As a graduate student, gifts are really nice to get once in a while. While it’s tempting to think the only good gift for a grad student is cash, since we’re all living on the currency of future earning potential, the truth is that money doesn’t create memories or start conversations. Here is a list of grad student gift ideas that I’d recommend. I have personally used most of them and the rest have come on recommendation from other grad student friends.
1. Amazon.com Gift Card
Yeah, I know this is cheating. But let’s face it. Amazon has everything! And if you’re a graduate student, chances are good that you also have Amazon Student, which gives students free 2-day shipping on nearly anything. So with a gift card, you get anything you want, fast and at a good price.
2. xkcd Book
($10-$15) – xkcd is the intelligent stick-figure comic that tends to really resonate with scientists, geeks, and people who like to think a little bit longer about their jokes. You can sample the latest ones at xkcd.com, but a book says it’s OK to kick back and laugh a little (even if nobody else catches the humor).
3. Aroma Digital Rice Cooker
($30-$40) – This has probably changed my life more than any other appliance and I didn’t even know they existed before I got to college. The rice cooker has me eating much healthier (and I can be off reading while it cooks). You can also use it to steam vegetables and cook soups and stews like a crock pot. Pretty awesome.
4. Geek Mug
($10-$20) – If you know someone who runs on dark, hot liquids, might I suggest the Erlenmeyer Beaker Mug or the Mustache Mug. My personal favorite, since I’m not a lab scientist or a hipster, is the Camera Lens Mug, but make sure the person appreciates photography. It’s great for someone who already has a DSLR.
5. Super pen
($10-$20) – For a very high quality pen that is very affordable, I like Parker pens, specifically the stainless steel Jotter or the Frontier Rollerball. I’ve owned several Jotters and they’re classic, but the Frontier is my favorite, even though it writes a bit thicker than I usually like (but normal for the average person). They’re both fantastic pens and make a good gift. If you’re looking for a multi-pack that won’t cause heartache if one gets lost, I personally love a Pilot G2 (Extra Fine Point) or a uni-ball Micro. Both write thin. As they should.
6. Unusual games
($10-$30) – Without going into too much detail, a couple of great games for grad students are Dixit and Fluxx. Dixit, according to a grad friend of mine, really brings out different levels of sophistication in people, depending on who you play with. Fluxx is a personal favorite where anyone can win because the rules constantly change.
7. Visual Miscellaneum
($20-$30) – This book is nothing but amazing, beautiful visualizations of interesting data. My wife bought it for me for my birthday one year and it has provided such a cool combination of entertainment and intelligence that I recommend it to everyone. You can see some examples of what I’m talking about on the author’s website.
8. Portable External Hard Drive
($80+) – Western Digital has always made very reliable portable drives. The “My Passport” drive is ideal. It’s small and portable, but it runs on USB power, unlike a lot of external drives that require a wall outlet any time you want to transfer data (like mine… *sob*). I’d recommend an external drive of at least 1 TB, which should meet nearly any graduate student’s data storage needs and allow for easy backups.
9. Crest Whitestrips
($25-$30) – Trust me on this one. A grad student isn’t likely to spend money on an aesthetic aid like this, but teeth whitening strips work amazingly well and can mean a big confidence boost. Grad students need that.
10. Philips Wake-up Light
($70-$80) – This is no ordinary radio alarm clock. This “dawn simulator” gradually lights up a room so that it feels like you’re waking up to a natural sunrise and really does make a huge difference in quality of sleep and ease of getting out of bed, especially during darker months (as in winter, not thesis-writing). I know a couple of people who are fanatical about this.
See there! A grad student gift doesn’t have to be complicated, whether it’s for Christmas, birthday, or a special occasion. Just relevant and thoughtful. And as you can see, some of the best gift ideas aren’t even expensive. I think the big key to selecting a gift for a graduate student is to pick something that:
- They wouldn’t normally buy for themselves.
- Really fits with their current life stage and needs.
- Doesn’t remind them of how miserable they are as a poor college student with an uncertain future trying to scrape out a lowly existence while functioning on minimal sleep, maximum stress and trying not to go insane in the process of reading, writing, researching, etc. (OK, it’s not nearly that bad)
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