, but I do have a few smaller items. Some other items on and around my desk include:

More ideas for how I set up my college desk with low vision

By Veronica Lewis/Veronica With Four Eyes, www.veroniiiica.com

Updated July 2024; original post published July 2017.

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