I bought this for a student I know that hates backpacks and messenger bags for school. She prefers a smaller, light bag to carry a single days' needs-- a few books, calculator, laptop, etc. She wanted a tote bag with internal pockets for organization as well as the option of a shoulder strap. This seemed like just the ticket.The problem with most tote bags is that there are few if any internal pockets. You dump our stuff in and root around until you find it again. That works fine for some things, but definitely does not work for a student.This bag has much better organization. The internal compartment is divided so you can't fit really large items in it, but in this case that doesn't matter. She won't be bringing home a sack of potatoes from the market in it, and the ability to keep things separated and organized is way more important.The layout so far is this: One large internal pocket houses a laptop, binder and folder, the other holds books. One small internal pocket holds a 16 oz. water bottle, snacks, and a few other odds and ends. The other holds a pencil case, calculator and some charging cables. Outside pockets hold earbuds and other miscellaneous items. Everything is organized, accessible, and easy to find.The stitching looks like good quality and the material doesn't feel cheap or fragile. Time will tell because not even a Marine on deployment can abuse a bag like a student. I continue to be impressed with how much stuff fits in it-- it almost rivals my larger messenger bag in terms of carrying capacity. For less than $20 this was a pleasant surprise.