<p>It's that time of year again and between college graduation and high school graduation--seems I must have been at the top of everyone's announcement list. I am kind of in a rush this year--anyone have any good online ideas. Going out for any length of time for shopping isn't going to work into my schedule this week. I would love to find a website that has lots of nicer college logo items. I can of course go to the bookstore sites, but that is the same old stuff they have been looking at for the last 4-5 years. HELP a fellow shopper out. I have a University of Washington, a Penn, and an Arizona State to shop for (read as budget is shot for this month!)</p>
<p>In a word-$$$$$. Every graduating senior can use this, and will appreciate it. By now they all have plenty of university logo stuff. The only nonmoney gift I anticipate giving is to my son, we give him money already. I can't think of one gift I could have received that I would have cherished even a few years after graduating, much less now, except the book signed from parents. It could be $20 or a check for much more, pool enough $20 bills and you have a significant amount, pool several $20 gifts and you have a pile of $20 gifts.</p>
<p>Addenda- the HS grads may appreciate University logo items, the college grads won't, but if it is a time crunch in finding the proper item don't bother, everyone appreciates the $$$. That said, my sister gave a small address book with all the (both sides) relatives' names, birthdays, addresses and phone numbers written in it to our son, inexpensive and useful.</p>
<p>The best high school graduation gift I received was a copy of the then-popular book "Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sex but Were Afraid to Ask." This came from a friend who had started college a year before me.</p>
<p>But I agree with the others above. Money is always welcome. College grads need business clothing. High school grads need stuff for the dorm room and extra clothes so they won't have to do laundry too often. They will be spending lots of money.</p>
<p>The only exception is if you're the parent of a high school grad. In that case, I think you're expected to buy the kid a laptop if he doesn't already have one. That's the custom in our family, anyway.</p>
<p>Give the graduate money, but do it in a clever fashion.
We gave a nephew $50 in a CD case. Made a CD cover for it that said "College Essentials by the Alexander Hamilton Orchestra" or something like that. My wife gave another kid a box of Kleenex "for the dorm room." When the kid pulled out the first "Kleenex," it was a $1 bill, which was loosely taped to another $1 bill and another $1 bill, etc., etc. </p>
<p>If you package the thing cleverly, you won't feel as if giving them money is a copout.</p>
<p>Hi Ivy,
I've had good luck with high school grads by going to the bookstore web site and purchasing a college gift card for the particular school. They will usually ship it right to the grad pretty quickly. The kids don't have to use it for books-can be anything at all in the bookstores which usually have everything from clothing to foodstuffs to greeting cards. It has been much appreciated and always gets used. And I agree that for the college grad, cash may be king. I have one graduating from college in a few weeks, and I know that is what he will want and really need as he gets started post-college. Even if it seems tacky to us. :)</p>
<p>Give them money so they can buy what they need or want for their rooms. Or, if not, get gift certificates to LNT or BBB. As to school logo stuff, some kids want lots, some don't, and the ones that do get it as soon as they get accepted.</p>
<p>We uaually go to family vacation follows commencement. We gave laptops, and life membership of alumi association as well for graduation gift.</p>