Thinking of a gift for a college student can be surprisingly challenging.On one hand, they’re not teens anymore, so Sour -inspired stickered faces seem childish.On the other, they’re not quite adults yet — preferring White Claws over LiveWires .Factor in the fact that freshmen probably want different things than their upperclassmen counterparts.To help you find a gift they’ll love, we talked to actual college students and recent grads about what’s topping their wish lists — including the gear and gadgets they use every day, cool dorm décor that would make their lives a bit easier, and art that’s locally made (but sold on Instagram).We also scoured our archives for recommendations from college-aged people that would make great gifts.Below are the best gifts for college students, whether it’s their first year or their last.
Best tech gifts for college students
Google Pixelbook Go From $642 If Mom and Dad are feeling generous, a brand-new laptop is likely at the top of their kid’s list.
This is one of the best options out there for students, thanks to its balance of price and capabilities.Although it doesn’t have “all the bells and whistles,” it’s a very functional computer, Charlie Regan, the CEO of Nerds on Site , told us.“It’s a remarkable bargain, and we haven’t experienced much in the way of breakdown.” At only 2.3 pounds, it’s also super-lightweight, so it won’t be a problem for them to haul it around from class to class.
From $642 at Amazon Buy $643 at Best Buy Buy
2021 Apple iPad Mini $459 $499 now 8% off $459 If they already have a laptop, a tablet might be a nice complement.For many students, it can even be a replacement.When we asked RAs about dorm-room essentials, they told us iPads are quickly becoming more common in college classrooms.
“More and more people now take notes on their laptops or on their iPads with the Apple Pencil,” says Sarah Rebarber, a Columbia University RA.
[Editor’s note: This will arrive after Christmas.]
$459 at Amazon Buy $459 at Amazon Buy
Apple AirPods $179 now 11% off $160 Of the eight students who recommended headphones, five called out AirPods as the ones they have or the ones they want.Ashley Lee, who attended Brown University, says wireless is “useful when working out or doing busy work and chores, because you don’t have a cord connecting the headphones to your phone so you can move about more easily.” Kira Sommer, a graduate of George Washington University who we spoke to for an article about dorm-room essentials , says, “Please, please, please invest in a good pair of headphones ,” explaining that students blasting music or video games in shared spaces can cause a big problem.But there’s no need to invest too much.Carl Escoffier, a graduate of Leeds University and a new student at Goldsmiths, says “no student wants or needs $500 Beats by Dre to truly enjoy music.” What college students want “is to be able to play music from their phone without any faff or cables,” he says.
“ AirPods solve that problem, without being ostentatious or overly pricey.” When we spoke to Kim Tang, who worked as an RA at The College of New Jersey, and Sarah Rebarber, who attended Columbia University, for our story on what to pack for college , they both told us that AirPods are the wireless headphones they see most at school.And Pia Mileaf-Patel , another Brown student, says she really wants a pair but would never buy them for herself, which is why she says “they make a great gift.”
$160 at Amazon Buy $170 at Target Buy
JBL Flip 5 $130 $130 Four of the students we consulted recommended this affordable and portable Bluetooth speaker .Maxx Grossman, who attended Tufts University, calls it “quality but portable.” He says that having a portable speaker is nice because “I often find myself wanting to play music for a party or while hanging out with friends.” Both Mileaf-Patel and Escoffier agree that the Flip 4, which is also waterproof, making it able to withstand accidents and spills, would make a great gift.Christel Langué, a graduate of Lehigh University, told us that she can’t imagine life without a bluetooth speaker.
“They come in handy all the time,” she says.
