Ten Things You Need to Know About Graduation 2017

Friday 26-05-2017 - 11:00
Grad

Your graduation day is one of the biggest days of your life. So far, at least.

 

It's your final, lasting memory of studying at Middlesex; a day of flouncing around in a gown with your coursemates and friends, a source of pride in the teary eyes of your parents, your tutors and your peers.

 

What no one mentions is that - alongside the celebrations - your university graduation day will involve long hours of trying to make the mortarboard look good while getting temporarily blinded by flash photography every two seconds. But don't let this put you off...

 

To help you get graduation-ready, here’s MDXSU's hyped-down version of what to expect from your graduation. For more information on your big day, visit UniHub.

 

Ten Things You Need to Know About Graduation

 

1. Everyone and their nans will get a bit snap-happy

If it’s not your dad haphazardly pointing his new iPad at you, or a friend’s mum wanting a group photo of everyone, it will be the professionals complaining that you’re holding the prop diploma scroll wrong. Even when you’ve got smile-fatigue from waiting for dad to find the right setting, make the most of being the centre of attention. And in years to come, you’ll be glad to have (even the out of focus) photos as evidence of this historic occasion.

 

2. Prepare for mortarboard hair and misbehaving robes

There's a reason graduating students look so joyful when chucking their mortarboard hats into the air... Bring some grips to weld it into place, and prepare to do battle with your gown and hood - it's surprisingly tricky to keep in place, and with the aforementioned paparazzi snapping your every move, you don't want it ruining your otherwise perfectly executed outfit.

Top tip: Bring some pins, or, if you want to avoid damaging your clothes (while getting a little souvenir in the process), magnet buttons (or magnetars) are an ideal solution.

 

3. Remember to hydrate

In between registering in the Grove, getting robed up in Ritterman, and chilling out in MDX House, your actual graduation will take place inside a big, fancy marquee next to the college building, before you all head into the Quad for some refreshments. With the July sunshine beating down on your gown-clad self, surrounded by hundreds of other soon-to-be graduates, things can get a bit warm... Just be glad it isn't raining.

 

4. Get through the stage fright

It’s easy to get anxious about taking to the stage in front of an audience - especially if you’re not a Theatre Arts grad (shout out to our performance-loving friends). You’ll begin to doubt your ability to put one foot in front of the other, or how convincingly you can pull off an unaffected, easy grin when you feel anything but chill.

If you can write a 10,000-word dissertation, then you can own ten seconds on a stage. Even if you’ve decided to wear six-inch heels (revision notes: styling out a fall gracefully à la Jennifer Lawrence at the Oscars).

 

5. Your parents will probably be more excited than you - humor them

The years have flown by, and you’re mainly excited to be free of constant assignments and obligatory dissertation meetings. Your parents, on the other hand, are envisioning those new letters adjacent to the family name, basking in the opportunity to brag about your wonderful graduate self. They've supported you through this - grant them a free pass to be embarassing for a while.

 

6. It's not just about the ceremony

Graduation is not the time to do things by half. Amp up the celebrations at the Black & White Graduation Party! If there's one thing that will keep you going as you wrestle with your robe on a hot, July morning, it's the thought of dressing up for your final party as a student on Wednesday 12 July - there's a chocolate fountain too.

Click here for more information or to purchase your ticket online - including a free welcome drink!

 

7. Don't forget to get the t-shirt!

Oh, degree? Been there, done that, got the commemorative pen. You wouldn't go on holiday without picking up a souvenir (even if it's just sunburn or some ill-advised Snapchats), so don't leave uni without one either.

You can purchase official Middlesex University merchandise in the Quad throughout graduation week - from clothing to (adorable) mini graduate teddy bears. Flick through the merchandise catalogue here.

You can also purchase fairtrade 'Class of 2017’ hoodies featuring the names of you and your coursemates on the reverse, though these will need to be pre-orded by Monday 12th June.

 

8. Make the most of the photobooth

Once you've had your fill of directing photographs of yourself in front of campus landmarks, or formal photos from the professional photographers, head to MDXSU's photobooth in MDX House for instant fun photos of you, your family and friends!

 

9. The ceremony is pretty surreal

Chances are you haven't experienced a graduation ceremony before, so here's the deal. First, you'll watch a procession of University big names file past, heralded by a fanfare - and dressed in fancier robes than you - feeling like everything's gone a bit Hogwarts. You'll do a fair bit of sitting, and quite lot of applauding - quite often for people you don't know - and will hear inspiring speeches from academics, staff and honorary graduates who will reflect on how incredible you all are, and inspire you with motivational speeches about your “hopes and dreams." And then - back to the real world for a free cupcake and a glass of bubbles.

 

10. Enjoy yourself!

Try not to stress the little details. You’ve already done all of the hard work, and now it's time for a little recognition. Whatever you wear, however many photos you take, however sunny or not it may be, the main thing is you're graduating, and you should feel incredibly proud.

 

As your Students' Union, we can't wait to see what you will achieve as a bright new graduate, and wish you all the best in pursuing your passions and plans.

 

May the odds be ever in your favour.

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