Question, "Did you attend the UW’s main graduation ceremony?” Why or why not? Tell us your graduation story and please include your class year.
Selected Comments from Alumni Who Did Not Attend the Graduation Ceremony
No, "Class of '73 and nobody else I knew was going through graduation. This really disappointed my mother who died less than 2 years later - too soon to attend my brother's graduation. "
No, "on active duty with U.S. Air Force, 1970"
No, "I graduated in March of 1973; it took five years to put myself through, no loans; Boeing had laid off hundreds in the early 70's, and I lost my jobs to dads who needed them. I was just a kid. By graduation, I barely had enough to pay my last tuition installment, no money to rent a gown, pay cleaning fees, pay my fee for the certificate, etc. I elected instead to attend my fiancé’s commissioning service into the Navy, before he went to Viet Nam. His family was local; my family was with Dept. of Defense in Italy, so no family to see me walk anyway. Between that and the money, and the idea that they'd just say, ""College of Arts and Sciences Rise"" and it would be over, for all that money, sort of disappointed me after all the genuinely hard work I'd done myself, including paying for it all. It just didn't seem worth the precious dollars it would have taken me prioritizing, over things like food, for instance, or rent that month (ceremony is close to when rents are due, right?)... So, I didn't march. The next time I had the chance to march was in a private August service at the School for Foreign and International Studies at Georgetown University, where I got my first of two masters' degrees (also without borrowing a DIME, so it took longer), in 1983. Mother Theresa was the speaker at the June graduation. AT the August graduation of course, things were much lower key. Sigh. I still have my hood from that first masters, but have never worn it. I have attended many graduations since, because I teach for the Washington State Community College System, but they never want us gowned out, so the hood remains folded in a drawer, and the certificate, all in Latin, and three times the size of the one from UW, still hangs on my wall--My niece, who graduated from UW in the 90's, didn't march in her graduation either. Thanks for the survey. I'm now living in the Palouse country, which is FULL OF COUGS, so I feel like an endangered species here!! G. Lynn Cranehahn-Frazier, Class of 73 (Psychology and 2ndary Education)"
No, "BS 1967, PHD 1973 Ceramic Engineering I am an engineer and don't believe in wasting my time at ceremonies!
No, "The graduation ceremony seemed too big & impersonal, more like a cattle drive than recognition of an achievement.
No, "My degree work wasn't to be completed until the Fall Quarter and I needed to report to my summer job the week of the ceremony: Money talks."
No, "I had already left the area for my first job after completing the work for my degree. Even if I was in the area, it is likely that I would not have attended due to the length of the commencement ceremony."
No, "1999. I had to start a 12-month fellowship abroad, which started before the UW graduation was held. The program, the Center for Arabic Study Abroad, is administered in the US but located in Cairo, Egypt. Their schedule is designed to fit with the schedules of semester-based schools which finish up in May."
No, "I did attend for my Master's but not for my doctorate. I even got the gown and then decided no one was that interested in seeing me through another graduation, so didn't go. I was 50 years old when I got my Ph.D., so my kids were grown and parents deceased--this was probably a factor."
No, "It was the same night as my 10 year high school reunion. (After 4 years in the U S Navy) civil eng. 1959."
No, "I was a few credits shy of graduating with my class in June of 1950. North Korea invaded South Korea that month and I joined the US Air Force. I spent 1951 learning to speak Russian at the Army Language School in Monterey, CA. After extensive testing by the UW Language Department I was granted credit in Russian and received my degree in March 1952 while I was overseas, so I guess I'm a member of the class of '52 "
No, "I attended UWT commencement in the Tacoma Dome. Does that count? I graduated June 2004."
No, "It was very expensive to rent the gown, etc. Also as a liberal arts graduate I wouldn't be able to sit or see many of my friends (science and engineering grads). "
No, "I had no interest in such a large impersonal ceremony."
No, "1989 - Master of Library and Information Science. We had a Convocation for the graduates of the program, which was much smaller and intimate. Members of my family were not well, and I choose to attend only the smaller convocation where they would be able to actually see me be hooded and enjoy sharing the moment with me. The main graduation ceremony is too large, and loses its meaning, from my perspective."
No, "I graduated with a Bachelors. As far as I was concerned, I wasn't going to spend my time and money sitting in the hot sun (or rain) for hours, not be able to understand the speaker (and I've heard there has been some BAD speakers), and not even have my name mentioned. I still don't have regrets about it."
