To not understand graduations?

[notjustanexpat]

I have several degrees. Always attended graduation in person, because family and DP were excited to attend and "see me graduate". I did not hate it but also gained nothing from it, besides getting the physical degree earlier than I would have if it were mailed.

I will also happily attend other people's graduation ceremonies and cheer for them. If it is important to them, of course I will be there to celebrate them!

But I do not get it. Why would anyone want to travel back to their place of study and spend a small fortune, to sit around an overheated hall for 2h just to walk on a stage for less than 30 seconds. Why not go out and have nice local dinner instead, or throw a big local party?

If you're still living where you studied, sure, why not - but most people I know moved away in between finishing the course and the graduation ceremony. I always had to travel and/or pay 1-2 months rent when I could have been elsewhere, actually working.

I get the desire to celebrate getting a degree but the ceremony is just beyond me. I have already graduated. If I don't attend, the degree is still signed - the ceremony is only symbolic!

My PhD graduation will be next year and DH + family are really excited to attend. Travel time, one-way: 3.5h(us), 10h (family). Money: min. £300 for us, probably 4 digits per person for my family.

I am seriously considering to graduate in absentia, have a local party with family after finishing any corrections (all family live in the same place) and have a nice dinner with DH the day the degree comes through.

AIBU?

I wasn’t all that bothered by mine, but when I went to my Mum’s... my goodness, I nearly burst with pride for her. It is for the audience as much as anyone!

The OP must be loaded. I have an undergraduate and 2 post grad quals and I WISH I could do another Masters or a PhD but can't afford it.
On the topic, I only went to one of my graduations and don't remember much of it as it was over 25 years ago but do remember that it rained and my certificate has a smudge from a droplet of rain whereas the ones that came in the post are lovely.

The OP must be loaded. I have an undergraduate and 2 post grad quals and I WISH I could do another Masters or a PhD but can't afford it.

Or apply for a studentship. Most PhD students I know don't pay for heir own degree and get a salary.

Anyway. ..

The PhD graduation is probably the only worth attending , and my parents came to mine, but if I wasn't still in the same place I doubt I'd have gone.
The robes are better than for the previous degrees, though.

The OP must be loaded

Not necessarily. My PhD didn't cost me anything. In fact I was fairly well paid while I did it. None of my degrees (BA, Masters, PhD) cost me as I was lucky enough to go to Uni pre tuition fees. My parents paid my living expenses during my BA. For the post-graduate stuff I had grants/scholarships.

I didn't go to mine back in 1981.
I didn't go to my dds last year and my ds has already said he isn't going to his next year.
We are not into formal celebrations in our family!

@Etino
Because it was dull as fuck.
Because it was simply a continuation of the dullness of school.
Because all 99% get at the end of all that expense is a short round of applause and a photo in a stupid hat.

If you're studying something specific like medicine, law, nuclear physics, etc then obviously that's worthwhile. But the vast majority who take a... what do they call it? humanities or some shit? subject are never ever going to use that degree.

It's a vast money-making scheme which is almost purely for the benefit of the academic institutions, and of course for the tax.

I had a friend at school who fell for the whole "but you have to go to yooooouni!" thing. By the time she graduated the bottom had fallen out of the jobs market and she ended up stacking shelves. Meantime I had 5 years job experience and was earning well over national average.

Masters degrees are quite expensive these days though. The OP is under 30 and has recent degrees so I am imagining these were paid, as most post-grad degrees are. (Unless you get freebies because you work in the Uni).

The OP must be loaded. I have an undergraduate and 2 post grad quals and I WISH I could do another Masters or a PhD but can't afford it.

Mine were all funded & I had my living costs paid too. It was quite lucrative.

I adored my graduation and spent ages looking forward to it. DP really didnt want his, he had never planned to go to uni and it just ended up happening to get a job he wanted although he decided to last minute. He and his grandpa were super proud but his mum couldn't have been less bothered and asked to leave 10 minutes into the celebration thanks to jealousy which is still a sore spot. I guess it depends on the person

I had to dump a MSc half way through as I stopped working at the Uni who was "paying for it". :( I am not aware of anywhere that would fund another but I guess that's my bad luck.

