Graduation present?

[Nougat555]

Posting here for traffic.

What graduation present did you get from your parents? Or have you bought for your children? Please share the item and it’s approximate cost in today’s money.

I received nothing, nor did my DH (we were both first in our families to go to uni so I don’t think our parents knew it was a thing). Our DS is graduating soon and we have no idea at all about what people usually get and what they spend.

You’ve just reminded me that our youngest has not formally graduated his MSC despite completing in 2019. He should have done in 2020 ceremony ….I remembered it last over a year ago🥴…must ask him if he plans to go along this year maybe!

Oooh. I graduate soon. Do I get presents?!!

(This is joke. I expect I'll get nothing!)

Graduated early 90s. Parents were also graduates. They may have given me a card. But no gift, unless you count the gift of their frequently-voiced disappointment that I didn't work harder and get a 1st.

No plans to buy DD anything. She graduates the day before her birthday.

I don't think I got anything, and I don't remember anyone else getting anything either. Some people went for meals out, which their parents paid for, but even that wasn't everyone.

Nothing. Didn't know this was a thing. Both parents went to uni. In fact they met at uni.

I graduated uni in 2018. I genuinely wasn’t expecting anything.

My parents bought me a charm for my Pandora bracelet. (A little owl with a university cap on).

My grandparents put me £100 in a cart. They’re very generous and I was incredibly grateful.

Bsc- prescription sunglasses they asked and the glasses were the only thing I could think of that I really wanted
Msc- car, all of my family pooled in for that

My parents bought me a really nice Filofax (this was in 1994 so the equivalent of an iPhone!) when I graduated from my undergraduate degree, as I was going on into teaching and they thought I'd use it - and I did, it was invaluable!

When I got my PGCE they bought me a lovely briefcase which I used all through my teaching career until I had to stop working about 12 years ago due to disability.

Both my dds finish studying in June 2023 and I've not really given it any thought. Dd1 with Communication Design BA and dd2 with HND In beauty therapies. I hope I'm able to be as thoughtful as my parents were, though I do realise times have changed!

My parents contributed a very healthy amount of money to help me through uni (in the US, no less), that scholarships and grants could not cover, and that was enough of a gift for me.

I come from a very education focussed family. I was not given anything and I did not expect anything (2009). We went out for lunch before hand and I went out with my friends afterwards to celebrate. They paid for enough without tokenistic gifts as well.

Bracelet £300

I had no idea it was a thing.
We've just shelled out over £100 for the gown and photo package and given money for a dress, shoes and hair done.

I got nothing - all my family graduated, but no idea if any of my siblings got anything. I did buy my children grad gifts and made a big fuss (nice meal out etc).

The graduation day itself can be expensive! My parents paid for the photos, the gown rental and dinner, and for my MA they also paid for us to stay in a hotel as we'd moved away from the area. When my brother graduated they also bought him a suit.
Didn't expect any other gifts after all that!

Nothing

Posts like this make parents feel pressured to buy a gift.

I refuse to feel pressured.

Nothing - well my parents bought me lunch. I was happy with that.

I just don't think it's that big a deal that it needs a gift, unless Uni was a real struggle?

Good for you.

However, some parents want to give gifts, not to compete with others but to congratulate and treat their child/grandchild/niece/nephew. & they shouldn’t be penalised for that.

I bought my mum and dad a small gift each when I graduated, never even thought they would buy me something and dont remember friends taking about gifts from parents! Times have changed.

Nothing

And I don't remember anyone talking about getting anything

My siblings definitely didn't. and we didn't get professional pictures done either.

(Lots go to university in my family , across the generations. I didn't get anything for passing O and A levels either, though I know some classmates did)

I don’t think it is a thing. Is it? Really?
It’s definitely not in our extended family anyhow: we’re a huge family with many graduating several times. Meal out?

I got a beautiful wooden music stand. I've had a look and I reckon about £200 in today's money.

Nothing, really wasn't aware that it was a 'thing' ..

I didn't even bother to go to my own graduation ceremony and it's only recently that I wondered if my DPs would have liked to attend .... my DS will graduate next year, I wasn't expecting to buy him a gift.

I got a nice vase. I got flowers from people for graduation but had nowhere to put them. It was also lovely when I received a beautiful bunch of flowers from a patient's family in my first year of training.