What's a good high school graduation gift for a girl off to university in the Fall?

A good new lap top? Or a neckalace?

A debit card with a limit.

Depending on your budget, I vote good laptop.

A whole new wardrobe. :)

@cookieman A couple hundred bucks for gift. School is like $150,000 or so, so have to budget for that.

If it’s your kid, I’d say a laptop.

If it’s someone else’s kid, I’d say some cash (50 to 100 depending on how close you are to the family), or more if you are so inclined and/or can afford it.

Money is easiest and always appreciated. Depending on the relationship the amount can vary a lot. I’m thinking $50 to $500.

I would probably separate the graduation gift and college gift if you aren’t giving money.

If it’s a close relative I’d consider something she might treasure forever for her graduation. My cousins gave me a gold bracelet for my college graduation that I still wear today. Money for college separate.

Does she have a registry for college items? That would be helpful.

If you give money I like a good old fashioned check. If she uses Amazon for everything you could send the money to her Amazon account however that works. Maybe that’s a GC card for Amazon. I still like a check more. Especially, when bank accounts are earning 3.5–4.5% now. Extra dollar or two as the money sits waiting.

@JLeslie It’s his daughter. Money seems kind of cold to me.

I think the ultimate, if you can afford it, would be a car (if it’s your own kid).

@janbb I didn’t see that in the details. I would let her pick something she wants for her graduation if it was my daughter.

I don’t think money is “cold” though. Money is practical. I do think something that would be lasting and sentimental is nice for this sort of thing though. Like the gold bracelet I mentioned. As I sit here I have no idea what my parents gave me for my high school graduation. I remember my mom bought me a brand new dress for graduation, $75, and I was shocked when she bought it for me with what seemed like not worrying about the cost.

My parents also paid for my first and second car (used cars) my entire college education, and so many other things that I wouldn’t include as basics, I don’t really think about a gift on a single event as a disappointment, cold, or not enough.

I appreciate all the gift money I’ve been given over the years from my parents and relatives.

@jca2 Some colleges don’t have parking for freshman.

A warm university sweatshirt.

^^I like the university sweatshirt or t-shirt, whatever climate she will be in, for the college gift.

I hope I don’t catch Hell for this response. I’m serious.
An HPV vaccine. If she doesn’t already have one. Covid too…

And some Mace.

I like the laptop idea too.

At any rate. I’m glad she’s going to college @Acrylic . You must be doing something right.

What’s her major? That could help suggestions for a gift…

The thing I don’t like about the laptop is doesn’t she need one for school no matter what?

A money gift of around $10K would be nice.

A Shell gift card.

I’d say let her do her own shopping for insignia items at the college bookstore. It’s part of the fun for an incoming freshman, the sweatshirts and pens and pennants and mugs and all.

Practical items such as laptops and backpacks ought to be part of the school shopping list anyway, if she doesn’t already have them. They’re really necessities.

What sort of budget do you have in mind? And do you want to make it a keepsake-type gift like a bracelet or something enviably faddish or something nifty for her dorm room? Need some parameters here.

A bed foam cover. Also a food gift basket. A mini fridge.

Thanks! Yeah, was asked originally for my daughter but it also works more openly for anybody else who has a soon-to-be graduate in their lives. Her birthday was last December, but we delayed her gift to get her a good laptop come June or so. She doesn’t drive.

She’s looking to major in History with a minor in Literature or English or any combination of those three wanting to then go on and get a Masters in Library Science and work in that field, particularly at a maximum security prison. Girl has some detailed dream there for her.

For the college part, just take her shopping to prepare a little before getting to school and then again when you bring her to campus. Beforehand you can buy the sheets, pillow cases, and blanket (dorm rooms are usually XL singles but check it) pillows, caddy for toiletries, comfy shoes for walking across campus, slippers, pajamas, and that laptop.

