My parents would send foodstuffs and cash regularly (well 2 or 3 times a semester) but for Christmas or my birthday they would try to get gifts. They had a better knowledge of my tastes so they got me things I WOULD have used (CD’s, DVD’s, computer games, etc.) except that going to a tech school meant I had all of these (though not exactly legally). These all got converted to cash through returns or put into storage in their basement.

By my junior year I finally got them to give giftcards. They didn’t want to give cash because it didn’t “feel” like a special gift sice I was recieving an influx of it from them during the year anyways. My undegrad campus had a dunkin donuts on it in the library which was located between the dorms and the engineering building, though far enough off track that it wasn’t worth it to travel through without a reason. Though I don’t drink coffee it gave me an excuse to pass through and grab a warm apple cider especially when headed to the dreaded 8 am thermo classes with the windchill well below -20 deg F outside. Also there was an agreement our schools catering service and DD that allowed dunkin donuts gift cards to be used at the student union for purchasing food (though not at the cafeterias).

Also our school bookstore was run by Barnes and Noble so that these giftcards could be used for textbooks (though the textbooks always seemed to carry an additional B&N markup over the bookstore for the state school across the river).

Giftcards are a viable option if purchased with the students needs in mind. The Target cards got used maybe once a year, when I could find a ride to the nearest Target (about 45 minutes away), and were mostly useless.

If the students are in the engineering field, buy them a pad of engineering paper. Sounds dumb, but engineering students cringe every time they have to buy those things because they are so over priced.