Graduation Gift Ideas

Ali*Z · #1 05-11-2005, 06:49 PM

Hi!
My sister is graduating w/ her master's and is going to work in a hospital and her boyfriend is graduating from law school. Yay for both- but...
WHAT DO I GET THEM FOR GRADUATION?
I got $ when I finished law school- and loved it, but I can't just write each of them a check.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
Ali

HBADPi · #2 05-11-2005, 07:55 PM

What about cash instead of a check? OR you could get them one of those visa debit cards...

On the topic of graduation gifts, I'm finishing my masters in a few weeks and I finally convinced my parents to throw me a party. We were discussing invites the other night and my dad said to put on the invites for guests not to bring gifts. He said I was too old to be getting gifts for graduation especially a masters. Quite frankly I disagree (but thats only because I dont discriminate against gifts

) but I wanted to see what everyone else thought?

After having a high school graduation and college graduation party, is it asking too much for people to get you gifts a third time around?? I should point out that the two prior parties were held in MA while my masters party will be in CA, so no one attending my Masters party has been to my previous parties.

tunatartare · #3 05-11-2005, 08:12 PM

I think it's completely fine to have a graduation party for your Masters. Congratulations to you.

Another question about graduation etiquette: if someone your age (sorority sister) invites you to a graduation party, are you supposed to get them a gift?

astroAPhi · #4 05-11-2005, 11:10 PM

Alli, if you're willing to spend a bit, buy them a nice frame for their diploma. I was able to get this at the university bookstore, and they are usually really nice and customized to the school and the diploma size.

KLPDaisy, I try to at least get people a card or something small but cute. See if you can get them some alumni gear (like a shirt or a nice mug). We had some funny shirts that our school made that said, "Florida Tech Alumni: Been There Done That" with a picture of a graduation cap on it. It's cheesy stuff but it is cute and will be appreciated.

GeekyPenguin · #5 05-12-2005, 01:17 PM

I'm getting/got all my friends small presents - like a little card and something useful for whatever they are doing next year. One of my friends is moving to Chicago after having gone to college in BFE so I am getting him some restaurant gift cards so he can eat real food again. He loves Qdoba and there is one right by his office, so that will be practical.

I honestly really would prefer cash to just about anything right now - I also asked for IKEA and Pottery Barn giftcards.

Rudey · #6 05-12-2005, 01:19 PM

Mont Blanc or Cartier pens are always hot for grads.

-Rudey

LucyKKG · #7 05-24-2009, 10:36 PM

Ok I'm bumping this but with a new question. Grads: what do YOU want for a graduation present? My mom says my relatives have been asking, but I don't know! I want a Sigg metal water bottle, but that doesn't really seem like something you give a graduate. I already have a pearl necklace and small diamond studs (I wanted both for years). I want to ask for practical stuff (especially pots and pans) but I'm moving back home for a while before I'm on my own again.

Ideas? Oh yeah, and what do you want from your family?

PhoenixAzul · #8 05-25-2009, 09:48 AM

Well, after my MA graduation, I received a gift card to Moo.com to print my business cards, and an engraved business card holder.

(British side track: I got my graduate scarf as well).

Other things: a leather padfolio for interviewing (maybe with the university seal on it?), a nice leather day minder?, if they're going into university teaching/ academics maybe help them purchase their academic dress? (hooo boy was THAT expensive.. Ede and Ravenscroft got a large chunk of cash from me)

LucyKKG · #9 05-25-2009, 04:33 PM

Yeahhhh I totally want a nice planner. I figured that out yesterday. I buy a cheap one every year and use it religiously, so maybe I should finally get a nice one that you refill. My mom is into that kind of stuff so I'll tell her.

Other stuff I thought of (a few are a long shot, but I can dream!): a blackberry, GPS, something that says "UCSC alumna" on it, Costco card (eventually). If I think of any stuff I need for my summer trip, I might ask for that.