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I was still using a slide rule at UCSD in the 1974 to 1876 time frame. The kids with serious money had an HP-35 or HP-45. Others had a TI-30. My lot in life was a 4 function calculator from Radio Shack and my slide rule. In late 1975, I managed to cobble up enough money from a Commodore Scientific calculator. What a relief to be able to calculate a very accurate square root with having to do successive approximations on the 4 banger after taking a first cut from the slipstick. My graduation present was an HP-25A. Finally, I could do a factorial probability calculation without having lightning fast fingers. That wretched, granular table of crossover probabilies in the Schaum's Genetics book was replaced with a short program keyed into the HP-25A.

The turning point that pried the money from my hands for the Commodore Scientific calculator occurred when my chemistry professor stepped in from the of the classroom. He held up a slide rule and asked how many people in the room have a slide rule. Quite a few hands went up. Next, he held up a calculator and asks for a similar show of hands. About half the class raised hands. At that point he informed us that those who do not possess a calculator would not be able to complete any of the exams in the allotted time and with the required degree of accuracy. Slipstick retired.

From 1974 to 1876 Wow ;)
I could work a slide rule faster than a calculator and was correct to 4 places with the 5th being close. I don’t what that professor was talking about.
But My favorite calculator was and still is a Sharp EL-5100 That I got back in 79 in Japan (still working.) Have not found a calculator to replace it or I like better.

I for the heck of it looked on the net for a photo. And look what I found
This is the calculator I've used for years.
For those of you with direct TV I did final assy & testing of the TWT amp in the satellite. And this is what I used to check the numbers.

UCSD in the 1974 to 1876 time frame.

It's a bitch paying back those student loans, isn't it?