the strategist

11 Graduation Gifts Graduates Will Actually Like

Grad gift ideas.
Grad gift ideas.

We went straight to the source — college seniors — and discovered that none seem to be in the market for an engraved watch or a copy of Oh, The Places You’ll Go! Here are some cooler ideas.

Magic Bullet NutriBullet and MacBook Air
“I want a Bullet because it somehow feels emblematic of my transition from disgusting college student to healthy, grown-ass woman. And I want a laptop because I just downloaded the new software to my four-year-old MacBook Air and it’s having a nervous breakdown.” —Rio Vierra-Newton, Bard
$80 at Macy’s$788 at Amazon  

Cocktail Shakers
“I’m graduating with a creative-writing degree, so I might as well get something useful.” —Karlie Shields, Knox
$40 at Amazon

Breville Convection Oven
“I’d love to have a state-of-the-art set of kitchen appliances because, as a foodie, potluck lover, health nut, and people person, cooking is a pretty important part of my life.  If I had to choose a single item, I’d select a full-on industrial kitchen convection oven, but, more realistically, a Breville convection oven.” —Samir Goel, NYU
$250 at Macy’s

Fig + Yarrow Facial Scrub
“Fig + Yarrow products are indulgent and super high-quality. They make self-care fun! — plus, they’d be a nice treat after earning my diploma.” —Kiannah Sepeda-Miller, Knox
$22 at Credo Beauty 

Pax 2
“I want a Pax because — well, I love weed, and Paxes are the best!”—Hannah, Kenyon
$254 at Amazon

Breville Panini Press and Nikon D3200 Lens
“It’s not a necessity, and I’d never buy it for myself, but for some reason everything just tastes better panini’d! And I think it would motivate me to cook more at home instead of spending money ordering in or eating out. I also want a new camera lens for my Nikon D3200. I’ve had my camera for two years but still feel like I’m learning the capabilities of the settings. I think a new lens (I’m thinking 50 millimeter) would give a really different style to the photos I take and give me a chance to learn how to adjust shooting to different lenses” —Austen Tosone, Barnard
$70 at Macy’s$447 at Amazon

Crock-Pot Slow Cooker
Postcollege, I’d love to treat my body better with real meals — no more ramen noodles or cereal for dinner. A crock pot would make that easier, I think! —Rachel Bashein, NYU  
$49 at Amazon

Laviert Laptop Case 
“I really want a nice new laptop case/bag. I’ll need to look professional when I’m hunting for a real job.” —Rachel Frank, NYU
$25 at Amazon

Sharper Image Robotic Massage Chair
“In college I was surrounded by these down-to-earth actors who were very relaxed and loose. Once I’m graduated I’ll have to make sure to make the time to sit down and relax, and sitting down and getting a massage seems like a pretty good way to try to make time for self-care.” —Patrick Sweeney, NYU
$1,200 at Amazon

11 Graduation Gifts Graduates Will Like