Will Kiser, a 21-year-old senior at the University of Georgia in Athens, isn’t quite ready to graduate yet. An English major, he is now the variety editor for UGA’s student newspaper, the Red & Black. No stranger to the world of work, Kiser has put in time at various internships and taken on several free-lance writing assignments. Even so, he says he still gets a nervous knot in his stomach every time he thinks about leaving college. Kiser says he’s been in a vague state of denial about the reality of graduation, “but now that it’s coming up it’s nerve-wracking. Transition to working life. It’s a big step — it’s the real world.”

Kiser’s not alone in his pre-graduation angst. Fear and loathing is stalking seniors across UGA, just as it always runs rampant at campuses across the country as commencement looms near.

“I was really scared my whole senior year, especially in October when [I realized] that this time next year I’ll either be teaching my own classroom or unemployed — I knew that being unemployed wasn’t a choice,” says Beth Burton, a 1999 UGA graduate, echoing the feelings of many a four-year student.

Kiser’s biggest concern about graduation is leaving behind the comfort zone of college life.

“On the one hand, I’m excited about it because I’m ready to grow up and get out there, but on the other hand, I love being a student and I love Athens, friends, football, and hanging out downtown,” he says. “I think even if I had a job waiting for me I’d be nervous, because college is real comfortable.”

Many students deal with their dread by postponing graduation.

“Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of my friends are not graduating in four years,” says Kiser. One close friend is graduating this spring and doesn’t want to. “She wanted to put it off and she couldn’t put it off anymore,” he says.

What Next?

Donna Crouch, the associate director of career services in the career planning and placement center at UGA, is in constant contact with students worried about making the transition from the student world to the adult world.

The source of this concern is the fear of the unknown, she says. “Usually what we hear from students is, ‘I’m not really sure what actual job I’m going to have upon graduation, I haven’t made all my contacts yet. I haven’t done anything in the job search to actually get something lined up right away.’ ”

Although Crouch admits that getting a job isn’t a cure-all for fear and loathing, she says it definitely helps, because so many other lifestyle factors depend on it.

“Your job determines where you’re going to live, how you’re going to live, and how well you’re going to live,” she says. “But even for persons who do have a job lined up, there’s still concerns and fears because it’s just different being out on your own.”

Crouch recommends students consider moving to an area where they already have some friends or family, “so you feel like you’re not alone in the world, everything is new and you’re having to start over all by yourself.”

Back to the Nest

Many recent college grads, like 22-year-old Burton, find themselves quite close to their families after graduation. They’re once again living with them.

Even though Burton already has the job of her dreams as a first-grade teacher, she says it doesn’t pay enough for her to live on her own. She moved back in with her parents immediately after graduation to start saving some money, and she will probably stay with them for two or three more years.

“I didn’t come back home because I wanted to, but I knew it was a good decision,” says Burton.

Another recent UGA grad, 24-year-old Aurora Hauke, knew staying with her folks wasn’t an option. She moved home for two and a half months after graduation, quickly got a job and moved back out.

She’s opted to struggle on her own, even though she owes $40,000 in student loans.

“Sometimes making rent is hard,” she says. She’s moving in with her sister soon, because she can’t afford to live alone.

Yes, We Can Help

Seniors can conquer their fear of the real world by getting acquainted with it, according to Crouch. “The more experience students can get with part-time jobs, volunteer work, internships, and exposure to corporate culture in any form, the more comfortable they will be in the corporate environment,” she says. Your first job or two after graduation may not be your ultimate career destination. But try to make sure that every job you take contributes to your long-range goals.

Organizing your job search and mapping out a career plan will alleviate a lot of your fear of the unknown.

The best people to talk to at first are career advisers. “Career advisers can help you discover career opportunities that you may not have know existed,” says Crouch.

Patricia Hoyt, program coordinator for the J.M. Tull School of Accounting in the Terry College of Business at UGA, says that even if you have put off the search until the last minute, there is still hope — you just need to get to work on finding a job.

