Skipping Commencements

Congratulations, you graduated — now, you have to decide whether you want to attend your graduation ceremony! Attendance isn’t required for your commencement — you won’t be penalized if you choose to skip. Commencements don’t hand out your actual degree/diploma, it actually will be mailed in a few weeks.

Ceremonies typically take hours to end, and you’re just sitting and listening to many graduates before you and lengthy speeches. Maybe you like these sentimental moments, or you don’t and find them more dreadful.

Hundreds of thousands of people will be there, it will be very crowded, and maybe the stress of it isn’t for you. You typically have to pay for your robe and cap, which may not be worth it to some.

Skipping commencements, however, can cause you to miss memories of graduating and seeing friends for the last time. You may want visual proof of your college degree and what would be better than you in your cap and gown with your family. Graduation ceremonies are intended to feel like an achievement of an end goal where you can cross the stage and show everyone that you’ve made it through all the challenges as a student.