No, "I graduated in 1983 (Ph.D.). In the late 70's and 80's, our TA stipends were stagnant and yet costs kept increasing. By the time I graduated, I had no more money (literally, I left for a post-doc with $100 in my bank account) left for graduation expenses. No money left to rent regalia. I would have liked to have walked. No one told me about the hooding ceremony. "
No, "I actually finished school after summer quarter, and because my job offer was not local, I moved away (to Orlando, Florida) in April. I was unable to get time off of my new job to come back and attend commencement. It was a HUGE disappointment to me, to not be part of a ceremony to celebrate an accomplishment that I worked so hard to achieve!"
No, "Class of 2001. I did not want to go because the traffic would be too bad; the weather was likely to be either too hot or too cold. It's just too much of a hassle. I did go to my department's graduation though which was much more personal."
No, "Graduated at the end of winter quarter and one month later left for active duty in the Navy. Class of 1953."
No, "I decided to graduate with my school (the School of Social Work) because of the recognition that I so deserved for achieving my degrees (BASW & MSW) as well as the size of the graduation ceremony. The main graduation exercises are too large with little or no recognition. Also it allowed my family to actually experience graduation close up & personal in Meany Hall instead of in Husky Stadium."
No, "1973 - I didn't believe my parents wanted to attend."
No, "It was just not significant to me at the time. My class was 1966 and I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in August, 1967 and a Master's in 1979."
No, "I chose to attend the School of Social Work's graduation instead since it was smaller. It was held in Meany Hall in '81."
No, "I do regret not making an effort to attend graduation from the UW. I finished school winter qtr of 1979 and never heard or followed-up on graduation plans."
No, "Scheduling conflict. But, I have always regretted it. My parents wished I had. Does one still have the opportunity, even though we have our diploma from years ago? Can't say that this year would have been too pleasant weather-wise!"
No, "Didn't go for either degree. Too much of a zoo (too many people). Parents were disappointed"
No, "I changed majors my junior year to Society and Justice which in 1976 was a very small program. My close friends were spread out over various disciplines. None of us attended the main graduation program, we each participated in our individual activities."
No, "I have a Master of Arts in TESOL from UW (2002). I chose not to walk because my youngest sister's graduation ceremony was the same day in California at UC Irvine, so my husband and I flew down for her graduation. My family saw me walk for my BA, and I wanted to be there for my sister. They had thought about splitting up-my Mom or Dad would fly up to Seattle, but we thought it'd be better if the family stayed together. "
No, "I did not want to sit through the long drawn out ceremony when I could sit through my short department ceremony. If it makes UW feel better, I didn't go to my USC Master's graduation either."
No, "I graduated in 1968 - a time when attending graduation seemed a very unimportant event at the time with so much else going on in my life and in the world at that time."
No, "I completed studies for a BS in Civil Engineering in March 1966. I was discharged from the Air Force in July 1961 and restarted undergraduate studies at Centralia Junior College in September 1961. By March 1966 I was so happy to be finished with school that all I thought about was 'I'm out of here and going to work'.
No, "June 1970. I had a cheap plane ticket to Europe to bum around for the summer and couldn't be at graduation. My parent were disappointed but understood.
Bonnie Schrader Godfred"
No, "It's just too big, too long and too impersonal. My department was offering a formal, grad attire required commencement and that was enough for me. Part of me would have liked to have gone to the big ceremony just for the experience but none of my family wanted to go, so that kind of put a damper on things for me. I am looking forward to the departmental ceremony. Graduating with a Master's degree in professional accounting - taxation, 2007"
No, "Conflict with one of my close friend's wedding, in which I was a groomsman."
No, "I really just had no interest. I suppose I was somewhat rare in that I graduated in exactly 4 years, so I virtually had no friends/peers that were in the same commencement. I would've been all alone, and it just wasn't my bag anyway. "
No, "Did not feel it was important. I also worked two jobs to pay for tuition, books, etc., so it was just another cost I'd rather not pay for."
No, "1997, I had to move, but I had never planned on it due to lack of interest, because I lived in Renton the whole time with my husband and my social life was not on campus."
No, "I graduated in '84 from the College of Forestry and our College's smaller graduation ceremony was more intimate, personal and filled with everyone I cared about."
