The Student Room Group

Graduation Ceremonies

So who's graduating this year then?

Ive just had all the info for my grad ceremony, which is in July. Ive read it all and to be honest, I really dont want to go, Im dreading it. But I know that if I dont go, I shall probably regret it.

Ive been told that you just have to sit there for like 2/3 hours without leaving the room, the idea of which seems like hell to me, as when I get nervous/anxious I have been known to suffer from panic attacks. They only happen very rarely, even so it is bad enough to put me off from going. Also I have lost contact with most of the friends I made in my first year, as we have all been split into groups this year, and drifted apart. So then theres the dilemma of who do you sit with.

So I suppose Im just looking for experiences from other people of their grad ceremonies? Are they not as bad as they seem? I just dont like the idea of having to sit there for all that time with nowhere to escape to!

Overall I dont think Im really that bothered about going, as I shall receive my certificate in the post anyway, but I think my parents would like to go.
Reply 1
Graduate friends and family say that the ceremony is long and tedious and usually hot, but worth sitting through as a rite of passage. You probably would regret not going. And your parents will miss out on the chance to feel proud of you.
As for who you will sit with, you will probably be sat in alphabetical order with everybody else from your course with your class of degree, so you and everyone else will sit where you are told!
Go, it represents three years of hard work and at least you won't regret it.
do they read out what class of degree everyone has got?
Reply 4
They did for my sisters graduation. Yeah I'd go - seems like a laugh. Defo regret it if I didn't go :smile:

Hopefully if I'm at Imperial they'll do the grad ceremony at royal albert hall. :biggrin:

Have fun

Ourkid
thats embarrasing..im in my second yr now and wud be gutted if i got a 2.2 and they read it out (my parents wud also be upset) and what abt ppl who get a 3rd/fail!!! *goes to do some work!*
john williams
thats embarrasing..im in my second yr now and wud be gutted if i got a 2.2 and they read it out (my parents wud also be upset) and what abt ppl who get a 3rd/fail!!! *goes to do some work!*

They didn't read the classification out at my grad ceremony :smile:
Reply 7
Ive just been told that they read out the names in alphabetical order, they dont do the grade
Reply 8
I've had the info for mine given out, its in July as well. I'm surprised at how expensive is for what it actually is (or maybe its just me being stingy!) Ours in £20/ticket and is only being held in the sports hall at uni. So it seems quite expensive to me just to go there! Also, to hire the cap/gown thingy is £36, it all seems to add up pretty quickly.

Also, I don't want to go if I don't do well in my degree, but I have to pay in March so won't know what I will get. If I don't get a 2:1 I can't be bothered to go, but I will have to decide. I really don't know as I want to go :frown:
Reply 9
I went to my brothers last July, did last about 3hours, but it went v quick!! Was really nice and everyone was all happy and proud (with some mothers being hysterical, lol!)

They did it by course, then alphabetically per degree classification! lol! But they didn't say that so and so has a first, you only knew if you followed the booklet with all the names

I'd say go, it's only one day and yeah can be expensive, but you'll probably regret it and when else will you get to do it!! (Unless you do masters etc!)

-x-
john williams
thats embarrasing..im in my second yr now and wud be gutted if i got a 2.2 and they read it out (my parents wud also be upset) and what abt ppl who get a 3rd/fail!!! *goes to do some work!*


What is this thing that a 2.2 is bad-its actually really good, at least you still have a degree. I feel awlful reading this, id be happy with a 2.2.
Reply 11
I went to my bf's last summer - it felt pretty long (was a good couple of hours at least) as a spectator but I guess it'd feel shorter if you at least got to walk across the stage :p: They just read out the names in alphabetical order and in the programme it had a star next to your name if you got a first, but there was nothing else about the degree classification. They also had to sit in alphabetical order to make the logistics a bit easier, so didn't have to worry about who to sit next to :smile: They're not the most exciting event as someone watching it, but I reckon you'd probably regret not going (you've worked for 3 or 4 years to achieve it presumably!) and as you say, your parents will probably love it!
Jenn xx
Cathie86
I've had the info for mine given out, its in July as well. I'm surprised at how expensive is for what it actually is (or maybe its just me being stingy!) Ours in £20/ticket and is only being held in the sports hall at uni. So it seems quite expensive to me just to go there! Also, to hire the cap/gown thingy is £36, it all seems to add up pretty quickly.

Also, I don't want to go if I don't do well in my degree, but I have to pay in March so won't know what I will get. If I don't get a 2:1 I can't be bothered to go, but I will have to decide. I really don't know as I want to go :frown:

They make you pay for the tickets?

Is that for those of you graduating as well as visitors?

We didn't have to pay. You were guaranteed 2 visitor tickets if you got the form back in on time and could ask for several more if you wanted them. I was lucky enough and got all the four I wanted (and it cost nothing), so my Mum, Dad, little siter and Auntie could all come in Central Hall with me (strange builing....looks like the saucer section of the star ship enterprise from the outsie. Inside it's where I had most of my exams, countless productions have been held, the Church of England usually hold their General Synod in there and where The Who, Genesis, Boomtown Rats and the Kinks have all supposedly played) :biggrin:
No - we don't have to pay, but any guests have to pay. We get 2 guarenteed tickets (£20 each) and then can 'apply' for more if there are any left (which will also be £20 each). I was just surprised at £20 when it is only being help in our sports hall, means it will be £40 for both my parents - £60 if I manage to get a ticket for my sister as well + the £36 hire fee for gown. Making it all very expensive!
Cathie86
No - we don't have to pay, but any guests have to pay. We get 2 guarenteed tickets (£20 each) and then can 'apply' for more if there are any left (which will also be £20 each). I was just surprised at £20 when it is only being help in our sports hall, means it will be £40 for both my parents - £60 if I manage to get a ticket for my sister as well + the £36 hire fee for gown. Making it all very expensive!

Yeah, it does make it very expensive.
Has it always been like that? Or changed recently.

If it's anything like m grad ceremony too, it'll only last an hour.
Roger Kirk
Yeah, it does make it very expensive.
Has it always been like that? Or changed recently.

If it's anything like m grad ceremony too, it'll only last an hour.


Its always been like that as far as I know (or at least for quite a few years!) I really begrudge paying that amount of money for what I will actually 'get' for it, but I will probably end up going just cos I don't want to be regretting it in years time if I didn't go.

I guess what is putting me off more is that I havn't enjoyed my degree and just want to finish it, so I'm not really that bothered about going to a graduation for a degree I'm not intrested in!
Reply 16
AMAZING - happiest moment of my life going up there and getting it! It was bloody hot though.

BEST feeling ever.
Reply 17
I have applied for my MSc to start in Sep which is another reason why I might not bother going.

I have to pay £25 and that gives me 2 tickets, which isnt enough anyway. Id need 3: 2 for my parents and 1 for my bf.
They are also doing the whole of the School of Sciences in one afternoon, which I guess will make it a very long day.

I have to let them know by the end of March if I want to attend or not, otherwise its too late, so I might just pay anyway and see how I feel closer to the time.