<p>For my daughter and her group of friends I am making a CD of photos from their high school years with music background. It is a bit time consuming, but we have lots of photos and it will be something unique and inexpensive to create. </p>
<p>Another idea is to make a photo collage, have it scanned, copied and framed. We did that for eighth grade graduation. My D has the original and her friends all have copies--lots of memories packed into one item.</p>
<p>My son's favorite gift was a small statue of Rodin's "Thinking Man" that we purchased at the museum store in Boston. It had a wooden base and we had a plaque engraved with the date and a special personalized wish, and attached it to the base. He loves it, and it is sitting on the shelf above his desk at college. Everyone at the graduation party loved it too.</p>
<p>It looks like this. <a href="http://www.statue.com/the-thinker-statue.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.statue.com/the-thinker-statue.html</a></p>
<p>Movinmom- There is a company that will do that for you that advertises in the back of Runners World magazine.</p>
<p>Movinmom- I am currently in the process of making a quilt for my daughter out of the soccer shirts I have been secreting away for the past 5 years. So far it has been relatively easy, looks good and has a ton of sentimental value. I am stuck at the "how to put the back on" stage, but will tackle it this weekend before she gets back from her spring break trip. Good luck with it, you will be really happy with the results.</p>
<p>Ctymomteacher,
The reason I ask is, I remember your angst (and my outrage) when you said some teacher in your son's school was late in sending a recommendation last year. Well, good things happen to nice people. I am so glad it worked out for your son and for you...</p>
<p>My gift plans are conditional on what S decides - if he takes a full ride, the gift will be a new car. If he takes one of the full tuition offers, trip to Italy or Hawaii. If not, a copy of "How to Get a Fatcat Job During College (Without Really Trying)" and "How to Prepare for the 80 Year Old Bag-Lady on Your Doorstep (It's your Mother, Dude!)"</p>
<p>I really like the first aid kit!</p>
<p>Another gift idea for graduating seniors is a white board. Many students put them on their doors as an easy way to leave messages for friends or so that their friends can say they dropped by. Maybe now that kids all have cell phones such message boards are less useful, but maybe not. A personal, welcoming phrase is always nice to see on someone's door.... Kids can also use them inside their rooms as a place to write reminders (Do Laundry! Study Bio! Call Mom!)</p>
<p>I like the first aid kit and the tool kit; both are necessary, and no one ever remembers to pack either. My favorite graduation gift was a strand of pearls given to me by my church choir. As ridiculous as it sounds, it made me feel grown up. If we're talking about more practical gifts, it might seem slightly out of date given that all students have computers, but most of the people in my dorm still use hard-bound dictionaries rather than a website (perhaps combined with a really good dictionary in whatever language the student will take when he/she gets to college?). I know that I also consult my grammar handbook on practically a weekly basis.</p>
<p>Also, for anyone worried about having to buy lots of gifts for their child's friends, the unofficial rule in my high school was that you got gifts for friends graduating in a different year than your child (primarily one year ahead or behind), but that you did not get gifts for people graduating at the same time. Since most kids' friends are in their grade, it cuts down on the number of gifts. It also eliminates the awkwardness that comes from giving a gift to a friend who might not be able to afford one in return.</p>
<p>I intend to give grad gifts to the three or four long-time close friends who are graduating the same year as my son. I haven't decided what yet, but I love all of the ideas listed above!</p>
<p>I'm finally catching up on this thread and did want to mention one thing regarding towels as gifts. I think it's a great idea, but please think about the color, especially dark, or more specifically, red. My older S. got two great big nice, thick red bath towels and frankly, I wouldn't let him take them to college. Think college student and laundry. I had visions of everything turning pink if he threw them in with anything and everything! As for my current S who is graduating hs, he already knows his gift from us is a new computer, once he figures out where he's going and we can buy it through the college to make life easier.</p>
<p>Yes, choff, our srs are getting towels for Project Graduation. School colors are maroon and gold, and we are DEFINITELy not going with the maroon, no matter how tempting. Either white w maroon logo or mild gold w same. No one here wanted to see pink everything, either.</p>
<p>jmmom - Thanks for the Zabar's suggestion. That's a great idea. </p>
<p>I would still welcome any other suggestions for a gift for someone going away to college in NYC (NYU specifically).</p>