Recently a mother of a high school junior asked me what she might get her daughter for Christmas that would help facilitate the college admission process ahead. In
this case the answer was a no-brainer ... high-speed Internet service. (Both parents in this family have access to super-fast Internet at work, so they've never wanted to spring for anything but dial-up at home.) Even though one
can survive the admissions process without a fast Internet connection (or even a home computer), each year it gets harder, as more colleges expect applications to be submitted online, and admissions-info Web sites proliferate.
But what other "investments"--technological or not--would make welcome gifts for those about to wade into the college admissions quagmire? Obviously, the ever-popular "money" is always a good answer; ditto gift cards from bookstores that can be used to buy college guides (and test-prep books and software.
) Cameras that take video can be a good way to record campus-visit highlights and share them with friends who can't get to campus. Colorful accordion files aren't the most sexy gift in the world, but they can be useful when it comes to organizing propaganda that shows up in the mail and other admissions-related brochures and documents.
Yet surely there are many items I'm overlooking--preferably inexpensive ones--that might make the college search and selection process more fun or at least a bit smoother and saner. Any thoughts?