Get busy and dig in. Start looking by taking advantage of the resources available such as JobTrak, your major’s department, faculty members, resume-writing seminars and mock interviews. “Even if it’s the day before graduation, something may come up,” Hoyt says.

Still, as Kiser knows, planning an effective job search is easier said than done. Actually, the first step he’s taking is to postpone graduation another semester. Kiser’s not slacking, though. He’s allowing himself the extra semester because he just became a full-time editor at the Red & Black.

“I’m here all day, every day, and I feel like it’s given me a lot of confidence, knowing that I’m an editor for a daily paper, and one of the best as far as college papers go,” he says. “It’s gotten rid of a lot of fear that I had.”

She is glad to be out of school and can barely remember why she was so frightened of “the real world” transition.

Unfortunately, the reality is that, like other momentous life events, graduation brings with it a potential for disaster. Like weddings, anniversaries, and family reunions, this time of joy can easily turn sour when human relationships are tested. Relatives and acquaintances with conflicting personalities are expected to put aside their differences out of respect for the celebration, but they don’t always do so.

The greatest source of potential discord with regard to my own college graduation lay in the relationship between my divorced parents. Although they had been apart for almost ten years, the separation had not cooled their anger even minimally and their encounters to date had typically resulted in anger and accusations. To say my parents disliked each other would be an understatement, but they both loved me and wanted to be present for my graduation. Since I went to school over 1,000 miles away from home, both had to fly out with their spouses and wanted to spend as much of their two-day stay with me as possible. It would not be feasible, therefore, to keep them apart the entire time. Naturally, I was concerned. I didn’t want my graduation weekend to become a battleground for my parents‘ ongoing conflicts. I wanted to have fun without needing to worry about choosing sides in arguments or hurting feelings.

Unfortunately, this situation confronts many students of our generation. Divorce is so commonplace that we find ourselves surprised upon hearing that a friend’s parents are still married. While some couples split amicably, many do not, and we find ourselves unsure of how to deal with situations in which we fear our parents may behave more like children. With some planning, however, it is possible increase the likelihood of a peaceful celebration for all parties involved. Following are some recommendations that can make graduation weekend with divorced parents more pleasant than painful.

• First of all, speak with each of your parents well before the big day arrives. Express your concerns and explain that you want to ensure that both you and they have a good time. Although it may seem obvious to you, mom and dad may not even realize the extent to which their rivalry can create stress. Letting them know beforehand that you hope they can be on their best behavior may inspire them to think before they speak or act in a negative manner.
• Second, include other family members and friends in the celebration if possible. It is less likely that your parents will start verbal fistfights if they are in the presence of others, especially if they do not know them well. Including two of my friends and a little sister in the mix actually made my formal dinner with both sets of parents quite relaxing and enjoyable.
• Try to set aside some time to spend alone with each parent (or parent and spouse). This way you can give each other some personal attention without feeling uncomfortable or guilty for ignoring others. If you are expecting gifts from your family, this might be a comfortable atmosphere for them to be bestowed, possibly eliminating a sense of competition between parents. This is also a good time for you to express your thanks to each parent for the help and support they have provided you.
• Finally, realize before events begin that you will not be able to control your parents‘ behavior while they are together. The best you can do is let them know how important it is to you that they declare a truce for a few hours or days. If they do end up fighting, refuse to take sides and leave the situation for a few minutes if possible. With any luck, they will realize the unfairness of their actions toward you and stop. Remind yourself (as we children of divorced parents have to do again and again) that your parents‘ problems are not your problems and that their conflicts are not your fault. If there is no chance your parents will be able to get along or if there is a potential for physical fights, it might be best to celebrate with each one separately.

Do not forget that your parents‘ desire to be present at your graduation indicates their pride in you and your success. You should share and appreciate this moment with them. With patience and sensitivity on your end and theirs, the celebration will likely be enjoyed by one and all.

