Anyone planning to skip graduation?

[def1]

Or just me?

I suppose its a big event but I just am not too interested in it. For one, while I'm proud of getting through undergrad, I honestly don't feel like its a major accomplishment as far as my long term goals of attending medical school and being a physician.

Plus I am graduating in the winter so I feel like those aren't really as big as the ones in the summer anyway. All my really close friends won't be graduating at the same time as me, so its not like a big thing where I can celebrate with all the other graduates.

I'd honestly just prefer to skip it and have my own celebration at home with my family and friends.

But what do you guys think? Am I just being lazy?

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[dsk89]

does your school actually have a winter graduation? or do you just mean that you graduate 'on paper' in the winter, and then your school will invite you to attend thte summer commencement? Becauase i also graduated in the winter, but anyone that graduates during the year will be invited to attend the summer graduation.

I was the same as you...didn't feel like going, but I ended up going for my family cause they wanted to see me go, and it turned out to be a great experience that I definitely look back on and smile

 

[Ashley1989]

You should go, I'm sure it would make mom and pops/loved ones happy that they can take lots of pictures and brag by sending them out with the Christmas card etc. it might not be important to you, but if its important to anyone else you should go especially if they've been supportive throughout UG.

 

[Anathema]

I know I'm going to mine in the spring for sure. Life is too short to not celebrate those types of things unless you really think the past 4 years of life your don't mean much.

 

[def1]

does your school actually have a winter graduation? or do you just mean that you graduate 'on paper' in the winter, and then your school will invite you to attend thte summer commencement? Becauase i also graduated in the winter, but anyone that graduates during the year will be invited to attend the summer graduation.

I was the same as you...didn't feel like going, but I ended up going for my family cause they wanted to see me go, and it turned out to be a great experience that I definitely look back on and smile

There is a winter celebration but its not as many people.

I understand wanting to do it for your family but I guess I don't see the difference between them attending my graduation or them just attending a graduation party in my backyard with family and friends all together. The second one seems more personal and less boring.

But I'm still debating. I think Im going to ask my parents and see what they want me to do

 

[kpcrew]

It doesn't have to be a major accomplishment. It's a symbolic gesture of successfully achieving an educational goal.

 

[amad01]

Pay money to dress up funny and have someone call your name?

I don't really care about UG graduation... All I want is a white coat ceremony.

 

[Eiot]

Or just me?

I suppose its a big event but I just am not too interested in it. For one, while I'm proud of getting through undergrad, I honestly don't feel like its a major accomplishment as far as my long term goals of attending medical school and being a physician.

Plus I am graduating in the winter so I feel like those aren't really as big as the ones in the summer anyway. All my really close friends won't be graduating at the same time as me, so its not like a big thing where I can celebrate with all the other graduates.

I'd honestly just prefer to skip it and have my own celebration at home with my family and friends.

But what do you guys think? Am I just being lazy?

It all depends on dem cords.

 

[Poetic Silence]

It doesn't have to be a major accomplishment. It's a symbolic gesture of successfully achieving an educational goal.

This.

Celebrating our achievements, however minor, is important for motivating ourselves to be our best.

You graduated college! Good job, bro! We're all proud of you. Now go out there and celebrate this hallmark in your life. 🙂

 

[Anathema]

Pay money to dress up funny and have someone call your name?

I don't really care about UG graduation... All I want is a white coat ceremony.

But then you won't care about your white coat ceremony because all you'll want is your fellowship ceremony.

 

[group_theory]

There is a winter celebration but its not as many people.

I understand wanting to do it for your family but I guess I don't see the difference between them attending my graduation or them just attending a graduation party in my backyard with family and friends all together. The second one seems more personal and less boring.

But I'm still debating. I think Im going to ask my parents and see what they want me to do

Because you and your family + friends can always have a backyard celebration anytime of year, for any reason you like. You will only have one opportunity to graduate (from undergrad).

Graduation is a societal milestone ... just as high school graduation, wedding ceremonies, significant religious events (bar/bat mizvah, baptism, etc). It is a time for society to get together to celebrate an occasion (where you are the center of attention). Even though you are the center of the celebration, it is also a time for your family and friends to celebrate too. Just as some people choose not go have a wedding ceremony, some can choose not to attend their graduation ceremony. Ultimately the decision is up to you. However, even if your parents don't tell you this, they would most likely like to see you graduate (it's a milestone for them too, just like seeing you smile, walk, graduate from kindergarten, etc)

*a lot of medical schools actually have graduation ceremony attendance as a requirement (listed in their student handbook) to officially graduate, and you need pre-approval from the administration if you can not attend the ceremony (for schools that have medical school graduation and university-wide commencement, I think the med school graduation is mandatory, and university-wide commencement is optional). Not sure the legal implication if the school tries to withhold the diploma (and tell the state board of medicine that you haven't graduated yet, and tell NBME/FSMB/USMLE3 that you aren't a med school graduate) ... not sure if the school can actually do that, but imagine getting a lawyer to sort this out (and the legal process can be slow) while moving and trying to start residency (and praying that you get a medical license in time so that you can start residency)

 

[group_theory]

But then you won't care about your white coat ceremony because all you'll want is your fellowship ceremony.

