<p>I’ve given collage type photo frames. In the photo spots I put either a picture, a suitable quote and in one spot I put money (a suitably framed president). They also make photo cubes and pencil cups that work well.</p>
<p>These graduates don’t care about the thought of the gift! They are going to be like yess! Some extra spending $$.</p>
<p>Everyone has different opinions but when I suggested getting S2’s duffle bag monogrammed, DH and S2 both looked at me in horror and said “No!!!”<br>
S2 is a college junior so has seen it all at sch and for whatever reason, he stated that carrying something around with letters/initials sewn on the side was def. not cool at his sch.
I think monogramming the school name or initials would be a safer choice for guys.</p>
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<p>Well, my D1’s reaction was just the opposite. She was most appreciative of the cash and checks which she regarded as extremely thoughtful gifts to someone going away to college. As far as she was concerned, this was the most useful thing anyone could or did give her. And seeing her response, I’m now of a mind to give only cash or checks to college-bound HS grads, unless they’re from families where money just isn’t an issue (and we don’t hang with many of those). In most other circumstances money seems like a tacky gift, lacking the personal touch. But the gift also has to match the occasion, and for a college-bound graduating senior I think nothing is more useful, or more appreciated.</p>
<p>sharonsuny and bclintonk:</p>
<p>I agree with you! 
Money is the way to go. When my children had their Bar Mitzvah’s, 99% of the gifts were money and we were thrilled. My kids have saved that money and used it for lots of traveling and now will have it to pay for college books, etc.</p>
<p>I’m not sure why I have it in my mind that this time should be different. Maybe because with a tangible gift you use and remember who gave it to you. A friend giving a friend a gift, not just a check. So, something personal that will be used and remembered, I guess, since he has a real nice group of friends.</p>
<p>Once I have some time, probably next week, I’ll hit the stores and see what jumps out at me.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that if you give chairs to kids who are going far away to college, they may not take them. My Ds went east from CA with only suitcases.</p>
<p>For my older Ds’ friends I got pink tool kits for the girls [Pink</a> Tool Set - Travel | Lillian Vernon](<a href=“http://www.lillianvernon.com/Product/PinkToolset]Pink”>http://www.lillianvernon.com/Product/PinkToolset). The kids loved them - not that substantial but really handy when hanging pictures, fixing things, etc. They still had them at graduation from college.</p>
<p>Rats! I looked around for a pink tool set for a friend’s D 3 years ago and couldn’t find one. On the plus side, the tool kit I did get her was very substantial.</p>
<p>For high school graduation gifts, I sometime order a gift card to the college bookstore at the school the graduate will be attending. If I can’t order online I just call the bookstore.</p>
<p>@chocchip </p>
<p>Your right
About the whole personal present thing.</p>
<p>I assumed that these presents were
From like let’s say if I’m graduating, my moms friend or something on those lines</p>
<p>I saw small dorm size tool kits at a Sears Hardware store last year. In a month Target and BB &B will have their full line up of college stuff on display.</p>
<p>I like the fold up chair idea. Since we’re going to be cannibalizing stuff from older brother and sister, I may just buy a chair for my senior son so he’ll have something new!</p>
<p>I’m a huge tchotchke-avoider. If I want a tchotchke from someplace, I want to pick out my own and have it to be my tastes. Otherwise the “thoughtful gift” just becomes clutter. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t get a hs grad a laundry bag thing. What if their parents had already bought that stuff for them - then it’s a huge waste. I would go with cash or a gift card to a student-friendly destination in their town (such as a coffee shop or ice cream store).</p>
<p>How about this: if their school assigns them a ‘.edu’ email, they can sign up for Amazon Student shipping (free two day shipping for a year). Gift certificate to Amazon - maybe print out a few suggestions of what they can buy, like the folding canvas chairs, even the duct tape mentioned upthread. </p>
<p>[Amazon.com</a> Help: Amazon Student](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=help_search_T1_1-1?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200500380&qid=1303596715&sr=1-1]Amazon.com”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=help_search_T1_1-1?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200500380&qid=1303596715&sr=1-1)</p>
<p>At Christmas some relatives wanted to get college D gift cards to someplace specific. I asked D; she suggested Amazon - she was thinking of textbooks.</p>
<p>Hope this isn’t a duplicate suggestion, I only skimmed through these 4 pages.
How about the book THE NAKED ROOMATE, with personal note written in the front cover. My S received a copy & it has a lot of great advice–perfect summer reading for the college bound.</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College (9781402253461): Harlan Cohen: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Roommate-Other-Issues-College/dp/140225346X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303602611&sr=1-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Roommate-Other-Issues-College/dp/140225346X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303602611&sr=1-1)</p>
<p>My S got that from one of my best friends & seemed to find it amusing (at least he didn’t return it back to the bookstore). </p>
<p>I am going to attend a class on Tuesday on how to make garlands/leis using folded currency (origami); may do that for upcoming events (a wedding, an overdue birthday gift, and others). As my SIL is fond of saying, it always fits and no need to return it. :)</p>
<p>Cute idea, ELY!</p>
<p>I’ll run it by my S and see how he feels about it. Certainly different! </p>
<p>Yes, sharonsuny: I was looking for something my S can give to his friends. As the parent, I will probably give $$ or giftcards.</p>
<p>Swiss Army knife or multi-tool.</p>
<p>Yes, my kids did give some multi-tools as gifts for graduation, as well as some gift cards for Borders, B&N.</p>
<p>Well, I have an update on my beach towel idea. I never thought about it before, but several students that I needed gifts for this year are going to college in New England and I could not find beach towels with their school logos on them (Harvard and Mount Holyoke). I guess my California perspective is showing! I have always been able to find beach towels for all the Pac 10 and SEC schools.
I bought school logo umbrellas for those students instead (still under 25 dollars for the 48" size).</p>