O-Week Essentials: What Gen Z Students Actually Want in Their Orientation Pack

Orientation Week (O-Week) at NUS, NTU, and SMU is a rite of passage. It's also a graveyard for bad corporate swag. As a Student Union President, I've seen thousands of 'goodie bags' dumped in the recycling bins immediately after collection. The disconnect between what corporate sponsors think students want and what Gen Z actually wants is huge. The era of the cheap plastic pen, the 4GB USB drive, and the scratchy polyester t-shirt is over.

What do students fight over? Aesthetics and Sustainability. The number one item right now is the Reusable Bubble Tea Cup (with a wide straw). Bubble tea is a food group for Singaporean students. A high-quality, double-walled cup that saves them $0.50 on their daily drink is a lifesaver. Second is the Canvas Tote Bag—but it has to be thick (12oz+) and have a cool, graphic design. If it looks like a billboard, they won't wear it. If it looks like streetwear, it becomes their daily campus bag.

The 'Laptop Real Estate' War

Another huge trend is Stickers. Students love to customize their laptops. A sheet of high-quality, die-cut vinyl stickers (featuring memes, school mascots, or cool typography) is far more valuable than a brochure. It allows brands to get prime real estate on the back of a MacBook that sits in the library for 12 hours a day. It's subtle, voluntary advertising.

Bucket Hats and Socks: Apparel is tricky, but accessories like bucket hats or crew socks are trending. They are 'one size fits most' (easier logistics) and fit the current fashion vibe. If you are a brand sponsoring a camp, don't give us a flyer. Give us something that fits our lifestyle. We care about the planet, we care about looking good, and we can smell 'cheap' from a mile away.

Question: What is the most useless orientation gift?

According to student feedback, the most discarded items are: 1. Low-capacity USB drives (we use the cloud), 2. Generic lanyards (we already have one from the school), and 3. Cheap plastic fans. Save your budget and invest in one high-quality item like a metal straw set or a good tote bag instead.