What should I put in an exam care package?

April 26, 2008 12:49 PM

What should I put in an exam care package for a law student?

My girlfriend is in her second year of law school, and she's in the midst of studying for her grueling exams. I'd like to send her a care package (we live in different cities). What should I put in there?

posted by solipsophistocracy to human relations (16 comments total)

Grocery card earmarked for Red Bull, some classical or ambient music, and a note saying how awesome she is.
posted by beaucoupkevin at 12:53 PM on April 26

Cookies or some really nice quality chocolate. Bath bombs. A stress squeeze ball. A little voodoo doll of her least favourite prof. A very good quality pen and a package of index cards. A gift card to a local coffee shop for her to get away from it all while studying.
posted by Phalene at 1:01 PM on April 26

Starbucks card and stick on, color coded tabs (everything must always be tabbed!). Oh and highlighters, in a wide variety of colors.
posted by whoaali at 1:16 PM on April 26

I was about to suggest a good set of highlighters and coloured sticky flags/tabs too! Scented candle. Eye masks for omgpandaeyes. Good coffee and a thermal mug. Shawl, blanket or little cushion to snuggle up with while cramming. A countdown calendar with self-penned encouraging notes for each day and/or things she can look forward to after the exams are done. Oh, and ear plugs!!
posted by hellopanda at 1:32 PM on April 26

A massage gift certificate.
posted by katemonster at 1:38 PM on April 26

Good quality pens/pencils (might want to find out what kinds she prefers). Bath stuff -- bath bombs, scrubs or bubble bath. If she makes coffee, good quality coffee. Mix CD with good music to study by. Snacks.
posted by peacheater at 1:38 PM on April 26

Adderall?
But seriously - starbucks cards, snacks (salty and sweet things!), vitamins - I always forget to eat properly and end up getting sick without them, gift card to her favorite take out place, basic necessities like soap, toothpaste, etc - it sucks having to go do normal chores - so anything that makes her need to leave the house or library less.

Also, maybe consider earplugs? My school provides them, but if her's doesn't - people talking in the library can get damn annoying.

Wish her luck!
posted by Arbac at 1:50 PM on April 26

A microwaveable rice heat pack, for laptop-neck. Aspirin. An aromatherapy candle. Flavored seltzer.
posted by the littlest brussels sprout at 1:57 PM on April 26

I have no idea what this is called, but a friend of mine (law student) has one, and it's awesome.

It's a device to hold open books - imagine a bar of plastic, with two clips, one on each end. It's great for keeping the page in those large textbooks which tend to flip closed.
posted by djgh at 2:16 PM on April 26

Your shirt. Seriously.
posted by vers at 2:32 PM on April 26 [5 favorites]

iTunes gift certificate or, alternatively, a couple of CDs with mellow, reading / studying music.

Also, and this is beyond the question you asked, admittedly, but speaking from personal experience, it's great to receive an occasional random card, etc. My SO, who lives far away while I'm in school, sends me an "I miss you" card or something similar once every few weeks, and it really makes it easier to go through the drudgery of law school.
posted by detune at 5:45 PM on April 26

A friend of mine had a silver ring inscribed with the word "Pax" (the Latin word for "peace") that was sent to her by a sister during a gruelling exam/final essays due time. She wore it ever afterwards.
posted by orange swan at 7:03 PM on April 26

Nthing sticky flags and highlighters. Go to an office-supply store and grab a generous selection of different sticky flags/tabs in a range of colors. Add a rainbow pack of highlighters and she'll be the queen of the cram sessions. (IANALS but I've spent some time around law students.)
posted by Orinda at 7:28 PM on April 26

Peppermint oil, with the instruction to rub it on her temples and wrists when she's feeling exhausted. It's a great pick-me-up. And Clif bars in a flavor she likes. And hot cocoa. Not fancy cocoa that needs milk added, just Swiss Miss or something easy. Enclose a spoon, if you think she's a straight-out-of-the-packet kind of girl. Nostalgic candies like fruit slices or Swedish Fish. Annie's Mac n Cheese.

Truly great care packages consist mostly of cheap, familiar stuff that the recipient loves, not "special" stuff she'll instinctively save "for a special occasion." What are her favorite treats, the ones she's too busy to shop for, but she'd love to have? Call her mom, and ask her about any regional comfort foods she loved as a girl.
posted by freshwater_pr0n at 7:41 PM on April 26

IALSBINYLS (I am a law student, but I'm not your law student) ;)
Painkillers - for the inevitable neck and wrist soreness
Maybe a pashmina or small throw blanket - it can get cold in the library
Red Bull or energy drink of choice
Trader Joes Gift Card - If she has one near, they have the best semi-healthy frozen food.
Highlighters - Sharpie makes the best, everyone has their favorites but I would recommend blue, pink green, and orange (yellow is too pale and purple is too dark)
Tabs - as everyone else said
Gum or lollypops - its nice to have something to munch that lasts a while.
Some sort of granola bars and cup o' noodles
Maybe a CD or cheap mp3 player with lots of music without words of whatever kind she likes to provide good background noise when studying.

Seriously one of the most awesome thinds you can do is just be really understanding, as it sounds you are, of the demand on her time this is. I can imagine that it might be frustrating to be in another city and have her not have time to talk to you. Just remember, it will all be over soon!
posted by wuzandfuzz at 8:40 PM on April 26

Thanks for all the great suggestions, folks. She got the package today and was pleasantly surprised.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 9:43 AM on May 3