My 'little' sister is graduating college this month and I have no idea what to get her! She's going to be a nurse and already has a great job lined up at a great hospital back home. She already has all the nursing stuff she needs and she will be living with our parents for awhile, so she doesn't need any apartment-type stuff.
Any ideas?
What about tickets for an upcoming event? (concert, show, etc.)
Mont Blanc pen?
Spa day gift certificate?
My daughter wants a scooter, I don't think her brothers and sister are getting her anything. :-/
I think college graduation gifts are hard. I also don't think they should have anything to do with their degree. Get your sister something she would like that you wouldn't usually get her.
If she is going to be a nurse, maybe get her a really good comfortable pair of shoes since she will be on her feet a lot, or some really good lotions in small pocket size containers for her hands (because all the washing and glove wearing will be tough on her skin). Maybe a really nice pen or two, since she will be doing a lot of writing. You could try and see if you could fill her "lunch account" at the hospital, that way when ever she wanted to eat lunch or get a snack she would not have to worry about having cash on her because the lunch account has $ in it already. Maybe a gift certificate to the shop where she will be buying scrubs, that way she can decide what she likes or when she needs something new. Depending on what type of nurse, maybe get her a fun mini flashlight or a bag of possible needs to keep in her locker like individual packages of headache medicine, tums, a brush, tooth brush and toothpaste, shout wipes for stains, non perishable food, extra socks etc.
Good Luck
When my daughter graduated high school I went to a party store and got her one of those musical dancing owls that plays Pomp and Circumstance. Then I put the pearl necklace on it that she had asked for. When I gave it to her I said I know this is silly but I thought it was cute, and I set down and played the song. She in typical fashion rolled her eyes at me -- then took a good look at it and said 'What's this' and joyfully put on the necklace. {got her :-) }
A gift certificate to a framing company, or a "coupon" from you, promising to have her diploma framed?
When my mom graduated from nursing school, we got her a frame to display her diploma (a lot of colleges sell diploma frames in their bookstores or there are many websites), a tote bag with pens, notepads, and a mug that said RN, and an old nursing textbook from the 30s I found on eBay.
Other ideas could be gift certificates for manicures or a bookstore (so she can read something other than nursing textbooks). I've also seen necklaces and bracelets with the medical staff with RN, etc. Maybe like someone else said, get her some credit at the cafeteria in the hospital where she'll be working.
How about gas gift cards? That's usually what I get all the graduates on my list. And with the gas prices, who wouldn't want a little exra help in paying for it?!
A very good friend of mine is graduating on Saturday--she's like a sister to me. I bought her a bracelet from Tiffany's today. I hope it's something she'll treasure for a long time.
She is going to need massages, feet, shoulder, etc.. Consider getting her a really nice gift card close to home so she can get the massage and go home and take a nap.
Another idea is what my sister has done for me for about every one of my milestones and it is always my most cherished gift. Make a DVD slide show of pictures of her growing up or just pictures of the two of you together. You can put one together easily at Target or do it yourself and add music she likes or songs about sisters, family, or even songs with a fun medical twist like "I got a bad case of loving you", "Your love is like bad medicine", etc. You could also put a CD together of songs through the years that remind you of her or that you know she likes.