There is no fellowship ceremony 🙁 .... maybe just a party in the conference room of your department, or a party at an attending's house


What's interesting is when you get inducted into a Fellowship of a medical society (ie American College of Physicians, American Academy of Physicians, American College of Surgeons, American College of Radiology, etc) ... they have convocation ceremonies where the new fellows will wear their doctoral gowns and hoods (just like graduation). Usually this occurs during their annual national convention. (this isn't fellowship that you do after residency, this is gaining a title/honor from a medical society, so you can use the FACP, FAAP, FACS, FACR, etc. designation after your name)

Caption: From the American College of Physicians, 2012 Florida New Fellows Convocation Ceremony

 

[Anathema]

There is no fellowship ceremony 🙁 .... maybe just a party in the conference room of your department, or a party at an attending's house


What's interesting is when you get inducted into a Fellowship of a medical society (ie American College of Physicians, American Academy of Physicians, American College of Surgeons, American College of Radiology, etc) ... they have convocation ceremonies where the new fellows will wear their doctoral gowns and hoods (just like graduation). Usually this occurs during their annual national convention. (this isn't fellowship that you do after residency, this is gaining a title/honor from a medical society, so you can use the FACP, FAAP, FACS, FACR, etc. designation after your name)

Caption: From the American College of Physicians, 2012 Florida New Fellows Convocation Ceremony

My bad, that's what I was referring to in my original post. Still, they have gowns and stuff that look cooler than most UG ceremonies but I'm still going to my UG one.

 

[mehc012]

Or just me?

I suppose its a big event but I just am not too interested in it. For one, while I'm proud of getting through undergrad, I honestly don't feel like its a major accomplishment as far as my long term goals of attending medical school and being a physician.

Plus I am graduating in the winter so I feel like those aren't really as big as the ones in the summer anyway. All my really close friends won't be graduating at the same time as me, so its not like a big thing where I can celebrate with all the other graduates.

I'd honestly just prefer to skip it and have my own celebration at home with my family and friends.

But what do you guys think? Am I just being lazy?

Graduation is more for your family/friends than for you. My family would have been sad if they hadn't gotten to show how happy they were for me. Graduation felt more like a funeral than a celebration to me personally, but since my family was so happy (even the ones w/o much cash flow traveled to go see it), I participated for them. If your family isn't into the whole ceremony thing, or can't go, then feel free to do whatever makes YOU happy!

And generally, you do both the full-blown ceremony AND a gathering with your family afterwards...in your backyard if you live near the college, out for dinner or something if you don't. It's their chance to witness your public victory and then celebrate with you in person!

 

[Bangersandmash]

I won't be going. My parents don't care either (my dad skipped his own graduation). Hell, we would have skipped my high school graduation if I didn't have a speech in it.

Make your own ideas about it. If your family wants you to go, bite the bullet. But if they don't care and you don't care, why bother? Because the school throws a big ceremony and everyone should be happy? That usually happens for me every day of my life.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Free. Food. That is all.

 

[MedPR]

I skipped mine

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[Sephiroth]

I went cuz my family came, but really if my grandma weren't there, I woulda skipped it. My dad cared about it as little as I did. Its just a bunch of speeches and hearing the names of a ton of people you don't know being called out. What matters is you get your diploma either way.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

Pay money to dress up funny and have someone call your name?

I don't really care about UG graduation... All I want is a white coat ceremony.

I'm not sure how you can even compare the two...I'd understand if you said medical school graduation.

For one it's "Hell yeah I just got a sweet diploma and I'm done with school let's party all summer!"

For the other it's "I got to put on a white coat...oh yeah but I have to go back to school tomorrow...and for the next 4 years...****"

Edit: I'm gonna take that back, medical school graduation still won't be as good as college graduation. Most of you can just dick around all summer and play COD all day in your underwear if you want after graduation.

 

[Dailux]

These symbolic ceremonies are, in totality, charades. Celebrations, especially of the public variety, should be reserved for accomplishments that by most societal standards would be considered exceptional. Successfully performing the first open heart surgery would be an achievement worthy of public recognition, praise, and celebration. Graduating high school or college, or celebrating another year of existence, should be the norm; similar to consuming sustenance. By contrast, failing to meet these "accomplishments" should be met with chastisement for not living up to basic expectations.