No, "No. It wasn't that important to me. I thought the ceremony would be too long to sit through considering the number of graduates. Perhaps I would have attended a smaller more intimate ceremony with folks from my department. Class of 1983 BSCE. "
No, "My degree was awarded after winter quarter in 1973, and in the fall, I started medical school, also at the UW. Attending the graduation ceremony seemed unimportant, as the end of formal education was not in sight. I did attend the medical school graduation ceremony in 1977, and will always feel grateful for the excellent education I received. (And though the formal education is long since finished, I am still learning.) "
No, "I received 2 BAs in 1977, and back then it was not considered cool to participate in the traditional ceremony. Since I had the degrees, I felt the ceremony was superfluous."
No, "I still had one more quarter to go. I didn't want to go though all the fuss, and I figured, ""If my grandfather didn't walk when he graduated from the UW, why should I?"" 2002"
No, "When I got my BS it took six plus hours to get through it. Now that I am getting my MBA, I have decided not to put my family through that. I am attending the Business Schools ceremony, but not the UW main ceremony."
No, "I graduated in Dec 1978 and had no interest in coming back for a June 1979 ceremony."
No, "1971 - One of my roommates was getting married that day and I felt I would be lost in the crowd anyways. But my son is walking at Central this weekend (June 9 2007) in a much smaller group."
No, "I attended the business school graduation ceremony. I graduated in 2006. I felt it was more personal since it was just the business school. Even though it was a large crowd, there weren't nearly as many people as the regular commencement."
No, "I graduated in March 1953 and never considered attending commencement. Our family did not attend either high school or University ceremonies for years, not considering graduating all that big an achievement. Our parents never attended college. Later years my younger brother’s high school commencement ceremony was attended by my parents, I believe.
No, "My department provided it's own commencement ceremony which meant much more to me than the general university ceremony. I graduated with 60 of my classmates and friends as opposed to 35,000 strangers."
No, "I attended the UW for my masters degree, and I did attend the departmental ceremony, which included being hooded. Having attended my undergraduate main ceremony years before, that sufficed for the ""full university experience"". [1991]"
No, "I didn't walk because I officially graduated during the Winter Quarter."
No, "My husband and I both graduated from our graduate programs in 2003. The night before the main graduation my husband's department had their ceremony. My departmental ceremony was the morning before the main ceremony. As I was on stage I looked at my family who had faithfully given up 24 hours of their lives for the two of us and were already looking sleepy and decided that two graduation ceremonies was enough and I would not put my family through a third. So we went home ate lunch, took a nap and prepared for our graduation party that night."
No, "I graduated in March, 1976, and with my family decided not to attend as it had no significance with my vocation and work at the time."
No, "BS Aeronautical Engineering 1958. I did not attend the graduation because I completed school in December of 1958 and the next opportunity to graduate was in June 1959. In June 1959, I was a Lieutenant in the US Air Force on active duty in New Mexico. I would like to have attended."
No, "1995. I actually finished all my classes the year before except for one only offered every other spring. So much time had gone by and I was no longer that connected to the school or department (biology). "
No, "I graduated in 2006. I only went to my departmental graduation party. The idea of sitting around for hours in uncomfortable chairs and hot weather, especially when my name wouldn't even be called and my family would need binoculars to see me, didn't sound appealing!"
No, "I really wanted to walk, but I didn't have enough money for the gown. Till today I feel cheated, but there are more important things in life, so, I have got over missing one ceremony. English, M.A. 1994"
No, "I attended the graduation ceremony for my department. ME. It was in Kane and was relatively short. I didn't want to submit my family to sitting all day and fighting the crowd at Husky Stadium. It is just too long and there are too many people."
No, "My class was 1959 and because I left school to work in Hawaii for a year my diploma was issued in 1962. My wife graduated in 1961 and did attend the ceremony."
No, "extra expenses for robe, hat, diploma & seats. -1971"
No, "1961--I finished class work in Dec.1960. Other activities prevented me from attending commencement. I really did not have any interest in attending. "
No, "I graduated first in 1964 and could not afford the fees so I did not attend. When I received my Masters I walked, it was really meaningful for me."
No, "School of Art BFA 1992. This was my third degree (I previously obtained a BA and a JD at other institutions; I was at the UW as a 5th year post-baccalaureate) and the ceremonies at which I obtained my previous degrees were with fewer than 200 fellow grads. Walking with a cast of thousands did not appeal to me, and as an older student I did not have family (aside from a preschool son) who would have cared to attend!"
No, "The interest in sitting through a VERY long commencement ceremony was just not there. There was also a time conflict with work. I had a private celebration with my family and friends which seemed more personalized."
