Graduating from college is often regarded as one of the biggest achievements in a student's life. It's a moment filled with a whirlwind of emotions: nervousness, excitement, pride, and even a bit of sadness as you close one chapter and prepare for the next.
According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), over 910,000 students graduate each year in the UK, and this number is growing annually. While it's a moment to celebrate, there’s a lot to do, from securing your cap and gown to managing emotions and plans for the day.
To help you during this exciting yet hectic time, we’ve gathered expert tips to ensure you are fully prepared for a smooth and memorable graduation ceremony. Let’s dive into the essential steps to make the most of your big day.
8 Tips to Prepare for Your College Graduation Ceremony
The college graduation ceremony is a moment filled with excitement, but it often brings a touch of anxiety as well. Every student desire to look their best, enjoy the ceremony, and avoid any embarrassment. This sense of preparation extends beyond the graduates; attendees also want to ensure they are well-prepared. Students who want to enjoy the ceremony fully often seek assignment writing help to alleviate the burden of academic stress, allowing them to celebrate without distractions.
This shows everyone's level of excitement about attending the graduation ceremony. However, to settle those butterflies in the stomach, we have compiled this guide for the students preparing to celebrate their biggest achievement in a style.
Stick to this as we dig into the details.
1. Wear a Business Professional Attire Under the Gowns
We understand you are happy about your achievement and want to celebrate it as best you can. But you should always remember that your college graduation is an official event that is celebrated collectively with your peers. You need to dress appropriately and maintain professionalism. While your gown will cover what you are wearing underneath, the institutes still encourage the students to dress accordingly.
Most students wear business professional or business casual attire beneath their gowns. Wearing flip-flops or jeans is not acceptable and must be avoided. You should also choose comfortable shoes for the day, as you will be walking a long way. Even if you are purchasing new shoes, you must wear them before the ceremony to ensure they do not rub your feet.
2. Order Academic Regalia on Time
Students are responsible for ordering their academic regalia. You need to order your academic regalia on time, including the cap and gown for the ceremony. To avoid any problems later, it is better to purchase your gown and cap from the college's official merchandiser.
You should also take the current and accurate measurement of you while sharing it with the merchandiser. Once you receive the order, you can practise wearing the gown and learn how to carry it properly. Trying it on will ensure the gown and cap fits you well, and you feel comfortable.
3. Confirm Your Attendance
RSVP is very important for your graduation ceremony, so you need to send your confirmation of attendance. Along with the confirmation, you will also mention the number of people attending your college graduation ceremony. The colleges usually have official RSVP procedures and require you to confirm your attendance through their portal.
During the process, you might need to fill out some important forms and submit them before the deadline is over. Because you also have to invite your family members and friends, make sure to mention their number after confirming if they really will be attending the ceremony.
4. Send out Invitations in Advance
Family, friends, or anyone you want to join you on your precious day has to be invited in advance. Not just invite in advance; you need to take the confirmation and include the number of guests attending the ceremony in your RSVP. This will save you and your guests from embarrassment, as they need to receive the guest tickets to be able to attend your college graduation ceremony. The guest tickets are usually issued at the registration desk on the day of the ceremony.
Graduation is a very important event in your life. You have gone through so much during your studies. You deserve to have your dearest by your side at this prestigious event. However, most institutes issue only a set number of tickets. If you act promptly, you can secure more tickets to ensure there are enough seats to invite your friends.
5. Attend Commencement Preview
The respective graduates are required to attend the commencement preview, where students can ensure their name pronunciation is correct. They will also be able to receive special instructions for the graduation ceremony. The graduates will receive graduation ceremony procedures and secure the gold tussles in case they are receiving institutional honours. This commencement preview is usually organised on a Thursday before the commencement ceremony.
Attending the preview will enhance your understanding of the regulations and processes and help you navigate the college graduation ceremony successfully. Students can avoid embarrassing themselves and also ensure their name is pronounced correctly.
6. Don’t Embarrass Yourself
Being nervous and anxious about the graduation ceremony is normal for students. For some students, it's nerve-wracking, just like their wedding day. You will have to walk through the stage in front of lots of people, including your friends and family.
Feeling those butterflies in the stomach is pretty normal. Being watched and the centre of attention can further increase those anxious feelings, especially in students with autism disorder. In such situations, students normally make mistakes, which can cost them heavily in terms of losing confidence.
For example, buying new shoes for the ceremony and wearing them for the first time. New shoes can rub your feet and make you suffer extreme pain at your graduation ceremony. You will not be able to move around, especially climbing those stairs.
This temptation of wearing heels in the females for the college graduation ceremony can also make them suffer. If you normally don’t wear heels, you should avoid them today as well. You might feel tired, won’t be able to walk comfortably, or might trip over while going to the stage to collect your award.
7. Capture the Moment
You have come this far, crossing all the hurdles and difficulties on the way. You deserve a monument to this achievement. Although professional photographers will be taking loads of pictures, you should capture some personal snaps that you can post on your Instagram. You can capture some moments with your friends, peers, and professors whom you will never meet again throughout your life.
Some relationships are usually worth every moment you spend with them. You might want to save those moments and cherish them, of course, but you cannot rely on official images to come out. Plus, you might also want to frame some special images and hang them on that wall with family pictures. However, to be able to capture those moments, your phone needs to have enough battery life and memory left. So, you can take as many pictures as you want.
8. Acknowledge Your Hard Work & Have a Fun
Graduating from competitive colleges in the UK is not everyone's piece of cake. You have come to this stage after hard work for years. You put a great amount of time and effort into this day. So, you should celebrate and acknowledge your hard work as it should be. This can be an emotional moment, and so many tears around as you have finally made it to this day.
One thing to remember is that the college graduation ceremony is approximately 1.5 hours in duration, so you should plan how you are going to celebrate it afterwards. If you are thinking about having nice food with family or friends, make sure you have the reservations in advance.
Many restaurants and venues tend to be fully booked during graduation season, making it a wise choice to plan and secure your dining options in advance. Similarly, students in their final semesters should take the same approach when selecting the best assignment writing companies in the UK. As graduation approaches, these services also experience high demand and can quickly fill up. To ensure you meet your deadlines and receive the support you need, it’s essential to choose your preferred coursework assistance provider as early as possible.
You will not like to walk around half the day searching for a place to eat. This is your graduation day, which you have waited for months, and you would like to make the most of it.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you act promptly and prepare well for your college graduation ceremony, you can avoid the stress of embarrassment and enjoy your great achievement. The steps are quite few but have immense impacts on your graduation ceremony preparations, such as ensuring you buy the regalia, attend the commencement preview, and RSVP.
We have provided all the essential steps you should take to prepare the best for your graduation ceremony. Implementing these steps can save you from last-moment disappointments and help you celebrate your day in the best way possible.