$130 at Amazon Buy $130 at Amazon Buy Best low-tech gift for college students
USPS Pear Stamps, Set of 20 $2 $2 Buy at USPS Buy
Cross Calais Satin Fountain Pen $35 $35 Buy at Amazon Buy $35 at Amazon Buy For something more analog, Sam Weinberg, a student who is taking time off from school to do political work — like founding the social media –slash– digital organizing platform Settle for Biden — would appreciate some letter-writing material.“I’m a big fan of sending people handwritten cards, and an ecofriendly way to go about that is to use fountain pens instead of disposable plastic pens,” he says, explaining that the pens from Cross are long-lasting (the brand was founded in 1846) and use refillable ink cartridges.Plus, in order to support the USPS , Weinberg recommends gifting stamps — he recently purchased 600, but this sheet of 20 stamps might be more manageable.The set is sold directly from USPS’s website, so it’ll support the service.
Plus, the vintage-inspired pear print will make a handwritten letter feel more special.
There are even sheets with Tiffany lamps and silver coffee pots you can cop, too.
[Editor’s note: The set of stamps may arrive after Christmas.]
Best gift that does good for college students
SisterSong From $15 From $15 Donate to SisterSong Buy
Mutual Aid Hub Donate to Mutual Aid Hub Buy In addition to gifting items that give back to a worthy organization, five of the students whom we spoke to say they’d appreciate a donation in their name.Emily Adler, a rising freshman at Williams College who is also taking a year off to do political work, admits that while the AirPods she received upon graduating high school are a “super helpful” gift, this holiday season she’d rather receive a donation to an organization she’s passionate about — including a racial-justice organization like SisterSong , which is focused on reproductive justice for indigenous women and women of color, or a progressive political campaign.“Putting your money where your mouth is seems particularly important now, and even once this election cycle is done there will be more work to do,” she says, adding that a donation is a good gift request from someone with more spending power than your average college student.
Aditya Bhalla, a rising sophomore at Pomona College who is also working for Settle for Biden, adds that right now donations are also a good way to raise money for “smaller organizations that might not be listed on a Facebook fundraiser, like a mutual-aid fund.”
Best bags to give a college student
Fjallraven Kanken Mini From $61 Fjallraven backpacks are ubiquitous on college campuses — they’re up there with Herschel and a step up from Jansport.The mini is the perfect size for toting to class, the dining hall, or the library.
Barnard graduate Alice Min says it’s “smaller but cuter” than the backpack she had in high school, and she still uses it today.
From $61 at Amazon Buy $70 at Zappos Buy
Madewell The Zip Top Transport Tote $188 now 10% off $170 If they’ve got an internship this semester, the attractive and office-ready Madewell Transport Tote is a favorite among professionals and recent graduates .It’s something students will be able to take with them well beyond college.
You can even get it personalized with their initials or maybe projected graduation year for a nice touch.
[Editor’s note: Until December 21, Madewell is offering $10 overnight shipping.]
$170 at Verishop Buy with code: WRAPUP21 $188 at Madewell Buy Best beauty gift for college students
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer $19 Although Glossier’s pink bubble packaging is somewhat of a status symbol among young people (and a certain subset of dewy skin-fluencers ), former Strategist intern and Bowdoin graduate Aisha Rickford says Fenty Beauty carries a bit more clout among her college friends.Though she’s not that into makeup, Rickford did “grow up with Rhianna being a very cool Black woman singer,” and after buying a pack of Fenty lip glosses with some friends, she found that “her colors are actually really flattering on darker skin tones.” Our resident beauty expert Rio Viera-Newton, agrees that Fenty glosses are particularly flattering, especially this “glowy, sun-kissed” tone.
[Editor’s note: Until December 21, you can get free two-day shipping on orders over $50 at Fenty Beauty.]
$19 at Fenty Beauty Buy $19 at Sephora Buy Best Black-owned business gift for college students
Luv + Co Luv Your Lashes Mascara $29 $29 Instead of purchasing a gift from a big corporation, a couple of students say they’d prefer a gift from a Black-owned business.“I think there are a lot of brands more recently that have been capitalizing on an impressive racial-justice statement, when at the end of the day it’s not even clear what their labor practices are,” explains Adler, who would like mascara from a Black-owned business.