No, "Working full-time while attending the UW made earning my degree a 5 and 1/2 year project. I did not participate non-class work related events and was disconnected from my original ""class"". With my full schedule I was pleased to successfully complete my degree requirements and be finished. My department was small and I knew no one who was graduating at the same time."
No, "I was a '73 grad in Occupational Therapy. As a 28-year-old grad with 3 small children, I opted to participate in our 20 member OT class recognition ceremony, which included faculty, students, grads, and families. The longer full University Commencement was too costly and time consuming for me at that time. It would have been nice to participate and I have tried to convince my niece to participate, but she is not going to I don't think for many of the same reasons.
No, "class year 1991 I did not walk because I finished my class work by fall of 1990 then spent winter quarter in Olympia on the Legislative Reporting program with Doug Underwood. That filled out my remaining graduation credit requirements. That being a budget year down in Olympia, my paper (Spokesman-Review) asked me to stay on past March, which I did. By June, come commencement I had a) already finished my graduations requirements months earlier, and b) was no longer in Seattle anyway."
No, "My last quarter was December 1958. The graduation ceremony was in June. I was working in Southern California at the time. I was an older student ‚Ä a veteran married with 3 children. The cost benefit of returning for the ceremony was not a priority."
No, "Graduation date: June 2005. I didn't walk in commencement because it was just plain too big and impersonal. I had family coming in from all over the U.S., and didn't want to have the better part of a day of our too-short time together spent in Husky Stadium."
No, "Not for my graduate degree - just too busy and didn't really feel like I was all that connected to the larger student body. (I did walk as an undergraduate, but it seemed like a big deal back then.) - A.J. Ritter, MBA 2006, BS Civil Engineering 1993"
No, "Most of us did in those days and our parents certainly expected us to go through the ceremony. There usually was a party at someone’s home after graduation. Class of l959."
No, "I spent my entire senior year at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies, and I was still in Rome at the time of graduation - 1971."
No, "2003. The ceremony just felt too big. It didn't seem connected to the personal nature of education with all its daily struggles and achievements."
No, "I was in the U S Army Signal Corp. and attending Officer Candidate School in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey at the time of the graduation in June 1944. I would loved to have been able to attend."
No, "I was starting a summer job the following Monday, so I sadly spent graduation day moving back home to Portland. M.A., 1967 "
No, "I graduated in 1967 and the draft was by far the most important consideration. I finished my last class and shortly thereafter entered the Coast Guard Reserve. Walking at the graduation ceremony was not even in my mind set."
No, "I didn't want to spend a whole day basically in anonymity among mass people, and spend the money on top of that. My mother gave me a hard time, but I told her I was sure I would eventually get an advanced degree and she could attend that graduation. I did indeed graduate from UW Med School eight years later, and my parents and my new bride all got to attend that more intimate and personal graduation. I think the departmental graduations that now take place are a great idea. One of my sons graduated a couple years ago in chemistry, and my wife and I enjoyed attending that. His twin brother graduated in physics and didn't attend even his departmental graduation (sigh). (B.S. '73, M.D. '81)"
No, "Class of 1989. As a single mom who returned to school and graduated at the age of 44, it should have been a big event for me and a great moment to share with my son. But there was no way I was going to ask a seven-year-old to sit through the boring hours of speeches and procession. A ceremony/celebration would have been nice, but since the UW never supported me as a returning student or a single mom in any way, I didn't feel too connected. I hope the climate these days is better for returning women with kids."
No, "I graduated in 1987. I love all that pomp and circumstance. I wouldn't have missed it for the world! Luckily, not very many School of Social Work grads walked, so I got extra tickets so more of my family could go."
No, "It was my wedding day and I look better in white than black. We will be celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary this weekend. Barbara Plovie UW Class 1972"
No, "Got married that day instead!!"
No, "1974. Too big, too crowded, not enough recognition for undergrads. In the 70's, it wasn't the thing to do. As the first sibling to graduate in my family, I probably should have. Interestingly, my parents didn't insist, but they weren't paying for my education at that point. "
No, "BS Mechanical Engineering '90 I had not interest because the school was so big it didn't mean anything. This year I will get my MBA and wouldn't miss walking in the ceremony for the world because I want to share it with my kids."
