<p>The daughter of a very good friend of mine is about to leave for her freshman year of college the end of next month and I would love to get her a fun gift she can take with her. Any suggestions for must-haves for embarking on dorm life? I’m fine spending in the neighborhood of $100.</p>
<p>My son received books about college life, a book of blank pages for a journal, and a personal agenda/calendar. Frankly, his favorite gifts were his study pillow, and American Express gift card.</p>
<p>Best gift D received were target gift cards. She used them throughout the school year for toiletries, laundry detergent, and a pair of rain boots. Family & friends were delighted to receive e-mails over the school year thanking them for fabric softener, etc.</p>
<p>Another nice gift is a gift card for the college’s store. You can probably order this over the phone or online. Almost all college students like to buy a lot of their school’s gear, and it can be quite expensive. This way, she can treat herself to something she might not have bought otherwise.</p>
<p>I agree with college bookstore. My son did prefer the AmEx gift card, b/c he could use it just about anywhere.</p>
<p>Find the pizza place or other favorite student eatery nearest campus and buy her gift cards/certificates. Even mom and pop places can usually get make for you.</p>
<p>Weenie’s idea is a good one. Both my daughter and my son have received such gifts. Students love to be able to go out to eat and take a break from the dining hall food without worrying about spending their own money.</p>
<p>weenie, this is a great idea as long as these little places stay in business! I think that any student would enjoy escaping from college food occasionally! Sometimes there are national chains, and they seem a bit safer in my mind (ie: Starbucks, Outback, Chili’s etc.).</p>
<p>Yeah. The best gifts my D got were Target and college bookstores gift certificates. Of course, if you want something that lasts or that is directly associated with you, you can get more tangible items: alarm clock or wall clock, picture frame (especially if you can get a picture of HS friends for it), mini microwave, or school sweatshirt/T – in fact, any stuff specific to her college.</p>
<p>The last post reminded me of a very sweet gift that my son received last Christmas from one of his friends. It was a personalized mug done in school colors (with son’s name and name of school) with the school logo. Something like that does not cost $100, but it might be nice to do something like that and then put a gift card inside it. This friend made it herself (very crafty person).</p>
<p>I loved this thread <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=342314&highlight=wishes[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=342314&highlight=wishes</a> and will use it for my two girls when they head off to college in August</p>
<p>If her family has a pet, photograph him/her and frame it so she can hang it on her wall. Oh, and also the rest of the family. </p>
<p>Instead of a hallmark card, write a sweet message into a copy of Dr. Seuss’s “Oh The Places You’ll Go.”</p>
<p>I haven’t gotten up to $100 yet, but maybe these could accompany and personalize the store gift cards suggested above.</p>
<p>If family finances are tight, consider buying some gift certificate power on greyhound, amtrak or an airline. That’s if you want to gift the family as a whole, whom you sound close to.</p>
<p>The campus bookstore is an easy grab for books, but if the kid tends to economize and plan ahead, s/he might make use of a gift credit to Amazon.com, or Half.com where used books can be bought used online. It’s important for the student to ask professors if an older edition is acceptable re: page numbers, which my kids did on the first day of classes. Everyone has a different idea about how to purchase books, so I don’t want to derail your nice thread here. Just be aware the campus bookstore is the most expensive, but most convenient way to get books. For a freshman, maybe that’s the way to start out, though.</p>