Then one day, some weeks after all the pomp and circumstance, when you’ve almost forgotten you’ve been waiting for it, it arrives: “First Class Mail,” and “DO NOT BEND” are printed on the hefty cardboard envelope. You now have the actual thing; that piece of paper that officially certifies your years of hard work and dedication. But now that you’ve got it, what are you going to do with it?

Conveniently provided to you in the packaging accompanying your diploma are some suggestions in the form of a full-color order form. You can choose to proudly display it in a specially made frame sent to you for only $31.95 (plus $7.95 shipping and handling), or a “Deep-Etched Plaque” on a walnut base at almost three times that. A good option, but on which wall does it belong? The only walls I’ve seen diplomas displayed on are in doctors or therapists’ offices where they provide a sense of credibility and assuredness that you’re spending your money in the right place.

Another choice is to send it to a parent or significant other for safekeeping. If they supported you -whether emotionally, financially, or both – during your years of studying, tests, and final exams, perhaps they’d like a tangible object to remember their efforts by.

Maybe like me, you’ll come across it while organizing the bottom drawer of a filing cabinet. Last week I found mine, still in its “DO NOT BEND” envelope. I pulled it out and set it on a bookshelf. I decided to call some friends to find out what they had done with their diplomas, hoping to get an idea or two about what to do with mine.

My friend Anne from Phoenix told me, “I had mine copied onto postcards and sent them out to friends and relatives as a graduation announcement.”

I’m sure my friend, Scott, who now resides in L.A., would’ve been as equally creative if he knew where to find his. He said, “My diploma is in a box with my cap and gown in a storage unit on LaBrea, I think, but don’t quote me on that.”

My favorite response was from my friend Tania in San Francisco. She was one of those people who wasn’t sure she would be graduating as scheduled until grades were posted for the final semester. When I asked her what she did with her diploma, she told me, “Mine’s on my kitchen table as a laminated placemat. I eat off of it!

This got me thinking about what a diploma really is. Unless you’re trying to get into law or medical school where they require you to mail them a certified copy, a diploma only really serves as a physical reminder of your graduation and your years of diligence. So, decide how often you want to be reminded. Have it framed or laminated, stuff it in a box, or lose track of it all together. There is no one thing to do with it. The choice is yours.

The OPT is a complicated issue and many things have to be considered. For example, it is important to note that the OPT is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and, as such, one should consider carefully how and with what intentions it is utilized. The INS extends this opportunity mainly so that students can gain experience in their field of study before returning to their home country. However, in some instances the student’s long-term interest is in obtaining an H1 visa (i.e. permanent work permit) or sponsorship for permanent residency. If this is the case, it is important to use the OPT in a company that extends these opportunities to their employees. Also, it is to one’s advantage to ensure that the company in question does not have reservations about hiring non-citizens, or the attending legal strictures, should they decide to take you on permanently.

Graduate school is also a natural progression for students after college, regardless of their nationality. For international students this option is certainly open, but, as is to be expected, it is slightly more restricted. The student must have been accepted to a program beginning in the semester immediately following graduation to maintain F1 status. The application deadlines run from early December until early July. The process for obtaining a student visa for graduate school is not much different from the undergraduate process, and all the same documentation is required.

Finally, travel abroad is another option that students may want to look into. There are many channels open, each of which depends on the student’s reason for going abroad, as well as the desired travel destination. Some of these channels include: teaching English as a second language, securing post-baccalaureate funding for research, pursuit of graduate study abroad, or just getting a work visa and toiling abroad. Information on all these options is usually available at the consulates or on their websites. Other research avenues, such as the Web and your college library, can also be immensely helpful.

When you were younger, chances are your parents‘ say-so was sacrosanct. Whatever Mom and Dad wanted went.

But graduating from college is different. It’s time to take responsibility for what happens to you. Which means that you have to assert yourself, take control, and delve into interfamily relations, all while endeavoring not to trample the feelings of the ones you love. No easy trick.

