Master's student, Emma, has provided us with some helpful tips from someone who has experienced it all before:
Graduation is a really fun and special day, but it can be quite overwhelming. As a master’s student, I attended my undergraduate ceremony last year so here are some tips and tricks I learnt from own experience.
Knowing what to expect helps a lot with the nerves and anticipation for graduation. The ceremony itself goes by quite quickly – prepare yourself for a lot of clapping though! Walking on stage to get your degree can also be a bit scary, but it goes by in a second and then you can relax and enjoy the rest of the ceremony. There are usually some motivational and reflective speeches which celebrate your achievements and get you excited for the future. Once the ceremony is over, the day is yours to plan!
Check your itinerary
This is essential in making sure your day goes smoothly. You’ll need to arrive early to get your cap and gown fitted, so make sure to check what time the company suggests. It’s also a good idea to show up a bit early so you can get a professional photo taken before the ceremony. I also found it useful to know where I had to be and when, so I could tell how much time I would need to get from the gown hire to the hall.
Plan your day
Before your graduation day, it’s worth contacting the people you want to see and take pictures with on the day. If you also want to celebrate graduation with a meal out, I recommend booking in advance. Lots of people will be coming to Exeter so making a reservation will guarantee your place at your favourite spot.
Bring a bag
It can be a long day so make sure to bring a bag with some essentials in:
- bottle of water – so you can stay hydrated
- sun cream – in case we are blessed with some good weather
- mirror – if you want to check your hair/make up before getting your pictures done
- hair grips and safety pins – to keep your cap and hood in place
Bring spare shoes
Whether it’s getting photos at your favourite places on campus or trying to navigate where to collect your graduation gown - you’re likely to be doing a lot of walking so it’s best to make sure your shoes are comfortable or bring a spare pair.
I hope this blog post has helped you get a better feel for what to expect for graduation and has helped with your preparation. Remember that what makes the day lovely is that your friends and the people you love are coming together to celebrate with you, and you can reflect on all the hard work you’ve done to get to this point. Con-grad-ulations!