No, "I had to fly out the day of the main ceremony, however was able to walk my departmental graduation ceremony the day before. 2006"
No, "I completed my MN in December. The ceremony was in June. By then I was working and did not wish to miss time nor travel from southern Idaho to Seattle for the ceremony. "
No, "I completed my requirements for the Master of Librarianship degree in August 1976 (as the program was structured at that time) and by the following spring, when the graduation ceremony was held was unemployed in a distant city--attending graduation seemed much less important than finding paying work. My advisors had told me to go elsewhere and get experience before trying to find work in Seattle. Given the same circumstances I would do the same today."
No, "I had a job in Alaska before my actual graduation and was not interested in traveling to Seattle for commencement. "
No, "Two days after completing my senior year in October 1944, I left for Navy Officer Training, and was unable to attend Commencement in June 1945. When I got my MSW after WW II, I went for cap and gown, the whole bit, with my husband and two toddlers in tow. Lois Logan Horn "
No, "Attaining my AA was more significant--no one in my family had higher education. By the time I got my BA, it didn't seem that fantastic. However, my masters did--it was icing on the cake. I attended my Masters in Librarianship graduation ceremony in 1994."
No, "I received my B.A. in March of that year (class of 1982), but by the time of the actual ceremony I was in the middle of helping my grandmother relocate to another part of the country. In addition, the sheer size of the event, as proud as I am to have graduated from the UW, simply seemed too impersonal for me in the long run."
No, "I graduated in December 1972. It wasn't really popular among my friends who were actually all different ages so I didn't give it much thought. I did go through graduation in Graduate School in 1976 - my class was essentially the same and my mother insisted."
No, "My IQ is over 100. Therefore, I would rather have root canal work than sit in a black clown suit for hours."
No, "1965 and 1966. I graduated at the end of Fall quarter both times. Going to commencement would have been anticlimactic. Besides that, I had other things to do."
No, "I was running my own business at the time and it was no big deal. Class of '74."
No, "I was working on research for my MS in CE the day of the ceremony. While I didn't ""miss"" spending a very hot afternoon at the graduation ceremony I do regret that my Mother didn't get an opportunity to be there. John Osborn 62, 64"
No, "I finished in summer of 1998 and didn't want to walk prior to completing my studies."
No, "I graduated in March of 1972, one quarter early. I got married the week of graduation in June so there was definitely a conflict!"
No, "1970 too large and impersonal...another expense...more important issues (Vietnam)"
No, "I graduated twice; one in 2001 and again in 2005. Each time I didn't feel that I wanted to sit around for several hours and not even get my name announced (plus my family wasn't interested). Instead, for the first graduation I flew to Las Vegas (the weekend of commencement) with my family and had a great time. We took pictures all around Vegas with my cap and gown; some tourists even took a picture of me when I told them I had graduated from the UW. For the second degree, I graduated from the Medical Technology program, which had an awards presentation separate from the commencement. It was much more intimate and I was acknowledged by name along with the other students. "
No, "I received my BSME in December 1959, and my MSME in March 1965. In both cases, I had left the Seattle area by the time the June graduation ceremonies were held."
No, "I took a BA with honors in 1990, when I was 63, and it just didn't seem like I'd fit in, especially having no family in attendance. Now I'm kind of sorry I didn't, as it would have been something nice to look back on. I had a bit of notoriety on campus as a yearlong columnist in the Daily, so it probably would have generated a bit of interest and response. But I was too close to it to see that."
No, "As a WSC grad, I only attended the Medical School Graduation Ceremony in '61."
No, "Did not attend my graduation ceremony in 1978, as I was getting married the next week and starting my career the following week after our honeymoon. Otherwise, I would have loved to have been there."
No, "It seemed like torture at the time 2000"
No, "Class of '81. I actually graduated in March, so I was gone and working by the time commencement rolled around. At the time it didn't seem important to attend - no one I knew was going."
No, "I ended up with 2 degrees and finished winter quarter of my 6th year (1986.) I was also working full-time, having already launched into my career. I'm very proud of my degrees but didn't feel I needed to go through a ceremony to celebrate."
No, "2006: Masters Degree. I haven't attended a personal graduation since elementary school. I find ceremonies to be boring, repetitive, and, quite frankly, trivial. Having said that, I will, unfortunately, be attending the class of 07's graduation. Wish me luck!"
No, "It was the Vietnam War era and traditional ceremonies just weren't the ""in thing"". 1971"
No, " I finished my courses the end of fall quarter and was working and had no interest when I would have gone to grad ceremony in the following June. I do not know if I would have attended had I finished in June. "
No, "Class of 1989. The ceremony was just too crowded, and many of my best friends did not graduate the same year as I. So I opted for a smaller party with my friends."
