Giving Gifts to Remember College
Give a blanket made of college T-shirts. This is a creative gift that the graduate can keep for years to come. Each college, especially large universities, have a wide variety of T-shirts that can be used to create a unique throw blanket.
Create a swag bag of college gear. All college and university bookstores carry all kinds of themed gear and memorabilia, including T-shirts, sweatshirts/hoodies, shorts, gym bags, photo frames, and coffee mugs. Collect a few of these items and gift them to the graduate in a themed bag, if possible. Even though they are leaving campus, they can still show their school pride wherever they go.
Make a photo collage of college memories. After graduation, many graduates will have to say goodbye to friends they’ve made over the years. But this doesn’t mean they have to forget the memories they made together. Photo collages or albums are a great way to help your graduate transition from familiar faces to a new environment. Simply collect photos and compile them into a photo album. Since many people don’t print pictures anymore, you might have to search through the graduate’s social media pages to find and print pictures. Print photos and arrange them in a large frame, or a few large frames, so that the graduate can display their memories in their new home or office. Get creative with a pillow collage. Many photo development centers offer services that allow you to print photos on fabrics, and a pillow collage is sure to be a unique keepsake of college memories.
Giving Gifts to Prepare for the Future
Upgrade your graduate's wardrobe. When meeting a prospective employer or starting their first day at a new job, a graduate's casual college wardrobe will not be appropriate in most workplaces. In order to make a positive first impression, they'll need some help professionalizing their closet. A versatile and stylish blazer can help a graduate upgrade their wardrobe for job interviews. A blazer, rather than a suit jacket, can lend itself to both business casual and business formal workplaces, and it can be paired with multiple outfits. Switch out the backpack for something more professional for job interviews, like a briefcase or messenger bag for men or a leather tote bag for women. Even if the graduate already has a job lined up, more than likely they’ll need a practical and professional case or bag for their new working environment.
Pay for a resume consultation. Nearly every job application requires a resume, but for first-time applicants, it can be difficult to know how to create a strong resume. A resume service can help the graduate craft a professional resume that will catch the eye of prospective employers.
Give a cookbook for beginners. Without a campus dining hall or home cooked meals, graduates will have to quickly learn to prepare their own meals. Purchase a cookbook for beginners to give them a good place to start.
Give a set of tools. A basic set of tools is a practical gift that just about everybody needs, and it’s a gift that lasts for years. Even if the graduate isn’t handy or doesn't enjoy constructing home projects, a basic set of tools provides the essentials for measuring and hanging pictures, installing TV mounts, or putting together store-bought furniture.
Help furnish their new home. More than likely, your college graduate has been relying on dorm furnishings or used hand-me-down furniture. Help them make a fresh start as they transition into their new home with some new furniture that fits within your budget: a couch, futon, mattress, or coffee table.
Help them plan for a financially stable future. It’s never too early to start planning a financially secure future, but college graduates may not know how to get started or how important early planning can be. Give gifts that will last well into their future. If the graduate has had legitimate employment with taxable income for the past year, you can contribute to their ROTH individual retirement account up to the amount the graduate earned in the last year. This will jumpstart them to a stable financial future. If the college graduate has no idea how to start planning, pay for a first appointment with a financial advisor. This will give them the education they need to get grounded and will help them construct a plan for the future.
Giving Personalized Gifts
Give an engraved diploma frame. A diploma frame allows the graduate to proudly display their accomplishments in their new home or office. By adding an engraved plaque with a personalized message on the frame, you’ll be sure to give a gift that is unique and special to your graduate.
Give a monogrammed journal. Since the graduate is transitioning into a new part of life, they need a new, beautiful journal to mark the occasion and start their adventure. To make the gift more personal, have the journal monogrammed. There are a variety of online stores and retailers, like Etsy and Peter Pauper Press, that provide monogram services.
Celebrate with engraved glassware. Start the graduation celebration with monogrammed glassware, like wine glasses or beer steins. This gift not only holds a reminder of the graduate’s accomplishments, but it is also a great gift to help them get started on setting up their new kitchen.
Give an engraved flask. Flasks are staple celebratory gifts, but what makes it a unique gift is a personalized engraving suited to the graduate. Engravings can include their name and date of graduation, or even better, an inspiring quote from their role-model or favorite book.
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