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Subversive Gifts for New College Students?

Posted by Cliff on from the tools-for-use-outside-of-the-box dept.

openyourmind asks: "A friend's daughter is going to college, and I want to send her a package to help her in school. What kinds of things did you wish you had, but couldn't get, in college? I have already included a lockpick set, a UVmarking pen, and an LED flashlight in her care package. What else? Legal items only, please."

6 of 1,132 comments (clear)

  1. Thinking back... by daoine · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ..I wished I had brought

    -A decent pocket knife
    -Duct Tape
    -A decent baby-sized tool box -- with a good hammer, screwdrivers (flat & philips head), pliers, and all the other little goodies.
    -Earplugs
    -A beer..err...soda cozy
    -Quarters, quarters, and more quarters

    1. Re:Thinking back... by TGK · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Wana go hardcore? A shrinkwraper. Most college bookstores won't take books back at full price once the shrinkwrap is off. If you have a shrinkwraper you can re-wrap them and typicaly save $75+ on your returned books.

      That... and you can sell shrinkwraping service.

      --
      Killfile(TGK)
      No trees were killed in the creation of this post. However, many electrons were inconvenienced.
  2. A few suggestions by pclinger · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I assume this person has a computer and that they are now moving away to college (that's what it sounds like). As a college student myself, these are some things which always come in handy:

    1) Quarters
    Think laundry. You always need quarters. Just send a couple rolls and it should last a while. Make sure you tell her what it is for so she doesn't just go spend it

    2) Tools
    Such as a hammer, screw drivers, etc. If you live in the dorms, no one has these types of things and they are hard to come by. Anyone who has tools is instantly popular.

    3) Network Card?
    If this person has used dialup all their life and never had/needed a network card, they will need one now to get online while at campus.

    There is a lot more, you will find many more suggestions from other posters.

    --
    /. editors made it impossible to link to file:///c:/con/con in my sig. Please just type it in
  3. Marketing Troll? by Mignon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What are the chances this Ask Slashdot is from a marketing troll at ThinkGeek, for example?

  4. George Foreman Grill by sprintkayak · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Great for dorm life. Perfect for late night meal after the caffeteria is closed.
    Knocks out the fat!

  5. Don't Give a Girl "Guy" Presents by scotpurl · · Score: 5, Insightful

    While many girls appreciate these gifts, it's derned close to that "my husband bought me a romantic clothes washer for our anniversary," or even, "my boyfriend changed the oil in my car for Valentine's day," or also, "My neighbor bought me a waffle iron for Christmas."

    While we dudes appreciate a fine tool, it's not Chick stuff. The clothes washer and the waffle iron come with the implication, "MAKE USE OF THAT FINE APPLIANCE FOR ME RIGHT NOW YOU LAZY WOMAN. I HAVE A GAME TO WATCH. ONLY SUMMON ME IF THERE IS A FIRE OR SEX."

    The lock pick set will be forgotten in the back of a drawer. The fine flashlight will be stolen at the first Rave.

    Give the girl cash. Best gift. Accepted in 200+ countries and on 7 continents. No ID needed. Don't leave home without it.