No, "I was 8 months pregnant (2002) and the thought of sitting in the sun for a few hours was not to be had, though after I found out who the speaker was (Madeline Albright), I kind of wish I had. But I did attend my Father's PhD, Husband's BA in both in 1988, and my brother's BA (?)."
No, "1993 - as an undergraduate I expected the size of the event to be more of a time commitment than I wanted to commit to. I did attend my master's commencement (though not at UW)."
No, "1998, my family didn't show for my high school graduation and no one had asked about my UW graduation...so I took the opportunity to pick up more hours at work."
No, "Class of 2001 - my parents were recently divorced and I couldn't stand going through an important life event like graduation knowing they wouldn't get along, so I went hiking at Rainier instead. "
No, "I graduated in March, 1968 and really wanted to attend the June graduation. However, I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force and had to report for active duty in April 1968. While in the service I received an MBA degree from the University of New Mexico in December of 1971 but could not attend that graduation either because I finished my time in the military in April 1972 and returned to the Seattle area. "
No, "I graduated in 1980, likely the reason for not walking at graduation was the cost of gowns, etc. and the fact that after walking you were a dot in the crowd. I felt rather anonymous, as did my roommates at the time. As a parent I would have loved to see my child among the graduates but as the graduate it seemed unimportant. Teresa (Ray) Wren BS Nutritional Sciences and Foods"
No, "I attended the separate School of Pharmacy graduation ceremony in 1982 but not the main one. My parents were unable to come to attend and I probably would have done both the school of pharmacy ceremony and the main ceremony if they were able to attend.
No, "1996. After two years as a commuter, I received a post baccalaureate bachelor's (in preparation for a PhD in a different field from my previous degrees). Unlike my undergraduate years in a small university, my time at UW was very focused and not very social. The thought of the robe and tassel, the crowds, the waiting - it just did not appeal to me or to my family. This degree was merely a stepping-stone and a smaller step, at that. "
No, "Graduated December 2002, MLIS degree. Didn't walk due to bad relationship with degree-granting unit. And it was the same day as my wedding."
No, "I received my PhD from UW in 2005. I didn't attend the main ceremony because it is too big and too impersonal. I didn't want to subject my parents to the crowds, etc. I did attend the departmental graduation, because it was smaller and I knew most of the people in attendance."
No, "I was a freshman in 1967, but after years of dropping out and drifting away, didn't graduate until 1995. I loved the college experience--even in my first incarnation as a Husky--and craved the validation of a degree. But as a child of the sixties, I loathed what I felt was the empty pretense of ceremony. Thirty years later I felt the same way. In fact, when many of my friends and grad school colleagues at UCSD received their PhD's in 2000 (I dropped out again after four years), I didn't attend the ceremonies there, either. Still batting .1000. "
No, "Graduation Year: 1980. I was a older student and a Vietnam Veteran (an actual in country combat veteran, not a Vietnam-era wannabe like Mike McCormack and the majority of veterans of that era.) I found very little in common with my fellow students and recent graduates. The ceremony had no appeal for me. "
No, "I graduated in Sept. 1974 with a BS from the physical therapy program. Since we graduated at such a strange time of the year, our class held it s own private graduation ceremony for the 30 of us. Waiting 6 months for the main spring ceremony seemed anti-climactic. After returning for graduate school, I graduated in Dec 1978, with a MS in kinesiology. I did go through the December graduation ceremony for my graduate degree."
No, "BA Architecture 1982 - I did not attend the main graduation ceremony. My family did not live in the area and were unable to attend graduation. I did however attend my College of Architecture ceremony, which meant a lot to my classmates and me. These were people I had been with 24/7 for two years and they were my family. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything."
No, "MEd 1998. Couldn't sit out in the sun that long. Preferred small College of Ed graduation. I didn't go to my PhD graduation at Duke either."
No, "I graduated from the architecture masters program in Dec. 1996 and I was moving back east to NY. It did not make sense to come back to Seattle in May 1997 for a ceremony. It would have been expensive for my family to all fly back for the event. I did attend the May 1996 graduation ceremony to see a classmate walk and tried to live vicariously through her. I am sure I cried because I wished I was already finished. I had a big ceremony at the undergraduate level, so I guess that was enough."
No, "In part, it was in protest to commencement speaker Madeleine K. Albright. But it was mostly because I'd already walked for high school and my BA (twice--regular spring commencement and winter, when I completed my degree), and was already planning to attend the school’s convocation. My parents and I opted to hike Mt. Si instead."
