<p>I'm wondering if many seniors actually purchase a ring? Would parents and recent alum (and current seniors) chime in?</p>
<p>I know quite a few Harvard alums and have never seen them wear a class ring. However, lots of MIT alums I know wear one. Have no idea why the difference.
I do get to see lots of Harvard ties, though, if it helps. :)</p>
<p>MIT has the brass rat! A Harvard class ring just seems sort of pretentious (although a few of my friends did buy one).</p>
<p>I agree with marite - buy a house tie or two (see Justice Souter wearing his Lowell tie here: [On</a> Constitution Day, celebrating?and evaluating?our founding document](<a href=“http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/spotlight/constitutional-law/23_constitution.html]On”>http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/spotlight/constitutional-law/23_constitution.html))</p>
<p>I think my daughter might feel a bit odd wearing the tie!</p>
<p>LOL! Didn’t think about this! I suspect she might not care to wear a great big (ugly) ring, either.</p>
<p>Too funny!</p>
<p>Son wears high school class ring every day but did not want a college class ring.</p>
<p>D did not want a “big ugly” class ring for high school. We went to the jeweler and purchased a journey ring to commemorate her past and look towards her future. The college ties all sound fun, but not great for the girls. The one item I came across last spring when D was accepted is the following:
[Harvard</a> University Sterling Silver Charm Bracelet](<a href=“http://www.mlahart.com/Harvard-University/Womens-Jewelry_3/Sterling-Silver-Charm-Bracelet_2]Harvard”>Harvard Jewelry - Charms, Bracelets, Necklaces. Personalized | M.LaHart & Co.)
There are a couple of variations on it on the site. I have actually not purchased it yet but I had bookmarked it on my computer.</p>
<p>Anyone else have other ideas for female graduates? (oven though I still have 4 years)</p>
<p>I think my daughter would probably like another pair of H sweat pants!</p>
<p>D did not buy a class ring. She did, however, buy a Winthrop tie and gave it to me.</p>
<p>^ ^ Along the lines of my Harvard Parent 2010 pin … which is the most expensive piece of jewelry that I’ll ever own!</p>
<p>I once knew a Smith alumna whose parents gave her as a graduation present a Smith chair (Windsor chair with Smith insignia–Harvard has something similar). None of us were allowed to sit in it!</p>
<p>^ I forgot - my parents gave me a Duke clock.</p>
<p>S did not get a Harvard class ring (or a tie). H has an MIT ring (called a “brass rat”) and wears it to conferences and other meetings outside the office. It is very recognizable and an easy way to connect with fellow alums. I’m sure he also wore it to job interviews; he was hired by MIT alums two out of three times.</p>
<p>S is now at MIT and I imagine H will want to buy him a “grad rat” when the time comes, though they don’t seem to be as popular as the undergrad rings.</p>