I recently graduated from my MA. This was my second graduation at Kingston Uni and the last one wasn’t really that great. I wouldn’t call 55min of names read out in a hurry a graduation.

My parents came because we don’t have graduations like that in France, and obviously they had to pay for their train tickets and hotel etc. Add to that renting the robe and hat, plus guest tickets, and my BA graduation amounted to 55min for £300. BLOODY.WASTE.OF.MONEY.

Of course, my parents had fun and it was emotional and I saw all my friends, but compared to other universities which have longer graduations where all departments mix, this was not up to scratch.

This time round the graduation lasted an hour and a half, which would have suited my BA graduation much better as I knew everybody, and this time round I only knew a couple of people and didn’t much care for most of the people filing off stage.

The speeches were interesting, we had a guest of honour, and I was wearing a nicer dress, as well as pinning my cap far back so I didn’t look like an idiot so much. My parents weren’t there, but that meant less pressure. I was also working as a Graduation assistant in the morning and rocked up just before it started, putting on the gown in the academic changing room amongst lecturers.

Then I made sure that I smiled the entire time I was crossing the stage as they take your picture when you shake the Pro-Vice Chancellor’s hand and last time that picture wasn’t even worth mentioning. This time it turned out ok and I’m much more inclined to have that hanging in my future office one day!

My much prettier MA handshake picture!

VERDICT

All graduations should be an average of an hour and fifteen minutes, any longer and you might start snoring. Ignore the gowning people when they force the hat on your head and tell you to wear it like boys, you’re a girl (maybe with a fringe, like me, or a headscarf or a nice ‘do that you don’t want to destroy. Take plenty of hair pins on the day, go to the bathroom and pin it the way YOU like so you look good in pictures. And swat away any photographer who tried to undo what you just did.

Also take safety pins so you can pin your hood to your gown as you might not be wearing a dress or sweater that has a button, plus it’ll feel less heavy that way. DO this after official photos as they tend to attach your hood to the plastic scroll you get to hold.

My terrible BA picture… Urgh

Speaking of photography, don’t be afraid to ask for more pictures to be taken if you’re unhappy. They tend to take two or three shots, but if you feel in any way unsure, just do it again. What are they going to say, no I don’t want to? Also, the best pictures are going to be the ones you take yourself. So make sure you take plenty!

Me and some BA friends with our teachers

And finally, stop fretting and enjoy! You’re not being interviewed, no one requires you to speak and as long as you can avoid tripping on stage, everything will go fine. Trust me 🙂