Shopping for gifts for a new college student can seem as hard as buying a wedding present without consulting a registry. There are a slew of popular gifts that people give to teens who are leaving home for the first time, but if you don’t want to give your favorite college student something they’ve already got three of (like a dictionary, or towel set) then try one of these gifts, most of which can be easily purchased at a variety store or even online.
1. Air Fresheners
Dorm rooms, like any shared space, have a tendency to smell. In an enclosed environment where two or more newly free teenagers are living, eating, sleeping, and storing all of their athletic and outdoor gear, garbage, and dirty laundry, sometimes without much ventilation, it’s not surprising that strange odors are easily born.
A slew of possible solutions to this problem exist–but many of the choices can actually cause more problems than they solve. Candles are fire hazards, especially in close quarters, ionizers are expensive, aerosols mask the problem and are terrible pollutants, and incense fill a room with haze, can induce allergies, and are so strong that neighbors won’t be able to escape. So, instead of allowing college students to suffer through the trial and error of eliminating odor, and instead of convincing them to clean their room every day (because truthfully that’s never going to happen) buy them air fresheners, the kind that plug into the wall or sit in a corner (and don’t forget the refills).
For a clever bonus, buy some electric candles so they can have the candlelight without the risk of fire.
2. iHome
Nowadays, most students have at least one product made by apple. Maybe it’s not the new iPhone 5, but any number of iPods, iPads, or iPhones play music, stream movies, and podcasts (which can actually be educational). A great way to help students make the most of their devices, hands free, is an iHome device (or something equivalent) which broadcasts whatever is playing on whichever Apple device is attached to its port through speakers, like a boombox.
This is a gift that will get any old-fogey cool points. For a clever bonus, these iHome devices double as alarm clocks, which students will claim they don’t need because they have their phone (which doubles as an alarm), but busy students have a tendency to forget to perform basic daily tasks when their first cut loose, and having an alarm already set on an iHome will ensure that even if their phone battery dies in the middle of the night, they’ll make it to class on time.
3. George Foreman Grill
Most college dorms don’t allow hotplates, for safety reasons, but they do allow George Foreman grills (check with the school to be sure). Foreman grills allow students to make their own hot sandwiches, burgers, toast, and other hot foods that they would otherwise have to pay a bunch of cash for, and spend time getting. For a student who is cramming, or just thrifty, the Foreman is a great gift.
For a clever bonus, throw in a mini fridge or a gift certificate to a grocery store to help encourage eating at home.
4. Bedding
Students don’t have much in their dorm rooms, beds and desks and dressers if they’re lucky. So help them make the most of their meager furnishings by finding fashionable but practical bedding. No dust ruffles or throw pillows for a college dorm. To find a cool set (for a twin bed) try shopping at a store that aims to be hip–Urban Outfitters or Target would be great places to start–and know your student’s style. Remember: if it’s something you like too much, it’s probably something they won’t like at all.
For a clever bonus, make sure that everything is easily washable, and if a down comforter is involved, make sure it comes with a slip cover that can be removed and washed so the comforter itself doesn’t need to be.
5. Tapestries
These are a cheap and easy to find in a variety store, and serve as a great backdrop for knick knacks and other things that serve the purpose of making a dormitory a little less dreary. Instead of cheap posters that will tear and need replacing every year, hanging tapestries softens rooms and covers blank walls easily. Tapestries also make great privacy screens, especially around bottom bunks, and across doorways, and any bit of privacy students can get is special.
