HELP!! Gift ideas for off to college for the first time!!!

[rbuzzotta]

My niece and goddaughter will be leaving for college next week. My sister is in the process of a very nasty divorce. They did not apply for financial aid because my BIL said he would be able to cover the tuition.........NOT. She has worked so hard to get into Mt. Holyoke College and paying the tuition is going to be tough on my sister.

Anyways, my other sister took my niece shopping for school supplies. I want to make her up a goody box!!! She has most of her school supplies and I want to include photos of her cousins and stuff that will make her feel "fuzzy". It is a very tough time for her (she is an only child).

Please submit ideas...............

Thanks a bunch...

 

[Lars624]

Phone cards for calling home are a great idea for college students. At Sam's Club & Costco they are quite inexpensive & they'll definately get used.
When my nieces & nephews were away at school, my Mom who travels a lot, would save all of the hotel size shampoos, conditioners & soaps until she had a plastic grocery bag full & give them to the college students. My nephew said that some of the guys in his dorm teased him about using the little things until they ran out of theirs and had no $ and then they came knocking looking for some of Grandma's stuff

 

[tiggerlover]

I was going to suggest the phone cards too, definitely a good idea in my opinion. Also thought I would suggest gift certificates for local places near the college (ie: Pizza Hut, Blockbuster Video etc.) You could put in non-perishable treat like microwave popcorn, iced tea mix, gum, and/or candy and maybe a favorite CD.

How about making a collage of pictures of loved ones and matting and framing it as a nice way to remember fun times and family.

 

[Patrick IL.]

Walmart gift cards....the kids love them and they can pick up anything they need there.

 

[bsnyder]

Throw in a couple of rolls of quarters....for doing laundry or buying snacks in the vending machines in the dorm.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

When our neighbor who was the kids baby sitter left for college, we took a wicker waste basket and filled it with things for het. She liked bandanas, so we got a few of them. We got the sticky stuff to hang posters on the wall. I can't remember what else (it was 10 years ago.) I like the phone card idea. Also, with money being a problem, I am sure a few extra dollars would be appreciated.

 

[wovenwonder]

I made up a goody basket for DD's Friend who went off to college. It was a Laundry theme and included:

a collabsible (pop up) laundry hamper
small box of detergent (the tabs are handy)
small box of dryer sheets
downy wrinkle releaser
Fabreeze fabric refresher
clothes pins
hangers
over the door hooks (for hangers)
laundry marker
small mending kit
roll of quarters

Her reply was 'thanks' --- AND 'I guess I should learn how to do laundry'. (LOL).

 

[jx3smom]

Snack and drinks. My kids love iced tea mix and kool aid. Phone cards and quarters are great ideas. How about a roll of stamps for mail. Popcorn, granola bars, cereal bars, crackers and peanut butter are college dorm staples. Cup of Soup mixes, too.

 

[Gillian]

The sticky stuff for pictures is great! Fun tak is what we used. Or double sided foam tape, but they may not be allowed. Also, a lot of desks have a built in cork board, so maybe some cute push pins?

It looks like her school has a card to pay for things like snack foods, laundry & maybe copies at the library. It's also for the dining hall. Since so much is paid for with that card, maybe there's a way to add $$ to it for her? Just enought for a little treat.

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/card/index.shtml
here is some info I found on their website:
"It is the only method of payment for laundry, so think about how much laundry you might need to do. Each machine is $1.25.

While the campus store and the Odyssey Book Store also accept other methods of payment, such as credit and debit cards, checks and cash, they do accept the MHCXpress Account. Some students prefer using the card to cash or other methods.

Vending machines, such as soda, juice and snack, and copiers in the library, accept the card, too."

Sounds really great!!

Sorry to get off topic. Anyway, happy shopping!

 

[Doctor P]

You have gotten some great suggestions, but here are a few others: a shower bucket for carrying all the things to and from the bathroom; shower thongs to make it easier to go to and from the bathroom (don't know if she will have her own bathroom or not); stamps and stationery or postcards; if they have microwaves available: microwave popcorn; gift certificates for fast food restaurants if there are some meals uncovered under her dining plan; a gift certificate for the college bookstore for her to buy some logo merchandise; a journal; nonperishable snacks (gummi bears, jelly beans, crackers, Cheese Whiz, Ramen noodles)

 

[hercamore]

I have two in college this fall.

DD is a freshman and DS is a senior.

All of the above suggestions are excellent. I just want to add I read somewhere that students who take stuffed animals with them to college generally fare better emotionally. (something to hug at night).

I got my dd a new ice cream colored Eoyore at TDS and she is take some old stuffed animals with her as well.

Herc.

 

[hercamore]

I have two in college this fall.

DD is a freshman and DS is a senior.

All of the above suggestions are excellent. I just want to add I read somewhere that students who take stuffed animals with them to college generally fare better emotionally. (something to hug at night).

I got my dd a new ice cream colored Eoyore at TDS and she is take some old stuffed animals with her as well.

Herc.

 

[Meriweather]

I totally agree with the stuffed animal!!
My DD took her soft hugable Eeyore (she is now a junior!) and had to bring it home at Christmas break the first year because it was getting TOO much loving from all her friends (they would come and cry on it and talk to it).
She started giving her friends stuffies for presents so hers wouldn't get all the attention.
She took back two others and would not be without a "buddie" at school.
....she also loves a soft, furry blanket to snuggle with and a couple of cute pillows (she has Elmo and Buttercup

Also, something she uses a LOT is her hot pot and her rice cooker.

 

[Momof2]

I've just starting putting together the first "care package" I'll be sending to my niece who is starting her soph year. I know she just loves getting mail - so i send silly cards often just to let her know we're thinking of her. And she loves getting packages - I'm sending her a disposable camera, stamps, some of her favorite candy some cleaning stuff (she has her own room & bathroom), micro popcorn, a magnetic picture of us for her fridge... Last year I sent holiday decorations, just simple cardboard cutouts for Halloween & Valentine's Day. Use your imagination, have fun - and your neice will be thrilled with anything you send.

 

[Meriweather]

Oh yes...how could I forget.....COOKIES!!

I send a box every month for DD and all her "buds". I'm a very well liked mommy!! (Everyone calls me that now ;-)
DD's favorites and also some she doesn't like but her friends do.
The package always has brownies and rice krispie treats and then the other 2 or 3 kinds I send vary each time.

She loves receiving it and telling everyone it is COOKIE TIME!!