Community College Graduation?!

[SimuLord]

I'm currently sitting in the student center at my friendly neighborhood community college and they've got a big banner up saying "WALK WITH THE GRADS! Don't forget to fill out your Application for Graduation!"

Now, I'm up for my associate's degree this semester. However, it's just a means to an end for me---it makes me eligible to go to the University of Nevada and get my bachelor's degree in accounting two years from now (and from there, it's on to grad school for my CPA and a wicked high-paying job back home in Boston.)

So I asked someone at academic advising---is it necessary to pay the $80 cap-and-gown and commencement fee or can I just get my degree and go on to UNR without wasting eighty bucks on a meaningless accomplishment?

The advising student worker took issue with my assertion and said "But graduation is a huge deal!" And I said "Let me put it this way. If college were baseball, this would be like having a World Series ticker-tape parade when your team's in first place at the All-Star break. Where I come from we don't celebrate until we've actually reached our goals."

The student looked at me like I was speaking to her in Mandarin. What does she want me to do, give myself a trophy for participation like the retarded kid on the Little League team? I've got work to do.

Any thoughts from the Escapist peanut gallery? Am I missing out by not making a big effin' deal out of what essentially amounts to finishing sophomore year? Or am I justified in just saving my $80 and waiting until I've got a real college degree to don the cap and gown?

 

[Sleekgiant]

Well your asking the man who didn't really care about his High School graduation. I'm sort of in the same boat, going to community college then later using it for a four year to better myself(and snatch an awesome salary). In all honesty its what matters to you and only you; if you don't want to participate in graduation I'm not gonna shun you for it.

 

[sheic99]

Well, I'm one of the people who are using a community college because my parents couldn't afford a 4 year university. So, I'm not even bothering with the AA degree and just transferring straight to a uni. So, to answer your question, the graduation is a waste of time and money, and just reminds me of Kindergarten graduation.

I seriously had that.

 

[SimuLord]

Well, I'm one of the people who are using a community college because my parents couldn't afford a 4 year university. So, I'm not even bothering with the AA degree and just transferring straight to a uni. So, to answer your question, the graduation is a waste of time and money, and just reminds me of Kindergarten graduation.

I seriously had that.

I had one in fifth grade, but that WAS special; all my old friends from elementary school are still friends 22 years later. I still get a little misty every time I hear "I Had the Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing because that was my fifth-grade graduation song!

Interesting point about not even bothering with the administrative rigmarole for my AA. Since I've already been fully accepted and enrolled at UNR and have the right to register for classes, there really isn't much point since "associate's degree holder" and "university junior" are, for all intents and purposes, synonyms on a resume.

 

[Liam1390]

I go to a community college for culinary arts, and I'm not going to attend a graduation ceremony. If you're transferring to another college there's no point, to me it's a waste of time and money.

 

[sneakypenguin]

I actually still havn't picked up my associates diploma from a year+ ago. I might pick it up this summer when i'm bored or something. I was shocked when they had a graduation for AA and AAS students. Maybe like a commencment thing where you eat finger foods and listen to a speech. But not the whole cap and gown thing. Really an AA was nothing more than a stepping stone to a BA.

 

[Bat Vader]

In my opinion I say do whatever you want to do. If you want to save the $80.00 than I say save it. I really don't think graduation is all that big of a deal, that is just my opinion though and some people will disagree with me.

My parents paid me $500.00 dollars to get me to participate in my high-school graduation. I found out later though that they were going to give me the $500.00 anyway for completing high-school.

This is not our decision to make, it is yours.

 

[sheic99]

Well, I'm one of the people who are using a community college because my parents couldn't afford a 4 year university. So, I'm not even bothering with the AA degree and just transferring straight to a uni. So, to answer your question, the graduation is a waste of time and money, and just reminds me of Kindergarten graduation.

I seriously had that.

I had one in fifth grade, but that WAS special; all my old friends from elementary school are still friends 22 years later. I still get a little misty every time I hear "I Had the Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing because that was my fifth-grade graduation song!

Interesting point about not even bothering with the administrative rigmarole for my AA. Since I've already been fully accepted and enrolled at UNR and have the right to register for classes, there really isn't much point since "associate's degree holder" and "university junior" are, for all intents and purposes, synonyms on a resume.

I had one at 5th grade also, which felt a little more meaningful because we were transferring schools the next year.

I know what you mean with the resume, it's one of the reasons I opted to skip the AA entirely and just transfer. That and it meant I had to take classes I didn't really feel like taking.

 

[SwimmingRock]

I never got graduation ceremonies. Left my highschool ceremony once I got my diploma. Thank Christ my last name starts with a 'B', so I was out of there in no time. The only fun bit was when the headmaster asked me (just like all the others) what career I was planning pursue. I told him "drug dealer" and walked off stage, leaving him stunned.

 

[Jumping_Over_Fences]

I did not go to my college graduation when I got my BA and I have not regretted it once. Not even for a split second