Attending these ceremonies, whether a participant or an observer, is an admission that you are merely meeting what you consider to be a sociological expectation and displays an inability to view the circumstance objectively.

 

[lobo.solo]

I had struggle to make it happen (not academically) so I am really looking forward to graduate. I thought I was not gonna be able to do it, so I feel good about being a semester away from it. I say go since your not gonna loose anything by it, but your parents might want to see you doing the whole ceremony.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Surprised by how many people on here are so cynical about graduation. I'm the first in my family that will get a college degree. This is a big deal for me and my family, as I'm sure it is for others.

There is no way in hell I'm missing my graduation.

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[Anathema]

These symbolic ceremonies are, in totality, charades. Celebrations, especially of the public variety, should be reserved for accomplishments that by most societal standards would be considered exceptional. Successfully performing the first open heart surgery would be an achievement worthy of public recognition, praise, and celebration. Graduating high school or college, or celebrating another year of existence, should be the norm; similar to consuming sustenance. By contrast, failing to meet these "accomplishments" should be met with chastisement for not living up to basic expectations.

Attending these ceremonies, whether a participant or an observer, is an admission that you are merely meeting what you consider to be a sociological expectation and displays an inability to view the circumstance objectively.

Unnnh no, I think graduations are cool and fun. Hope those philosophy classes help you out elsewhere though.

Edit:

In bigger news, I hope I don't meet any of the people who plan on skipping their graduation. You guys kind of sound boring and I can imagine you guys will probably start studying for med school the day after everyone else graduates so that you can get your white coats. Seriously though, spending 4 years at my life at an institution is a big deal for me and for everyone else I know.

 

[pv515]

.

 

[Freesia88]

I attended the ceremony but refused to have a party...my dad was soooooooo pissed.😀

 

[yuiness]

For me, the graduation ceremony was nice because it gave closure to a particular phase in my life. It was nice, and I'm glad to have had the experience. Plus, my parents wanted the pictures.

 

[circulus vitios]

Unnnh no, I think graduations are cool and fun. Hope those philosophy classes help you out elsewhere though.

Edit:

In bigger news, I hope I don't meet any of the people who plan on skipping their graduation. You guys kind of sound boring and I can imagine you guys will probably start studying for med school the day after everyone else graduates so that you can get your white coats. Seriously though, spending 4 years at my life at an institution is a big deal for me and for everyone else I know.

I'm not going because I literally don't know 99% of my graduating class. The friends I've made have transferred out, aren't graduating, or have already graduated. There's no point in going.

 

[Poetic Silence]

Cheesus Crust! They weren't playing around when they said pre medical students exhibit antisocial tendencies.

 

[ColinB]

Just graduated this summer and I skipped out on the actual graduation event. My girlfriend was also graduating (with her masters) and we both just went to our departmental ceremonies. Those meant a lot more and were way more personal than the big faceless ordeal. They seemed to work as a stand-in for all our family as well. As much as I didn't get why graduation would matter (as its hard to see the value when you're already working on apps for more school), the actual event was a lot more touching that I expected it to be. Relish the recognition of the hard work you've put in over the last few years. Likely there was a strong reason for it and you've done a lot more than just knock out some pre-reqs for medical school.

Also, congrats. It's a big deal (even if the average SDNer doesn't think so). A lot of folks aren't given the option to do what you've done and learn what you've learned.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

It would be nice if everything was this black and white, I know. However, I will not be attending my graduation, as it means very little to me in comparison to my success on my college's varsity track team. If my family wants to celebrate an accomplishment that was actually difficult, that very few people are capable of or motivated enough to get, they can come watch me compete at my conference track meet, and we will enjoy ourselves there.

For someone going to med school, I can't see how graduating college is all that significant, unless you are receiving special awards or something.

I will say, if I didn't have track and field though, I would probably go just so the family had an excuse to get together.

Mere words cannot express the amount of douchebaggery in this post.

 

[cheechootrain]

I didn't attend mine. I used the money to pay for med school apps..but I did have a party 😎

 

[Internistt]

unless you have something unbelievably cool that you would be doing, just go. ive never graduated but i did watch some people graduate. the atmosphere is just phenomenal.
you might not be a fan but my guess is that you wont have a better day at home. this is not me trying to undermine your life but an average day sucks for almost everyone because it is routine and will be forgotten the next week.

 

[911 Turbo]

There is 0% chance, rain or shine, sick or healthy, that I am missing my college graduation