Gift Ideas for College Students
Tried-and-True Presents that Every College Kid Likes
Jun 17, 2009 Elisabeth Sharber
Sometimes relatives just don't know what gifts to get for each other. Luckily though, many age groups have an appreciation for certain items and will be happy to receive them, even if they're not at the top of their wish-list. And this is especially true of college students. Here are some gifts that will most likely succeed if given to a college student.
Artsy Gifts
College students like to reinforce their sense of style, uniqueness, and political/social/environmental awareness. Some effective choices for them include:
- Organic/"Green" Products – Fair trade, organic, or recycled materials, especially clothing, touch the typical environmental side of most college students' hearts. The All Green Store and Origins (which sells specifically skin care products) are both great stores to shop for green gifts in.
- Henna Kit – College students typically love art and fashion, and henna is a great blend of those categories without being permanent like tattoos.
- Brew-able Coffee/Tea (also a coffee brewer/tea strainer if they don't already have one) -- Students will need a constant supply of caffeine, and they will be happy to have it gourmet style.
- Incense – While this usually isn't allowed in the dorm rooms, incense is a fun atmosphere creator for the outdoors. It adds the sense of smell to the conversation and makes a normal interaction feel more mellow and peaceful.
Witty Gifts
There are few things college students love more than fine wit and irony. The following gifts are very well received for their intellectual humor:
- A Season of The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, or an Early Season of The Office -- The first two poke sarcasm and hilarity at the news, and The Office is a mockumentary that focuses on awkward people in awkward situations.
- Products from The College Humor Store -- The kind of humor present The Daily Show/Colbert Report/Office DVDs is similarly prevalent in The College Humor Store, albeit slightly more ridiculous in nature. T-shirts and posters are the store's specialty. Engrish.com is another good site for funny t-shirts.
Tried-and-True College Gifts
These gifts are great college gifts across the board:
- Messenger Bag – Messenger bags are fashionable ways to carry books and laptops to class, coffee shops, or study lounges.
- The New York Time's Latest Best-Seller – Whatever it happens to be at the time (currently Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton), an enticing read will excite the student's taste for story in a classier way than by watching television.
- The Newest Radiohead Album – While not everyone likes this band, it's a pretty safe, generic, alternative band, and college students really like music with either the words "alternative" or "indie" in the genre label.
- A Hoodie – One of the college student's all-time favorite pieces of clothing, a hoodie can be loose, fitting, zip-up, or pull-over, but it's always comfortable. It doesn't need to match anything the student is wearing, but it certainly can.
- Money – Of course, if all else fails, there's always money. College students are just beginning to scratch the surface of what it's like to live on a low income, but it will hit them especially when they graduate.
Granted, it's always best to give someone a gift that is specific to their personality. But if that person happens to be a college student and that personality happens to be unknown, the above list should be a safe bet on something he/she would like.
A College Student
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A College Student
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