Gift ideas for a high school graduation

[supportivemom]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 9:39am

Anyone here have any good suggestions for a gift for a high school graduation. It's for my niece and she is going to go to college. Thanks!

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 9:46am

I know it is old school, but a nice pen - Mont Blanc? I received two for law school graduation and I still use them today!

[blondebaby589]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 9:55am

Well I'm a huge coffee/tea buff so I remember my favorite gift was a set of mugs. But you could get her something like a nice blanket or a mini fan (they're a godsend in non air conditioned dorms. Something really neat I remember getting was this big basket filled with all types of goodies. School supplies, shampoo, stamps, etc. Or you could always go with money.

[Madcap Maisie]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 10:15am

MONEY!!! That way she can use it to get what she needs for her dorm and use it toward a senior trip.

I am graduating this year and let me tell you, DO NOT get photo albums! People tend to go overboard with them!

[Eris0303]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 10:57am

A friend of mine is graduating college this month and I got her a jewelry box from Things Remembered that I had engraved with a quote and the graduation date.

I'd recommend money as well but, perhaps, in addition to that you might consider something that she would need for college living. When a friend of mine graduated high school I gave her a a shower caddy and filled it with stuff that you might not think you need in a college dorm but actually do. Such as the shower caddy - a small plastic basket with a handle. Very good for toting your toiletries to and from the bathroom. If she's like most girls she has shampoo, conditioner, body wash, shave gel, and probably moisturizer. Imagine carrying all of that back and forth between the room and the shower w/o a basket. You don't need an expensive one. Mine was bought at a dollar store. When the kids are getting their stuff for dorm life school supplies and bedding are what people concentrate on and the little things are often forgotten. They get there and realize they need these things and may not be able to buy them.

Suggestions of stuff to put in the caddy:

Garbage bags - it's much easier to carry the bag to the garbage room as opposed to the whole can

Light Bulbs - most schools will handle replace lightbulbs in the lamps that already in the room. But most students bring their own desk laps. So, replacing those bulbs are the responsibility of the student.

Rolls of quarters - laundry and vending machines.

Change purse/piggy bank - this isn't necessary but when I was in college I had one container for my quarters and another for my nickels/dimes. The washers/dryers only took quarters but the other change was okay for the vending machines.

A travel mug - a lot of schools offer students cheaper rates on drinks if they had their own mug.

Downy Wrinkle Releaser - you can get a travel-sized bottle at Walmart

Laundrey Detergent Tablets - I haven't seen them in a bit but if you can find them then get them. Much easier than having a large bottle of liquid or powder detergent. Won't make a mess if knocked over.

Air fresheners - don't get an overwhelming scent that could overpower a small room or bother a roommate. Scents like powder or linen should do just fine. A dollar store freshener usually lasted a whole semester.

If anyone can think of anything to add to this list then please do.

Updated On: 4/29/09 at 10:57 AM

[blondebaby589]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 10:58am

Ooh Eris, rolls of quarters is brilliant! I was always begging my mom for them whenever I was home.

[Dangerous Divine]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 11:58am

When I graduated high school, my favorite gift was a gift basket of sorts from my cousin and her family. It had all sorts of college "survival" tools. The elements that I can remember are:
-a garbage pail
-a bulletin board/whiteboard (half of each)
-a major fan
-a hot water heater (the kind that looks like a plastic tea pot that you just plug in)
-plastic ware (spoons, knives, forks)
-a desk mirror
-soup mixes that you just add hot water to
-different types of tea
-a throw pillow for my bed (really useful when I sprained my ankle and propped it up on the pillow for a week)

That's all I can remember now, but as I look around my room as a college senior, the only things that I don't still have are the soups, the tea, and the fan (because my dorm this year has air conditioning).

[StockardFan]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 1:36pm

My friend's daughter graduated last year and I gave her a $50 gift card to Bed, Bath and Beyond.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 2:11pm

Just a thing about the rolls of quarters for laundry. I ran into this at my college. My mom gave me a roll, and it was unnecessary because we could only swipe our student id cards to do so in the dorms. We did have to add the money to our cards. I don't know if other colleges do this as well, but it's something to check out.

My older sister gave me one of those boards where you can put photos and other little items, such as notes, tickets, etc... I still use it now.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 2:18pm

My mom sent me off to college with my own trash can but it was just in the way because the dorms each had their own.

I've never heard of using your student ID for laundry. Where I went we could buy food in the cafe or cafeteria but that was it.

I remember telling my mom that I needed a husband (a cushion with arms) and she insisted that I didn't. After a year or two she finally broke down and bought me one. I still use it today and I love it. Made sitting up in bed to watch tv/read so much easier.

[Juliash]

Posted: 4/29/09 at 4:58pm

I'm graduating this year, and I can sincerely tell you that I want nothing more than giftcards to target and clothing stores, so I can get some new things for college!

[supportivemom]

Posted: 4/30/09 at 8:27pm

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions- really good! I know my niece is going to school locally but don't know if she's living at home or in the dorm. Anyway, thanks again!