Must-Have Gifts for College-Bound High School Grads

With high school graduations just on the horizon, it's time to start thinking about the best gifts to give a high school graduate who will begin college in the fall.

Graduation from high school is the perfect opportunity to splurge on your newly minted graduate by setting him up with everything he will need to start his life in college. Literally starting from scratch, your college-bound kid will need everything from new bedding and an alarm clock to more frivolous things like dry-erase boards and maybe even a mini fridge.

If your child will be living on campus, his dorm room will be sparsely furnished with a bare bed, a desk and dresser. The rest is up to you to provide. Here is a run-down on what your child will need to be prepared for living away from home.

New bedding is an absolute must when moving into a dorm room. Because the bed will be unfurnished, your child will need a fitted sheet, a comforter, a pillow or two and, of course, pillow cases. Also, purchase a standup or desktop lamp as dorm rooms are often dimly lit. An alarm clock will ensure that your child makes it to class on time, all the time. And an area rug will help insulate a room with hardwood or cement floors.

As most colleges make freshmen share bathrooms, set your child up with towels, washcloths and a shower caddy to shuffle necessities back and forth between bathroom trips. The shower caddy is great for carrying items like a toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash and a razor, along with other bathroom supplies and a pair of cheap flip-flops. As it will most likely be a community bathroom, flip-flops are an excellent way to keep your child's feet clean from having to touch the shower floor.

Dry-erase boards provide a fun way for your child to connect with other students who live in his dorm hall and stay in the social loop by leaving messages for each other. Don't forget to buy the markers to write with.