We’ve compiled a (growing) list of 180 Black-owned businesses , ranging from fitness brands to bookstores, and everything in between.If, like Adler, the college student on your list wants mascara, we like this Luv + Co product from Dr.Melodie Ray Davis-Bundrage’s beauty brand, which has many natural and cruelty-free products.
[Editor’s note: This may arrive after Christmas.]
$29 at BLK + GRN Buy $29 at Birchbox Buy Best status water bottles to give to college students
Hydro Flask 32-Ounce Wide Water Bottle $40 $45 now 11% off $40 Buy at Amazon Buy
Zojirushi SM-KC48 Stainless Mug, Rose Gold $38 $45 now 16% off $38 Buy at Amazon Buy $38 at Amazon Buy There are a surprising number of status water bottles that have reigned supreme over the years.But our polls of college students and RAs found that the insulated wide mouth Hydro-flask is king.Tang told us that she has noticed more and more Hydro Flask bottles around campus: “People like them because they can hold more water than S’well.Also, they’re just trendy now.” For another option, Stanford University graduate Amanda Kim Mai Tu and Chloe Kazuko Boehm, who just graduated from Tufts, recommend the insulated and Strategist-approved Zojirushi .According to Boehm, it “literally keeps drinks hot for days.”
Best handmade gift (from Instagram) for college students
Danielle Yukari Blue Stripes Cup $50 $50 Four of the students we spoke to mentioned that independently made art is on their wish lists — from a Stitch It to the Patriarchy upcycled piece of clothing with personalized embroidery to painted prints of Trump in Hell (which New York ’s own senior art critic Jerry Saltz has also posted on social media).
“Especially since the pandemic hit, Instagram is really the new frontier and gallery of art, you can find good art on there from anywhere between $10 to $100,000,” explains Weinberg.Rickford agrees that there’s a lot of artists who sell work through Instagram, and she’d specifically like to receive a handmade mug.This striped one from Yukari ceramics is a solid option (just note that you’ll have to scroll down the product page a little to find it.)
$50 at Danielle Yukari Buy The best gift for coffee-loving college students
Asobu Coldbrew Portable Cold Brew Coffee Maker $35 $46 now 24% off $35 They might not have enough room for a fancy coffee maker in their dorm or college apartment, but this little apparatus wont take up much space.Bella Cimarusti , who graduated from American University last year, used this portable cold-brew maker while at home with her parents, and says she’ll “definitely be needing one of my own to save money and sustain my normal levels of caffeine needed to function.”
[Editor’s note: This may arrive after Christmas.]
$35 at Nordstrom Rack Buy $40 at Crate and Barrel Buy Best all-weather shoes to give to college students
Dr.Martens Flora Chelsea Boot From $140 Mileaf-Patel, Julie Schwartzberg, a student at Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute , and John Grund, who attended the Savannah College of Art and Design, all cited Chelsea-style Dr.Martens boots as must-have footwear.
“I want to get some new boots that are more sophisticated than the beat-up ones I have now,” Grund says.Mileaf-Patel likes them so much that she “wore them to death.” Escoffier also likes Chelsea boots , but he prefers Blundstones for their unmatched durability and because they’ll probably last you all four years in school.
From $140 at Amazon Buy From $140 at Amazon Buy Plus some cozy socks to wear with them
SmartWool Hike Medium Crew From $16 Boots are only as good as the socks worn with them.
Mileaf-Patel and NYU student Cameron Stowell told us they would love to be gifted a pair of wool socks .“ SmartWool socks are so practical, and they’re comfortable,” says Stowell.
“They’re the perfect pair of socks in the winter.I like the plain brown ones .”
[Editor’s note: Some sizes and shades may arrive after Christmas.]
