College Grad Lessons

College students can be a tricky group to shop for, so I asked college students and recent college grads for gift ideas. Overall, practical gifts are best when shopping for a college student. Here are some of the suggestions that I got, as well as some that have always been my favorites to give and get:

1. Gift cards to groceries store, CVS, Target, etc. - College students always need random things, like toiletries and snacks, but tend to have very little money. Gift cards to stores that sell a variety of items are a great option. They can be saved until needed or used to buy something fun.
2. Food - One year my grandma gave me a huge shopping bag full of snack items - popcorn, pretzels, candy, etc. This was greatly appreciated when I went back to school for spring semester and I even had enough to share with friends.
3. Pens & Notebooks - College students always need pens and notebooks. Pick out ones that are nicer than the standard college-ruled notebook and ball point pen. Small items like these can make studying and taking notes more enjoyable.
4. Clothes - College students can always use new colleges. You may want to ask what their favorite store is or if their is something particular they’d like. Another option is to order something from their college or university’s book store. Sweatshirts and t-shirts are easy to pick out and always appreciated.
5. Pajamas/Lounge wear - A lot of time is spent in dorms and the library when you’re a college student. Pick out something comfortable for them to lounge around in. For girls - Victoria’s Secret Pink is a popular brand. For boys, try Under Armour or another athletic brand.
6. Movies - As busy as college students may be, they do have down time. College students love movies - especially comedies. Consider buying them one of the following - Wedding Crashers, Juno or Billy Madison. Package the movie with popcorn and candy for a great gift.
7. Toolkit - When I started college, my dad bought me a toolkit. My first reaction was, “What am I going to do with this?” A few months into college I realized that a hammer, screwdriver, and level were useful when decorating the room, putting together inexpensive furniture and more. I often had friends ask to borrow the toolkit because they didn’t have one.
8. Desk Organizers - College desks tend to be small and college students tend to have a lot of books, notebooks, pens, pencils, etc. Look for some matching organizers, bookends and pencil holders. Add a gift card to an office supply store and you’ll be giving the perfect gift to get a college student ready for the new semester.
9. Magazine Subscription - Find out what magazines the college student likes to read and get them a 1-year subscription. They’ll enjoy getting mail while at college, as well as the study break that the magazine will provide.
10. Rain boots - This is a good idea for girls. Walking to class in the rain can be miserable and a cute pair of rain boots is a fun gift to get. Check out J. Crew for classic rain boots in a variety of colors.

Let me know if you have any questions about gifts for college students or recent college grads!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 at 4:47 pm and is filed under Holidays, Shopping. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.