Every college kid needs a survival kit. They need something to drown out the noise of the people around them—headphones. They need something so their phone doesn’t die and they don’t miss that urgent message from a professor or classmate—a spare charger. These things all add up to a solution for what college kids refer to as the struggle.
Here you can find 10 gifts for freshmen on move-in day that will make the struggle slightly more bearable.
1. Noise Canceling Headphones
You thought you needed headed headphones for the bus ride to-and-from school in high school? For college students, the need for headphones on you everywhere becomes a matter of life or death. College can get very busy—something goes on at all times (not always something productive either). Headphones allow you to transport into your own little bubble. They cancel out the boy next to you sleeping in a chair at the library snoring his heart out. Then of course you need to tune out that girl who sits and talks on the phone (not using her inside voice) instead of typing her research paper. Right now, these all sound odd and make very little sense. You will thank your mom for buying you those headphones by the time you finish up your first week of classes. “I never used my headphone before college. I went off to school and then never let my headphones out if my sight again. I wear them literally everywhere,” Temple University junior Shawn Jackson said.
Price: $37.802. A Bluetooth Speaker
For those boppin’ Friday and Saturday nights, headphones just don’t get loud enough. A Bluetooth speaker provides enough noise to make any party or dorm room sound like the place to be. Blast the newest songs and albums and attract attention from the people walking by. Who knows, maybe you will meet your new best friend. If you avoid parties, try out some picnics or sitting outside when the weather gets nice (seen in any college brochure). A Bluetooth speaker fits perfectly in your backpack to take along with you while you sit outside on a blanket. Enjoy some fun in the sun and take your friends with you to blast some good tunes while throwing around a frisbee or football. “There is nothing better than sitting out a blanket the first nice day of a semester and listening to music while studying with your friends. My speaker is the best present I got before going to school,” Temple University student Alexis Crawford said.
Price: $64.993. Portable Charger
In the 21st century., the popularity of the plug-in charger majorly dropped. Now you can take chargers anywhere and use them at any time regardless of outlets. Take advantage of that and get your parents to buy you a portable charger. You need your phone in college to receive access to emails and texts.“Portable chargers are a life-saver. In today’s world, everything I need is on my phone, class schedule, meetings, work schedule, literally everything. I need that to be running all day,” Temple University junior Gianfranco Illiano said. Now professors do everything digitally and you don’t want to miss that notification that screams, “CLASS CANCELLED.” Nothing embarrasses you more than showing up and sitting alone in class because your phone died and you missed something.
Price: $20.004. Winter Coat
Running the school as a big senior in high school, you drive up and pull into your parking spot after picking up your friends on a cold day. You get out of your warm car and walk right into school…well that doesn’t work anymore. College requires you to walk everywhere on campus no matter how far your class is. As a freshman, you don’t exactly get the closest dorm to classrooms at a lot of campuses. A sweatshirt won’t keep you warm for that 15 to 20-minute walk when the temperature hits 10 degrees. Those days of school cancellations because of inclement weather passed. That winter coat from your favorite aunt will come in handy.
Price: $90.005. Fitness Tracker
You know about it… you dread it… it hides under your bed. Everyone fears it: the freshman 15. The dining halls don’t serve the healthiest of meals. Remember as a kid asking your parents to eat pizza and French fries for dinner? Well consider a dining hall your childhood dream come true. Stand in line and get whatever you want to eat without anyone in your ear to tell you otherwise. However, make sure you keep track of your health at the same time. Get a fitness tracker to keep track of the calories you eat from all that pizza. Then for those long walks across campus you heard about earlier, keep track of your steps and miles walked each day.
Price: $33.006. Coffee Maker
Every college kid in life runs on coffee. Most campuses include a Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks or some coffee shop but one coffee each day adds up (honestly though most college students drink more than one). An instant coffee maker like a Keurig will top your list for best things you take with in the fall. Those hard-to-roll-out-of-bed 8 a.m. classes get easier when you can walk into class with a cup of coffee in hand. It comes in handy when you stay up all night studying for finals and you need energy. Just take a look to your left at the couple cups of coffee made at just the touch of a button.
Price: $28.997. Comfortable Lounge Pants
Dress to impress and dress for success. This statement could not sit further from the truth. College teaches you that unless you go to an important event, sweats and a T-shirt work best each day. Nobody goes to class and judges you for what you wear. Honestly, nobody really cares. That first week you may want to #do the most and get dressed nice but the thrill wears off. Invest in big comfy lounge sweat pants and just about any type of workout clothes you can think of.
Price: $38.008. Make-Up
Campus becomes totally different starting on Friday night. For those make-up lovers, weekends will make you so excited to get all done up. Bring out your best outfit and dress to a T. Your go-to make-up look will complete the look. Now anyone who has gone to ULTA or any make-up store knows that this stuff does not come cheap. On a college budget, it can get hard to swing getting some good make up for your Friday and Saturday night festivities. Tell your parents and family to get you some before leaving that can get you through most of the school year. It will come in handy for those “job interviews” that you go to on weekends.
Price: $35.249. Gift Cards and Cash
The best gift of them all. . . cash. Everyone who went to college can relate to the struggle of the stereotype as a “broke college kid.” You live off ramen noodles and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches when you run out of dining hall meals. Sometimes your friends want to go out but you just cannot afford to go. Tell your family member before going that literally anything helps. Even if someone only gives you $10 or $20, it adds up to enough for a meal at a little pizza shop or to go get something at the grocery store. Maybe you don’t want food so you can go and see a movie or do something to relax away from your school work. Cash or visa gift cards always make a great gift.
Price: Varies10. Reusable Water Bottle
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. A plastic water bottle from the store can’t keep your water cold for very long. Plus, each bottle you use hurts the environment a little more. Get a good reusable water bottle like a Yetti or S’well bottle. They keep your water or juice cold and you can even add ice if you want. Refilling saves you money from buying cases of water at the grocery which add up for a broke college student. “Personally, for me I wouldn’t survive without a water bottle. Nothing is worse than getting dehydrated and having a headache before an exam,” Kutztown University junior Zach Corely said.
Price: $9.99
