Start with battery life, weight, and SSD storage. Students usually need a laptop that opens fast, runs video classes smoothly, and handles documents without lag.
For school and college use, 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD is a safe starting point. If budget is tight, choose a reliable processor and upgrade later when possible.
Shortlist models like HP 15s, Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, and Acer Aspire Lite when the goal is practical daily study, not heavy gaming.