Therefore, it’s also time to know when not to pick your fights. Sure, Mom might be displeased that you’ve decided to go au naturel beneath your robe. And Dad is going to bug you to shave off your soul patch; after all, he doesn’t want to look at that furry statement of your newfound freedom for years to come in the family photo album.

But just remember, you are not alone. There are people who love and care about you, and your compassion is never more important than it is right now. Your parents are probably feeling a little sad and scared that their no-longer child is slipping away from them. After all, you’re moving out into the real world and will likely not be as reliant on them as a means of support. So, as much as this is a somewhat frightening rite of passage for you, bear in mind that it is probably even more so for Mom and Dad.

Here are a few suggestions to help you keep things going smoothly between you and your parents on graduation day:

• Do what you can to make the day a positive, memorable one. This might mean you ditch the Nikes and wear a pair of dress shoes to walk up to the podium.
• Although the temptation may be great to go out partying the night before graduation, abstain! You don’t want to sleep through your graduation, or have your folks observe your monster hangover.
• Plan as much as you can in advance. Help out with booking plane and hotel reservations weeks (not days) before commencement. You don’t want your parents sacking out on the floor of your dorm room, do you?
• Don’t push their buttons. You know what they are. Which means you know how to avoid them.
• If your parents are divorced, give a lot of thought to where you want to seat them. Many parents are mature enough to deal with the awkwardness of this situation. But if Mom is uncomfortable being around Dad’s new wife, do what you can to accommodate Mom.
• Be aware that both parents may get upset about something at some point during your big day. Knowing this in advance allows you the opportunity to prepare for a response. Think about how you might react when Mom says she’s angry at you for bleaching your hair or when Dad blurts out that switching your major from pre-med to religion was a bad idea.
• If your parents are particularly meddlesome, try not to let them get to you. They’re just acting on what they know. Remember, it’s not what they do that creates a problem; it’s how you respond.

Finally, just remember to behave in the way that you want to be treated. This will ensure your integrity. It will also reveal you to be a mature human being. How you deal with your parents will go a long way toward telling you, and them, what kind of person you’re evolving into.

Ever since my high school graduation, I knew I wanted to go on to college, though I wasn’t quite certain what to pursue. Now, some years later, after numerous setbacks, full-time jobs and the raising of a daughter, I, at the age of 32, am a college graduate with a degree in business, and extremely proud of it.

Back to School Though I’d been taking classes off and on since 1986 while holding down a full time job, raising a daughter and overcoming a number of illnesses and setbacks, I never amassed the credits I needed to earn a formal degree. So starting in early 2000, I signed on to attend an 18-month “fast track” bachelor’s degree program in which adults took classes designed to complement their prior learning and work experience. The unique part of this program was that you started and ended with the same group of students, a factor that not only helped to facilitate the learning process, but also to facilitate the making of lasting friendships.

Despite the short time frame and the friendly atmosphere, the intensity of the program required deep commitment and diligence. So I forged ahead, took the few supplementary core classes I needed to qualify for the 18-month program, hit the books and finished up with a 3.79 GPA — a personal best! I would finally achieve my dream of earning a college diploma.

The Big Day

Graduation was a big deal for me, and I began planning early to ensure my family would be there to cheer me on.

When it did come, the day itself was beautiful. Sunny skies, windy and cool (typical Ohio weather), but that didn’t matter. The thrill of being a graduate only became greater as the small campus began to swell with activity. Graduates were told to report to the campus at 12:30 p.m. (the ceremony didn’t begin until 3 p.m.) for the rehearsal, which proved to be a lesson in patience. We sat through an abbreviated dry (truly an appropriate term) run of the ceremony, then through the two hour calling of graduates’ names. We were then, mercifully, released to find our assigned locations and line up for the processional.

We entered the gymnasium to a roar of applause and the squeal of bagpipes. I felt honored to be a part of this — I was moved to tears.

I began to look for my family. My husband, who has been a rock of support throughout my entire career as a “professional student,” was seated with my 6-year-old daughter. I could see the pride he felt through the waves and smiles. My daughter was very excited for me as well. My mother and sister were also there, and when I finally spotted them in the crowd, I saw that they too were crying. With tears in my eyes, I marched up to receive my diploma.

