Graduating high school and transitioning to college are major milestones that deserve to be celebrated.
If you want to honor your grad’s accomplishments by treating them to a gift, why not give them something that’ll be useful when they get to college? Here’s a list of graduation gift ideas that’ll make your student’s freshman year a little bit better.
1. Gift Cards for Airlines
Most airlines offer gift cards, and they make wonderful presents for students who go to college far from home. Airfare isn’t cheap and can be an impediment to coming home for breaks or holidays. This gift could be the difference between a Thanksgiving dinner of Nonna’s stuffing and one of microwaved mac and cheese.
2. Bathrobe
The long, strange walk to the communal shower is one of the most difficult things to get used to at school. A cute, comfy bathrobe — with ample coverage — can cut down on your student’s daily dose of awkwardness. And less awkwardness is probably the best gift you can give a college freshman.
3. Voice-Controlled Assistant
There are a variety of digital assistants on the market, and they’re perfect gifts for college students. They can be used as alarms for class, play music for hanging out, remind kids to call home and even take study notes.
4. Electric Kettle
Freshman year is the first time many kids will truly understand the importance of caffeine. Being able to make coffee or tea in their dorm room can be a major money and time-saver. Plus, pretty much everything in the student food pyramid — oatmeal, ramen and coffee — requires hot water.
5. Noise-Canceling Headphones
College is a noisy place, which can make it tough to get work done. A pair of good headphones can turn the noisiest dorm into a Zen study lounge. They’re also great for coffee shops, loud dining halls and studying outside.
6. Bed Topper
Dorm beds are not known for their comfiness. But that can be fixed with a soft pillow-top or a foam egg crate mattress topper, which can transform a plastic-coated, bricklike bed into a cozy sleep sanctuary.
7. Portable Charger
With class, clubs and socializing, college students often aren’t in their dorms — or even by an accessible outlet — for hours on end. Prevent your student’s devices from ever getting too low by giving them a high-quality charger they can carry with them wherever they go.
8. Monogrammed Towels
Towels are easily lost, stolen or eaten by the closet. Make sure everyone knows which linens belong to your college student by getting them monogrammed.
9. Adult Coloring Books
The first year of college is stressful. Coloring books can be a great way to decompress. There are coloring books themed for any interest. Pick up a few your grad will like, pair them with some nice colored pencils and give them the gift of stress relief.
10. Pajamas
Students spend a lot of time in their pajamas, as they make the perfect studying, lounging and snacking outfit. Make sure your grad looks their best by giving them a fab PJ set.
