Most college students know they need calcium but do not realize its importance. Calcium can make or break your bones, so to speak. If your blood calcium levels fall too low, your body will take it from your bones, making them weak and brittle in some cases. On average, if you are not drinking the equivalent of three glasses of milk a day you are not getting enough calcium. The average college student needs 1000-1500 milligrams of calcium per day.
Milk is an excellent source of calcium because the vitamin D aids in calcium absorption.
However, if you get enough vitamin D in your body, either through food sources or sunlight, your body will store it, so taking vitamin D with calcium is not always necessary. There are plenty of other ways to get calcium. Whole foods generally provide the most absorbable calcium. Foods rich in calcium include yogurt, spinach, cheese, almonds and beans. If there is no way in your diet to incorporate the adequate amount of calcium rich foods, then it may be necessary to take a supplement.