Cash, iPod among most popular parental gifts for grads

Graduation: A frantic but exciting time for seniors to reflect on the accomplishment of finally receiving a college degree. A time to anticipate and look forward to the challenges of a new job, going on to graduate school or simply letting fate take its course. A chance to sit back and soak in the praise and congratulations in forms of "You did its'" and, just as importantly, the graduation gifts.\nAccording to the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, the graduating class of 2005 includes approximately 1.3 million college undergraduates. With an occasion as large as this comes a reason to celebrate. This spring, family and friends across the nation will shower their graduates with gifts galore.\nMany parents and relatives feel the need to give their graduate something to celebrate this monumental occasion. On May 7, students will unwrap various gifts such as a new black suit, a fountain pen or a laptop computer to jumpstart their transition into the job world. Some graduates might be fortunate enough to receive a hot new set of wheels.\nFor the 2005 graduation year, just as it is across campus, Apple's iPod is considered to be a popular graduation gift. Graduating senior Sagar Varanasi, from the Kelley School of Business, decided he wanted an iPod for his graduation gift. \n"I wasn't expecting anything that expensive," Varanasi said. "An iPod is a lot more convenient for me than having to burn CDs of all my songs on the computer."\nVaranasi related the convenience of the iPod to his future plans in finance beyond graduation, because he will be doing a great deal of traveling next year for his job. It will allow him to take his music with him wherever he goes, Varanasi said.\nAccording to www.Hallmark.com, cash is considered to be one of the best and most practical gifts for college graduates. Industry-wide, nearly 79 million graduation cards will be given and each college graduate will receive about eight graduation cards, with some of them hopefully stuffed with money.\nGraduating senior Randi Fisher said her parents planned to send her to Cancun with a friend or buy her a new Mac computer for her graphic design major. However, Fisher decided to take the responsible route and asked her parents for cash.\n"I actually had to talk them into it," Fisher said. "I'd rather have the cash than a present. I have a lot of bills to take care of and now I can finally pay off my car." \nThere are also students who will be surprised to find out what their gift will be graduation day. Graduating senior Amy Miller said she told her parents she wanted a one-way ticket to Europe.\n"I kind of doubt all that will happen," Miller said. "Knowing my parents, they will probably just give me $50 in a card."\nBut if she makes it there, Miller said she wants to spend enough time overseas to backpack and stay in hostels across Europe. Even though Amsterdam is cliché, it's the place she is the most excited to see, she said.\n"I'll fly my way back when I'm done," Miller said. "I just want to go long enough to see everything. I'll come back when my finances run out."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Kristin Huett at khuett@indiana.edu.