From $16 at Amazon Buy From $16 at Amazon Buy Best gift if you were considering giving a sweater
Uniqlo Fluffy Yarn Fleece Full-Zip Jacket $30 $30 Sweaters are almost a great gift, but the students we consulted would prefer a fleece.
Mileaf-Patel calls her fleece, “truly my favorite piece of clothing .” She likes fleece because it’s both comfortable and very on-trend.“I used to intern for Sandy Liang, who makes the coolest ones IMO,” she says.“But they are definitely a splurge.I’m waiting for it to get cold so I can wear mine.” Langué’s favorite fleeces come from Aimé Leon Doré ; they’re less expensive than a Sandy Liang fleece, but will still cost you upward of a couple hundred dollars.If you’re looking to spend less, Escoffier has a more budget-friendly recommendation: Uniqlo.In order to survive the brazen cold at British universities, you need something “oversize and fluffy,” he says.
He likes this Uniqlo fleece jacket because it’s “easy on the eyes and the pocket.”
[Editor’s note: This may arrive in time for Christmas with express shipping.]
$30 at Uniqlo Buy Best gift if you were considering giving denim
Missguided Navy Tie Dye Oversized 90s Joggers $15 $35 now 57% off $15 Although some young people told us that they’re doing school from home in jeans, most are living in loungewear — and tie-dye sets are especially cool, according to three college students we spoke to (and lots more we’ve spotted on TikTok).Cotton Citizen and Aviator Nation were recommended by two students at FIT, but for something more budget-friendly, Julia Tarnow says she’s “obsessed” with this pair from Missguided.
[Editor’s note: These may arrive after Christmas.]
$15 at Missguided Buy Best print subscription gift for college students
New York Magazine Subscription $35 $35 Both Weinberg and Bhalla say that they’d like a subscription to a newspaper or magazine, because (as Weinberg puts it) “it’s essential that we support print journalism right now.” Call us biased, but we think that $35 for a print and digital subscription to New York Magazine is one of the best bets out there.
$35 at New York Magazine Buy Best online subscription gift for college students
Spotify Premium Monthly Subscription $10 Though the magazine’s print subscription also includes unlimited digital access, some students would prefer to spend their downtime listening to music or watching TV.In that case, Caroline Smith, a rising sophomore at Princeton University who is taking a year off to work in political organizing, recommends a subscription to something like Hulu or Spotify Premium.Smith listens to “probably three to four hours of music a day,” and says a Spotify Premium subscription is the kind of gift “I would actually want, but wouldn’t get for myself because it costs money and there is a free version available.”
$10 at Spotify Buy Best gift for college-age music enthusiasts
Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Suitcase Turntable with Speakers $60 now 12% off $53 If your college student prefers records to Spotify playlists, Bhalla recommends gifting a record player.
“A lot of my friends are getting into vinyl, and shop for records at a local store called Rhino Records ,” says Bhalla, who adds that a record player would complete his burgeoning record collection.American University alum Bella Cimarusti tipped us to getting newly diplomaed grads a record player, too.You’ll usually see students walking with their AirPods or wired headphones ( they’re back ) around campus, but there’s something about having a sound system.Cimarusti learned this when listening to her favorite FKA twigs album on a family friend’s at-home audio setup.
The experience let her hear tracks the way they were meant to be heard, inspiring her to start her own record collection.
$53 at Amazon Buy $53 at Amazon Buy Best gift for college-age photo and video enthusiasts
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V 20.1 MP Digital Camera $998 If you’re willing to splurge, buying a quality camera that isn’t attached to a smartphone would wow any college student who’s interested in photography or video.“I love making videos, so having something smaller and easier to transport would be awesome,” says Howard Lin, a recent graduate of the University of Florida.
“My dream would be the Sony Alpha A9, but it costs quite a bit” — as in, more than $3,000.So instead, he says he would be happy to settle for the RX100.