When I arrived at school I realized I needed more space for my folded clothes. My mom took me shopping (to a store like Target) and we bought a cabinet that worked perfectly for my clothes and my roommates TV to sit on top. We went and bought all of my books at the student book store and that’s where a lot of the school clothing is too. School logo comfy clothes that can serve as pajamas and go to the cafeteria and study room are useful.

I would get a paper map if the campus is big. I don’t even know if kids can read maps anymore or if they make maps like that anymore. Easy to read paper maps give you a better idea of the whole campus and surrounding areas. I like to feel oriented wherever I am.

If the school is very old there might be some sort of history book or article about it that she might appreciate. I’m not a big history person, but my school has an interesting history, and I really liked learning about it and seeing old photos.

Laptop

@JLeslie It’s Taylor University, old and rather small. Yes, I’m a truck driver so she’s very versed on reading paper maps for sure. Thanks! Insightful.

Speaking of laptops, some schools have suggested laptops which would be able to run their suggested software. That will be a big help in her studies. At my first daughter’s college they had three laptops available at the student store for good prices, with the suggested SW already installed along with 4 years of free tech support. At my second daughter’s college, they just had a list of laptop requirements so we had to shop around ourselves. The student store had links for her to download student licensed SW for free.

And for both of our girls, we took them shopping at Target to get stuff just like @JLeslie ‘s parents did. By coincidence, my daughter’s best friend in college is the daughter of a trucker. I first met him at Target while we were shopping on move in day.

If you can’t buy one here is a map you can print. https://jobs.taylor.edu/img/campus-map.png

Hopefully, there are maps in the book store.

Thanks @JLeslie. We’ve been there twice so far, beautiful campus on one plot of property. We visited a few colleges, including the one a half mile from our house, and Taylor seems like where she belongs.

A Lamborghini and a house in the Hampton’s. Oh and a Swiss bank account. I mean, with a school costing 150K your good for it!

Ha @Dig_Dug That number was the projected total four year cost (tuition, housing, food, books, etc.) not some per year cost. I drive a 2008 Ford Focus with a five speed manual and a nice rust line along the lower frame. May be needing another car soon, some Italian car I think not. Probably another $5,000 used car from a local lot. We’re hardly “good for it,” looking at some nice debt for the next several years or so. Besides, we only buy American here but thanks for the suggestions.

@Acrylic Oh, lol I thought that was for each year! sorry. A laptop will be fine ;)

A laptop because a lot of stuff is online and a few things to help them out in their new life.

@Acrylic – cars are expensive. Need maintenance, insurance, gas, parking. Both of my daughters’ colleges discouraged cars for their first 2 years. My girls are using public transportation and Uber/Lyft, and even ZipCar. Some colleges provide free or discounted bus passes. My nephew goes to UofW and can go across Seattle for free on his school bus pass.

If a transportation is mostly around a campus environment, an electric bicycle would be nice…

^^ Most colleges don’t allow Freshman to even bring a car.

@Forever_Free I believe Taylor University allows freshmen to have cars after Thanksgiving break, but that’s moot for us as our kid opts not to drive at the moment. It’s a great point, though, one may will have to consider. Am liking the college brand clothes so far, show a little school spirit. It’s a Christian College, so will likely include a nice, new study Bible as well since Christian studies is required and she likes reading the Scriptures, anyway.

@Acrylic Good Luck to her on her next chapter.

Few ideas:
– Laptop (majority said this already but this is the best option because students really need one). You might even like to get her a case for the laptop.
However, if she already has one I would suggest here are more suggestions:
– money
– Self-care basket with mini travel packaging so ist easier for her to actually take it to college
– Hardcover books or maybe a Kindle
– My fave: A collage of you and her with something sentimental like a charm bracelet with her favourite things to do (eg, book charm, key charm, infinity charm, Thor’s hammer perhaps – I got this for my friend, etc. )
– Maybe a few high volt chargers (I would say 2–3 adaptors and 3–4 charging cables)

Keep us updated on what you get. Good luck to her. Peace.