Medical Student Gift Guide: Last Minute Ideas for Your Student

Unsure about what to gift your medical student for the holidays? Well I polled a group of medical students about items they most want or need this holiday season so you don’t have to keep guessing! Continue reading for inspiration about what to gift your child, significant other, friend, relative, etc., during some of the most challenging times of their lives.

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1. Gift Cards and Money

Gift cards are a fan favorite. They are so easy, convenient, and in high-demand. Medical students love spending money that is not theirs or loan money. Therefore, getting them gift cards to their favorite stores or restaurants is a great way to make their lives just a bit easier. Below are some popular options:

If you are having trouble finding the perfect gift card, then money in other forms is also greatly appreciated. Cash, check, CashApp, Zelle, Apple Pay, PayPal are all great options to slipping some extra funds to your medical student.

2. Coffee + Accessories

Coffee and medical students are like PB&J. This is one of the most important items on this medical school gift guide. Coffee can get expensive, and can be a large monthly bill. However, buying your med student a coffee maker or coffee pods will make you your med student’s hero of the holiday season. Below are some great options that med students would love to see on Christmas day!

3. Electronic Gifts

Electronic gifts are great for medical students. There are so many gadgets, like noise-cancellation headphones, laptops, tablets, or Apple products, that could make medical school easier or more enjoyable. Below are a few items that medical students mentioned they wouldn’t mind receiving on Christmas:

4. Comfort Needs

Nothing beats coming home after a long day and cuddling under a warm or heated blanket or slipping into comfy lounge wear. Self-care sometimes take a backseat to studying, but with these great products, you can help your medical student prioritize their needs!

5. Educational Tools

Medical students spend a lot of time studying and need some extra supplies, like backpacks, pens, and notebooks to help with their success. The gifts will not only cheer them up this holiday season, but will also help them throughout the rest of medical school!

Aside from these mentioned products, medical students also really would like board review resources, like questionbank subscriptions. Some popular options are Uworld, Amboss, True Learn, and OnlineMedEd. For more suggestions on which products may be the most helpful, please check out this blog post:

6. Love and Acts of Service

This gift may seem underrated, but love and acts of service are free and in high demand. Medical school is exhausting, doubt-inducing, and lonely. Sometimes the best thing that students need this holiday season is just some love. Hugs release a hormone in our brains called oxytocin which can increase bonding and decrease levels of stress. Quality time is also really appreciated. Our breaks are short, so we’re really looking to maximize our time.

Acts of service are also great gifts. When I asked students what they wanted, one said sleep. At first, I thought, “How can someone give you sleep?” but then my mom helped me realize that help with tasks and children can give someone sleep. Offer to babysit or go grocery shopping. If your budget is tight, but you have some extra time on your hands, these are the gifts that keep on giving. Carve out some time, and perform a small act, and watch it really maximize over the holidays.

7. Scrubs

One of the most requested items on the wishlist were scrubs. Scrubs are an everyday necessity for medical students, and therefore, the ultimate gift. No matter how many pairs of scrubs you think your medical student has, there is no such thing as too many. Below are some popular brands of scrubs that your medical student may enjoy as a gift:

Cherokee Scrubs

Wonderwink Scrubs

Key Takeaways

The holiday time can be very tough for medical students, especially those who do not get to be home with their families. No matter what your situation is, there is always something that you can do to help a medical student feel loved and connected this holiday season! If you have any other suggestions, please don’t’ hesitate to leave them in the comments!

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