What would your high school senior or college graduate like for a graduation gift? Sons and daughters, sisters and brothers will be happy to tell you what they want, but what about a good friend you want to buy a gift for? Or, perhaps it's a niece or nephew that's about to receive his or diploma. Whatever you choose, be sure the graduation gift suits the recipient. A lot of high school teens will be going off to college in the fall, so consider dorm room gifts, too.
The best graduation gifts can be traditional items that include all sorts of items such as point-and-shoot digital cameras, pen sets, kitchen appliances for dorm rooms, foot spas, luggage sets, sound systems and nice jewelry. One doesn't have to go broke buying nice gifts for graduating relatives and friends. Be sure to include a card with your gift.
Popular and Practical High School and College Graduation Gifts
High school students will take different courses – colleges, universities, trade school or work at a new job – so give plenty of thought to select the most appropriate gift for the person. College grads may be continuing on to graduate school or entering the workforce as career employees. Don't overlook graduates moving into apartments – all kinds of gifts are needed for first-timers, even grocery store gift cards.
Shown in this section is a mix of top graduation gift categories and traditional suggestions that range from low-budget to medium and higher priced items.
- DVDs. It would be hard to go wrong with popular favorites like The King's Speech, Secretariat and Soul Surfer. Visit the website Teaser-Trailer for complete lists (and trailers) of movies from 2010, and those released so far in 2011.
- Electronics. The mid-range price to high-end items in this group includes tablet computers, high-tech Android Smartphones, HD televisions, SLR digital cameras, game systems, music keyboards and more.*
- Kindle Reader with Built-In Wi-Fi. The Amazon website offers several variations of the Kindle to fit most any budget.
- Appliances: Choose for a dorm room or new apartment. Compact refrigerators and toaster ovens are great for small college living space. Microwaves, blenders, and kitchen items are great gifts for the graduate moving into a new apartment.
- Clothing allowance. Give a lump sum amount or set up a monthly clothing allowance for the student who's going to off to college, starting a new career or starting a new job.
- HP Student Packs feature bundled items to get your college-bound student off to a great start. Great for business graduates, too.
- Music. Choose from instruments, CDs, sheet music, music stands, musician supplies, concert tickets; the list is practically endless.
- Jewelry. Always a winning gift, jewelry comes in all price ranges. Check out selections on Amazon's website. For pricier gifts, check out the Open Hearts Collection from Kay Jewelers or graduation jewelry from the Sorella Jewelry Studio.
*See the website Ross and Ross International for the latest products featured in the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Your graduate might also like the Contour GPS HD Video Camera, Motorola's Atrix™ 4G Smartphone, or the Samsung Fascinate™ phone.
Books for Graduation Gifts Point Students in the Right Direction
Books are the perfect intellectual gift for high school and college graduates. Authors such as Peter Buffett share insight into recognizing your inner passion, making your own way in life and cultivating your dream so that it works for you. Books listed in this section can be found and purchased from the Amazon website.
The following list of books recommended for graduates is used with permission and is supplied by a marketing agent from the website TwoShepsThatPass.
- Life Is What You Make It: Find Your Own Path to Fulfillment. Author: Peter Buffett. (Three Rivers Press, 2011 paperback edition) ISBN: 978-0307464729.
- What Color Is Your Parachute? For Teens. Authors: Richard Nelson Bolles and Carol Christen (Ten Speed Press, 2010) ISBN: 978-1580081412. A book that teaches high school and college students to zero in on their favorite skills and apply that knowledge to get the most out of school, set goals, and find their dream jobs.
- Feel the Fear . . . and Do It Anyway. Author: Susan Jeffers, Ph.D. (Ballantine Books, 2006) ISBN: 978-0345487421. This book offers readers a clear-cut plan for action by confronting previously learned misconceptions about of fear and replacing them with attitudes of strength and conviction.
- Get Smarter: Life and Business Lessons. Author: Seymour Schulich (Key Porter Books, 2008) ISBN: 978-1554701148. A mentoring book for entrepreneurial hopefuls.
- The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything. Author: Ken Robinson, Ph.D. (Penguin, 2009) ISBN: 978-0143116738. A resource for finding the point at which natural talent meets personal passion.
- Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow: Discovering Your Right Livelihood. Author: Marsha Sinetar (Dell, 1989) ISBN: 978-0440501602. This book is a step-by-step guide to finding work that satisfies your passions.
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Extreme Gifts for High School and College Graduates
The high school and college graduate gifts listed here are pricey to be sure. A new car is at the top of most every grad's wish list. Volkswagen fans can now buy their favorite models made in America. Money – in one form or another – is always a welcome gift, too.
- Car. See the made-in-America Volkswagen from Chattanooga, TN. Visit Volkswagen Group America website for more information.
- Infinity or Lap pool. Websites like Reallyezpools and Poolwarehouse feature customized in-ground and portable pools to fit most anyone's needs, including the popular infinity pools. There's also the Michael Phelps Swim Spa – great for serious athletes.
- Apartment. Paying upfront fees, deposit and first month's rent makes a nice gift for the graduate who's starting out on his own. Or, host a house-warming party for the graduate who's just settling into a new place.
- Trust fund. Payment of a certain amount of money on the recipient's graduation date for "x" number of years, for example.
- Stocks and Investments. Start your graduating student off right with an investment portfolio.
- Can-Am Motorcycle. Compare styles and specs on 2011 models before buying.
- Trip or vacation. Whether it's travel within the U.S. or overseas, a trip makes a fabulous gift.
Choosing a great gift for a high school graduate or a college graduate doesn't have to be hard. Do a little research and ask questions – ask the student's parents, friends or even the graduating student for gift suggestions. Whether your gift is popular, practical, fancy, funny or extreme, it will be most appreciated if given proper thought and attention.
Sources
- Volkswagen Group America (Online) "Chattanooga Plant" (Staff, 2011)
- HP (Online) Home and Home Office: "HP Welcomes the Class of Now" (Staff, 2011)
- Peter Buffett (Online): "Life Is What You Make It" (2011)
- Reallyezpools (Online) "Portable Swimming Pools" (Staff, 2009)
- Poolwarehouse (Online) Home Page (Staff, 2008)
- MichaelPhelpsSwimSpa (Online): "Michael Phelps Signature Swim Spas" (Master Spas, 2011)
- Twoshepsthatpass (Online): Marketing Agent (Name withheld by request, 2011)
- Teaser-Trailer (Online) "Movies 2010" and "Movies 2011" (Staff, Updated 2011)
- Amazon (Online) Home Page featuring the Kindle Reader (2011)
- RossRoss (Online, A dot net site) "Consumer Electronics Show" (Ross and Ross, 2011)
- Motorola Atrix™4G (Online) "The World's Most Powerful Smartphone" (2011)
- Motorcycle.com (Online) "Bike Specs: 2011 Can-Am Motorcycles" (2011)
Mary King - Mary King is a Suite101 Topic Editor for the Caregiver Support and Home Management sections. She has authored 5 teen-based novels.
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