<p>CC was mentioned in an article in todays Hartford Courant, in reference to ideas for grad gifts. Thought it might be helpful this time of year.</p>
<p>When our daughter graduated from high school in 2004, we bought her a digital camera. It turned out to be a great idea-- not too expensive, and it has allowed us to get a good idea of her activities and friends in college. We bought a tiny one, so its easy for her to take along and keep a record of her life.
For friends who are graduating, because our kids have been involved in swimming/water polo, we gave them a nice new beach towel to take to school. They seemed to appreciate it.</p>
<p>Before someone adds a laptop to the list, I will caution about buying a computer on your own. You really should check the offerings required or available through the college. Often college-sponsored sales include full warranty coverage, technical support and loaners. These services are either not available or very expensive if you buy from an outside vendor.</p>
<p>good article
for D high school graduation- I dont even rember what I bought
She had already bought herself ( or was planning to buy) a laptop
she had a 35mmSLR camera
she didnt drive
I might have bought her a watch ;)
For her college graduation- ( in which month she turns 24- her sister turns 16 & her dad turns mumble mumble )
I am getting her a nano ( ipod) since she was a little careless and got hers stolen- albeit out of her pocket in a coffee shop- about a year ago.
Yes I know the nanos are pretty small, but I have a feeling the larger ones will be updated significantly soon, and she really will mainly listen to music, not watch videos on it.
( I will also be helping her move out and take her shopping at Costco and Ikea, along with giving her gift cards for new stuff)</p>
<p>I considered a laptop more of necessity than a gift - - D's been complaining about her bulky desktop (purchased when she enrolled in boarding sch) for 3 years.</p>
<p>Digital camera sounds nice (D has 35mmSLR and at least a couple of lenses), but any suggestions for something a little bit extravagant?</p>
<p>Certainly not a car or a strand of pearls, but something a little bit WOW. Maybe one of those updated Ipods (D would like the videos) - - any other suggestions.</p>
<p>To the contrary, edad, one can often purchase identical computers to the models offered by schools at hefty discounts by purchasing through private vendors. </p>
<p>But back on topic...some things I've gotten a ton of use out of this year are:</p>
<p>-my swiss army knife (useful in so many random situations...cutting things, opening things, etc, etc)</p>
<p>-my digital camera (documents things, fun, etc)</p>
<p>-my computer speakers (SERIOUSLY, PARENTS, IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR KIDS SOMETHING THEY'LL ENJOY, LOOK INTO SOME SPEAKERS LIKE THESE: <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=4148283&type=product&id=1051384267922%5B/url%5D">http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=4148283&type=product&id=1051384267922</a> )</p>
<p>Well, you can find some pearls for roughly the price of an IPod (roughly - having no idea what an IPod costs)... Tiffany's has a lovely pearl necklace for $395 (go to their website; go to necklaces; it's the second one on the second page - would post link but do not want to violate TOS). </p>
<p>Electronics that may be obsolete in a year or two would not be very sentimental presents. </p>
<p>I got a lovely dress watch for my high school graduation - Seiko, still have it, still think of my parents when I put it on to go out to a nice event. That was seven years ago!</p>
<p>aries
my D goes through watches ;) ( so does my H- I don't know what it is- different electronic frequency I guess)
she even sets off airport security when dressed in sandles and shorts
I don't think that the nano is going to be obsolete in a couple years- (plus it is what she asked for)</p>
<p>After all it does what you buy it for- plays music with a flash drive- people still use CD players don't they? and even turntables-
just because you can buy something with more bells and whistles doesn't mean that your technology has lost its usefulness- </p>
<p>and I hope I don't need to get her something to make her think of us- after all- we not only raised her but paid for the brunt of her education!-</p>
<p>We're thinking of getting D a Treo.</p>
<p>The new iPod HiFi (speaker system; $349) is great for apartments or a room. The sound is quite good and works fully integrated with any iPod.
<a href="http://www.apple.com/ipodhifi/%5B/url%5D">http://www.apple.com/ipodhifi/</a></p>
<p>As mentioned, the Treo is nice since it collapses many functions into one device.</p>
<p>I had to google that ^ one. emeraldkity4, do you know you can get the ipods engraved?</p>
<p>We're going to give my daughter a necklace made from jewelry from her grandmother who is no longer alive. Our son got a watch that was hers when he graduated. We also got him a very expensive instrument case. DD will get some other small thing...don't know what yet...but it will be small.</p>
<p>This is coming from a high school senior. </p>
<p>What I would like for graduation are the useful things: a laptop and money. This is what I will need in college, so I think it fitting that parents should get these for their seniors. </p>
<p>I have a part-time job, so technically I could buy the laptop for myself. But, my parents and I have decided that my money will go towards tuition, so being given a laptop as a graduation gift makes sense. Yes, a laptop is a necessity, but, at the high price, I think it should be given as a gift.</p>
<p>As a senior in high school I would say that the best graduation present is CA$H</p>
<p>One possibility we're considering is a combo TV-DVD player-VCR for the dorm room - I know they get free cable. Does anyone have experience with that as a gift? My S would also like a new cell phone but we'd have to upgrade our plan (unless we want to pay full retail) and we're grandfathered into a great plan right now - even Cingular says we shouldn't give it up.</p>
<p>Katharos, I just wanted to take a moment to tell you that I really admire your maturity. You have a lot of common sense, and that is a life skill that will really help you in the future. Good luck in all of your endeavors!</p>
<p>BTW, we are also getting our son his laptop as a graduation present. He won't get it until the summer though, b/c we will buy it through the school that he will be attending (as another poster mentioned, then there are loaners, and the school takes care of the repairs).</p>
<p>As an idea for gifts for other graduates (not our own kids), my son appreciated getting a gift card last year which could be used at several different restaurants. I remember that Chili's was one, but I don't remember the others. They were all chains that you could find most anywhere. He really seemed to like that.</p>
<p>oh yes- she didnt want it engraved with her college- for some reason she thinks that will add to the "privledged" perception, some Portlanders have of Reed, but we are having it engraved with her name and the date
the only drawback to engraving is when you need work done on it- if you take it to an apple store, they will just give you another- but if it has engraving it has to go back to the shop
( we have never needed work however)- yet</p>
<p>Marilyn
You don't have to upgrade your plan. Get on ebay, buy an unlocked cel phone, take the sim card out of his old phone and stick it in the new one. Don't let the cel phone companies tell you otherwise...i have done it about 6 times because my kids lose phones, run them through the wash, etc...
re: ipods, the ihome is nice too. it is an alarm clock/docking/charging station for any ipod and speakers play the ipod...they are small enough not to blast the roommates...</p>
<p>northeastmom,
Thank you. I appreciate that, and I hope I have my head on straight, as I will be attending college in the fall. That will be the true test, and I look forward to it. </p>
<p>Best of luck to your son as he enters college. :)</p>