Best Grad Gifts? We Got ’Em!

Grad party season is here! Do you need the perfect gift for your daughter’s big celebration? Looking for something special for your BFF? If there’s one thing a college graduate doesn’t need, it’s another cutesy mug with a grad cap motif. Want to get them grad gifts they really want and will actually use? Then, you’re sure to go to the head of the class with these top ten ideas.

Let’s face it, what does every grad need? Money! But, writing out a check or slipping a hefty bill into a graduation card can seem so impersonal. Why not put a creative twist on a cash gift that can be assembled in 10-15 minutes? Consider filling a glass jar or bottle with rolled-up dollar bills tied into “diplomas” and adding a paper mortarboard (and gift-tag tassel) to the lid. Or, use “dough” to serve up a dollar-bill pie with coin toppings in a pizza box. For other clever graduation gift ideas, check out our Pinterest board.

Something college grads hope to have lined up once they graduate are plenty of job interviews. To make a good impression on future employers, send them off with a professional-looking messenger bag. Look for a high-quality bag that’s large enough to accommodate their laptop, lunch, notebooks, and portfolio.

Our Autograph Frame is the perfect gift to present at a graduation party. Remove the matting from the frame, set it up on a table with a permanent marker, and direct guests to “sign in” as they arrive. It’s a great way for loved ones to offer their best wishes or words of wisdom while creating a treasured keepsake for the graduate. You can add a photo from the commencement ceremony and personalize the engravable plate with the recipient’s name and event details.

For a gift that never goes out of style, get them a timepiece. In the professional world, a watch exudes maturity and signals a readiness to clock in the hours required in the full-time workforce. Whether you’re shopping for an alumnus or an alumna, consider personally engraving the watch for a gift they’ll treasure for years to come.

Tech-savvy alumni are sure to have the Amazon Echo high on their grad gift wish list. This hands-free, voice-controlled Bluetooth speaker will play music, search for movie times, schedule your calendar, answer questions, and provide news, weather, and sports scores when you use the word “Alexa” with your request. Many Alexa-enabled home devices will also connect with the Echo, allowing the owner to switch on lights, set thermostats, and turn on fans with simple voice commands.

To ensure they get a good night’s sleep while living with noisy roommates or on a busy street, get them bed-friendly headphones that won’t hurt their ears or cause them to get tangled up in cords. Wireless SleepPhones are also ideal for those planning to do a lot of travelling after graduation. Listen to music without disturbing (or being disturbed by) the person sitting next to you on a train or plane.

Did you know that you’re 11 times more likely to have your LinkedIn profile viewed if it features your photo? A great headshot should convey that you’re friendly, trustworthy, and professional to potential employers, recruiters, and clients. Headshots are also great for fledgling writers and marketers who want to build their brand on the Internet via blogs. A professional photography session is a unique gift idea and something a college grad would never think to get for themselves. It’s also a great way to capture a special time period—the college graduate’s transition into the “real world”—and preserve it in a photo frame for Mom and Dad!

If they’re moving into their own apartment after graduation, a robotic vacuum is a great high-tech appliance that’s compact, easy to store in a small apartment, and easier to pack up than the traditional upright model. (No plans to leave the nest right away? Bonus gadget for Mom and Dad’s house in the interim!)

For the past four years, they’ve been power-shopping almost exclusively at the campus bookstore building up their extensive collection of college-branded hoodies, t-shirts, and sweats. Sure, they have that one suit or dress in the back of the closet that’s reserved for the occasional wedding or funeral. But, what they really need is an actual workplace wardrobe: shirts, jackets, dress pants, and shoes that make them feel confident and ready to take on the world. Get them a gift card to Stitch Fix, an online “personal styling service” that will deliver five clothing options per shipment, or to Zappos for dress shoes.

They’ve just received a document that represents hundreds of thousands of dollars, countless all-nighters and study sessions, hundreds of cups of coffee, and years of family sacrifices. Shouldn’t the most valuable piece of paper they’ll ever own be safeguarded and showcased to its fullest potential? At diplomaframe.com, we offer a wide array of handcrafted diploma frames, photo frames, and desk accessories with so many unique styles and customization options that you’re sure to find just the right gift for everyone on your list! Not sure what to get? Let them choose with an eGift card.