Are you looking for the perfect gift for a relative or close friend who is about to graduate college? Or, maybe you are coming to the end of your own studies and are considering buying something for yourself as a way to say well done to yourself for all of your hard work and dedication over the past four years.
Gifts for graduates are a great way to show somebody in your life just how proud you are of their achievements, but what can you get for them? Many graduates are in the market for some new tech products, especially if they have been using the same ones for the duration of their college life or are about to start a new job that might require them to have some new equipment. Or you could buy a gift that is designed to help them relax and unwind after four long years of hard work like a weekend away or a relaxing spa day.
Either way, there are lots of things that you can get for a graduate to say well done. Graduating from college is often one of the most important milestones in somebody’s life, and finding the perfect gift is not always easy. Here are some ideas that you might want to consider.
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Tech Graduation Gifts
If you want to get the graduate in your life something useful that they can use for their new job or further studies, then tech gifts are the perfect choice. There are a range of college graduation PC gifts for students and other technology items that can make the perfect present for somebody who has finished their degree and is moving onto something else. Some ideas to consider include:
Laptop
After the end of four long years at college, the graduate you’re buying for might be using a laptop that is a little bit worse for wear, especially if they have had to use it a lot to get through the program. While four years does not sound like a long time, for most laptops today it’s about this long until the machine starts to show some signs of going slower, unless you’re using a very high powered and durable commercial laptop.
If the graduate you are buying for is going to be studying for a postgraduate program or is entering a new career once they graduate, then a new laptop could be the ideal gift idea for them. There are several things to consider including the operating system that they prefer, the kind of battery life they are going to need, and the processor, RAM, and internal storage.
Tablet
Another tech gift that may be perfect for some graduates is a tablet. This can be an ideal choice if the graduate you are buying for hasn’t been able to get their own throughout college and would benefit from having one in their future studies or their new career. Tablets are often cheaper than laptops so they can be an ideal alternative for you if you are on a smaller budget, while still providing a gift that offers a great range of features and can be used for lots of different things.
Classic Graduation Gifts
There are also several traditional gifts that are always going to be welcomed, and a great way to celebrate the graduate’s achievements. If you are buying for a graduate that seems to have everything that they need in terms of tech and other practical items, then one of these classic, traditional gift ideas for graduates could be the perfect choice.
College Memorabilia
You can choose from a lot of different options with this gift idea, but ultimately find something that is a good fit for the personality and interests of the graduate that you are buying for. Many colleges sell items that are branded and great for a memorabilia gift including sweatshirts and hoodies, bumper stickers, duffel bags, and other household items. You can often order the items online or buy them from campus bookstores.
Diploma Frame
Many graduates like the idea of being able to display their qualifications especially if they are planning to run their own firm or are going to be having their own office in a company building for their new career. A diploma frame is the perfect way to do this, and an ideal gift idea. You can get them from most campus bookstores with a college logo.
Engraved Pen
An engraved pen is one gift that is never going to go out of fashion for graduates. You can get classic, nice pens from lots of different companies that you can have engraved with various options including the graduate’s name, date of graduation and more. You can also get pens from college bookstores that have the college logo and can be personalized, which make lovely gift ideas for graduates.
Bag or Briefcase
While a briefcase is often a traditional gift idea for law school graduates, it can work well for any college graduate. While leather, branded bags are a traditional choice, there are lots of other options that you might want to choose from including messenger bags depending on the career the graduate is planning to go into, or their personal preferences.
Jewelry
Classic jewelry is a great choice of graduation gift, whether you go for a bracelet, diamond earrings, or a necklace. You may even want to look for jewelry that has gemstones that match the school colors, which are sure to be a popular choice. It’s a great way to give the graduate something that they can wear for different occasions, along with being a subtle nod to their achievements.
Creative Gift Ideas for Graduates
You may want to think outside of the box and come up with a gift that is creative and less traditional for graduates, but you know is going to be appreciated. Many graduates are at a pivotal point in their life where they might be moving off campus into a new apartment, starting a new job or even taking a relationship to the next level, so there are lots of different gift ideas that you can get with this in mind.
Gifts for a New Place
If the graduate you are buying for is going to be moving out of campus accommodations and into their own place, then something that is going to work in their new apartment can be a great gift idea. Most campus accommodations come fully furnished for students so lots of graduates find themselves in a position where they don’t have a lot to get set up in a new place. You may want to consider getting furniture gifts, décor, or even necessary appliances like a toaster or a coffee maker.
Books
The graduate you are buying for has probably spent the last few years doing a lot of reading to achieve their degree qualification, but now is the time to relax and read books that they enjoy. Whether you get them some classic fiction books to enjoy, books on topics that they are interested in, or motivational and self-help books designed to help graduates or people starting out in a new career, this can be a great and thoughtful graduation gift idea to consider.
Business Card Holder
Depending on where the graduate is going to be working now that they have gotten their degree, they may have business cards with their information that they are going to want to hand out at meetings, conferences, and other occasions. A good gift idea would be a classic business card holder. You could even have this personalized with their name and qualification to make it even more special.
Family Graduate Gift Ideas
If you are buying a gift for a graduate who is a relative of yours, then there are lots of family-themed, personal gift ideas that you may want to give them at this pivotal time in their life. Some options include:
Family Heirloom
Many families find that graduation is an ideal time to give a gift of something that has been passed down through the family for generations. Whether you decide to give a piece of jewelry, furniture, home décor or something else, receiving an item that has a special history in their family is always exciting and emotional for any graduate, and can be a great way to show them how proud you are of their achievements.
Family Recipes
Now that your graduating relative has completed college, they have probably gone through all the trial and error that many students do when first starting out cooking for themselves, and it might be a good time to give them some favorite family recipes that they can cook for themselves or when entertaining guests in their new place. This can be a great, personalized, and inexpensive gift to give that holds a lot of meaning.
From new laptops to family heirlooms and token gifts to show your appreciation, there are so many different options to consider when it comes to getting a gift that shows how proud you are of a relative or friend who is graduating from college.