No, "The only two ceremonies I went to with family were: Eagle Scout in 1971 and BS Engineering at UC Davis in 1979. My MBA at UW was a nice thing, but I went climbing with the Seattle Mountaineers on commencement. I also did not go to High School graduation because I skipped the Senior year and went to college after my Junior year of High School."
No, "Year: 1974; Masters in Education. I was still teaching and weekends were treasured, especially at the end of the school year. Additionally, there are so many graduates that one gets lost. It's possible that I didn't have the money then to rent a cap, gown and accessories. I did go to my undergraduate ceremony in Massachusetts."
No, "1970 I finished my BA in December, and by the next year, it seemed silly to come back. I wish I had attended when I got my Master's degree in 1977. Honestly, I can not remember why I didn't go."
No, "I left Seattle immediately after finals and moved to upstate New York to start work. I needed the salary! AVK '60 "
No, "I didn't go (June 2001) because I didn't feel like having 30,000 other people cramped into the stadium with me was a personal enough experience to spend that kind of money on a cap and gown. It would have been nice to have a separate ceremony for at least the Social Sciences, if not the Psychology Department alone (my major)."
No, "I graduated early and in the middle of the year. I didn't want to walk at the ceremony the preceding spring with the class above me and I didn't want to come back the following spring to walk with my class. I had also already been accepted to law school and knew I would walk at that ceremony so my parents would be sufficiently appeased :)"
No, "Too darn hot to sit in the sun for endless hours in a black polyester robe and funny hat. Didn't really feel it was relevant to me as a grad student. My department's commencement was much more meaningful."
No, "I graduated in 1999 as an undergraduate. I actually waved my parents off from visiting because I had no interest in ""walking."" Main reason? Because UW is such a large campus I thought they'd do a ""stand up class of '99, you are now graduated."" Standing in a stadium with 10,000 other plus grads didn't seem to be something I really wanted to commit myself to doing. I will say if I had more of a connection with more people who were graduating with me, maybe that would have induced me to go. "
No, "I graduated Dec 15, 1950 (the end of Fall quarter) B S Physics, there was no graduating ceremony for anyone graduating except in June. Helen Morris nee Gear"
No, "In the mid '70s, the graduation process was very mundane and even though I had the credits to graduate on time, I stayed in school for two additional quarters. The UW still thinks I am a '76 grad instead of pooling me with my entrance class that graduated in 1975."
No, "I graduated in March 1974, with a B.A. degree in Psychology. I had attended the U. of Miami, Oxford, Ohio for the first two years in 63-65. I then went part-time to Cleveland Comm. College. Since I was part-time, I was drafted in early 66, so then enlisted in the Army for three years to get electronics training and not be in the infantry. My father called the infantry “cannon fodder”; he lost a handsome uncle in WWI and his sister’s husband in WWII. After more colleges, then U.W., then just taking three more courses to meet the graduation requirement, it was anti-climactic - I ended up with almost five years of coursework. I think my parents, who lived outside Cleveland, visited me once in Seattle. There was no one urging me to attend graduation. I wish I had attended. Thanks for asking, Ron Soper "
No, "I graduated in March '82 and left Seattle for a job in Southern California. It was not practical for me and my family to return to Seattle for the ceremony...but I have always wished I had. Not attending made for a very anticlimactic end of college!"
No, "I graduated after Winter quarter and I did not want to come back 3 months later to walk. Also, way to many people at Husky stadium for my family to see me. (1999)"
No, "Well, I attended the main graduation ceremony, but I didn't ""walk"" in it. My mother and I sat together in Husky Stadium and listened to Sherman Alexie's incredibly inspiring address to the Class of 2003. His speech was one of the most memorable and powerful talks I have heard to date. We then ducked out of the rest of the ceremony in order to get to a graduation party that my extended family was hosting for my cousin (now a Husky alum '07) and myself. Perhaps I would have walked, had it not been for the fact that I didn't want my mom to be in the audience alone (everyone else was at the high school graduation-which didn’t require binoculars to see the grad). Also, while I felt (and continue to feel) a strong connection to the University as an institution, the community within UW that I felt most connected to was the College of Forest Resources. Hence, I sat in on that department's ceremony and even eschewed my own department's events."
