Did you attend/or would you attend your DL undergrad ceremony?

I have to make up my mind in the next few weeks on if I want to attend my ceremony for my Bachelors. There is a part of me that wants to go but another part of me that really doesn't care! And being a girl I want to loose about 10-15lbs before then otherwise I wont be to thrilled about taking pictures :wink1::wink1: and it would be pointless anywho...maybe a shot from the waist down holding my diploma would suffice....lmao

So the question is did you attend or would you attend your ceremony for a degree you got via DL?

ETA: As long we we don't move it should only be about a 2.5 drive in order for me to attend.

 

I think it depends on the school. Some make a big production out of it, others aren't so great. I'm not particularly big on the whole ceremony aspect of it so there have been varying reasons why I attended my commencements, none of it had anything to do with walking across a stage to shake hands with some person that has no idea who I am, who then hands me something (not the actual diploma, they mail those to you) and then I walk back to my seat. Seems kind of silly to me.
Granted my degrees weren't earned via DL but I attended my undergrad mainly because of the speaker we had. I had no intention of attending commencement for grad school, but my family made plans to travel to Nashville for it so I had to do it. I'll definitely attend Harvard's only because it is an all day affair with three seperate ceremonies and a huge production. As a member of the staff, I attend the HBS portion every year and I really want to be on the other side of all that.

Earning your degree is obviously a huge achievement, so if the ceremonial portion of that is important to you I'd say make the drive.

 

I travelled to the graduation ceremony for one of my master's. Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams was the guest speaker. The wife and I dropped the kids off at the grandparents and made a vacation weekend out of it.

 

I have no idea if they are having a speaker or not! I know they are having a brunch and such that I can go to and take 3 people for free....not sure about a speaker though......ill have to check!

 

I had scheduled to attend my COSC graduation but my work plans got in the way. I have regretted it since. I never attended any graduation except the one from the Army school (no option there) and wish I have. I may go to AZ for the NCU graduation just to ask Dr Gardner why he never responded to my email!

My advice - attend. It is better to attend and say, "that was a waste of time" as opposed to not attending and always wishing and wondering.

 

The only commencement I've attended was for my first AS at TCC. Otherwise I had no interest in it. Trenton, NJ didn't appeal to me as a vacation spot so I couldn't justify the expense. Would like to attend at UIS but a planned summer vacation to Europe and other moving related expenses are making that one hard to justify as well.

 

I'm in a similar spot, but I have my mind made up not to go. I live 7 hours from my school. It would cost me 2-3 days of work, and it would cost close to a thousand dollars to make the trip. I'm out.

I wanted to walk the stage because my kids are old enough to remember it, and right or wrong, I thought it would be important for them to see me walk across the stage. But, it's just not practical. If it were more in the realm of the feasible, I think I would certainly go, mostly because of what the good Dr. Randell says above. I'm not sure it would be significant to me, but I'm also not sure that it's not significant. If it's practical, go. My 2 cents.

 

I plan on going to my graduation but I’m not 100% sure

 

My official stance on commencements is that I will attend my final commencement. I don't see the point of attending a function that celebrates being done, when I'm not done.

 

I would say it depends if it doesn't cost you a leg and an arm to attend. You don't receive your diploma there anyway.

 

What if....you finish your MBA, decide to go for a PhD (or another masters) and later decide to drop out or hit the lotto and move to the islands or something like that? You may not have known your MBA was the last degree you would want or need. Then what? :shocked1:

 

I am proud to state that at least in the academic silo; I have never started something that I did not finish. If that situation ever happens I won't regret the decision as it was made for the right reasons.

 

all the stars lined up for me, I was one class away and they allow you to walk if your within 9 credits. My mom and dad were in town that week, so I did it. It was local, even though I did most all my courses online ERAU has a large local structure in this area due to the military. Must have been 100 local students graduating that day.

Not sure I would travel to RI to grad with the War College, not sure why they do not have a local ceremony. Its ironic that ERAU uses the Joint Staff College facility to do their ceremony, the same building that I take my war college courses in.

 

I actually kinda of feel the same way... I fully intend to get my Master's degree and attend that ceremony but just can't decide about this one! Its about a 2.5 hour drive so it wouldn't really be a big deal to go assuming we don't move before May which is a good possibility. If we move to Louisiana I know I wont go!

 

I did not attend either graduation for my AAS (CCAF) or my BS (Bellevue)... simply because I didn't care so much about the school as much as I did about doing what I needed to get into a graduate program. The schools themselves were more of a convenience, than anything... which I guess I am not too proud to admit. But, there weren't too many choices at that time as to where I could get a degree from while in the military and living abroad unless I wanted to go to UMUC, one class at a time and take 10 years to finish my Bachelors.

Things might have been different if I waited to do my BS now, especially since I live in the US and larger schools (with more fun graduation ceremonies) are offering DL degrees than before. I WILL go to my graduation for my MA, and when I continue on to a doctorate, whether it is DL or not, I will most definitely go to that graduation.

 

Here's best wishes to you passing your doctoral degree with flying colors!

 

Just 2.5 hours away on driving? I would go, you'll have a feeling that you have accomplished. Especially those you had classes with. I chose not to attend my Bachelor degree ceremony because it was too expensive traveling for me at the time.

 

I get a sentimental pang that says "go" now and then, but since the trip (Oregon to NY and leaving the family at home is unlikely) would cost as much as the first third of grad school, I just can't see it.

Phillip

 

I AM SO GLAD someone developed this thread.

My community college wants me to walk on May 28th for my associates degree (Even thou I graduated in 2010) and my university wants me to walk on July 28 for my bachelors degree.

I've never attended a formal graduation outside of the military, and having two graduation ceremonies this close together has me feeling like I should pick one or the other. Asking people to show up for both seems like over kill IMO.