To graduate after so many years was an incredibly gratifying experience for me, and I try to encourage likeminded adults considering returning to college to take the road I took. The sacrifices were numerous, but the reward was great.

I was coming off of a somewhat less than productive senior year. Among the highlights: a tongue-in-cheek final thesis paper chronicling W.B. Yeats’ career as a decorated fighter-pilot for the IRA that earned me a few chuckles and a C+ from an incredulous professor, a heroic amount of whiskey, gin and beer consumed, and the accidental detonation of a TV set full of lighter fluid that blew a hole in our back yard, set our lawn and part of our porch ablaze, attracted a number of police and fire authorities and resulted in the temporary incarceration of my roommate and his brother.

So suffice it to say, the notion of a dignified ceremony capping off my final year in college did not jibe with my personal college experience of late.

But, as they say, graduation is more for the parents than it is for the students (the same could be said for many a college education). The ceremony itself is uncomfortable and anti-climactic. The real goodbyes come at the bar. You wear a robe, feign poise and mug for the cameras. Your parents marvel at what a fine person you’ve become, oblivious to the fact that you vomited drunkenly more during senior week than you did in your previous 21 years or so.

But make no mistake about it, graduation is exhausting. Everything about it is exhausting. Tasks ranging from finding accommodations for parents and entertaining relatives, to packing, to preparing yourself for the ceremony, leave little down time to savor your last days with friends in the place you’ve called home for the last four years. Often these weeks go so fast that the inevitability of graduation doesn’t even have a chance to sink in. Some even repress it, hoping to get the most possible mileage out of these last moments, without having them soured by melancholy.

I met with my family intermittently over the weekend, a lunch here, a drink there, a nice dinner — all while trying to get my head straight, find my gown (which was feared perished in the grassfire out back), attend miscellaneous English department ceremonies, and finish drafting a nasty letter to the appropriate county office exposing my landlord’s wanton disregard for health codes.

And then, before I could blink, came Sunday. I rolled out of bed and to my dismay found that the disorder of my room not only paralleled, but in many ways exceeded the disorder in my digestive and nervous systems. The previous night my roommates (5) and I invited all of our brothers out to the neighborhood bar for drinks. It started off sociable enough. Then, they tell me, it went down hill. I faintly recall my brother squaring up angrily against one of my roommates (who had about 7 inches and 30 pounds on him) for some reason or another. I remember being given a free case of beer for the road by the bartender to commemorate our various “achievements.” And if I’m not mistaken the police got involved, which came as no surprise. We were all on a first name basis by then anyhow.

So, anyway, the next morning. Despite my agony, I got up, threw on some decent clothes and steeled myself for the day ahead. My roommates and I sat in the somewhat ransacked living room of our house, dazed, hungover and dreading three hours in black robes on artificial turf, beneath the hot sun. Water was imperative. And where was that flask?

The next few hours were a whirl. I drove to school, met the ‘rents, clowned around with friends, took pictures and had my picture taken. We lined up, filed in, sat still and made wisecracks at the dean and president as they walked by, with whom we were also on a first-name basis, due to a few questionable editorials published in the school and town newspapers. We half-listened to the keynote speaker, a one-armed Jesuit who ran, from what I gathered, a drama school for the blind. We stood up and sat down and stood up again. We filed out and split up to find our families, meet with professors and take more pictures.

Then, by three o’clock, it was over.

I arranged to meet my parents later that night for a quick meal, went home and passed out on the couch for five hours, utterly emotionally and physically drained. That was when it began to sink in. That was it. I was done.

And to this day my recollection of the actual ceremony is hazy. When I think back on it, I remember more about my brother almost getting trounced by my roommate, or the cop’s face when another roommate asked if he was bullied in high school, than I do the experience of standing up and being conferred my degree. As a matter of fact, I remember very little of that entire day.

