• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

You are here: Home / Shop / 25 Thoughtful Presents for the College Bound Person in Your Life

25 Thoughtful Presents for the College Bound Person in Your Life

August 4, 2017 //  by Shay Santos

Shares7FacebookTweet

Giving gifts sometimes suck. What does the other person want? What if they hate it? People put a lot of thought into gifts— whether it’s a gift exchange or birthday presents, gifts show that someone was thinking about you enough to do something for you. But just a handwritten letter with chicken scratch or a 99-cent key chain feels like the apple of Eden to the financially depressed, emotionally stunted college students. Whatever it be, we are less likely to turn our noses up at well-meant but odd presents. In fact, we’ll pretty much take anything useful in some way.

Need a good present for literally anyone? We’ve got your back.

1. Mini Glass Terrarium (PLANTS NOT INCLUDED)

For those who want to try their green thumb at gardening but feel the enormous responsibility of nurturing a plant, this livens up a room and replicates that maternal instinct in us all. Ever wanted to try your hand at Minecraft farming IRL? Voila— a small-scale version of your blocky fantasies.

Price: $19.99

2. Foam Mattress

While many people take sleep for granted, college shows students the importance of an eight hour rejuvenation period (at the best of times) but basically anything that will fill up the bedroom hourglass is a plus in the university grind #WorkHard #PlayHard. “Please send me a 3-inch foam mattress topper because it feels like heaven,” said University of California, Los Angeles junior AJ Tongson. Sweet dreams.

Price: $79.90

3. Cozy Blanket

kitty cone blanket

Something cuddly will definitely round out the pajama and bed hair outfit you have on those days you run out of energy. “This keeps a college student warm when they are up late at night in the cold trying to finish an assignment,” said San Diego State University senior Jean Demapelis. “They are also soft, perfect to caress a sad college student.”

Price: $50

4. Framed Photo of Self (self photo NOT included)

A little out-of-the-ordinary, but definitely something that will make someone laugh or pin your present to a dartboard. But who doesn’t like a little humor in their life?

Price: $14.95

5. Favorite Book

Girl is walking during sunset reading a book
giphy.com

What if you took someone’s favorite book and read it cover to cover? It might not seem that great to you, but imagine how it shaped your best friend, the ideas and characters blazing stars in your friend’s eyes. It would mean even more if there were personal annotations littered in the novel so you could see your friend’s thoughts and daydreams. Priceless.

6. Assorted Fruit

Apparently the peach and eggplant emoji find validation in the real world with mail-order edible bouquets. Ordinary strawberries or a watermelon— something tasty yet healthy. Which makes sense considering that as people get older, we tend to realize the importance of a well-balanced meal.

Price: $9.45

7. Self-Help Books

This presents the dual emotions of “cool I got a present” with “does she think I need to learn about business models and CS8?” But still—on those boring Sunday afternoons, your friend won’t find herself bored AF.

Hardcover Price: $14.99

8. Scientific DIY experiment kits

Don’t hide it, everyone wanted to be a scientist at some point. And, it seems like that childish flare in their hearts never truly goes away.

Price: $14.51 – $123.64 (depending on size)

9. Polaroid Camera

These are the hipster, vintage way to capture memories and an even more hipster way to give your photo to a friend. Someone was left behind studying while you hit the beach at 2 a.m. with the frat boys down the street? Snap them a picture and hang it in their dorm so they remember that you can retake an exam but you can’t relive a party.

Price: $69.90

10. Hydroflask

“A Hydro Flask [is great],” said UCLA rising second year Kyle Fontelera, a Neuroscience and Development Studies major. “Cause we’re all thirsty.” Is that your Hydroflask there, or are you just happy to see me?

Price: $29.95 – $92.91

11. Passion Planner

Nothing like juggling internships, four classes and club meetings to make  people realize the importance of staying organized. Don’t you know how grrrreat it feels to cross things off a to-do list?

Price: $25.00

12. Plush Toy

Never let the child inside of you go. Sometimes that means turning down the lights, playing Toy Story on Netflix and curling up with your new BFF.

Price: $8.50

13. Scantron

Student writing out "I'm stupid" across scantron
giphy.com

The worst part about college is the constant fees attached to every thing you do. Taking exams becomes no exception to the rule, despite already paying for school, parking and miscellaneous other items. These go a long way, especially on days your friend is running late.

14. Phone Charger/External Charger

“A battery pack with a built-in charging cable [is preferable] because our phones always die on us when we go adventuring,” Tongson said. You don’t want to miss Kim Kardashian’s latest Insta, after all.

Price: $25.99

15. USB 2.0

Maybe a little outdated now that we have Google Cloud, Dropbox, etc., but you should always have a backup. Sometimes this good idea becomes a great idea when your computer crashes, the invisible omnipresent Cloud disperses over high winds and your Redbull-induced essay is due in T-minus 30 minutes.

Price: $23.99

16. Moleskin Classic Notebook

“Even if it’s more time-consuming to use a notebook nowadays, I’d say that it’s still convenient to use one for notes or as a planner,” said San Diego State University graduate Kevin Raquidan. “You’d be able to use it when you’re offline, or when your devices aren’t close by.” Whoever said paper was going out of style seems to have misjudged misjudged human’s desire for the unique/vintage.  Price: $17.28

17. Amazon eGift Card

“Gift cards make great presents for your average college student, as they cover items that the student would normally pay for,” said Raquidan. “I mean, it’s that much more money in their pockets that they don’t have to spend, so why not? Amazon and Starbucks gift cards [are great] cause college students are broke and tired,” said University of California Los Angeles junior Mark Tolentino.