$998 at Amazon Buy $998 at B&H Photo and Video Buy Best gift for trendy photo college students
Fujifilm QuickSnap Flash 400 Disposable 35mm Camera $25 for 2 Maybe you want to encourage a love of photography without spending quite so much money.
In that case, Mileaf-Patel recommends a film camera.“There’s something more satisfying about having film developed,” she says.Lo-fi disposable cameras like this Fujifilm camera are experiencing a resurgence in popularity.Mileaf-Patel suggests giving “a bunch of them.”
[Editor’s note: This set may arrive after Christmas.]
$25 for 2 at Walmart Buy Best study gift for college students
Bose QuietComfort 45 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones $279 $329 now 15% off $279 Whether the college-aged person on your list is living at home or on (or near) campus this semester, several students we spoke to agree that noise-canceling headphones help them focus better.Anne-Laure Razat, a rising senior at Barnard College who is living on an off-campus apartment with her three suitemates, says that noise-canceling headphones help her “lock into my workspace” despite being around her roommates all the time.
(And this specific pair from Bose is recommended on the Strategist by everyone from hyperenthusiastic Amazon reviewers to frequent fliers and even Roxane Gay , who agrees that they “just drown everything out and give me the space to think and get writing done.”)
$279 at Amazon Buy $279 at Best Buy Buy Best entertainment gift for college students
Miroir M190 Mini Pro Projector $200 Eight students told us they either have a projector , know friends with a projector, or wish they owned one.As Caroline Tien , who attended Haverford, says, “you can’t go wrong.” Having one will score you major cool points, even if you’re just projecting a Netflix Party with friends.This is a newer version of the model recommended by Meg Schwieterman, a student at the University of South Carolina, who has a simple set of instructions for using it: “Tack a sheet up on the wall, make a batch of microwave popcorn, and pick a movie !” Plus it comes with a built-in battery so you don’t need to worry about finding an outlet during a screening.
$200 at Amazon Buy $200 at Amazon Buy The best art gift to give college students
Caran D’ache Luminance Colored Pencil, Set of 40 $130 now 22% off $102 She’s a little too young for college, but last year 13-year-old Sophia Paley told us how nice it is to take a break from the screen and draw using these colored pencils .
We think the college student on your list will equally enjoy an analog distraction from their schoolwork.
[Editor’s note: On Amazon, this set ships from the U.K., so it may not arrive in time for Christmas.Your best bet might be to order from Dick Blick directly.]
$102 at Amazon Buy $186 at Dick Blick Buy Best planet-saving gift for college students
BAGGU Small Reusable Shopping Bag $10 $10 Also on Tu’s wishlist is a set of reusable Baggu tote bags .She calls them “my number-one, college-student gift recommendation,” saying “these have SAVED ME so many times.I use them at the grocery store and hang one bag off each of my bike handlebars — there’s no other way I could get everything home myself.” We’re particularly partial to this carry-anything, take-anywhere striped pattern.
But if you know an art student, Baggu’s recent collab with the Met would be perfect for toting.
The ceramic-printed bags — which feature Victorian-looking teapots and patterns you’d see on traditional blue-and-white porcelain — will earn compliments on all around campus.
$10 at Amazon Buy $10 at Amazon Buy
BAGGU Strawberry Large Reusable Shopping Bag $32 $32 Tu told us that a Big Baggu does double as a laundry hamper, if you don’t have a machine in unit.This strawberry-printed bag would go great with the brand’s matching fruit mask set .
$32 at Amazon Buy $32 at Amazon Buy Best problem-solving gift for college students
Victorinox Swiss Army SwissChamp Pocket Knife $80 $80 Instead of a bulky toolbox, give a pocket knife .“If I had to be specific, I would choose the SwissChamp in hardwood,” says Justin Lee, who attended Brown University.“I feel like there will inevitably come a time when having a multipurpose tool like this would come in handy.”
[Editor’s note: This will arrive after Christmas.But this pocket knife — which comes with fewer bells and whistles – will arrive in time.]
