May 5, 2014
Last Edited: May 5, 2014
University of South Carolina students, faculty and alumni have all pitched ideas to help make getting ready for the big day a little bit easier.
Graduating from college is one of the biggest milestones in some people's lives. As if being a full time student isn't enough, most young scholars often work part-time or full-time jobs to help pay their tuition. The last thing they want to worry about is filing graduation paperwork, and they definitely don't want to pay for extra classes if they can't graduate on time.
Never fear! There are a few easy things to keep in mind that may help preparing for your graduation ceremony a little bit easier.
Jim Haney, an academic advisor and professor at the University of South Carolina, says students need to take control of their academic progress early in their second or third year of college.
"It's the student's responsibility to make sure he or she graduates on time," he said. "It's just a simple matter of printing out a curriculum sheet and looking at your transcript."
Not only will checking the curriculum sheet make advisement appointments easier and more efficient, it will also help the student understand when he or she needs to knock out prerequisites or language classes. Haney said one of the biggest issues that can delay a student's graduation date is the student's "unwillingness to deal with language requirements."
Don't let classes like these pile up on you! Many language courses have to be taken one after another, which may require consecutive semesters of learning. If a student has three language courses to take and only two semesters to take them in, he or she is going to have to stay longer or take a summer course to get back on track.
The application process to apply for graduation is nothing to fear. According to Haney and senior Daniel Shelley, who graduates this May, it's just a check list to make sure all of the course requirements have been met. The deadline is also relatively flexible, but students should be sure to check their university e-mail to get all of the important information and updates.
"The student services office created a Facebook page hoping that would solve some of the communication problem but it's a little bit difficult to get students to 'like' the advisement office on Facebook," Haney said. "We don't have a very good way of communicating with students."
It helps to plan ahead! Not only does the application deadline loom over many seniors, but other dates like the graduation fair, when to send out invitations or take photos can also cause stress. Write them down in a calendar or set a reminder in your phone.
"My mom received an e-mail about the graduation fair before I did, so I get this huge angry text message one morning," Shelley (shown right) admitted. "So I went to the Colonial Life Arena to pick out my cap and gown. Thanks Mom!"
If you miss the graduation fair, students can always pick up caps, gowns, and tassels at the Russell House University Bookstore. Jamie Hinson, USC graduate of the class of 2013, got all of his materials there, without going to the graduation fair.
Shelley, whose graduation photos were taken "last minute", recommends looking for options other than professional photographers.
"We have a lot of great student photographers here, like we have photography majors, there's photographers in the journalism school," He said. "Why not utilize that?"
Students who get friends or student photographers to take their photos can end up saving hundreds of dollars, and ultimately, having a more relaxed photo shoot. It's one tip that can significantly reduce the stress of graduating (and keep things easy on your wallet).
Don't give in to senior-itis. When a student is rounding the last curve of spring semester, it can be really hard to get motivated and stay on top of all of the coursework professor's expect from him or her. Senior-itis can even hit a student before their senior year, and this is something students must resist at all costs!
"They even tell you at graduation that if you don't pass all of your classes, then it's just a ceremony," Hinson said. "You may not have really graduated. You need to make sure you pass the classes."
Some students may take pride in the label "super senior," but participating in two graduation ceremonies is a definite no-no! Although it may sound nicer to go on a three-day Netflix binge than to do your final research paper, buckle down and get it done anyways.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you're unsure about a deadline or a requirement, wondering to yourself can waste valuable time.
Shelley said, "If someone is freaking out about graduation, I would tell them to go talk to an advisor."
Even if your advisor doesn't have all the answers, they'll have the contact information of someone who can help you. Getting ready for graduation can be stress-free if a student is willing to dot their i's, cross their t's, ask questions and remember the important dates. In the end, it'll be worth it.
"Graduation's just the first step," Hinson said. "Then you gotta go out there to the real world and that's another stress in itself."
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