Heartfelt congratulations to the high school graduate in your life! As a parent, witnessing your child walk across the stage and receive their diploma is an exhilarating experience. Celebrating 12 years of dedication and hard work is a momentous occasion before embarking on the next chapter of life. However, once the initial excitement of graduation subsides, the reality of leaving home for college begins to set in. To alleviate the anxiety and apprehension that may accompany this transition, consider presenting graduation gifts designed to both celebrate this achievement and prepare them for the journey ahead.
TOP GIFTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADS HEADED TO COLLEGE
This selection of gifts for high school graduates bound for college is inspired by the items my own daughter (now a rising college sophomore) received upon her high school graduation. These gifts are not only considerate but also highly practical—items that we didn’t initially consider but have become part of her daily routine. What makes these gifts truly special is that she uses them regularly. She even reviewed this list before I shared it with you!
A Touch of Home:
To infuse a bit of hometown nostalgia, we gave our daughter a Well Told Custom Water Bottle ($34.95) adorned with a map of her hometown. This bottle accompanies her to and from classes and neatly fits in her backpack, ensuring she stays hydrated during her journeys. Well Told’s custom etched items are both stunning and functional. The triple-wall vacuum-insulated stainless steel keeps beverages hot for 12 hours or cold for 24. This distinctive gift will be an integral part of a college student’s daily life throughout their academic journey and beyond.
Consider assembling a gift bag filled with items unique to your city or state, offering a heartfelt way for college-bound graduates to reminisce about home. My daughter received a Maryland-themed gift bag, featuring a tumbler, playing cards, stickers, and a keychain adorned with our state’s distinctive flag and a nod to our state’s love for crabs. Each item was not only meaningful but also practical and easily packable.
Personalized Luggage:
Years ago, we purchased L.L. Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffels for our children, complete with personalized embroidery. This fall, our daughter brought hers with her when she headed to college, and it has been her trusted travel companion ever since. Duffel bags have an edge over traditional luggage because they can be easily stashed in a corner of a closet or tucked under a dorm room bed. Plus, the durability of an L.L. Bean duffle ensures it will last well beyond their college years.
Portable Bluetooth Speaker:
Another fantastic gift is the JBL Portable Bluetooth Speaker ($49.95). Despite its compact size, it delivers impressive sound for up to 10 hours on a single charge. Equipped with a metal carabiner, it can be effortlessly clipped to a backpack, allowing students to stream music from their phones while studying outdoors. Moreover, its rugged rubber housing and waterproof design make it highly durable.
Organizational Supplies:
Dorm rooms have limited space, making organizational supplies a practical and welcomed gift for any college student. Small bins are ideal for tidying up desk drawers, while plastic stacking tubs help maximize closet space. A set of storage drawers proved essential for my daughter, providing additional storage space beneath her lofted bed. Over-the-door shoe organizers free up valuable floor space and can also serve as snack holders.
The Squirrel Bedside Perch (available at a 20% discount off the regular price of $49.95 on Amazon) is a must-have for every college student, ensuring their most essential items are within arm’s reach. In many dorm rooms, the available furniture or room configuration may not allow for a bedside table. That’s where the Squirrel Bedside Perch comes in handy—it’s a convenient bedside caddy featuring five compartments to hold various items. Additionally, it includes two built-in charging ports for USB-C and USB-A devices, ensuring that electronics are always charged and within easy reach. Despite its compact size, it can accommodate a 32 oz. water bottle, a remote control, a phone, a tablet, and more. Best of all, no tools are required for installation.
Backpack-Style Laundry Bag:
While a laundry bag may not seem like the most exciting gift, it’s undoubtedly one of the most practical items that college-bound graduates will use regularly. My daughter received a backpack-style laundry bag and appreciates its spaciousness. The straps make it easy to carry, and its slim design ensures it doesn’t occupy much space in her dorm room, unlike a laundry basket. An exterior mesh pocket comes in handy for transporting laundry pods, detergent bottles, or dryer sheets to the laundry room. Even though most students have digital swipe laundry access, consider including a roll of quarters when presenting this gift in person. My daughter’s swipe system malfunctioned at the beginning of the school year, leaving students scrambling for quarters!
Gift Cards:
While cash is always helpful, gift cards are versatile and equally appreciated gifts for college-bound high school graduates. For example, if your child is heading from the East Coast to the West Coast for college, an In-N-Out Burger gift card, as sent by my daughter’s aunt and uncle, would make a thoughtful and enjoyable graduation gift. It reflects creativity, consideration, and is something they can savor after late-night study sessions when cravings for burgers and shakes arise!
Here are some additional gift card ideas that serve as excellent presents for high school graduates bound for college:
- Campus Bookstore: The campus bookstore offers a wide range of essentials, including required course materials, college apparel, stationery, charging cables, and snacks. It’s a convenient one-stop shop for college students.
- Food Delivery Services: While dining hall food has improved over the years, sometimes students crave options beyond what’s served on campus. Food delivery gift cards for platforms like GrubHub, Uber Eats, or DoorDash provide the flexibility to satisfy those cravings, especially after late-night study sessions or sports activities.
- Target: Target is a go-to destination for college essentials. Many items for our daughter’s dorm room were purchased there. It’s also a frequent stop for her and her friends to stock up on necessities. A Target gift card will always come in handy for a college student. Tip: Target offers a one-time student discount of 15% off a single purchase for Target Circle members who are verified students. My daughter signed up for this discount last summer and coordinated with her roommate to use it on items like a mini fridge and other items she wanted to ship directly to school. The discount applies to the total purchase of eligible items (most are eligible), making it an excellent way to save money. However, it is only offered once per year. College students need to re-verify their student status annually to qualify for the discount.
WIN A SQUIRREL BEDSIDE PERCH:
Squirrel is generously offering one Bedside Perch as a reader giveaway! To enter, simply leave a comment sharing what items you would place in your Squirrel Bedside Perch to keep within easy reach. Additionally, you can earn extra entries by completing the required task in the Rafflecopter form below.
