High School Graduation Gift for My Niece

Cash... impersonal as it is.. she will love you for it and it's probably what she needs and wants. Give it to her in a pretty keepsake box or something if you want to attach a personal meaning to it.

Ha ha..my niece is graduating and will be attending UT Austin in the fall as well....we are getting her a new laptop for graduation.

Cash is always the right size and the right color.
It can help pay for rent, utilities, groceries, textbooks, expenses, gas for the car or bus fare if she doesn't have one.
She'll definitely use it.
If you can't bring yourself to think fondly of cash, since she'll be moving out on her own for the first time, ask if she'll need anything that might be like a house warming gift - pots/pans, kitchen utensils, towels, etc.
Most graduation type gifts are somewhat impractical, but she WILL need things for an apartment.

cash might not be personal but it is needed. the gift I give for graduations is the following

laundry basket
large bottle of laundry soap
bottle of stain stuff like shout
bleach
directions for how to do laundry
some hangers

that gift went to all of my kids and all of the kids who's party's we went to. then in addition to that usually a check for $25 or if a best best friend of the family a check for more.

kids going to college need a lot of stuff that you don't really have laying around. a mini fridge, an iron, storage things for under the bed, new heavy duty bookbag, gas money to get back home for visits..... my kids each got several thousand dollars at their grad parties. this they divided over the 9 months they would be at school and it was then their monthly money as at college the meal plans only give usually 2 meals a day. so they have to feed themselves etc...

I would not be so quick to dismiss cash or gift cards most kids these days like and appreciate these gifts more! When I am in this type of position what I usually do is give a gift card and a small inexpensive gift as well. You say you are not close to your brother but what about your niece? If you are not close to her either I think she would appreciate a gift card to buy something nice for her appartment maybe...Its kinda hard to give personal gift ideas when we dont know the person whom you are asking for gift ideas. Think about what your niece likes and go from there otherwise, cash, cash, cash!

All I can think of is something she'll need for her apartment. It seems very impersonal but you could give her laundry supplies, bath towels and bathroom supplies, or kitchen gadgets.

i chose to give cash to my niece. I just gave it too her in a very fun and crafty way. she bought supplies for school with it i think.

Ok if you don't want to do cash or gift cards (which I think are very helpful
for a new college student), you could give some practical gifts.
-a laundry basket
-lamp for her room (make it plain so it won't hamper her style or vision)
-a throw (stylish but functional)
-fuzzy socks
-large desk-top calendar (even though they have them on their phones)
-$20 bill stashed in a tin box for an emergency
-post it notes
-a small canvas picture for her room (make it cool, modern. Tape receipt
to the back so she can return it if she doesn't like it.)
-some staples for her kitchen: Chips, coffee, hot choc, cans of tuna, soup, tea, honey, mustard, ketchup, bagels, cream cheese, salt, pepper)

Here is what not to give her.. A scrap book, frames, or jewelry..
Why? Because every other person is going to give it to her..

The reason money and gift cards are perfect is because yes she will need, linens, a mini fridge, books, and alarm clock, laundry basket.. Blah, blah, Blah,, But she will want to pick it all out herself.

Our daughter wanted money so she could purchase her fancy laptop. She needed a good one because of what she would be studying.. It is the one item she used every day all day long and really was her main tool for college.

She also collected money so she could purchase a really good set of luggage. Again she needed to pick it out because she knew what she would need.

She was given Monogrammed items.. Someone gave her a Jon Hart Cosmetic case that was monogrammed. Another person gave her a robe, also monogrammed.

Personalized thank you notes came in handy.

But the cash and gift cards to Best Buy, Target, The Container Store, Bed Bath and Beyond, the Apple Store REALLY helped her purchase exactly the items she needed.

Just keep it in mind.

Do you know which college she is going to?
- College logo shirt, jacket,
- college logo stadium blanket

- towels
- luggage

- target gift card
- gas gift card
- grocery gift card
- bed bath and beyond gift card
- pizza gift card

I would re-think the idea of cash or gift cards. She gonna need some "stuff" for her apartment, for school, etc.

But if you're dead-set against it, what about a really nice Mont Blanc pen set or a leather portfolio or briefcase or laptop bag? Or a nice suitcase with wheels? Or what about a charm bracelet?

The traditional gift for graduation IS cash. Going to college is expensive!

Gifts that I have given that were appreciated: An iTunes gift card. A four-leaf clover set in a crystal-looking cube for display (from Red Envelope, last I looked they had several different choices).

I like the college logo clothing idea.

Can you take her to Bed, Bath, & Beyond or Target and have her pick out something she needs for college. I also like the idea of a new suitcase or GPS. Or, can you go to the college bookstore website and get her a sweatshirt or t-shirt from the school?

Depends on your budget but if she is moving to Austin she will definately need a GPS

For my baby niece I bought her a James Avery Charm Bracelet with a cap and gown charm.

I remember when I graduated, I received a nice, small, glass jewelry box from my mom's friends. It is something I still have and will probably pass on to my stepdaughter when she is old enough.

I like the idea of filling a laundry basket with "must haves but she won't want to buy herself", like detergent and stuff. Or some non-perishable items in a basket like crackers and stuff.

A keurig coffee maker and a bunch of K-cups for iced and hot beverages. (or a coffee pot with nice coffees).
Even if she doesn't drink it now - I bet by the end of first semester she wouldn't know what to do without it - LOL

It may also be nice to get her a $25 gift card to the campus bookstore or something like that so she can get some college branded items.

I agree with the poster who said nix the scrapbooks, frames and trinkety things. Go with good, solid, practical yet relevant gifts.