What are some good graduation gifts for a college-bound kid?

Morieka Johnson went right to the source to find out what a college freshman really needs.

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Wed, Jun 16 2010 at 10:26 AM

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Q: My neighbor’s son is going off to college this fall. It’s been a while since I lived in a dorm room, so I’m not sure what kids really need these days. What would make a good graduation gift for a college-bound kid?

A: Dorm life no longer means super-firm twin mattresses and built-in desk units. Today, college kids live a pretty suite life, courtesy of apartment-style amenities on campuses that even allow kittens, pooches and pet snakes to re-create the comforts of home. It’s a far cry from my freshman year in an all-girls dormitory that lacked air conditioning.

To help you make a smart purchase for your college-bound neighbor, I consulted Jared Washington, who just completed his freshman year at Coahoma Community College. “A lot of my family members promised to give gifts, and I was excited about receiving them all,” Washington says. “Once I actually began my first semester, I realized there were only a few of those gifts that I depended on constantly.”

Here’s a short list of extremely practical gift ideas that your neighbor’s son will really use when he starts college in the fall:

Flash drives: Washington says that pocket USB drives are a necessity. Professors frequently encourage students to download entire chapters rather than lugging textbooks across campus. It’s also a handy way to transport homework and share files quickly. Washington plans to stock up on 16-gig drives when he returns to school in the fall. You can find 16-gig drives available for less than $40.

School supplies: From recycled copy paper to ink pens and notebooks, the need for school supplies doesn’t end with high school. Create a killer care package filled with the tools to help your student earn high grades in college.

Gift cards: Going green can be a good thing. From pizza chains to local grocery stores, Washington says gift cards allow students to quickly pick up needed supplies. Since college kids tend to lose things as they learn their way around a new environment, I suggest keeping the dollar amount reasonable. $50 should do the trick. Who wants to deal with guilt over losing a $150 gift card?

Extra toiletries: Campus stores sell all the snacks, textbooks and T-shirts a college kid could ever need. But they don’t always carry toothpaste, toilet paper or other simple necessities. Supply your student with a box full of the basics, and those seemingly little things will mean a lot at crunch time.

Laundry products: You think he’s going to spend his hard-earned gift card money on laundry detergent? Think again. Make sure clothes smell fresh and clean by creating a care package filled with washing powder or perhaps a few rolls of quarters for students who have to pay for the privilege. Encourage your student to save a few pennies by using a laundry drying rack to air-dry items. Wooden versions cost about $20.

Let everyone else buy college tees and the plastic tumblers. These are what I consider smart investments in your neighbor’s academic success. All the best!

— Morieka

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Photo: ericsphotography/iStockphoto

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Comment: 1

Mom so proud Mar 09 2011 at 1:09 AM

We decided after seeing how hard our son was focusing on his major in Astrophysics that he deserved a little gift to let him know that he's simply amazing. Our son has never been spoiled or given anything he didn't deserve and has worked for everything except his college education, we are proud supporters of that. I travel frequently fr work through Dish Network so I'm gone a lot but my husband thinks of me as well and got us a Sling Adapter. So while I'm out and about I can watch all the same programmign

.... More

he's getting into on my iPad. That's what gave us the idea for Zachary, so we got him an iPad which alone is a pretty decent gift to give your kid but we loaded the Dish Remote Access application on it so he could have all the same programmign and recordings we have at home while in his dorm. I thought a little relaxation and entertainment would do him some good. He thought it was too much which it probably was but I felt good giving it to him since he is going to change the world! Our son is so important to us and seeing him smile as he strains his brain so viciously bursts the sun from my heart. I hope he knows how special he really is.

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