The gift shop or book store of any college or university is filled with apparel, such as school T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, jackets and hats. Observe if your roommate could use an extra bag to carry books. If so, purchase a duffel bag or back pack with the school logo or in the school colors. Certain apparel gifts such as replica sports jerseys can be personalized. Add her name or nickname to the back of the jersey. To save money, purchase an item that is going out of season and therefore on sale. For example, sweatshirts may be discounted as spring approaches.
Refer to your student handbook to determine what electrical appliances you can have in your dorm room. If you have a full kitchen, consider giving a toaster, toaster oven, coffee maker, coffee bean grinder, electric grill or hot plate. If you are older than 21 and live off campus or in a location that allows alcohol, purchase a small wine fridge or wine chiller.
College students are notorious for grabbing late-night eats. Obtain gift certificates from nearby restaurants that your roommate likes to frequent. If it is toward the end of the year or near a semester break, purchase gift certificates from national restaurant chains for different cuisines such as Italian, Japanese or American; your roommate will be able to use the gift certificates whether he is on campus or back home.
One expense associated with college is text books. If you have already taken classes that your roommate will take, give her your old books as a gift. This can save her from having to buy new and used books. Or, purchase new or used books for classes you know she will be taking. Simply obtain the required reading material for a class and make the purchase. She will appreciate that she will have a few less books to buy for the upcoming semester.