Christmas time is right around the corner and everyone scrambles to find the best gifts to ask for. Time winds down as peers, advertizements, TV, preferences and style help determine Christmas lists get drawn out.

Yet, somehow, students manage to quickly put a list together and hand it to parents in hopes they will get something on it before stores are all sold out.

The top five items on each Christmas list varies from person to person.

“For Christmas I want some musical instruments, some CDs, and a Gap gift card,” Annie Spees, ’07, said. “Some times I tend to ask for a lot but some times I hardly want any thing.”

A campus poll (205/287 students) found that the leading items students want for Christmas this year are: money (136 votes), clothes (102 votes), CDs (74 votes), gift cards (61 votes), and laptops closed in fifth (52 votes).

“What sets Christmas apart from the other holidays is the giving and receiving of gifts,” Molly Carlin, ’06, said. “I love to get presents; it is even better to give them to someone special.”

The focus of what guys want and what girls want often varies widely.

“This year I want an electric guitar with an amp,” Jordan Scott, ’07, said. “I also want movies and DVD’s.”

“I want clothes and an I-Pod this year,” Angela Costanzo, ’08, said. ” DVDs will be cool to get too and CDs will be great as well.”

As Christmas draws ever near, students plan to make this Christmas even better than the last.

Michelle Rose