You can bring all the tech in the world on a study abroad, but it will be useless if you can't plug it in. Outlets differ from region to region, so a universal adapter lets you easily utilize any outlet no matter where your foreign semester takes you. The Joomfeen Worldwide All in One Universal Power Converter is an affordable option; it has one main outlet plus two USB ports with built-in surge protection.

This gadget may seem unnecessary, but if you're studying abroad, particularly in Europe, you'll likely want to take a few excursions to nearby cities and countries that would otherwise be much too expensive to get to from the US. But don't waste money on heavy bags; airline baggage fees are no joke. It's no fun sitting on the airport floor, holding up the line, and digging through your suitcase to disperse the weight and avoid fees. A simple digital luggage scale allows you to check the weight of your baggage in the comfort of your home before heading out. It also easily fits into the outside pocket of any bag if you pick up a lot of souvenirs along the way. Be gentle with them, though, because there are reports of decreased accuracy if hit with a substantial impact.