Updated on May 23rd, 2024
Graduating from high school is a major milestone in life for nearly everyone’s life and a time to celebrate. It marks a transition into adulthood, even for young adults and those who are continuing their studies by heading off to college.
Providing your high school grad with a unique graduation gift is an excellent way to show that you recognize their hard work and dedication and that you wish them luck as they begin to strike out on their own.
While many people turn to traditional high school graduation gifts to celebrate the student’s next chapter in life, providing your student with a unique graduation gift is a fun way for parents, family and friends to make the moment special. And, just because a present is nontraditional, that doesn’t mean it can’t be useful.
If you are struggling to figure out what to get your student for graduation parties, here are 14 unique high school graduation gifts that are suitable for almost every college-bound high schooler.
If you and your student want to learn more about where to find local scholarships, as well as national awards, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! Take a trip over to http://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to reserve your spot today.
1. LED Message Writing Board
Having a quick and easy place to take or leave notes is incredibly helpful, particularly if your child is going to be sharing a dorm room with another student.
An LED message writing board is essentially an upgraded version of a whiteboard, letting them express themselves with colorful pens against a background that glows.
If you want to make it a particularly unique graduation gift, open it in advance of graduation and write a quick note to your child that they’ll only discover after they unpack in their new place. It gives you a chance to include your memories and a beautiful picture or message of support when they were least expecting it.
2. Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
If your student doesn’t have a set of wireless noise-canceling headphones, now is a perfect time to give this unique high school graduation gift.
College students’ campuses can be noisy places, and if they are going to have a roommate, being able to drown out other sounds in their space can be incredibly helpful, especially when trying to do homework. Plus, if their friends say they want to watch a movie or enjoy some music, they don’t have to worry about bothering anyone else in dorm rooms either.
3. High-Quality Multi-Tool
Have you ever needed a screwdriver or pliers only to realize that you don’t have any? Well, your student is about to walk out into the world and probably doesn’t have a single tool to their name.
While bringing an entire toolbox to college isn’t practical, having a high-quality multi-tool on hand is perfectly plausible. These convenient contraptions usually have screwdrivers, pliers, scissors, a ruler, and more tucked into a compact casing. Just make sure to check their own dorm policies regarding edges, as many multi-tools do have short blades, and some properties may restrict them.
In some cases, you can have the side of a multi-tool engraver, so you can include a fun, personalized message along with the convenience of practical tools.
4. F in Exams by Richard Benson
If your child tends to stress out when they make a mistake, consider giving them a copy of F in Exams by Richard Brenson.
The book is a collection of incorrect answers that were actually given to a variety of test questions. The wrong answers are amusing, and the book can serve as a great reminder that, while your child might make a mistake on an exam, they likely won’t be as bad as these.
Related articles:
- 8 Essential Life Skills to Teach Your High Schooler Before They Head to College
- 4 Graduation Party Foods & Tips for Great Graduation Celebration
- Spring Cleaning for Your High School Senior Heading to College
5. Personal Shower Locker
Part shower caddy, part security box, and a personal shower locker that allows your student to keep all of their shower items out of the hands of their roommates (no shampoo thieves here!), thanks to the waterproof combination lock. The back of the locker has two commercial-grade suction cups, ensuring that the locker remains safely mounted to the wall.
6. Mattress Topper
If your college student is heading to a dorm, they don’t always get a say when it comes to their mattress. As a result, they might not end up with the most comfortable bed. Fortunately, a mattress topper is a simple way to make even the stiffest mattress feel more cozy, helping them get a better night’s sleep while they’re away at college.
The Matbeby Quilted Fitted Mattress Pad is an excellent option. It is affordable and features a light, breathable material that helps ensure your student doesn’t overheat while having a good night’s sleep. Plus, it’s incredibly plush, all while being machine washable. It also stretches to fit mattresses up to 21 inches deep, so it will stay put on practically any mattress.
7. Sunrise Alarm Clock
Whether your student is a heavy sleeper or simply prefers to wake up gently in the morning, a sunrise alarm clock makes an excellent high school graduation gift. A sunrise alarm works by slowly increasing the amount of light in the room as it gets closer to the alarm’s scheduled time, mimicking the arrival of dawn.
As a result, it helps to slowly wake up your student, as brighter light can signal their brain and body that it’ll be time to rise soon. The process is often far less jarring than an unexpected alarm, making their mornings more pleasant.
The Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock from Jall also comes with additional features. There’s a built-in FM radio, seven natural sounds to promote sleep or relaxation, different colored lighting options, and dual alarms, making it more functional than some alternatives. Plus, it’s an attractive choice from a décor and style perspective, which is a nice bonus.
8. “Open When” Letters
An “open when” letter is a note stashed in an envelope that has specific instructions regarding when it should be opened.
For example, one letter might be labeled, “Open when you feel lonely,” while another would say, “Open when you need motivation.”
All you need to do is write the letter, seal it in an envelope, and make sure an appropriate instruction is printed on the outside.
If you would prefer to get a few prompts, consider the book Letters to Open When…: Write Now. Read Later. Treasure Forever. You get a set of pre-labeled envelopes that can help you get started.
9. Luggage and Luggage Tags
Not every college-bound child has their own set of luggage. But, if you want to make sure that trips home are easy to manage, now may be the perfect time to provide them with a set.
Select a luggage set in their favorite color or design (make sure the carry-on size meets most airline requirements for bringing them onboard) and add a fun luggage tag to make it a unique graduation gift they can appreciate for years of memories to come.
10. Livescribe Pen
The Livescribe is a smartpen that allows your child to take handwritten notes and record audio that can be automatically sent to their own phone or other digital devices. Your can even sync up the audio timing to a specific point in their notes, allowing them to record lectures at school and associate portions of the discussion to a particular section of their written notes.
Plus, the notes become searchable, helping your child find the details they need with greater ease.
11. Netflix
After graduating high school and heading off to college, students will need opportunities to relax, play and recharge to keep their motivation up. Otherwise, their stress levels may prevent them from being at their best, and that’s never ideal for a student earning a degree. Fortunately, streaming services are an easy entertainment option, particularly since a dorm room usually comes with internet included.
Netflix is one of the top choices for streaming services, as the catalog is substantial, and it’s known for producing its own high-quality shows and movies. Plus, it has a streamlined interface and works well on smart TVs, smartphones, and tablets through various apps, as well as directly through a browser.
12. The Naked Roommate by Harlan Cohen
Another fun book that makes a unique graduation gift is Harlan Cohen’s The Naked Roommate and 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College. The book gives solid advice about dorm life and is designed to help any college freshman, covering topics ranging from money management to stress to difficult roommates.
The book is currently in its 4th edition, and the original was a New York Times bestseller.
13. Amazon Gift Card
Even if you try to plan for your student’s every need before they head off to college or trade school, they will have to do some shopping at some point. Whether it’s refreshing their wardrobe, getting new school supplies, or buying something for fun, shopping is practically unavoidable.
Since that’s the case, the perfect gift for the new high school grads that seems to have everything squared away is an Amazon gift card. When it comes to product selection, Amazon is practically unbeatable. Plus, the company has speedy shipping and excellent customer service, both of which are essential parts of the equation.
Additionally, students can use an Amazon gift card to purchase an Amazon Prime Student membership at a discounted rate. Amazon Prime for students includes:
- Free two-day shipping.
- Unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows.
- Access to Prime Music.
- Exclusive deals and discounts.
This membership can be incredibly beneficial for students, providing both convenience and money-saving benefits throughout the school year.
14. The Scholarship System Online Course
When making this list, I realized that our online course could be the gift that keeps on giving, helping your graduate secure scholarships throughout college. If they need money for college, even if they need money for THIS fall, they can apply throughout the summer. You can learn more about our 6 Steps to Quickly Securing Scholarships for College here, including free training to see if you think it’s the right gift for your student. If you join our free training, you will receive a discount to the course as well.
BONUS: Making Money a Unique Graduation Gift
Let’s face facts; nearly every high school graduate could use a little cash in their pocket.
Money isn’t inherently a unique graduation, but it can be if you focus on presentation. Consider placing some cash in a shadow box and use stick-on letters to spell “Break Glass In Case of Emergency” on the glass (though also show them how to open the box because breaking glass isn’t really the safest move). You could also fold the cash into origami shapes or buy a puzzle box that has to be solved for them to reach the money. Another idea would be to purchase a fun new wallet and put the cash inside the wallet.
There are a lot of fun ways to present cash, so consider what may speak to your child’s sense of humor and explore your options.
By choosing to give a unique graduation gift, you can create a lasting memory between your family, yourself and your child before they head to college.
So, don’t feel like you have to give traditional high school graduation gifts. You can provide them with something helpful without defaulting to standard school graduation gift ideas, so feel free to have a little fun while you choose.
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