<p>I thought this might be a good place to ask some advice on buying graduation gifts for my son's friends. My son is a high school senior and has a couple of friends who have essentially been a part of the family since he was in kinder. My wife and I have always given family/friends money when they graduate high school but would like to get something a little more personal for these young men. They will be going off to college at UT and A&M. We are a middle class family and have usually given in the $50-$100 range depending on circumstances, however, we are looking to spend $200-$250 this time. Any suggestions from college students? Is there any gift that you're grateful you received or anything you wish you had? We were thinking maybe some noise cancelling head phones to help study but are not sure. Any suggestions would be appreciated.</p>
<p>I think the best thing I ever received as a graduation present was an american express gift card. I really appreciated being able to use it on whatever I wanted at the time.</p>
<p>$200 cash.
That’s a great gift and they can spend it on whatever.</p>
<p>For young men, there are these flat leather things that hold an ID or credit card and nothing else. You could stuff it with whatever you want and they can keep the credit card holder, which works great to stuff in a front pocket with their college ID and some cash or a credit card.</p>
<p>^the thin wallet is nice, i got that from someone as a college graduation gift.</p>
<p>I would also recommend a memory foam mattress pad. It is a graduation gift I received when I graduated high school and it’s not something a high school boy is going to ask for and yet it made my bed at college more comfortable than my bed at home (a rarity) and I was so happy it was purchased for me.</p>
<p>The second best gift I got was a small TV.</p>
<p>A memory foam mattress is nice, but I know some college friends that sleep through their alarm as a result.</p>
<p>The Clocky alarm clock might be a good gift (although kind of pricey for an alarm clock) if you have a student who has trouble getting up in the mornings. Plus, it will offset the effects of the memory foam mattress should you choose to buy one.</p>
<p>For guys, you can’t go wrong with a nice watch, assuming they wear one.</p>
<p>My hubby and son use a flat gold credit card holder. Holds ID, credit card or two and some cash. Front pocket works too. Could do that and put $100 bill with it. Even engrave it.</p>
<p>I also bought some of my s’s friends cuff links from the school they were going to - these seemed to be a big hit. Something they didn’t have - but can use.</p>
<p>This is something like I’m talking about, but not exactly - added benefit of this one is the anti theft piece.</p>
<p>[The</a> Stainless Steel ID Case](<a href=“Stainless Steel ID Case @ SharperImage.com”>Stainless Steel ID Case @ SharperImage.com)</p>
<p>I gave my daughter a certificate for a flying lesson when she graduated from high school. Not only did this give her a unique perspective on our rural countryside, it has sparked an interest in taking flying lessons and potentially getting her pilot’s license after college. </p>
<p>I don’t know what the cost would be in a larger urban area, but in the midwest this one-hour lesson cost $105, mostly for the cost of the plane. Actually the flying instructor is a friend so he gave his time for free, but even considering the billable time of the pilot, it shouldn’t cost more than $200, and you can bet this is one gift they won’t want to return.</p>
<p>I actually didn’t know parents gave graduation gifts, but I got a nice watch when I graduated. Also swiss army knives, or a Kindle might be nice.</p>
<p>I got mostly money/checks in the $50-100 range. Personalized gifts I got: a pair of Saucony shoes (wear Sauconies almost exclusively and they knew my size because I took my shoes off whenever I was at their house), a year of xbox live because I always played with their son and a black w/ gold fleece logo Brooks Brothers shirt because I’m kinda preppy and I was headed to Vandy. I’d only go with personalized gifts if you really know the kid, otherwise I’d just go with the tried and true cash.</p>
<p>I little tool kit is great to have around the dorm, then the apartment, then the wife’s car trunk.</p>
<p>I think headphones would be great but it wouldn’t hurt to either ask them what they want or your son what he thinks they might want. Think about going to college - what do they need? It can be overwhelming trying to think of what to get but maybe some apparel from the colleges they are going to or other dorm-like presents. Good luck!</p>
<p>This may be a stretch, but you could get them a short trip somewhere to take together (with your son) over the summer, like to a coveted concert or something.</p>
<p>Amazon Prime. I think it’s $79 and they will get free shipping for a year. This is especially good if they’re going to school in a town where shopping is limited or difficult without a car. You can add a Roku or other streaming device that will allow them to take advantage of free streaming that comes with Amazon Prime.</p>
<p>Amazon Prime is free for college students.</p>
<p>Amazon Prime is only free for college students for the first 6 months. After that, it is $39 a year. During the free 6 months, students do not have access to the streaming, but they do when they switch to the half price service after 6 months.</p>
<p>Btw, anyone with a .edu internet address can take advantage of this offer.</p>
<p>Amazon Prime used to be free always for students, but they changed the deal in the last year or so…</p>
<p>Finding the perfect gift is actually a pretty fun problem. It needs to be said that is pretty nice of your family to be concerned with it in the first place. You guys are pretty lucky to have been able to enjoy a set group of friends all through your child’s school as well. While many do prefer money as an easy choice it is understandable that you want to give something more personal. </p>
<p>The first place to check about gift ideas should be your son. He knows the kids best and would have a good understanding of what they would like/need. A nice watch is a great idea for a young man, unless he already has one or will be getting one from dad. </p>
<p>200 to 250 cash could cover a lot. It would buy a pretty nice suit, which is a good thing to have for many occasions. Luggage is something that people need when going away to school especially if there will be a lot of flying back and forth. One decent rolling bag to check with a matching carry on might be something that used a lot and very appreciated. It is a good opportunity to offer something that a person would not normally buy for themselves.</p>
<p>If you think about each kid that you want to buy a gift for, consider the first thing that pops into your head about the person. That might be where the best gift idea comes to you.</p>
<p>Does one have a ratty old car that they have been driving for a while, maybe a gift of four new tires would be very appreciated. Another might always be dressed up very well and would really appreciate a fine watch. While for another if you know that the family is struggling, might be very appreciative of a gift card so they can buy whatever dorm supplies that they need.</p>
<p>A savings bond is not a bad idea either. It is something that they can keep until they go to buy their first house after college. If you want to get something personal though, it would be smart to get something that will either help them on their way in college or make them feel very special.</p>
<p>A new item that will fit the climate of where they are going is a good idea. If they will be facing extremely cold temperatures compared to what they experienced at home, then a decent jacket or coat would be welcome. To get the best gift really you will have to consider the temperament and needs of the individual.</p>