Hi all,

I am graduating in absentia in July, and I wonder if I am the only one...
If not, what stopped you from attending the degree congregation?

Mara

Hey Marasp, I know people who didn't attend due to the expense of renting the gown etc. I dunno what it's like where you are but where I am it's very expensive to rent the gown for the day. I was thinking of not going but my mother got upset so I think I'll end up going just to please ;-) I don't want to go really because I don't really want to listen to the bullshit the overpaid president of the uni will be spouting.

It know the feeling. It would cost me 200 pounds to attend the degree congregation. My family would not be able to attend anyway.

You would get a 'free' photo of you in cap and bells for the office though.

I'm thinking of graduating in absentia, partly because of the cost and partly out of a desire to avoid certain people in the department I can't stand! I've been to a few graduations now, I can take them or leave them.

Ah, it's refreshing to see y'all share the same views regarding expense and overpaid presidents! However, I am likely going to attend because my mother seemed really upset just last night coincidentally when I said I don't think I'll go. I better bring my iPod with me though and listen to that while the president is talking. That knob would like to see us lecture for peanuts while he takes the cream.

I think I'm OK this time around. My mum won't want to come with me again after coming to my BA graduation, when I refused to stand for the national anthem ;)

Ha! Mine was upset I didn't wear the hat. See I'd been reading a lot of Judith Butler and was serious about feminism so no way was I 'capping' my education. Men were not offered the hats at my uni but I had heard that historically it was the case that women wore them to 'cap' their education meaning they weren't allowed go any further with it. I ended up wearing one at my MA grad then for my mother. My mother just always had a big thing about getting me and my brother educated because she didn't get that opportunity so that's why I'm happy to go along with it for her. But Marasp you do what you want to do. A PhD is a great achievement. It's a total once-off thing so I guess that's one thing to keep in mind. Would you regret not going in years to come?

I wish you'd said that earlier.

I don't really want to go to mine when it comes along. I'm not based at my university and don't know anyone who would be finishing at the same time. Plus it's a long way for my family to travel (400 miles), but I'll have to check with my Mum in case she wants to go! She has already told all of her friends that I'll be her 'doctor daughter', she is far more excited by the prospect than I am hah!

I'll be going to mine. I feel like I've worked hard for this PhD and attending graduation is a way of showing this hard work.

I passed earlier in the year than two of my colleagues, meaning I was valid for an earlier graduation date than they were (July rather than December). That said, we discussed the possibility of us all going for our awards in December to make a day of it. They were overseas students and once they were given their pass letter, could return for the December graduation.

I reckoned without my parents, who bluntly said waiting until December would take away the moment for them. It would be nine months after rather than four. They got their way and a July graduation it was.

That said, I had the pleasure of my second supervisor tripping up as he went on stage alongside me and I did know two of the undergrads, one of whom took the piss out of my lurid blue PhD gown. He basically just stood there, pointed and laughed. There were others who wondered what the lurid gown was (I felt like a transvestite on acid).

As it happened, things went a little wrong for the other two lads. One was told bluntly he had three days to sort out his thesis and submit, or be failed. My mother and I got hold of his thesis over the weekend and basically grammar corrected it. He submitted and was passed with minor corrections in the end. The other one submitted a little later, however, circumstances meant he did not attend the December graduation and as far as I know accepted in abstentia. I think because his family couldn't make it, he didn't consider it worthwhile after our plan collapsed.

I felt being there on the day did round it off for me and my parents got their day out. I thought the ceremony was a little comical at the time, though that said, I'm now glad it was as it made it more fun. I'd say do the graduation ceremony if you can if only for family as it allows them to celebrate with you.

Ian