About College Survival Kits

College survival kits are special packages of must-have items for students. Sometimes, people gift a college student with a survival kit before she departs for school. But this isn't the only time a person can give a student a survival kit. Some of the very best survival kits are actually given during the school year. These gifts can include food, personal items or practical things for everyday use away from home. College survival kits are a thoughtful gift and a great pick-me-up for all recipients.

Significance

Gifting a newly graduated high school senior with money seems too easy at times. When the graduating senior is your own child, a college survival kit is a much more personal gift. You know what your child likes, so putting this college survival kit together is fun and useful. Relatives or friends can also compile a collection of favorite things, whether they be humorous or practical, to include in a survival kit. Any kit is a gift to treasure that definitely says you considered every item that was placed in the basket, bucket, case or trunk.

Function

College survival kits simply tell your college student, "I'm thinking of you" at school. It's a personal gift, a pick me up for your kid. Not only that, this type of gift clearly says that you are thinking of your child when he isn't around. College survival kits don't need to be fancy. Big or small, the message is the same. The contents of the kit can be whatever you want. It can contain necessities or comfort items.

Types

Anything you can come up with is perfectly acceptable to put into a college survival kit. As a result, there really isn't a particular type of survival kit. Some are personal and include hygiene products, such as a toothbrush, toothpaste and shampoo. Others are more practical and include screwdrivers, calculators and gas gift cards. Whatever theme you choose to use for your survival kit, make sure that you are happy with what you put in it. You can be sure your college student will appreciate everything you send to make them comfortable.

You can also purchase ready-made college survival kits on the web. Many of these kits are theme oriented and include items, such as candy, munchies and school supplies. Companies will also ship directly to the student. These care packages can range in price from $25 to over $70 when ordered online. Shipping is an additional cost.

Features

The centerpiece of the college survival kit is the container you plan to put all your gifts into. The container for your kit could be anything. A small suitcase, a full size truck, basket, laundry bin, plastic storage bin or a box, the possibilities are endless. Some folks just grab a box and stuff it full of fun things for a college student and send it through the mail. Use your imagination to make the presentation exciting. Once you have decided on the container, you get to do the fun part--collecting the items to put in the kit. Include a special note, a gift card or the promise of a home-cooked meal in trade for a visit home.

Considerations

Choosing what to include in the college survival kit depends on the recipient and the theme that you have chosen for your gift. You are only limited by the size of the container and your ability to wrap, ship or deliver the kit. The content possibilities of a college survival kit are virtually endless. Some possibilities include a sleep mask, ear plugs, a book light, candy, favorite munchies, gift certificates, toiletries, a coffee cup, hot cocoa, tea, quarters, stamps, stationery and school supplies.