10 gift ideas for a girl going to college for the first time
College is a crazy time in everyone’s life, especially if you’re going to college for the first time. Girls getting ready to move into their dorms are also getting ready to move out – which means that in addition to the back-to-school essentials, she’ll also need luggage, new bedding for that cozy standard twin XL bed, and maybe even new clothes to survive life on her new college campus. With so many options, how do you find the best gift ideas for a girl going to college?
That’s why we’ve put together this list today. From practical to sentimental gifts, from inexpensive upgrades to more expensive gifts, we’ll go through some of the best gift ideas we’ve found, including:
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Gift cards to help her throughout the semester or school year
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Sentimental photos and letters for times when she misses her friends and family at home
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Gifs that make life on campus easier, safer and less stressful
1. Gift cards
Going to college can be rough at first—whether she’s rooming with a random roommate from the school’s sorting hat (er, algorithm) or her best friend from high school, she may be a little more emotional than she thought she would be when she sees the people who raised her drive away and leave her alone for the first time. It’s exciting, but college can also be scary. Not to mention, it’s expensive.
So when the snack stash Mom gave her runs out, or she realizes she needs a business skirt for a mid-semester presentation, make sure she gets what she needs with a gift card.
Here are some of our best catalog gift card ideas for a girl going to college:
To get her and her groceries from point A to point B, send her a DoorDash gift card so she has real food in her mini fridge, or send her a Lyft gift card so she never has to walk home when she’s studying late at the library
To add the finishing touches to their dorm room to make it feel like home, send a World Market gift card or purchase a Wayfair gift card
For any tech needs this semester, you can send her a Best Buy gift card or an Apple gift card.
To help her get in the school spirit, send her a Fanatics gift card about a week before the big home game – that way she’ll have time to put on her college sportswear before her school rivals.
For those last-minute dorm essentials, grab a Target gift card
To ensure she stays focused during the first few lessons, send her a Dunkin’ gift card or purchase a Caribou Coffee gift card.
To shorten your reading list, buy a Barnes & Noble gift card
Since she’ll be walking around campus a lot, send her a Macy’s gift card or a Famous Footwear gift card in case her old shoes start to wear out.
Finally, you can help her relax and socialize with her new classmates by sending her a Nintendo eShop gift card or getting her a Cinemark gift card to use in her free time.
2. Open when letters
Moving to campus is a big change! It’s inevitable that along with new joys and successes, there will also be moments of stress and sadness. At home, you can hug her and make sure she has what she needs – whether it’s some alone time or a pep talk. And even though you’re still just a phone call away, it can be nice to have a handwritten note from your mom or dad when you miss home the most.
“Open when…” letters are simple – they’re pre-written messages that are meant to be opened when a certain situation occurs. There are a variety of kits that include prompts for your messages, and the envelopes pictured above are even big enough to slip a gift card or a couple of tea bags, a small joke gift, or some flowers from the porch.
You can also make this gift yourself using only a pen, some paper and envelopes, and a little creativity. Here are a few tips to get you started:
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Open if… you are homesick
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Open if … you had an argument with your roommate
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Open if… you can’t fall asleep
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Open when… you have finished your first major exam
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Open if… you had a bad day
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Open if … you miss our faces!
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Open when… you feel burned out
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Open when … the Christmas decorations start
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Open when… you need a hug
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Open when… you are hungry for a home-cooked meal
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Open if … you feel sick
It may also be a good idea to include letters for other holidays and occasions, such as Thanksgiving or Christmas, if the children cannot make it home for the holidays.
3. Self-defense keychain
No matter how smart or independent she is, safety can be a big issue on college campuses. Whether she’s coming home late from the library or going out with her friends, you’ll both feel more comfortable knowing she has some protection attached to her lanyard.
Self-defense keychains are popular on social media, and they’ve never been more aesthetically pleasing. There are a variety of stores—from Etsy sellers to dedicated websites like Self Defense Keychain Store and Safety Keychains—where you can get a set of matching safety items, such as:
And other items, with some cute keychains or fidget toys to round it out. You can also find sets on Amazon or make this gift yourself by picking out individual items you think she might need.
4. Stylish electronics bag
She’ll likely be lugging her most important electronic devices around with her every day when she heads to college—so help her do so in style while protecting those expensive tech gadgets. This monogrammed clutch from Mark and Graham is one of many options that can be used on its own or tucked into a backpack for easy organization. It includes pockets for her phone, headphones, cards or student ID, and other chargers—and it’s also big enough for her laptop and/or tablet.
5. Farewell gift basket
Gift baskets make great college going away gifts – with extra space, you really have more options for packing different things in them. You can pack everything in a laundry basket that she can take with her on laundry day. Some great ideas for a going away gift basket include:
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Cozy blanket or fluffy socks for cold days
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Cup and tea against the inevitable cold after the start of school
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Snacks for studying or watching movies with your roommate
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Gift vouchers for restaurants near campus
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Planners and notebooks to keep her organized throughout the semester
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Boring but necessary things that are often forgotten, such as pencils, batteries and toiletries
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Small electronics such as a smart charger, phone charger or charging pad
6. Wall collage set
Dorm walls are notoriously boring, so help her add a little personality with a wall collage kit like this one! It’s full of stickers, motivational notes, and quotes she can use to design her own space.
Consider getting her a Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 camera before she leaves. You can spend a few days making memories and taking snapshots that remind her of home while she’s at school. And be sure to stock her up on film so she can make new memories with her college friends! Not only will these look great on her wall, but you’ll also be able to see what her semester looked like through her eyes.
7. Stanley or Owala water bottle
Haven’t you heard? Hydro Flask is out and Stanley is in. Or are Stanley tumblers out and Owala is in? Whether you choose a YETI or a Lululemon or another water bottle entirely, she’ll appreciate the trendy accessory that keeps her hydrated during late-night study sessions, long commutes to class and workouts at the campus rec center.
8. Custom-made caddies and bags
When sharing spaces, keeping things organized is more important than ever. Prevent her from forgetting something in her room when she goes to shower, or her roommate from accidentally confusing her shower gel with her own by gifting her a makeup bag big enough to hold all of her toiletries.
Caddies and laundry bags are also a good choice!
9. Luggage
Whether she’s traveling on the highway or across the country, she’ll be traveling home for the first time. Make sure her belongings arrive safely and there’s enough room for all the dirty laundry she’s kept at home to wash by gifting her a matching luggage set.
10. Learning aids + accessories
College is all about getting good grades and meeting new people. Prepare your child for academic success by providing helpful study aids and products that will increase productivity even when their brain feels like it can’t take in any more information. A few small things can make a big difference, such as:
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Noise-canceling headphones – these prove to be ideal for college students
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Electronic tools such as iStudiez Pro (calendar and task tracker for all operating systems) or Notability (note app synchronized with the cloud so she can access her notes anywhere)
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Subscription to a service like Chegg or Udemy
This article originally appeared on Giftya.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