Price: Up to Your Humble Discretion

18. Food

No-Face gif stuffing his face with food
giphy.com

“Everyone loves food, especially your everyday broke college student,” Raquidan said. “Again, it’s that much money that the student would be saving, and that’s always much appreciated.” Feeling #hangry and lusting after someone’s half eaten pack of Doritos really sucks.

19. Shower Caddy

“It can hold all your bathroom stuff,” said Fontelera. Why stress over appearance when practicality has more importance? You don’t want to find yourself juggling your shampoo and conditioner bottles under your chin like poor Gus Gus in Cinderella. 

Price: $9.89

20. Bicycle Lock

We all have that one friend whose things always get stolen. You don’t want to end up needing to wake up half an hour earlier just to walk all the way to your 8 a.m. English class.

Price: $35.35

21. Brita Water Filter

Growing up also means trying to act like an adult. Parents coming over to judge your living conditions? Bust out something #adult to prove to them that you are capable, you are sanitary and you are no longer their baby.

Price: $36.30

22. Medicine

The morning after hangovers sometimes call for a quick fix. “NyQuil and DayQuil to stave off sickness,” said Fontelera. “Because you’re surrounded by a bunch of unsanitary people and you will get sick.”

Price: $14.97

23. MUJI Gel Pens

Though they seem like a simple gift, they actually go a long way. You are the crayon master of your life, so why not make it a rainbow? Plus, aren’t you sick of pretending to study with your plain, boring black and white notes?

Price: $11.28

24. Spotify Premium

How can you honestly wake up in the morning without rocking out to your favorite playlist? Stop letting your Monday mornings suck, and start each day with a little Beyonce.

25. Desk lamp

You know you’ve reached the maximum level of adulting as a college student when you actually want something practical. Your friend won’t have any excuse to not study for her midterms this fall.

Price: $21.99

Looking for even more awesome presents?

1. Succulent Blanket

succulent blanket

Succulent Blanket: $50

2. Throw Pillow

we lose ourselves throw pillow

Throw Pillow: $33

3. Cat Lady Pouch

cat lady pouch

Pouch: $15

Shares7FacebookTweet

Filed Under: Shop

About Shay Santos

Amateur connoisseur of mediocre boba and coffee at San Diego State University. A rising 3rd-year with too many goals and just enough procrastination to match it. Catch me reading a book or watching a movie in the Love Library instead of doing what I'm supposed to be doing.

You May Also Like

gifts for music lovers

Top 10 Gifts for Music Lovers 2020

Christmas

10 Gifts For Parents That They Want But Haven’t Asked For

a wrapped christmas gift for your boyfriend gifts for college guys

10 Gifts Your Boyfriend Actually Wants

friends film still

21 Gifts for Your Roommates—Whether You Like Them or Not

10 Virtual Gifts for Your BFF that Will Make Them Love You Forever

Real News: 10 Gifts for the Future Journalist in Your Life

marvel

Top 10 Marvel-ous Gifts for MCU Fans that Say “I Love You 3000”

Halloween decorations stand in the foreground in front of the Silverbullet rollercoaster.

10 Orange County Sights COVID-19 Hasn’t Ruined

girl in bed at home on her laptop

Buy These 15 Amazon Products and One-Up the 2020 School Year

15 Easy Ways to Spice Up Your Living Space and Your Life

quarantine outfits

Mask It Up: 15 Outfits for the Socially Distanced Summer

fathers day diy gifts for dad

10 DIY Gifts for Dad Easy Enough for Any Craftsman

joyful products

10 Joyful Products to Create a More Positive Living Space

10 Ways to Rule Your Campus with Your $150 Shopping Spree

Did Someone Say Coffee? Top 10 Coffeehouses in Iowa City

The College Girl’s Guide to LA Style on a Budget

Your guide to the best backpacks for college

CM’s Top 10 Backpacks for College

friends

21 Gifts for the Artist in Your Life

sue and lexie the middle gifts for college students

Top 10 Gifts Every College Student Actually Wants

30 Foolproof Gifts for Every Type of Boyfriend

gift ideas for girlfriend hipster girlfriend

Top 10 Gifts for Your Hipster Girlfriend

dorm essentials

21 Dorm Room Essentials No One Tells You About

Me and my big ideas college planners

10 College Planners To Cure Your Due Date Amnesia

10 Gifts to Show Your BFF They’re the Platonic Love of Your Life

Previous Post: «Grey's anatomy best t-shirts 10 Best T-Shirts for the TV Fangirl in You
Next Post: 11 Quotes About Life That Make You Say YOLO quotes about life»

Primary Sidebar



Trending Posts

Chill Colleges
2978

CM’s Top 10 Most Chill Colleges in the Country

climate change protest
309

Top 10 Colleges Where You Can Make A Difference in the Climate Crisis

food buffet
304

Top 10 Colleges with the Most Delicious On and Off Campus Food Options

78

The 10 Best Organizations You Should Donate To in 2021

34

College Magazine’s Top 10 Schools for Aspiring Linguists

Featured Chapter: UCLA

Footer

logo

College Magazine is the national daily guide to campus life. Our articles for college students feature university rankings of U.S. colleges, college guides, academic advice, college prep, career advice, student health and collegiate dating tips.

Written by students for students, by a team of journalists from universities nationwide, we’re on the pulse of the college experience.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

Majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

Intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

Money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

Travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

Shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

Copyright © 2021 College Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc.