<p>DD 1 college graduation DD 2 high school graduation.</p>
<p>I don’t know how unique this is, but S2 is getting a smartphone for high school graduation…and yes we will be paying the data plan on this. He’s not great about email, so this puts it right in his hand. There are a lot of great apps that universities use now, from bus routes in ‘real time’, to cash balances on meal accounts, etc. Is it a necessity? Absolutely not. That’s why it’s a gift.</p>
<p>We gave our son class B Berkshire Hathaway shares for HS graduation. He is interested in investing and is a Warren Buffet admirer.</p>
<p>For the h.s. student: Restaurant reservations for 2 and the chance to invite one best friend of either gender from outside the family. It feels sophisticated. Afterwards, refrain from asking them what they talked about. It’s theirs.</p>
<p>We never gave college graduation presents; too tapped out and on to the next set of tuitions. Their college degree was the present. And we couldn’t compete with what others were receiving (cars, trips abroad) so we didn’t even try.</p>
<p>Last year (2010), same situation … DD graduated from college, DS graduated from HS. Right about this time (early Feb), they approached DW and I about buying them tickets to go to Europe after graduation. They purchased their own rail passes and stayed in hostels, but for three weeks in June/July, DD and DS made their way around, really bonding with each other. They had a great time!</p>
<p>Also, I think this might have been a less expensive gift that a smart phone with a data plan ;)</p>
<p>Can’t say these are unique, but they were appreciated!
HS-laptop
College-lifetime membership to Alumni Assoc.</p>
<p>I’m in the same situation: son graduating high school, daughter college. Our plan is to fly to her graduation on the east coast and then taking both kids to Paris for a week.</p>
<p>Good idea on the lifetime membership to their alumni association. I like the stock idea too.</p>
<p>For college, what about something related to their major? A nice monogrammed briefcase for lawyers or a medical bag for doctors, Rolex watch, etc. </p>
<p>S graduated HS last year, we let him pick out a set of golf clubs. He chose a nice set with the bag in his college colors. We also let him choose where to go on vacation FOR graduation. He chose the Bahamas. D has already said she wants to go to Italy.</p>
<p>For girls, a nice piece of jewelry.</p>
<p>A friend of mine showed me a wonderful photograph book that her father made for all the siblings of their house and backyard through the seasons. It was a Christmas gift because all the kids are no longer living in the same city as their parents.</p>
<p>So – you could go through photographs and make a custom book for each daughter. It could be of their hometown, their high school years, their college years. It’s something I am planning on doing for my daughter, for her college graduation. Most of the online photo companies offer hardback photo books, and there are other book publishing options online as well.</p>
<p>I’m asking my parents for a nice fountain pen. They don’t need to get me anything else. I got the idea after watching A Beautiful Mind.</p>
<p>My mother-in-law made my son a quilt for his hs graduation. She used his college colors in the quilt. It is beautiful! I got this idea from a thread on CC last year. I suggested it to my MIL and she loved the idea.</p>
<p>While we went boring (laptop for HS, downpayment for car for S’s college graduation), I’m wondering if a non-tangible gift might not be a nice thing. Part of me would like to do something like write a letter filled with sage advice suitable for reading and rereading as the kid matures. Unfortunately, my sage quotient doesn’t seem to be up to it.</p>
<p>Last year’s college grad got a cross country train trip…sleeper car…as a gift. From near San Francisco to Springfield Massachusetts. 3 1/2 day trip…she said it was great.</p>
<p>For my nephew I got him a “back pack” style laundry bag with some sheets and towels and a couple of rolls of quarters. Quarters can be used for laundry machines or sodas, etc. I gave a couple of rolls of quarters (each one is $10) to some of other friends’ kids who were graduating just for fun. We save up our spare change and this was an easy way to gift.</p>
<p>Not sure what I’ll get my own son, but I think the smart phone is definitely on his list. If you can’t afford something big, a clock radio Ipod dock would be handy – Sony has a nice one with dual alarms and a remote control.</p>
<p>For college graduation, we gave DD framing for her (huge) parchment diploma. That’s it, and that’s enough! ;)</p>
<p>I like the quilt idea and plan to make one for my S from all his activity t-shirts from over the high school years. You can also get photos silk screened onto fabric. School events and graduation blocks would be nice quilt squares to take off to college.</p>
<p>For HS graduation, I made each child a photoalbum/scrapbook of their childhood through HS. I think the title page said something like “Jane Marie Morris - book 1” All took them to college for the first year at least.<br>
For college, nothing unique. Frame for the diploma and we paid off the loans.</p>
<p>For high school: Monogrammed towels, washcloths in school colors–or colors that coordinate with dorm room stuff. Also, gift cards to great college town/campus eateries that are frequented by students. My D had a $75 card for her favorite place from her overnight visit and it lasted nearly the whole first semester–she loved it and loves her towels.</p>
<p>For college: Season tickets to sport event for college if nearby? Nice wooden chair with college name on it (can be bought/ordered at the book store). I like the alumni association idea too. I also like the idea of a RT plane ticket. Let them figure out the rest.</p>
<p>My mother in law made crocheted scarves and afghans in the college colors. Way beyond my skills, but a good grandma project!</p>
<p>HS–DD received a laptop…and some of her favorite photographs were laminated for her dorm room. She loved being able to stick them to the walls-and use the over and over-even took them to her new apartment.
College–DD received (Just graduated) a new wardrobe/business attire-replacing the ubiquitous jeans/tshirts, along with some family jewelry/pearls.</p>
<p>I feel like P3T</p>
<p>HS-- Since son applied and accepted as a junior, no competition with friends. Held a pizza party next night for families, with 100% acceptance. The joy in my house filled every room.</p>
<p>College–offered trip abroad, a watch, framing of diploma. Son took an I.O.U Two years, he bought his watch, and we had a wonderful trip. In between, he met his g/f in Zurich.</p>
<p>I wish I had the talent and time to make the album or the quilt. What lucky kids to receive such great gifts.</p>