What Are the Differences Between Commencement and Graduation?

Commencement and graduation are two of the biggest milestones in a college student’s life. After years of sleepless nights, anxiety, and relentless pursuit of knowledge, students can finally stand in front of a crowd, wearing a cap and a gown as they celebrate their success and the new chapter of their lives. 

Many think that commencement and graduation are the same. While they serve an overlapping purpose鈥攔ecognizing an achievement鈥攖hey refer to distinct periods in the academic timeline.

In this article, we’ll briefly discuss the definition of each so you can learn the differences between these two major events.

What is Commencement?

Commencements are celebrations that mark the beginning of something big. In higher education, this activity culminates in the success of a student’s completion of their degrees or diplomas. It’s a major event! 

In these events, graduates will wear an academic dress or academic regalia. This attire is composed of a cap and gown. Graduates will walk in the center aisle towards the big stage, where they’ll receive their diplomas in front of other graduates, faculty, family, and friends. 

Students will hear from speakers, such as tenured faculty members, seasoned professionals, distinguished guests, and top-achieving students. These speeches are aimed to inspire and motivate the graduating class and allow them to reflect on their rigorous educational journey.  

How to Prepare for the Big Day

Excitement is in the air as the big day draws near, but there’s also a sense of pressure to have everything perfect. Here are a few important steps to getting ready for your commencement ceremony.

#1 RSVP

Colleges will allow you to decide whether or not you want to attend the ceremony. While it’s often not mandatory, we highly suggest you proceed. After all, it’s your big day! 

The school will inform you via email, paper mail, or bulletin boards that RSVPing is starting. Make sure that you confirm that you’ll attend the big event before the deadline; otherwise, the school won’t reserve a seat for you. Ensure you meet the RSVP and guest ticket requirements to avoid missing the event.

#2 Prepare your graduation attire in advance

The distribution of the traditional academic regalia varies from school to school. Other schools have pre-prepared caps and gowns for students as part of the graduation package, while other schools let students coordinate with designated suppliers in renting the traditional caps and gowns.

We’ve seen a lot of TikToks where graduating students disobey the dress code mainly for the “hype.” Don’t do this. Colleges and universities always set dress codes for commencement exercises.

Inappropriate attire can result in severe consequences, including being removed from the ceremony list and waiting for a diploma to be mailed instead of receiving it on stage as you planned. 

You’ll be walking a lot at your commencement ceremony, from taking pictures to going up the stage. So, you should wear something comfortable and durable. 

#3 Send out Invitations

You’ll want to celebrate your big day with the people closest to your heart and those who helped you throughout your academic journey. But before you send out invitations, you should check in with your school and confirm how many guests you’re allowed to bring to the ceremony. 

You’ll most likely receive a certain number of tickets you can give out to family members and friends. Considering venue capacity constraints, this policy ensures a smooth and organized commencement ceremony.

You should adhere to avoid any potential disruptions or inconveniences on the day of the ceremony. 

What is Graduation?

Often, people think that graduation is the same as a commencement ceremony. Commencement and graduation are not synonyms. 

Graduation is not a celebration. It’s a formal process and recognition that a college student has earned all the required credit hours and other requirements to confer their degrees or diplomas. 

In essence, graduation is the process toward commencement. Before you can graduate, you need to apply for graduation, signaling to the academic institution that you have successfully navigated the challenges of your chosen program, from completing required courses to fulfilling credit hours and any other stipulated criteria. 

After you submit the requirements, you’ll have to wait for a few days or weeks as your application will undergo a series of administrative steps and validation.

The school will thoroughly review your academic records and ensure that you did not miss a single coursework or hour of internship. It is a meticulous process that underscores the gravity and significance of the degree you are about to receive.

Once you receive an acknowledgment, you can prepare for the commencement exercise.

You can attend the commencement ceremony, wear the traditional cap-and-gown rituals, and celebrate in front of many people, or have a more intimate acknowledgment of your accomplishments with your closest family and friends.

How to Efficiently Apply for Graduation

These suggestions for a smooth college graduation can be helpful whether you’re entering your senior year or will be graduating in a few weeks.

#1 Meet with your advisors 

Unfinished credits during final semesters can be a challenging and unexpected situation for students, causing a range of emotions from surprise to concern. This is why meeting with your advisor or checking the school’s registrar to confirm any missed requirements is really important.  

#2 Submit all paperwork

You should submit all the required paperwork, such as the “intent to graduate” form, and double-check the spelling of your name for the diploma. Some colleges and universities require students to sit for an exit interview before they’re allowed to walk on stage. 

#3 Pay all your balances

It’s not uncommon for colleges and universities to not process a graduation application if the applicant has outstanding balances, including tuition and school fines. In fact, a lot of students who have completed their credit hours cannot graduate because of this.

Even if the school allows you to walk on stage, unpaid fees will make it difficult for you to get your diploma and transcripts in the mail, making it hard to apply for jobs. 

What to Do After Graduation

You’ve been used to spending your days studying for classes, and now that you’ve graduated, you don’t know what to do. That’s a normal feeling. In fact, an article published by the New York Post indicated that “one-third of Americans had no life plan after graduating school.”

Instead of succumbing to the pressure of having it all figured out, consider this time as a chance to explore different avenues and discover your true passions. Here are a few steps to navigate this transitional phase:

1. Consider a Gap Year

It’s not uncommon for fresh graduates to take a gap year. A gap year offers academic and personal benefits, including exploring career interests, developing new skills, pursuing part-time or unpaid opportunities, traveling abroad, and taking a break from academia. 

Here are some of the best ways to use your gap year:

• Participate in leadership training programs
• Enroll in language immersion programs 
• Travel and explore the world

However, it’s important not to turn a gap year into “gap years.” You don’t want to delay your career, especially now in the competitive job market where you need lots of experience to apply for higher-level roles. 

2. Boost your CV and portfolio

Making the most of your time to create an engaging curriculum vitae and thorough yet fascinating portfolio could help you differentiate yourself from other applicants. It takes effort and research to create a strong resume and portfolio.

You can look at several appropriate designs for the field you want to work in. Once your design is complete, you can ask professionals in the field for recommendations on what to include in your portfolio and resume.

3. Network  

Yes, networking is a very time-consuming occasion, and not everyone wants to do it. However, networking is a very important aspect of your professional life. Having a strong professional network can explicitly benefit your career success.

When done correctly, networking can help you get hired more quickly and give you a competitive advantage at every point in your career. 

4. Enroll in a postgraduate program

Attending graduate school can be a terrific way to expand your professional options and increase your earning potential. However, you ought to attend graduate school only for the right reasons.

It can be exciting to continue your education while deciding what you want to do with your life. However, it is a waste of time and money to put off making a career decision by attending graduate school.

The opportunity cost of graduate school is substantial when considering time. You may spend the two to eight years it takes to get that degree networking, earning money, saving money, and learning on the job.

5. Just get a job

Getting a job, whether it’s an entry-level or part-time job, can be a useful move for personal growth and financial stability. It allows you to save money for a move or valuable learning experiences and can teach practical skills like social and communication skills. 

A less-than-ideal job can motivate you to find a better one through networking or education. Remember, your first job doesn’t define your future career.

Simply put…

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