I really enjoyed mine. It rounded off 4 great years and the sense of achievement at the end of it was lovely. It was a chance to see all your friends together one last time, congratulate them on their results, meet your friends parents and say a thank you and goodbye to those members of staff who went the extra mile to help you or inspired you during the degree. I liked being a part of the tradition and heritage of the university, from sitting and taking in the Great Hall (without being in an exam!) to listening to the music at the start and the precession of academic staff walking in onto the stage.
The day starts with queueing for tickets and collecting the cap and gown and having the official photography done. Then informal photos on campus with friends and family, before family and guests enter the hall first, followed by graduands.
The vice-chancellor and a few other senior members of staff speak before the dean of your particular school awards the degrees and the graduands go on stage to shake hands and collect their transcripts etc. Midway through, somebody is awarded with an honorary degree and does a speech. This is then followed by further degree awards. A speech is then made by one of the senior staff, followed by the national anthem and the precession of graduates leaving the hall.
A whole school photograph is then taken, which is some job for the photographer to organise 200+ students and fend off all the parents getting in the way trying to get their snaps too!
My university had a marquee outside the hall with champagne and canapes. There was another marquee selling food and drink too. Staff, graduates and parents could socialise which rounded off a great day.
It is fortunate that my university has a beautiful campus and it was a perfectly sunny day. I suppose the experience would be somewhat different if the graduation ceremony was held in a rented venue away from the university campus without the grandeur and heritage of the university and if the weather was dull too!