What happens at a graduation ceremony?

Original post by s817

Is it worth attending? I don't want to attend or wear the robes and hat. Is it compulsory to attend or optional? What even happens at a graduation ceremony?

It’s not compulsory to attend but I do think it’s worth attending. How many times in your life will you graduate? Graduation ceremonies slightly differ according to the uni. For mine:
Graduation started at 10:30 , but you are told to get there roughly two hours earlier to get your gown, hat, tickets and to take professional photos. We got there sort of late, at 9:45am.
Got my gown and hat, then I got the tickets and gave them to my family. They made their way to the cathedral to get seated. Us graduates stayed behind to stand in alphabetical order (according to surname) and we were escorted to the cathedral.
Once seated, we had to listen to a few speeches. Then the graduation officially started. People were called out according to their degree (they do not read out your degree classification.) once your name is called, you go up, shake hands with the man (I don’t really know who he was) collect your certificate, and make your way back to your seat.

Once everyone’s graduated, you leave the cathedral and meet your family and friends. Take pictures by the cathedral. Before returning the gown, we went to take professional pictures (because we didn’t have time to take them before the ceremony) and then went out for a meal. That’s pretty much it!

Why don’t you want to go?

Reply 2

s817

OP

Original post by cherryred90s

It’s not compulsory to attend but I do think it’s worth attending. How many times in your life will you graduate? Graduation ceremonies slightly differ according to the uni. For mine:
Graduation started at 10:30 , but you are told to get there roughly two hours earlier to get your gown, hat, tickets and to take professional photos. We got there sort of late, at 9:45am.
Got my gown and hat, then I got the tickets and gave them to my family. They made their way to the cathedral to get seated. Us graduates stayed behind to stand in alphabetical order (according to surname) and we were escorted to the cathedral.
Once seated, we had to listen to a few speeches. Then the graduation officially started. People were called out according to their degree (they do not read out your degree classification.) once your name is called, you go up, shake hands with the man (I don’t really know who he was) collect your certificate, and make your way back to your seat.

Once everyone’s graduated, you leave the cathedral and meet your family and friends. Take pictures by the cathedral. Before returning the gown, we went to take professional pictures (because we didn’t have time to take them before the ceremony) and then went out for a meal. That’s pretty much it!

Why don’t you want to go?

It sounds boring. Are the gowns expensive? If you don't attend then do you still get a certificate?

Reply 3

Original post by s817

It sounds boring. Are the gowns expensive? If you don't attend then do you still get a certificate?

Some parts are boring, but you’re there to celebrate with your family and friends. My gown was £43 and then I got two tickets were £40 so I paid £83 total. They will send your certificate in the post if you don’t attend

Reply 4

Little Popcorns

Original post by cherryred90s

Some parts are boring, but you’re there to celebrate with your family and friends. My gown was £43 and then I got two tickets were £40 so I paid £83 total. They will send your certificate in the post if you don’t attend

Expensive blar...
They should feed you and stuff

Reply 5

Original post by Little Popcorns

Expensive blar...
They should feed you and stuff

Lol what food are you going to be eating at a cathedral?

Reply 6

Ol94

15

i went nd yeah it was worth going cos well for me only grad once and would be depressing if stayed at home.

Reply 7

Little Popcorns

Original post by cherryred90s

Lol what food are you going to be eating at a cathedral?

Not at the cathedral as part of the day.

Reply 8

s817

OP

Original post by cherryred90s

Some parts are boring, but you’re there to celebrate with your family and friends. My gown was £43 and then I got two tickets were £40 so I paid £83 total. They will send your certificate in the post if you don’t attend

Do all students at the university who are graduating attend the ceremony on the same day/time or is it by course on different days?

Reply 9

Original post by s817

Do all students at the university who are graduating attend the ceremony on the same day/time or is it by course on different days?

I think it’s by faculty. So pharmacy students graduate together, social science students graduate together, business and IT graduate together and so on. Mine was in the AM, and there was another ceremony in the PM.
Graduations are usually in July, but some final year students may need to resit in the summer (or may just be unable to unable to attend in July) so another graduation will usually be held in November.

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 10

Notoriety

22

You get a piece of paper, you feel disappointed, and you go home.

Reply 11

Cat?

18

A group of old people dressed up like royalty making clichéd speeches

Reply 12

UWS