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Would it be strange if my parents came to Matriculation?

Che!

11

So...would I be the odd one out if my parents were around taking photos of their wonderful boy? :biggrin:

Do parents usually come to these things?

Reply 1

Sinuhe

8

Your parents can't come to matriculation; it's a ceremony for only those who are matriculating or are otherwise involved in it (eg the pro-vice-chancellor). Your parents can, however, wait in Broad Street until you come out of the Sheldonian. I don't know how often that happens - I thought most of the people there were tourists ...

Reply 2

Athena

6

Che!

So...would I be the odd one out if my parents were around taking photos of their wonderful boy? :biggrin:

Do parents usually come to these things?

Well, they can't actually go inside the Sheldonian. They can only take pictures of you when you come out. My parents aren't going.

Reply 3

MatthewH

3

Tell them to bring the biggest camera available, t-shirts saying "I went to Oxford University and all I got was this lousy 2:2", baseball caps and Texan accents. "Gee Barbara, this Mattrickyoulation sure is swell! When does Queen Elizabeth the Second arrive?" Fit in perfectly, bien sur. :biggrin:

My ma said she'd come take photos, if we didn't live so far away...

Reply 4

Che!

OP

11

I know they can't come in, but I'm wondering if people's parents usually stand outside. I've made it perfectly clear that I'll be off partying afterwards, so they won't stay long (I hope...).

Reply 5

Morbo

17

It would be unusual. The vast majority of people's parents do not come because a) they've already driven to Oxford a couple of weeks beforehand, and can't be arsed coming back and b) you are going to head straight from the Sheldonian to the Turf to have celebratory drinking, which should not involve your parents, as it's a traditional bonding exercise with your newfound chums.

Reply 6

Yttrium

1

Your parents can come. Quite a few people's seem to.

I spent my matriculation sadly not getting massively drunk - ours was the early sesh (photo taken at 8:30, IIRC) and I was still a little hung-over from the previous night. So I matriculated, then I (and some of my new-found fresher friends) crashed the graduates Matriculation Brunch that they were having in my college - champagne, fancy food, strawberries and such. And then the excitement of being questioned as to whether we were graduates and subtly stuffing food into our pockets and making a hasty exit.

Then, as I recall, I wrote 2000 words about German literature. Not an entirely traditional matriculation, but a good one nonetheless.

Reply 7

Ella_belle

1

My mum wants to come, although I'm trying desperately to persuade her not to.

She might end up using the 'oh, you were matriculating today? Well its just a coincidence that I happened to be in Oxford' line.

Reply 8

imageofreality

how long is the matriculation?

Reply 9

sokas

8

the actual ceremony is over in a blink of the eye, really doesn't take long. You do the whole picture thing in the morning with sherry...catz record was 19 last yr, I urge you to try and beat it.

Reply 10

imageofreality

19 whats? or am i just being thick :p:

Reply 11

trying41

At the end of the day, even if your parents are your best friends, university is about branching out on your own and getting a bit of independence - having parents outside the Sheldonian seems a bit like an Oxford version of your parents snapping away on their camera throughout the nursery nativity play. I get that your parents are going to be very proud, but surely you can just send them your matric photo?

Reply 12

chocolatecheese

10

mine are coming :rolleyes:

....so at least you won't be the only one Che!

Reply 13

chocolatecheese

10

MatthewH

Tell them to bring the biggest camera available, t-shirts saying "I went to Oxford University and all I got was this lousy 2:2", baseball caps and Texan accents. "Gee Barbara, this Mattrickyoulation sure is swell! When does Queen Elizabeth the Second arrive?" Fit in perfectly, bien sur. :biggrin:

My ma said she'd come take photos, if we didn't live so far away...