Would love tips on how to get these funded :)

I've been to all three of mine. Yes, the ceremony is dull, but it's quite nice catching up with people and hear what they're doing post-university.

How to get what funded?
MSc usually aren't, but it's usually one year and not that expensive for home students.
PhDs are funded in all sorts of ways. You can apply for individual studentships, apply for institutional studentships, or work on a project as a research assistant and do the PhD at the same time for a nominal fee. If you're prepared to go abroad you can also get EU funded studentships (Even with Brexit) or local funding.
Some countries don't charge fees for PhD. Not sure about Masters.

@breathing i worked part time through all of mine (30h).

30 hours part time work + 40 hours PhD or similar :70 hours work week for 3 years. perfectly doable if you do it before having kids.

Ah, I am self employed (MSc can cost £5- £10K).

I hate doing anything with an audience and wouldn't let my poor parents come to my graduation ceremony, but I agreed to have the official photo done by way of compromise. Hated every second of the ceremony but forty odd years later I'm glad I had the photo.

At DS's graduation parents were whoop whooping as their offspring collected their award. Felt like a football match.

furious so you're making broad generalisations and huge assumptions about an entire sector and the graduate labour market based on witnessing a graduation ceremony and the fact one of your friends ( in your opinion) hasn't benefited from her degree.

How ridiculous

All those people saying a PhD isn't a big deal have absolutely no idea what doing one involves.

Try telling my DH that ....he hands his in in two weeks. I'm not sure you'd live to tell the tale!

I did mine a few years ago and hands down it's the hardest thing I've ever done.

@Benes I know, it would almost be funny if it wasn't so rude and ignorant.

@breathing my masters and PhD were both fully funded by the Arts and humanities research council with living costs as well.

I also worked part-time but that was just to supplement my income and for the experience.

After finishing my PhD I lectured for a year, before deciding that I never wanted to set foot inside a university again.

I embarked on a completely different career which I have now been doing for 12 years.

I know, it would almost be funny if it wasn't so rude and ignorant

Unfortunately it seems par for the course where HE is concerned.

Graduation is about acknowledging that support (assuming you had it) as much as celebrating one’s own achievement.

Definitely. My DH is doing his PhD in the faculty i work in and i'm so excited that i'll get be part of his academic procession.

OK @benes, how many people do you know who have a degree in a humanities subject and it's a key part of their current non-academic career?

I'm not saying there's owt wrong with education. Everybody should seek an education, in the subjects that interest them, and in the manner they best suit. But driving ourselves into debt before even starting work is surely not the best or most useful way for the vast majority.

Having a long career in recruitment/HR, I can confidently state that the majority of degrees are pointless. "Oh you have a degree in art history? Lovely. Can you pass this competency based interview? No? Sorry you don't get the job." (It doesn't help that a lot of these candidates with degrees are clearly not blessed with an abundance of brains or talent.)

how many people do you know who have a degree in a humanities subject and it's a key part of their current non-academic career?

Well, given over 60% of graduate jobs don't ask for a particular degree subject, quite a lot. It's a huge misconception that the subject you study will lead you to work in that area and if you don't you've failed. Some of the big accountancy firms specifically target history graduates because they value the skills they have developed while studying a history degree.

But driving ourselves into debt You clearly don't understand the student finance system.

not the best or most useful way for the vast majority The vast majority will never attend university. Currently 44% of school leavers go into HE and it is unlikely to rise above that level.

I can confidently state that the majority of degrees are pointless. Can you pass this competency based interview? No? Sorry you don't get the job." (It doesn't help that a lot of these candidates with degrees are clearly not blessed with an abundance of brains or talent.)

Wrong...just wrong. And so fucking rude to boot. I hope you don't let your prejudice against university impact on your hiring decisions.