Just started BSIT, need advice on getting a laptop on a tight budget
Hi guys, I just started college as a BSIT (Information Technology) major and I'm honestly a bit overwhelmed. My family can't really afford a laptop right now, and from what I understand it's pretty much required for everything in this course; coding, projects, exams, the works.
I'm trying to figure out my options:
- Any scholarship/equipment grant programs specific to IT students that I should look into?
- Is it realistic to survive early BSIT coursework on a phone/school computer lab for a while?
- Any tips on dirt-cheap but functional secondhand laptops that can actually handle basic programming work?
Not asking anyone to hand me money, just trying to figure out the smartest way to handle this without derailing my first year. Would appreciate any advice from people who've been through something similar. 🙏
Edit: Also worth mentioning, I'd like to study and practice in advance, not just during class hours, but doing that on a phone is pretty limiting (no proper IDE, hard to actually run/test code, etc.). So that's why I'm still trying to explore my options for something more capable, even a cheap secondhand unit.