Hopefully this isn’t too late in the season for you. Finding a good gift for someone can be tough. If that person is a medical student without a lot of time, it’s even harder. If they are only allowed to take so much weight and move with them, it’s even worse! So, here is my list of top Christmas gifts to consider for the med students in your life!
New backpack
There are some crazy cool backpacks out there now and this is an excellent time to invest in a good, worthwhile backpack. I had just been using a $20 or 30 version from Target, and I had thought it was just fine. Then I upgraded to a Swiss Gear backpack that was only $70. What an amazing difference! The organization and structure was so much more thought out and the material was of obvious quality. Definitely an easy choice.
SwissGear ScanSmart Laptop Backpack – Black
Visa Gift Card
Yeah, not exactly a fun one to give, but I guarantee that the one big thing each med school would appreciate is more money. It is such an expensive and tight time fiscally that anything to help alleviate that stress will be welcomed.
USB drives
These are lost so easily, and for as cheap as they are it’s nice to have a handful around. Don’t spring for really large ones, I say shoot for quantity. Right now you can buy a 5 pack of 8GB 2.0 flash drives for only $20. Of course, the flip side is if you are going to find one that is of a particular interest of theirs. Let’s be real, if that USB drive is shaped like a Tardis? No one is losing that.
mosDART 8GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive, Black / Blue / Red / White / Green (5 Pack)
Doctor Who TARDIS 16GB USB Memory Stick Key Chain – with Blue LED Light
Power bank
For those of you who don’t know what these are, it’s like a battery that you can plug any USB device into – phone, tablet, wireless headphones, etc. Usually, they can be powered up via USB or wall charger. They’re super handy for power on the go, especially when you don’t always have a chance to plug in.
iMuto 20000mAh Compact Portable Charger External Battery Power Bank with Smart LED Digital Display and Quick Charge for iPhone 7 6 6S Plus 5S, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, Smart Phones and Tablets (Black)
Quality tennis shoes
It’s important to take good care of your feet! Ever since I changed careers to healthcare, I have tried to keep good shoes on. They don’t have to be outrageously expensive, but comfortable and good support is a must.
Good Hoody
Labs, libraries and lecture halls can all get a little chilly. Having a hoody you love around makes it that much easier. I’m kind of a big guy, so I don’t get a ton of use out of mine. I still keep it with me, just in case. They’re also nice to curl up in while eating popcorn and watching online lectures.
Bonus Answers for Caribbean students! What do you got for med students who have to limit both the size and the weight of their luggage? How about these?!
Sunglasses
It’s sunny, it’s bright. Having a pair of prescription ones have been awesome for me. My goggles are prescription, too. Totally worth it.
Power strips and converters
Power sometimes needs to be shared a little bit differently in the Caribbean than in the United States. Being the one that shows up with a power strip so everyone can share could make them the hero. Find out what converters they’ll need for their electronics, too. Not super expensive, but super handy. This is also a good spot to reiterate the power bank idea. Just saying!
Amazon gift cards
Like the Visa cards, not a ton of fun, but very handy. Most med students use digital books, so you can help defray costs that way. They can also purchase movies, tv shows, music and books. The logistics of shipping can sometimes get weird, so they’ll probably opt to not get anything physical.
Waterproof mp3 player
Watersports are obviously a big thing around here. Snorkeling is a very cheap, very easy one to get started with. Being able to also do homework at the same time has been wonderful, especially since snorkeling is my favorite form of exercise, too!