Much less than my parents do anyway.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers report in their latest survey that the hiring of college graduates will decline by 3.6%. The job market may be tight but you do have time on your side if you start job searching this fall! Besides sending out resumes and replying to want ads, what else can a hard-working college senior do to wind up on the lucky “hired” list?

Here are some job searching tips:

Grad Tip 1: Treat your internship like a job

Get to your internship early. Dress and act professionally. Network with co-workers. Put in more than the minimum effort. Work past quitting time. These are a few simple ways to improve your chances of getting hired full-time. If you feel like all you are doing is running errands or making copies, set up a meeting with your boss to see what additional responsibilities you can handle. Your boss will be glad for the extra help, you’ll have experience to add to your resume, and you may have a job offer!

Grad Tip 2: Buddy up with your professors

Instructors not only provide a wealth of knowledge, but also a wealth of contacts. Many professors have a career background outside of the academic world. For example, your journalism professor may have been an editor at a newspaper and decided to try his or her hand at teaching. Talk with your professors about your career aspirations. They may know of someone who can prove helpful in your job search.

Grad Tip 3: Promote yourself right

Let family, friends, and co-workers know what type of position you are looking for and the experience you have in the field. To simplify your networking efforts, consider buying business cards for yourself. While some associate business cards with having an established career, there is no reason why a soon to be grad shouldn’t have some too! On your cards, state your name, phone number, e-mail address and web site address. On the back, create a “mini” resume, listing where you have worked or interned, what courses you have taken, and more.

Grad Tip 4: Consider relocating

While you may want to stay near your college or family, it’s important to be open to moving out of town or even out of state. Your perfect job may be miles away, but consider how many new opportunities it will open up for you!

Grad Tip 5: Visit the campus Career Center

Whether you need help with your resume, interviewing skills or cover letter, the career professionals in your college career center are there to help you! They may also have names of alumni in your field who can help you with your job search.

By following these tips, you’ll find you have an advantage over other grads that may be relying too much on web site job boards and other less effective job searching techniques. The economy may be a bit sour now, but before you know it, job offers will be coming your way!

Lesson 1: Get a moving truck early and/or don’t mistake your minivan for a flatbed truck

Because of disastrously poor planning on the parts of my roommate and I, our idea to share a rented truck for the big move-out came to a crashing halt the week before graduation, and I ended up moving a good deal of my stuff to my new place – a 4 hour roundtrip away – in my compact car over the course of three days.

What I couldn’t get into my four-door, I packed into my parents‘ two cars after they arrived to help out. We managed to pack various assortments of furniture, appliances and kinfolk snugly into the three cars.

Ever heard of Newton’s first law of motion? That for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction? In other words, don’t load up family cars like U-hauls and not expect some kind of vehicular retribution.

The back window of my father’s beloved SUV shattered into a billion pieces as he tried to unsuccessfully mount a bike rack onto its rear door. Between the pressure hitting the door from the inside of the tightly packed car and the tension coming from the straps that kept the rack attached to the door, the window gave. The first casualty of the move-out.

We were almost next. On the way up to graduation, my mother’s van blew a tire on the highway. While my parents hoped to ignore the problem until after we arrived on campus on time for graduation, I told them that family dismemberment was not something I wanted to add to my list of graduation memories. I finally convinced them to pull over and get the damn thing fixed.

Miraculously, we all eventually made it to campus on time and relatively unharmed. (We figured out later that the tire had been punctured because it was riding so low and had been made more susceptible to the shards of glass surrounding it).

Lesson 2: Even Cheap Hotels Have Mattresses

You’ve heard about people making reservations for hotel rooms months, if not years, in advance for events like graduation? Ever thought that sort of behavior was bordering on neurotic?

Well, when thirty thousand additional people need to cram into a small town to watch their precious children graduate, one year’s prep time might be too little too late. My parents, thinking that four months time gave them plenty of time to grab fairly decent hotel rooms for the event, failed to get a hotel room within a 100-mile radius of the campus where I was graduating.

