I’ve seen a bunch of threads in the Parent Forum asking about what to give for gifts, but they’re all “give $20.15” and I’d really rather ask college students. I am visiting an old friend (whom I haven’t seen in years) and she has a daughter about to go away to college, so I want to bring a gift.
I’m not talking about giving cash or a gift card (although I’ll also give something in a card to her).
Mostly I just want to make her happy. What did YOU like getting? Thank you for your help!
My old roommate got an electric tea kettle/water heater or something like that for graduation that he used almost every day to make coffee. Make sure she can bring it to her college though (make sure it complies w/ the rules)!
I didn’t get any graduation gifts. However, I’d say that what someone would like to receive is going to vary wildly from one person to the next. Something practical is definitely better than something frivolous.
Realistically though, time and time again surveys and opinion polls show that most people, especially younger people, prefer receiving gift cards over anything else. It is by far the most practical gift in my opinion.
As an example, my mom gave me a new coffee pot for Christmas last year. Had I selected it myself, there is absolutely no way that I ever would have even considered this coffee pot. It is a serious pain in the ass to use this thing and I’m basically just waiting (and hoping) for it to break so I can replace it without feeling bad about it. Had she given me a gift card or just said that she wanted to buy me a coffee pot, this never would have happened.
Thanks! I know people like receiving money and gift cards, I just want to give something tangible TOO. It’s my age, I guess 
I do know what college she’s going to so I can certainly check and see what’s allowed there.
@comfortablycurt I know exactly what you mean, too – I like picking my own things. I always give a gift receipt and spell out that my feelings won’t be hurt if they return or exchange a gift, and then I repeat that when I’m leaving, with a smile, so they know that I mean it. I really do just want them to be happy, it’s not about me.
A coffee maker or electric tea pot. If you know she doesn’t have one yet (ask her mother?) a mattress topper (my kids’ favorite thing at college, both talk about them all the time and all their friends are jealous), her books for semester #1 (may be expensive!). Jewelry with new college theme mascot -Tiger, Bulldog, Banana Slug necklace or an Alex and Ani bangle bracelet with the school logo.
Kindle fire? Subscription to Spotify or Netflix?
It doesn’t have to be a college theme either.
Here is what we bought/received (other than cash) that got great reviews from the students… electric teapot, wireless headphones, wireless speakers, fleece blankets (with monogram) in school colors, gift cards to the schools bookstore, tool kits (for the practical one!), extra college clothing, personal photobooks (e.g. made in shutterfly), refrigerator (if they are driving and have room in car), BBB and Target giftcards (a lot of the schools bring the students to one of these stores during orientation), travel books for whatever new city they are going to be in, a gift card for local restaurants/shops in whatever city they are going to be in.
I didn’t get any gifts but money would be my favorite gift. Always. I honestly despise getting box gifts because I barely know what I want and other people sure as heck don’t know what I want. I know people hate giving money and/or gift cards but I truly feel that if you want to make it about the RECEIVER and not GIVER (which is what gifts are supposed to be IMO) then you should give them money and let them pick stuff they actually like.
For example, I’m in my mid-20s and I still despise coffee and tea so the gifts suggested here would be useless. For my wedding, I got a TON of wine stuff without gift receipts and neither my spouse nor I drink wine so it’s going to sit on our shelves and not be used.
I got a Michael Kors watch; I never owned a watch before (except for maybe like a digital Mickey Mouse one when I was 8 or something) so my parents bought me one for the purpose of wearing in business/professional settings. I’m currently interning in an office in Boston and I wear it all the time.
I got piano lessons. 4 weeks in. Digging it.
All I’ve got from HS was a ton of money. Offset my first year of college costs. Thanks
Get your son a Patek Philippe
A BEAUTIFUL key chain. I got more valuable gifts, but that was my favorite. I’m easily impressed, I guess!
My boyfriend got me a clock that looked like a book on the outside until you opened it up, and then on the inside there was a clock, a collage of photos of me and my friends in high school, and the quote I used in the yearbook. It was very thoughtful and personal.
My parents got me a wonderful photo album that you can make online and then get printed. It had photos of me throughout my life thus far and had some really touching comments in it (for the record, my mother is an author so I would expect nothing less than literary beauty from her haha). Just because it was super sweet, I’ll share what the front and back inside cover flaps said.
Front: “1996 was all about waiting – checking ultrasounds and measurements and wondering and hoping and waiting to meet the little person who would change our lives. Then the wait ended, and she was perfect.”
Back: “2014 was all about waiting – checking the phone and the mailbox and wondering and hoping and waiting to see what the future would hold. Then the wait ended, and the future was limitless. Congratulations, Olivia. We love you!”
Seconded.
A family friend got me a memory foam one of these back in 05 (they’re probably way cheaper now). My bed at college was more comfortable than my bed at home!
My official gift from my parents was Penn State football season tickets, but my family also spent the last few years saving up for a graduation cruise. The only other physical gift I received was a series of travel books from my grandparents.
Money and gift cards are usually the way to go, but if you don’t want to go that route, then school apparel would be a good option.
I got money from everyone except for my aunts and uncles. One set gave me various gift cards for off campus restaurants around my college town. My other set gave me a three piece luggage set, which was nice for little weekends away from campus and spring break. For college graduation, I got money from a couple people, and my parents bought me a lifetime alumni membership.
I made “desk kits,” with all those little things that are “must haves” for a desk that disappear when your kid swipes it for his/her own use. It included various rolls of different types of tape, white-out tape, scissors, sharpie permanent marker, legal sized-envelopes, postage stamps, ruler, small tape measure, mechanical pencil, extra leads, eraser, pen, etc., all in a zippered pouch.
I also gave multi-tools that were smaller and included a scissors. (S liked it for trimming his nails, plus they were handy for dis/assembling things.) Both of these gifts were used and I believe appreciated. I also framed a photo of S in his HS graduation in a frame in his HS colors; he kept it on his desk through his moves all thru college.
My favorite practical gift was an L.L. Bean backpack (lasted throughout college). These days a Northface backpack may be more desirable.
I got maybe $100. So.