$80 at Amazon Buy $80 at Amazon Buy Best organizational gift to give college students
Yamazaki Home Tower Desk Bar Organizer $30 Help them keep their work space organized so they can actually get some studying done.
$30 at Amazon Buy $30 at The Yamazaki Home Buy Best gifts for college students still acclimating to dorm living
HOMZ 3 Drawer Medium Storage Cart $42 $42 Another RA recommendation : Smart storage solutions are key to making the most of a small, shared dorm room.Nightstands aren’t usually part of the assigned furniture, so Sarah Rebarber, who’s been an RA for two years at Columbia University, recommends a cart like this one.
It “moves easily, isn’t heavy, and gives you easy access,” Rebarber says.There are three cabinets for extra linens, snacks they don’t want to share, and everything else.
[Editor’s note: Depending on the color you choose, this may arrive after Christmas.]
$42 at Amazon Buy $42 at Amazon Buy
MZOO Sleep Eye Mask $28 now 29% off $20 Their roommate might write papers well into the night or have an early-morning class that requires multiple alarms to get up for.Montana Love, a Yale student, recommends having a sleep mask around as a dorm-room essential .It’ll keep a room dark even if your student falls asleep at midnight and wakes up at noon.This memory-foam mask has Viera-Newton ’s stamp of approval.
She needs complete darkness to fall asleep.The mask features “little concave cups for your eyes (so you can comfortably blink while wearing it) that actually stay concave throughout the night, no matter how much you move around,” Viera-Newton writes.
$20 at Amazon Buy $20 at Amazon Buy Best comfy gifts for college students
Zinus 4-Inch Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress Topper $86 $86 Those hard-as-a-rock twin mattresses can be a little startling for first-year students.A mattress topper will help them adjust to not having all the comforts of home.“It’s important to get good sleep as a college student, and as any kind of living person, especially right now,” says Bowdoin graduate Eugen Cotei .
Reviewers say this top-rated foam mattress topper is particularly great for making dorm mattresses more comfortable.
$86 at Amazon Buy $86 at Amazon Buy
Bearaby Cotton Napper $249 We’ve previously recommended this for the high-school graduate who’s feeling homesick, but it could work for college students of any year.A weighted blanket will feel like a hug when they’re miles away from home and missing it.Bearaby is a Strat favorite, and it’s stylish, so it’ll look good flung over that twin XL bed.
[Editor’s note: This must be ordered by December 20 to arrive in time for Christmas.]
$249 at Bearaby Buy $249 at Nordstrom Buy Best mood-setting décor gift for college students
Spantik Himalayan Salt Lamp $26 $28 now 7% off $26 Several college students with good taste told us that the quickest way to “zhuzh up a sterile dorm room” (or a childhood room, for that matter) is to add some warm mood lighting.String lights do the trick, but for something that (supposedly) eases stress and provides a calming atmosphere one student recommends this “super mellow” pink Himalayan-salt lamp.
$26 at Amazon Buy $26 at Amazon Buy Best mood-setting ( and odor-reducing) gift for college students
Vitruvi Stone Diffuser $119 $119 Eight of the college students whom we talked to for our piece about stylish dorm accents said that scented candles are essential to creating an inviting atmosphere, but Rickford — and three other students — say an eclectic oil diffuser is more effective at improving the scent of a room.We’ve heard about the merits of the Vitruvi Stone Diffuser over the years.
It’s even one of the essentials that Ellen Pompeo can’t live without.“It just makes the room feel fresh and not germy,” Pompeo told us, making it perfect for dorms that don’t get much fresh air.
