Graduating

[MrJuice]

I'm graduating this year from uni. The ceremony is quite an expensive exercise. Robes (£45), guest tickets (£56), travel to venue plus parking (£30), probably new outfit for me, wife and kid (£££), swanky meal with wider family (£££), photos (£50)

Will I regret not going?

[Troubleatmill]

Yup.

You are a long time dead.


Enjoy memories. Especially ones you worked bloody hard to create.


Or... look forward to receiving a certificate in the post.. WooHoo..!



Wife, kid , family etc - will be so proud of your achievement.

[xRIEx]

If you've just obtained a medical or law degree, you'll probably earn it back.

If you've just done a 'Communications' degree, might as well learn to watch every penny.

[miroku]

Daughter has graduated in Law/Medicine DO IT you will remember this for a long time.
I would suggest that your family will also treasure the moment too.

Good luck as you go forward.

[Quhet]

You've spent 3 years at uni for this, you can't not go!
Can your family not help you out with the costs?

[Transiter]

miroku said:

Daughter has graduated in Law/Medicine

That's impressive

[eyebeebe]

I was that pissed off with my result that I didn't bother going to my graduation. I never heard the end of it from my parents until I invited them to my MBA graduation 9 years later. Save yourself the earache and go

[Big Rumbly]

Troubleatmill said:

Yup.

You are a long time dead.


Enjoy memories. Especially ones you worked bloody hard to create.


Or... look forward to receiving a certificate in the post.. WooHoo..!



Wife, kid , family etc - will be so proud of your achievement.

Definitely, Small Rumbly graduated last year, did'nt want to go. We explained all of the above, and we all went, great day. I think he even grudgingly admitted, it was ok.

[Jasandjules]

I didn't go. Doesn't bother me.

[cobra kid]

Yes, do it! My memories of it (9 years ago and I was 33), are of my dad (he died two years after) sat with my missus and 21 month old daughter. I heard her shout "there's my daddy" as I walked across the stage. Priceless.

[technodup]

I didn't bother. Can't say I've given it a seconds thought never mind regretted it.

The achievement doesn't change.

[MrJuice]

My issues are as follows:

I'm 33. This is my second degree and it happens to be medicine. I have an 18m old who will be 23m by the time of the ceremony. Ceremony is at least 2.5h long, even if we are seated last and then there's the drinks reception after. So my son is likely to get a little or very restless not being able to do his thing. Also, my mum is quite immobile after a nasty bout of PCP pneumonia 2.5 years ago. So she won't be able to sit through it all either.

I've worked in between and have a business. So paying for the bits and bobs is no biggy, thankfully. But I've always tried to spend wisely and £45 on robes for 4 hours seems silly. As does £20 for two 8"*6" photos in a card frame.

My biggest gripe is that realistically, we won't be able to take our son. That annoys me a lot. The FAQs on the graduation website say not to bring children. And if they are restless, you'll need to leave the hall. Fair enough, of course.

I booked tickets just now but they'd easily be snapped up by colleagues who want to bring their whole family.

[rotarymazda]

Jasandjules said:

I didn't go. Doesn't bother me.

Same here, never gave it a second thought until you mentioned it 25 years later!

[mark_m135]

Didn't go to mine, I had to travel for work, not given it a second thought until this thread.

[drivin_me_nuts]

I never went to mine. I went to all my wife's graduations and the memories are important to me... so just as a thought, why not ask those around you if they want to see you graduate. parents etc (if applicable)

[Impasse]

Last one I went to was my ex's about ten-fifteen years ago. It was quite dull. Mind you after an hour or two she walked onto the stage for a good eight seconds, so that alleviated some of the boredom.

[deckster]

MrJuice said:

My issues are as follows:
<snip>

So that's a whole different set of issues than you originally said and puts a totally different spin on it.

First degree, just cough up and enjoy the show. Second degree, ill wife, restless kids - I'd probably give the whole thing a miss.

[SamR380]

I didn't, doesn't bother me either. But I am generally a miserable sod.

edit: and tight too.

[Crush]

I didn't bother. Can't say that I enjoyed my time at uni and it felt like a complete waste of time.

I didn't see much point in wasting more money and time

[Muncher]

I went to my university graduation ceremony but I didn't bother heading over to the law society when I qualified as a solicitor and have never given it a second thought!