<p>Ok, college plans have been finalized - yahoo :)</p>
<p>Now, what are people giving as a graduation gift? Money is tight, helping with college is appreciated by our son, he doesn’t expect a huge jaw dropping gift. We were going to get him a laptop. The school includes one with tuition, so that’s out. He’s going to a pricey school, so the budget for a gift has gone way down.</p>
<p>I thought a nice pen and pencil set, but by itself, that seems kinda of lame. </p>
<p>This is our first going thru college and me and my husband never went. I really don’t know what is considered essential and would make a nice gift.</p>
<p>Any ideas what would be useful for dorm life and make a nice gift?</p>
<p>If he’s into music at all, an Ipod related gift could be great or really high quality speakers for that new computer he’ll be getting. Another terrific gift for a soon to be college student is a digital camera–there’s an amazing price range.</p>
<p>If he needs one and cares, a good watch can be a nice memorable gift. D wanted one when she graduated from college, S not at all.</p>
<p>Good quality wristwatch, good quality dual alarm clock, printer that is compatible with the laptop(most should be), sturdy umbrella,non-halogen desk lamp,fan.</p>
<p>Not so exciting, but luggage? I still have my well used canvas duffles from my own graduation. DD, who’s just starting to pack to come home, called the other night bemoaning her lack of a large rolling bag.</p>
<p>I agree with PlantMom - luggage is great, especially if the kiddo goes away to school. You can get decent luggage decently priced at a lot of discount stores - TJMaxx, Ross, etc. </p>
<p>But if your son doesn’t have an ipod, I agree with others that it would make a very nice gift, especially if you also get some speakers.</p>
<p>Probably go with the pen and pencil set and a bag of goodies. Maybe an ipod.</p>
<p>He’s not into music, but I guess the ipod touch might be fun for him.</p>
<p>It’s always been hard to buy from him, he really never asked for much, unlike his brothers, lol, when he turned 5 the only thing he asked for was a globe. A little odd, yes, he’s going into engineering :)</p>
<p>Maybe for going to college make some meals that he likes that can be easily be frozen and warmed in a microwave, with instructions on how much time and what power it should be on. It seems a lot of people don’t like the food at their schools. It wouldn’t really be a graduation present, more like a going away present, but I think it would be something I’d like. I’d imagine he’d like to eat some things he’s used to eating sometimes.</p>
<p>If he wanted an iPod, I’d imagine he would have bought one by now. I don’t know if he’s anything like me but I’d never use an ipod, and a pen and pencil set would get ger used once and then tossed aside. </p>
<p>Another idea might be an assortment of different medicines for whatever he might come down with while at there. If he’s sick he probably won’t feel like going out and getting medicine, so if he’s got cold, cough, allergy, asprin, etc. then he’s already set.</p>
<p>brickee, that’s funny about the globe… last year for christmas my 9 year old cousin asked for a map of the united states for christmas… my mom got her one, and it was a big huge map that came rolled up… and the way my mom wrapped it, it wound up looking like a roll of wrapping paper… if that makes sense… so she didn’t even open it… because she thought someone just left some wrapping paper under the tree… and she said to me how all she really wanted for christmas was a map and how she didn’t get it… lol! eventually she opened the gift and was so excited… haha!</p>
<p>I like to give this gift - Apple AirPort. It’s about $100. It turns any room into a wireless room. Just plug ethernet into this gadget and voila the room is wireless. It works great with laptop, iPod and itouch, speakers, printer…</p>
<p>For graduations, I like to give my kids 2 tickets to their favorite type of evening – musical theater, concert, upscale restaurant, professional sports, whatever they like to do most but costs more than is comfortable for their own budgets. They invite their closest friend and can remember a special evening. We don’t go with them; it’s theirs.</p>
<p>flash drive?
AirPort is a good idea.
You know your kid best, but I doubt any of mine would have much use for pen and pencil. It’s all done on the laptop now…</p>
<p>As for the airport, they are wonderful, but not all schools allow them on the dorms. Sons did not allow it his F and S years. He was off campus in an apartment the last two years so I don’t know if that changed. Also, I know that my husband says that in a dorm situation that it is often safer, security wise, to have an ethernet cable connection.</p>
<p>^an iHome is a GREAT idea. I got one for Christmas two years ago, and it is amazing! It’s great for use as a clock (one great thing- you don’t have to reset the clock every time you unplug it, which is great), and the speakers are great! Not cheap by any means, but if you can afford it, a great present.</p>
<p>bedbathandbeyond gift cards for those Exlong mattress cover and pad purchases.<br>
GPS systems for graduates of college
desk Lamps with full spectrum light for gloomy dorms…is what I give everyone
American Stationary…notecards with name or initials for those thank yous</p>