As it was, my family spent the two nights they visited me on the floor of my new apartment with stacked boxes serving as headboards for the sleeping bags/blankets/pillows we were using as mattresses. My new digs were also two hours away from where I’d gone to school, so that starting at six the next morning, six people started taking shower shifts in my one sad bathroom.

The real lesson here? Don’t let your parents make arrangements for themselves when you should know better – after all it’s your turf and you’re getting the gifts and exultation. Show a little appreciation and save them the trouble of booking their own accommodations.

Lesson 3: “Rendezvous Point” Isn’t Just a Trekkie Term

It seems obvious that part of the celebration festivities should include some time with the people you spent all of those years cramming and drinking with. The first step to that process: finding those people amidst a throng of about 10,000 others who are all thinking the same thought.

The best way to ensure this is to schedule a time to meet up with your buddies somewhere before graduation begins. The next best thing is to make sure that each and every one of those friends is armed with a cell phone so that a massive reconnaissance operation can take place within a matter of minutes and a meeting place can be arranged quickly.

Having failed to do either of the above, I spent most of the time before I entered the graduation arena, walking in the hot sun in a black robe searching the crowds for buddies. Luck favored me this time and I eventually ended up sitting with several friends, after finding them wandering around the arena in a similarly distraught and confused manner.

Lesson 4: Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

My final piece of advice for graduation: take a book. While you might get misty-eyed when you see your buddies walking across that stage, chances are that you’ll probably want to have your mind otherwise occupied while 1500 people you never realized existed also take that fabled stroll

Lesson: no amount of preparation will ensure that everything comes out exactly as you intended it. However, you can take some basic steps to ensure that graduation preparations proceed hassle-free so you can enjoy the actual day with your friends and family.

• Academics. First and foremost, make sure you’re actually graduating. Most schools will keep you up to date on this information, but it never hurts to check with the registrar’s office to make sure you’ve fulfilled your school’s credit requirements.
• Graduation tickets. Some schools limit the number of tickets per student, so make sure you have enough for your family. If you have more relatives than tickets, ask around. Friends or acquaintances might be willing to part with extra ones and some schools have lotteries through which you might be able to get an extra ticket or two. Make sure, however, that your family knows well in advance how many people will be attending so you can plan accordingly. You don’t want aggravated relatives depriving you of generous gifts because they had to watch your graduation via Internet multicast.
• Accommodations. Hotel rooms go quickly when hundreds of parents want to watch their child graduate firsthand. Depending on where you live, prepare to have your hotel reservations booked at least four to six months ahead of time to ensure that your parents and family find themselves at a place close to you and the campus. Make sure to ask, though – certain weekends in big college towns like Boston can book up a year in advance.
• Transportation. If your parents are renting a car or driving to see you, ask about parking. Find out if your school has a limit on the number of available parking spaces and if you need permits or stickers to use them. If your family will rely on public transportation, make sure you’ve familiarized them as to prices, routes and stops to minimize your chances of losing them.
• The Big Family Dinner. If you’re going out to dinner with your family after the big event, make arrangements beforehand. Call your favorite restaurant months ahead and make reservations, even if you don’t know exactly how many people are going to make it. You can always reduce the number of people when you make the confirmation call – the trick is to have a table to begin with.
• Post Graduation Festivities. Of course, you’ll want to celebrate with your friends as well. Keep your sanity intact by keeping planning to a minimum. Why not arrange a joint dinner at a restaurant with some of your closest friends and their families? The parents will have so much fun talking to one another, they’ll leave you alone to reminisce amongst yourselves. If you insist on throwing a big blowout, again, plan ahead. You don’t want to find yourself running to the grocery store for paper cups and ice in your cap and gown.

Prepare well enough before hand, and your graduation plans will appear effortlessly executed. You’ll impress your parents and convince them that after several years of expensive education, you’re finally ready for the real world. And if something goes wrong – which it will – smile, roll with the punches and have another glass of champagne.