If the ceremony is outside and if there has been some rain in the days leading up to the ceremony, the chairs could be dirty and/or wet. Stash a small plastic bag in your purse to sit on if necessary. Learned this at my oldest’s first graduation after rain the day before on a massive lawn of chairs that the maintenance staff had no time to clean.
^^Along those lines we brought a towel to my S’s graduation as it was outside and rained in the morning. It was one of my smarter moves I must say.
I skimmed over the replies and didn’t see this: take pictures before the ceremony. Go to the campus early (or the day before) and walk around to their favorite spots as well as the school entrance where there’s a sign. It was nice not to have to fight the crowds after the graduation. We did this with both our DS and DD.
We were not prepared for hours in the direct sun at the football stadium at UIUC’s Commencement Ceremony. We were there early, as recommended, and it was just too much time in the sun (even with sunscreen). H left first to get some water and mill around in the cool by the concessions.
I didn’t want to be rude and leave before the ceremony was over, but I was not feeling so good. I went to the bathroom and I was definitely dehydrated. I began to perk up after getting something to drink and relaxing in the shade outside of the stadium.
Someone posted on another thread that a LOT of students & guests in the stands left the ceremony before it was over. Our D left right after Nick Offerman was done with his speech. She said she felt bad, but she had finished her water, needed to go to the bathroom, and she’d been roasting in the sun in her cap and gown for hours already.
If I were to do it over again, I’d watch the big stadium commencement ceremony livestream from the comfort of a coffee shop or my D’s apartment or our hotel room.
The smaller departmental convocation later in the afternoon was very nice. Inside, comfortable temperature, seats with back support, much shorter. We were able to meet some of her classmates and favorite professors afterwards. That was the very best part of the day.
There were long lines for the most popular photo shoot locations. We went out for a late lunch in lieu of a big dinner out. It worked out well for everyone.
Have a great time!
Definitely hat/water/snacks! I can remember my own graduation as oddly cold/rainy…kids all upset about leaving/ chaos for some about packing…kids hate to be rushed because they have to say their goodbyes. I remember being ready to go (in practical terms, not really emotionally!) but one roommate was not ready at all, and her parents made her leave before everyone else so they could get on the road early…I can see why they wanted that, but it was hard for her and she cried and cried.
I would try to build in a little time afterwards so as not to rush around. My daughter was fine about graduation but she and her roommates were an unbelievable disaster about packing! Luckily we were not in a great hurry. I was astounded at how much work they had to do, and I was very pleased that we had left room in our travel schedule so that we weren’t stressed out about how long it was taking to pack up. (It was stressful enough that the college expected the keys turned in by the end of the day; at least we didn’t have to be anywhere!)
DD went to a fairly small LAC. We enjoyed the departmental reception (more than the graduation.) We were happy that we had bought tickets for the post-ceremony luncheon instead of trying to leave early or get a reservation at a restaurant in town. Anything to slow it down!
We had a family dinner with reservations a few towns over from the college so that wasn’t as hectic and we all stayed another night there so we didn’t have to rush. I think the worst thing is the conflict between the families needing to get out and on the road and the kids struggling to say goodbye a place that has been incredibly important to them. Just give the kids three or four more hours!
^We also stayed in the little town a second night while her two roommates let exhausted and in tears.
My son has 3 ceremonies! I thought that seemed a lot - one for his specific major the night before, where we get to meet his professors, they hand out awards, the next morning is the all school one in the quad, then in the afternoon one is his department where he gets the actual diploma. Hubby’s parents are coming and they aren’t very mobile, I’m already envisioning some issues here. I’ve told them to come to any and all they want, but I think if they were to skip anything it would be the one outside for the entire school.
We’re going up Friday and we’ll help him pack and ship anything we can.