You might be wondering why I’m writing about Christmas when it’s only September. Well, for college students like me, the first day of school is when we start building our Christmas lists. Living in a dorm has its unique challenges as do attending classes and doing homework. Keeping these in mind, I’ve compiled a short list of some things a college student near you might appreciate in the coming year. Just for fun, there’s one for each part of the day.
DASH 7-EGG RAPID EGG COOKER
It’s morning. You have enough time to get ready, but not enough time to dawdle. That said, you’re hungry. It’s time for breakfast. The problem is you’re in a dorm with no microwave or toaster, so oatmeal and peanut butter toast are no longer options. You have a minifridge with some eggs in it, but the only stove is two floors below you. If only you had more time, or…the Dash 7-Egg Rapid Egg Cooker!
Okay, that was a bit dramatic, but you understand the idea. When there are so few options for a healthy breakfast, the Dash egg cooker could make the morning so much easier! Instead of turning to sugary cereal or skipping breakfast altogether, this device opens the door to up to 7 boiled eggs, 2 poached eggs, or 1 personal-sized omelet––ready in a matter of minutes. All you need is water and eggs to use this device. The auto-shutoff feature also prevents overcooking (for the culinary novice) and it even has a 1-year limited warranty.
So far, this item has 4.6 stars out of 5 on Target.com. People appreciate how simple and user-friendly it is, and they’ve even found they can use it for other things besides eggs. Whether they need the resources or motivation to make healthier food for themselves, college students would benefit from this device.
TILE
After you eat your delicious eggs from your handy rapid cooker, you realize you only have a few minutes to grab your things and head to class. As you head out the door, though, you stop short––where’s your ID badge? To make it to class on time, you only have a minute to look and you have no idea where to start. If only you had an app that could tell you exactly where your ID badge is and even make it ring so you can find it quickly…it’s a good thing Tile can provide that.
Yes, the drama continues, but the point remains. College students are often young, forgetful, and disorganized with too many things going on. It’s too easy to lose even the most important things. Tile has a variety of products for every use imaginable––from stickers to keychains to wallet inserts. Other than the product itself, all you need is the app on your phone. With it, you can have the Tile product ring (make noise) to help you find the item it’s attached to and you are even notified when you leave your item behind through Smart Alert on some of the options (more details here). Sounds pretty handy to me!
While you can buy these directly from the website, you can also find them on Amazon, Target, Walmart, and even Kohl’s. The Tile Mate has a 4.6 star rating on Amazon. Most customers appreciate how easy Tile makes it to find things by making noise. Customers also love the feature that allows you to push a button on your Tile product to make your phone ring (through the app) in case you lose that, too. All in all, this would be a great gift for an absentminded college student.
MPOW HEADPHONES
Breakfast was delicious, you found your ID, and you made it through class. Now there’s some time before the next item on your agenda, so you decide to do some homework in the library. Unfortunately, the air conditioning unit is unbearably loud, making it difficult to focus. You can’t ask the school to shut off their air conditioning, but you can definitely put on your MPOW Active Noise Cancelling Headphones.
In the life of a college student, there are always distractions. Sometimes even the simplest of things (like the whirring of an air conditioner) can make productivity impossible. While noise cancelling doesn’t do a very good job of blocking out people’s voices, it does a fantastic job of blocking out constant sounds such as whirring AC/heating units, machinery, and airplanes. These headphones are also foldable––making it far easier to slip them into a backpack. I personally own these headphones and have used them in exactly the situation described above as well as on the airplane and when I need a little extra help blocking out the world to focus in on the task at hand.
Amazon customers have rated this product at 4.3 stars. Most seem to agree that these are good value for the price, but they are not the absolute best quality. Those that are the best quality, however, are typically priced over a hundred dollars, while this set is only $39.99. I’d say it’s a pretty great deal.
OONTZ SPEAKER
Now that your classes and homework are done for the day, it’s time to decide between an extra hour of hanging out with friends and a nice, long, relaxing shower. Whichever one you choose you’ll probably want some music along. But no, your iPhone speaker just isn’t going to cut it. You decide to break out your OontZ Angle 3 Bluetooth Portable Speaker.
Whether trying to reach a whole group of people with your tunes or just trying to hear it over the (something) of the shower, this speaker will do the trick. Its shape helps it blast sound from both sides to reach a greater circumference in both directions. Its internal makeup also allows it to put out high volumes without changing the sound itself. Not only that, but it’s also water resistant (shower-safe, rain-safe, splash-safe). So far this sounds like the perfect college speaker.
On Amazon, it has a 4.6 star rating. Customers seem to like the value for the price. While some boast this speaker as the best of its kind, others say that’s not exactly the case. That said, the internal components are made by Cambridge Sound Works (a reputable company), and several customers reported the speaker is heavier than most others its size.* Considering this speaker would go to college students who might not take the best care of a speaker gifted them, the low price point and the resilience of this speaker might be its selling point.
*For those who don’t know, weight is important when choosing a speaker. It indicates the size of the magnet inside which is one of the biggest factors in determining sound quality.
MUSON SOUND MACHINE AND DIFFUSER
Finally, after a good time with friends or that heavenly shower, you’re tired. It’s time for bed. Now, one of two things happens here––some part of your room is dirty and it smells bad enough to keep you awake, or your room is fine and you just enjoy yummy smells filling the room. Either way, you decide to diffuse some essential oils while you go to sleep. But there’s also people talking just outside your door and they don’t seem to be winding down anytime soon. It’s a good thing you have the Muson Essential Oil and Sound Machine Combo Diffuser and Humidifier!
This device would be so helpful in the situation described above, but also in so many others such as doing homework in a noisy dorm and trying to destress in the middle of a hectic day. Muson created this dream combo device that does three things at once. It surrounds you with your favorite smell, calms you with your favorite sounds, and even replaces some moisture in the air. For sound, it has 6 nature sounds, a white noise setting, and even 2 piano tracks. That’s a surprising number of options for a multitasking machine. As if all this weren’t enough, it also gives off a warm light or a darker glow––your choice.
This is another item that is conveniently listed on Amazon, where it has earned a 4.5-star rating from customers. They seem very satisfied with the noise options, the efficiency of the diffuser, the warmth of the light. A few people have had some technical difficulties with the diffuser, but most seem satisfied overall. This could be just what your college student needs to get that deep rest before finals week!
DECISION TIME
While being a college student definitely has its perks, it also has its challenges. Some of those things can’t be helped by a gadget or any amount of effort, but some of them could be remedied by tools like the ones listed above. As a college student myself, I can attest to the fact that products like these make our lives easier, more enjoyable, and sometimes even healthier. In the end, though, buying a gift for someone isn’t about a list you saw online, but the person’s wishes. My hope is that this list will get you started down the right track. If you’re still wondering what to get for college students near you, take my advice…ask them!
