Oxford graduation, no tickets - will he get any from waiting list?

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Sorry, this is a bit niche. My son is about to take his Finals at Oxford and if all goes according to plan (crosses every digit) he should be graduating in the summer. In spite of several reminders He managed to leave applying for graduation tickets to the last possible minute and didn't get one for himself, so obviously no guest tickets either. He is apparently on a waiting list. Does anybody know how likely he is to get tickets in the end, either just for him or (ideally) for himself + two or three family members?

I am not as gutted as I was when he first broke this news, but I had been looking forward to it. Still, the main thing is that he gets through his Finals unscathed. I am therefore restraining myself from nagging about chasing this up.

All information welcome! TIA.

You mean he hasn't got a ticket to attend his own graduation???

How does that work?

At my kids' redbricks - graduation ceremony in Great Hall (or similar) - they were all placed, in running order, & we got 2 guest tickets. There was also a live videolink outside.

I suppose Oxford is a bit different. Are they done by subject or college?

Oxford graduation is a bit different to many/most other UK universities. Instead of a small number of large ceremonies in a short period of time, there's a large number of smaller ceremonies spread over the year (www.ox.ac.uk/students/graduation/ceremonies). My guess is that what's happened is that he's failed to get a place at the particular ceremony he'd like to attend.

I don't really know, One. I think it's by college, and each college may get a block allocation for one or more particular days, but I'm not sure. Anyway, he had to apply by a date in January and he managed to leave it so late that he didn't get a place.

I know back in the dark ages when I graduated it wasn't automatic to get a place at the graduation ceremony. We got our degree certificates through the post (and I think it would be the same for him) and attending the ceremony was optional. I went to one nearly a year after my finals. My parents loved it but it wasn't a very personal experience - we filled the Albert Hall! But that was U of London in the 80s. (All very different now, I believe - far more emphasis on the ceremonial, all done by college/faculty/school, and quite right too, for those that want it.)

dapoxen, thanks, I wondered about that. I know he would have liked to attend the same one as his flatmates. Getting information out of my son is like getting blood out of a stone, though, so I wasn't sure.

Oh dear

Well I hope he will be able to get one for himself at least!

Gasp0de I have been in exactly this niche position with DD2. Twice. She was just caught up with Finals and hadn't realized that the system had changed, so that most people in a year group at a particular college would graduate at the same ceremony, or across a very limited number of dates. She didn't get a place the first time around and then the second time around, during her masters year, she put her name down at the first opportunity but was told she wasn't 'in year' and so wouldn't get priority over those students, even though she said myself and the sibs would come literally at a few hours notice. And kept reminding the office of the fact. We stayed the night before, just in case. It turned out she was sixth on the list and five students did actually get a place, but not her. Eventually DD3 asked her college if it might be possible for DD2 to join in with that ceremony instead, and discovered that there's a special niche niche rule for twins graduating from different colleges, so that's what happened. They're actually 14 months apart so I think we were treated with some leniency. I haven't bothered to ask about the masters graduation yet because I assume she's forgotten again....

So, the short answer is: tell him to get on the waiting list. It does happen, and he'll never get priority again so potentially will be forever the page boy and never the groom. DD2's college told her that there's a backlog of 7000 students who've never graduated and are being offered the option of graduating in absentia. Or what about a twin?

Gasp0de it might conceivably be worth him asking if he could graduate at the ceremony with his friends, but without any guests, since the squeeze is on places for guests in the Sheldonian. But that's a bit miserable for you :( But if the college is kind they might say you can go to the lunch anyway, which would be better than nothing. But then if you're all teed up then the waiting list thing might work at the last minute - if someone's ill, or doesn't end up wanting to go for whatever reason.

Thanks, Molio! I think I'm resigned to not getting there, to be frank. Our daughter is also taking Finals this summer (different place) and so we do have one other ceremony to look forward to this year, I hope, but not for months and months, as her place does things very differently.

I've now managed to get myself round to the view that we're not the important ones here. I think he will feel left out if his friends all graduate without him. This may depend on whether he's the only one who's not there, though!

My DD is at Cambridge and each college has their own graduation. Each student automatically gets 3 tickets and they have to apply for any additional ones. This seems rather more sensible.

Not sure if the Oxford system has changed as I was there many moons ago but I did not officially graduate until 2 years after I had left as I never got round to booking tickets and my father's job meant he could only attend certain dates (not that he turned up but that is a whole thread in its entirety).

Is delaying the official ceremony an
option? I know it may not be with friends. The sheldonian ceremony is the most boring thing in the world. I bought my gown outright (stupidly) and it has now spent 11 years in a suitcase. I may turn it into my dressing gown

I never bothered graduating, it didn't seem like a big deal. It has only just occurred to me to wonder whether my parents were disappointed!

Yes it has changed Sharpkat, as from the year before last. As a parent I don't find it in the least boring, even after doing it several times and my DC have all enjoyed their day too. Next one due in November (fingers crossed, along with OP).

Sorry your dad didn't make it, incidentally.

Molio, did you formerly have a colour in your MN name?

(I'm thinking I was on an Oxbridge applicants thread with you 4 years ago )

Thanks for letting me know Molio. You clearly have very bright do

Think Molio has been on an Oxbridge applicant thread with everyone

In sort of related news, the Randolph is on fire

Well I guess I'm fairly up to speed with current minutiae Atia, so maybe a few of my contributions help someone. If not, just ignore!

Yes, doesn't look great, I think the roof is off.

Wasn't meaning to sound snarky!

DD is graduating this summer. She has chosen a date with her College friends in the same subject. Separately, she has booked three tickets for the College lunch. One may be available...for the lunch.
It's worth asking your DS if any of his friends have parents/siblings that can't make the ceremony and therefore the lunch tickets will be going begging...

Thanks, once he has his finals out of the way will return to the fray!

Oh, forgot to say good luck to all the students taking finals!

Outright boast coming up - v. proud of my daughter who has to submit a dissertation in about ten days and has more or less finished it. Not a chip of this old block, that's for sure! Procrastination is my middle name....

hope you make it

even if he goes to the ceremony alone, be there for the street procession and for a lovely meal afterwards

wishing him best of luck in his finals

Thank you very much!