It’s often fun to tuck a little something in your student’s luggage for them to find as they unpack at college. Just a little personal or fun something – maybe a note or a special hug friend from childhood. But you might also tuck in a little something that will be useful and provide some guidance when your student needs it most.
We’d like to share six of our favorites that can be great sources of reference for your student. And if your student has already left, don’t forget that they love to receive care packages! Send one or two of these along.
Healthy living and first aid
The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook by Dr. Jill Grimes
A great all-inclusive medical resource geared to college students.
Check out our review of this book
Listen to our podcast interview with the author
The Greatest College Health Guide You Never Knew You Needed by Jill and Dave Henry
A perfect companion to the Dr. Grimes book, this is written by high school coaches in a way that students will listen to the advice.
Check out our review of this book
Listen to our podcast interview with the authors
Academics and College Success
Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning Is Hard and How You Can Make It Easy by Dr. Daniel Willingham
Your student may assume they don’t need this, but as they settle into the work of college, as they begin to hit the inevitable bumps in the academic road, if the book is there waiting for them, they will have an approachable resource that can make the difference between failure and success.
Check out our review of this book
How to Get the Most Out of College by Elliott Felix
The college experience is what you make of it. The author shares great advice for taking advantage of opportunities.
Check out our review of this book
Listen to our podcast interview with the author
Handling What Life Throws at You
Adulting Made Easy: Things Someone Should Have Told You About Getting Your Grown-Up Act Together by Amanda Morin
All of the little things we take for granted together in one volume. Your student will be pleased they don’t have to ask.
Check out our review of this book
Listen to our podcast interview with the author
College Cooking 101: Fast Food Without a Kitchen. by Sarah Long
When her daughter went to college, she wanted her to be able to feed herself beyond the usual meal plan, then the author shared with the rest of us. Amazing what you can cook in a dorm room.
Check out our podcast interview with the author
Note: Some links in our post are for affiliate products. If you use our links, College Parent Central receives a small percentage of your purchase price. This does not change the cost to you. We think it’s only fair to let you know that.
