Hello, I am writing to ask if any of you have some good ideas about what to give a person who was just accepted to a PhD program. My older sister was just accepted and I wanted to give her a creative gift to congratulate her. Did any of you receive something special from loved ones that you would recommend?

I got a laptop from my parents - I can't live without it!!

I got one of those metal statues from Athena... well cool and different!

How about a wig...For when she starts pulling out her hair..

Or some de-stressing aromatherapy products.. ;o)

It's not very creative but a dictaphone is very handy for meetings with your supervisors...or a filing cabinet for all her papers?!

Definitely a laptop although I guess thats a little more than a gift price, how about one of those books like how to survive a PhD - some of them are surprisingly useful in bleak moments

A book called "The Unwritten Rules of Phd Research" by Gordon Rugg and Marian Petre. I wasn't given this book as present, but it would make a great gift.

A rug - everybody likes rugs

Rug... Hmmm good idea. A flying rug of course...

All I got was a few well done's and congratulations. Get her a card! Save the big present for if/when she FINISHES her PhD!

I hope my sister buys be something if/when I get accepted! I had an interview last week and decided that if I get accepted I'm going to buy two stick-insects. Just something I've always really wanted. BTW, I'm going to call them Christine and Damian.

I'm glad no one bought me a stick insect...would have been delighted with a tortoise though...! ;o)