$119 at Amazon Buy $119 at Amazon Buy Best gifts to give college students who moved to their first apartment
MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check Salt and Pepper Shakers $62 $62 If there’s a junior or senior who finally moved out of a residency hall and into an apartment complex, a housewarming gift might be in order.They probably have the must-haves covered — couch, cookware, and sheet sets — so easy-to-forget essentials might be the way to go.A few of the new homeowners and renters we’ve talked to recommend salt-and-pepper shakers.Home decorator Carrie Carrollo got this checkerboard enamel set from a friend.“I was in the thick of decorating, looking for accents to bring the space together, and surprisingly, these changed the entire look and feel for the best,” Carollo told us.They’re timeless enough that your recipient will want to bring the set from apartment to apartment.
$62 at Amazon Buy $62 at Amazon Buy
Adnikia Cherry Toilet Brush with Holder $17 $17 “When people move, they don’t think about bringing a plunger,” explained Fabiana Faria, one of the owners of Coming Soon , in that same guide to housewarming gifts.
“Let’s face it: You don’t really think about it until you need one.” And that’s most likely true for the college student always on the move.Faria cherry-picked a cheeky cleaner that was almost identical to this one.It’s playful but functional.
$17 at Amazon Buy $17 at Amazon Buy Best gift for the college student who’s now of legal drinking age
‘The Craft of the Cocktail: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Master Bartender,’ by Dale DeGroff $35 Their 21st birthday might have been full of Smirnoff shooters, but they’ll be graduating to better bottles soon enough.When we asked a bartender, sommelier, and brewers about the best gifts for those who just turned 21 , how-to books topped the list.Willy Shine, a mixologist and Jägermeister brand rep, tipped us to The Craft of the Cocktail for its easy-to-understand cocktail recipes.They’re sure to become the mixologist of their friend group.
$35 at Amazon Buy Best red Solo cup alternative to give to college students
Bormioli Rocco Bodega Tumbler Mini Glasses, 7.5 Ounce, Set of 12 $24 now 17% off $20 “ Wedding registry-type things make sense,” says Cassidy Olsen, a graduate of Tufts.“A lot of us are moving into places for the first time permanently.
I know nothing about glassware, so I couldn’t say what glassware , but a combo of drinking glasses and wine glasses would be good.” Tu agrees that nice but not too expensive glassware makes a great gift.She says stemless glasses like the Bormioli Rocco Bodega tumblers are “easy to clean and store, and one step up from Solo cups.” We here at the Strategist love the Bormioli Rocco Bodega short tumblers, which do double duty as wine glasses and drinkware.
$20 at Amazon Buy $20 at Crate and Barrel Buy Best gift for the college student interviewing for an internship Neewer 18” Smartphone Ring Light Kit $84 $84 Or just their first official job.In our guide to graduation gifts for him , several grads emphasized the need for good lighting on video interviews.Andrew Blum , who graduated from Stanford University last year, explained that ring lights like this one do double duty: they’re serious enough for business meetings while perfect for recording silly TikToks.
$84 at B&H Photo and Video Buy Best gift for keeping college students’ floors clean
iRobot Roomba 692 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity $177 $300 now 41% off $177 As if to confirm Escoffier’s claim that college students need help keeping their floors clean (whether they’re in a dorm room or their childhood bedroom), Langué admits that she hates cleaning her floors, but for a different reason: “This sounds so stupid, but I hate cleaning my floor because of how obsessive I get about it.Can someone get me a Roomba ? PLEASE!”
$177 at Amazon Buy $177 at Amazon Buy Best book to give a college student
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones $12 $27 now 56% off $12 Oh, the Places You’ll Go! probably seems passé at this point.A book to help them kick bad habits might be more their speed.Former Strategist intern (and current college senior) Gabrielle Cody bought this book right in the middle of the fall semester, when “classes have started to ramp up with research papers and final project deadlines.” She heard about it from writers and podcasters, who cited it as a must-read.
“Life-changing? That’s for you to find out.All I know is I’m halfway through the book and I’ve already applied a lot of mind-set shifts into my life,” she writes in our October Strategist Haul .
$12 at Amazon Buy $12 at Target Buy.
