As a PhD or graduate student, gifts are really nice to get once in a while. While some may think the best gift for a grad student is cash (my wallet is so lonely!), the truth is that money isn’t exactly memorable. Here is 2021’s 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.
($25-35) – For grad students who like taking written notes, but are also into paper conservation, Rocketbook allows you to take notes with a pen, take a photo with the Rocketbook app (sending them to the cloud), then wipe the page clean with a wet cloth and start fresh. Having too many paper notebooks makes me wish I had used something like this from the beginning.
($45-55) – Masters & PhD programs are really presentation-heavy soit’s goodto have your own reliable remote. Admittedly, I’m a bit fanatical about the R800 (I made a fan page). I keep it in my bag at all times and it has“rescued” nearly a dozen student and professor presentations. Ithas a green laser, vibrating timer, and 100-foot range so you can walk around the room.
($40-55) – This is no ordinary alarm clock. This “dawn simulator” gradually lights up a room so that you feel like you’re waking up to a natural sunrise. It really does make a huge difference in quality of sleep, especially during darker months (as in winter, not thesis-writing). I know a couple of people who are fanatical about these.
($25-$35) – The book is a beautifully illustrated guide to 150 weekend destinations in the United States and Canada. It has maps and practical itineraries for any grad student who needs to get out and explore (I pull it out when I visit a new city for a conference). The36 Hours World edition is on my wish list.
($15-$20) – I notice a lot of PhD students get themselves through mini sprints of work by using a timer system. This is one of the coolest timers I’ve seen (in multiple colors) — I just flip the timer to the number of minutes I want in my countdown and it starts. I love the silent mode with a flashing light instead of noise (useful in a shared office with other grad students).
($10-15) – A typical PhD program lasts 4-6 years, so having an easy way to record a single line from every day of that up and down journey is pretty satisfying (and some days, a line is truly all you’ll have time and energy for). It’s also fun to see what you wrote on the same day the previous year. My wife loves hers.
($30+) Studies suggest that a weighted blanket can improve sleep among those who need it most, like insomniacs and college students with anxiety (they still need to study grad students). The cost of weighted blankets has dropped with the increasing interest and number of options, so I won’t recommend one in particular, but I would aim for at least 12 lbs or more. Wife loves hers.
($20-30) – Tile’s newest credit card-sized Slim means that if you misplace your purse or wallet, just use the Tile app to ring your Tile device (or see the location it was last spotted). Misplace your phone? Tile Slim has a button you can press twice to ring it. 3-year battery life and affordable price make this a nice time-saver and worry-reducer for any grad student.
($25+) – Somegrad students and PhD friends just need a little relaxation and focus. With a diffuserand somescented oil, you’ll getquietlyhydrated pleasant aromas for as long as you need. Most diffusers probably function similarly, but I personally likethe minimalistlook of this one.
($10-15)Piled Higher and Deeper (PhD Comics) is the quintessential comic book for grad students and comes in multiple volumes (sample the latest here).
Classic Grad School Books
A few booksare classic resources worth owning and using both during and after a graduate program:
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 masters and PhD 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.
Fits with their current unique 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)
Introduction: My name is Kareem Mueller DO, I am a vivacious, super, thoughtful, excited, handsome, beautiful, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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