College Care Packages for Guys

College, whether it’s his first year or his fourth, can be a scary and stressful time for any soon-to-be student. It’s a turning point in the life of every young adult, and that comes with no small amount of difficulties. Each student adjusts to and copes with all the changes they will face in a very different way, but one problem every new or old student will surely face is feeling a little homesick from time to time.

So, supporting your loved ones as they take this big step is very important. And especially since many kids choose schools far away from home, it’s essential to make sure your student knows they’re loved, no matter how far apart you may be.

Whether it’s to help your college student feel comfortable settling in or a way to relieve stress when exam season rolls around, a care package could take the edge off and make them feel much better. 

Whether it’s something they’ll absolutely need, something they’ll be able to eat, or something just for fun, receiving a care package at all is sure to brighten his day. There are lots of things that you could send to help out.

Keep reading to find out what the best ideas are for a college care package for guys.

Essentials

There are lots of items that a guy will need in college, so throwing any combination of these into your care package will surely be a great help.

Noise canceling headphones are a must, especially if your college-bound friend or family member has a roommate. You’ll want them to be able to study even if their roommate is being loud, but also make sure they know they shouldn’t blast their music, either.

A reusable water bottle is an absolute necessity to not only have, but also to bring with him everywhere across campus to ensure that he’s always staying hydrated whether it’s for class or other activities. Using plastic water bottles over and over again is a waste of money, not to mention terrible for the environment.

There are so many good choices available to you for college care packages for guys. There are few things that a college student won’t be able to find a use for, as long as you keep your gifts simple and small, so that they can fit in the mail.

To that end, including a small, drawstring bag to keep belongings in when walking around campus couldn’t hurt, either. Plus, it might be good to have a small bag if you have long breaks between classes so that you don’t have to take your whole backpack with you every time.

Along with that, you may want to throw in some socks or other articles of clothing, though something too big might be difficult to put in a package with other stuff. They can never hurt, though, and the more clothes the better if he ends up procrastinating laundry, as many college students are known to do.

Laundry bags are very helpful— they take up much less storage space than a laundry basket, and he’ll have to carry your clothes around somehow. Detergent is also a good idea, since laundry will become fully his responsibility now, and a little of it goes a long way.

Include any toiletries you know they’ll need, particularly shaving products and lip balm, as well as any specific products that they use.

Some simple school supplies could be a good addition, too. Professors will typically let their students know any specific textbooks or materials he’ll need, but some extra writing utensils or a notebook would likely be appreciated.

Anything that you think will help your college student study or complete their work will surely be a big hit within a care package. Classes at a university are difficult, and anything to lighten the load will be a big help.

Lastly, make sure you send along some extra masks and hand sanitizer, as those are more essential than anything else these days. Whether your college student’s classes are in person or online, they’ll need both of these.

You can find plenty of COVID safety specific care packages right here. These are, of course, a good choice for anyone these days, but especially for colleges due to how large of an impact the pandemic has had on the education system. Masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, the whole nine yards.

Food

There is nothing that will be more appreciated in a guy’s college care package than food. Especially since college students— whether due to their limited meal plans or limited funds —are always running low on their snack stashes.

This is why any favorite snacks from home are the perfect choice to include in a DIY care package.

You’ll know best what your loved ones like, but any grab-and-go food that can easily be brought to class when running late would be a good addition, such as nutrition and granola bars. 

Chewing gum, too, though gum’s status as food is debatable at best. Still, he’ll no doubt be asked to share his gum, which can be a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it. Making friends through kindness, and yet having to diminish his snack stocks.

Food that can easily be made in a microwave is a fantastic idea, too, since students living in dorms rarely have access to more advanced appliances. Instant macaroni and cheese or instant noodles can be a real life-saver in a pinch, and filling meals, too.

Both easy to make and easy to share, popcorn is an example of a snack that would be well-received in a college care package. Making friends is easy if he’s the one bringing popcorn to movie nights!

You may also want to throw in some microwave safe dishware, too, so that your college student has a means of cooking said meals.

With any more complex foods, it’s important to consider whether or not it will feasibly get through the mail and do so in time to be consumed, but there are plenty of dessert related care packages that your college student would adore. Sweet things are especially good for sharing.

In addition, if you can mail it, any favorite home cooked dishes that your loved one enjoyed might make them a little less homesick. If there’s one thing college boys will miss about being home, it’s certainly the difference in food quality.

You can find plenty of options for college student care packages right here, including both boxes full of non-perishable snacks to stock their rooms, as well as sweet treats that they’ll be able to share with their friends!

Fun

While everything above is incredibly important, you also don’t want to bore your college guy with the conventional care package gifts. You know best what your loved one would want sent to him, but when in doubt, you can’t miss with the following options.

Decorating a college dorm room— or off campus housing —is incredibly fun, and having posters on your wall of a particular film can be a conversation starter for people with similar interests. Send some decorations relating to your college student’s favorite things, or that remind him of home.

A great way to make new friends in college are board games. Send a few of those, or even just a pack of playing cards. With cards, the number of games you can play is endless, and it’s a fantastic way to kill time while also meeting new people.

Depending on what your college student likes, different games are good options for care packages. Complicated board games with many rules and that take a while are better for some, while a simple pack of cards is the best option for others.

Anything you think your loved one would like to kill time would be a good idea. A book, if he likes to read, or maybe a football or volleyball if he’s an athletic type— playing sports in common areas are a very good way to meet people similar to you, too.

He could also likely use some thinking putty or some type of stress ball, since he might want something to keep his hands busy with or help him relax while studying. Again, when it comes to details, use your best judgement on what he would like, since you know him best.

And when in doubt, gift cards are a fantastic option. What college student doesn’t want a little extra spending money? Plus, depending on where you get the gift card from, they can buy their own additions to their dorm rooms.

However, make sure you do include a note with your package to let your college guy know that you’re thinking of him and that you care. It’ll be nice to receive something from home when he’s been away from it, and he’ll certainly appreciate anything you choose to send his way.

Care packages are the perfect thing to send to a college student. Whether they’re new to it all or they’re graduating soon, it’s always nice to get a reminder of how much their loved ones care about them and are thinking about them, even if you aren’t together.

Hopefully these ideas hope you put the perfect package together for a guy in your life who is already or is about to become a college student!