Write down the apps you use every week
A student using Chrome, Microsoft Word, Google Docs and Zoom has very different needs from someone editing 4K video, running AutoCAD, building software or playing modern games. Start with your real apps instead of buying the highest specification you can find.
More memory helps when you keep many things open
If your normal day includes a browser with many tabs, Zoom, spreadsheets, Slack and other apps running together, memory matters. If you edit video or work with large creative files, you will usually need more headroom than someone using documents and web apps.
Storage is about both space and convenience
School files and office documents use little space compared with video projects, photos, game libraries and large development files. If you regularly work with large files, decide whether you want more internal storage or are comfortable carrying an external SSD.
Check the ports before you buy
Think about what you connect every week: an external monitor, projector, USB drive, memory card, mouse, microphone or Ethernet cable. A laptop can be fast and still be annoying to use if you need three adapters every day.