No, "Participating in my department commencement for the Class of 2005 was personally rewarding to me and my family so we did not feel lost in the stadium crowd. "
No, "I finished up in summer quarter and knew I wouldn't be able to concentrate if I'd walked in June. Plus, I never have been one for crowds... My mother was none too happy, but acquiesced to catering a party for me in August."
No, "I graduated in March instead of June, so I felt no compelling reason to ""walk."" This was in 1973."
No, "Not interested in the ceremony. I didn't attend 3 times: 1964 (BA), 1969 (MA), 1984 (M.Libr)"
No, "Too many people; would have been a waste for my family. Plus, all of my friends were one year back from me (transfer and AP credit) so none of my friends would have been with me. Year: 1993
No, "I finished academics in June 1974 but had 9 months of internships to complete my BS in Occupational Therapy. I don't think we were ""allowed"" to walk until we finished our internships in '75. By then, I had been off campus for nearly a year and I didn't have any desire to walk in the 1975 graduation ceremony. Besides, the close community that I had with the other OT students was not the same after internships. I don't thing we had a department graduation in 1974 before we dispersed for internships so the end of my academic experience at UW was anticlimactic. I hope programs are now letting students walk or have a dept graduation before the students leave for final internships. It is one regret that I have from my experience at UW, that I didn't participate in a graduation ceremony, either departmental or the large one. "
No, "1974. Attending graduation was WAY too establishment for those days. My view now is I would never attend a graduation ceremony as anonymous as the UW's. If you are not going to hear your name, what is the point?"
No, "Class of 1994. Graduation wasn't a big deal to me. I was more excited about starting a job. Even if I'd been into graduation, the ceremony is too big and too long. What a drag! But I'm glad there IS a ceremony. For a lot of people it's a really big deal graduating from college."
No, "When I graduated from UW-Bothell in 2001, I walked at the UWB commencement, and elected not to go to the main UW ceremony. I also graduated from the Information School in 2004 with an MLIS and walked at the iSchool convocation, where I was hooded. I didn't choose to go to the main UW commencement then, either. The smaller, focused ceremonies are easier on friends and family and feel more special than being one of several thousand graduates. "
No, "Didn't have enough money to pay for graduation gown etc. in 1977."
No, "1978 - Master's degree Find commencement addresses meaningless, do not like the crowds. Having the degree is of most value in the workplace, not whether attended the ceremony. I do not need others to congratulate me. I am able to take pride in my own accomplishments."
No, "My first year of college was in 1957-58. When I finally graduated in 1978 my oldest child was attending Western. I finished my last class in the summer, so the timing was simply not in line with the graduation ceremony. It just didn't seem like it was something for me. The degree was most important to me. "
No, "I graduated from the UW Evans School of Public Affairs in June, 2002. I participated in the ESPA graduation ceremony, and was contemplating attending the main ceremony as well. Unfortunately, while strolling around campus, my elderly mother tripped over a paving brick and had a face-to-face meeting with Parrington Hall. That effectively ended the sightseeing, and with it, my plan to attend the ""big commencement""."
No, "I had a job waiting for me in Texas (with NASA) and going to the ceremony would have meant requesting a delayed start date. After 5 years of school, and with a new wife, money was very tight and I needed to start work ASAP. Class year was 1964 (EE)."
No, "1961 -- because I had attended both my high-school and Junior College graduations, and found them BORING."
No, "Believe it was too long and too boring and too many people."
No, "2005 Alum, my parents are from a rural area and large crowds tend to make them nervous. I didn't want to put them through the huge commencement experience. We went to our departmental reception and they were much happier with that."
No, "Felt there were too many students graduating and didn't want to the hassle of getting a cap and gown, fighting traffic, etc. Alumni '75."
No, "My final quarter was Summer 1972, so I figure that my graduation would have been in June 1973. I had moved out of state and did not return to Washington until June 1973, but was not in the Seattle area so I skipped it. I think I had already requested and received my diploma too."
No, "Boring! And it's such a big graduating class, you don't get your name called or anything, so it's very impersonal and herd-of-sheep-like. I would have done it at a smaller school. -2002"
No, "Finished in March of '80. To be honest it never crossed my mind to attend graduation. When I graduated from law school, I attended. Partly because I was much more aware of the ceremony, partly because so many friends were attending and partly because it mattered to my family."
No, "I graduated in August, so I was not allowed to participate in June of that year and by June of the following year when I would have been allowed to participate, too much time had passed for it to matter anymore."
No, "At the time, I was paying 100% of my schooling and did not think the extra expense, nor time was worth it. The ceremony sounded more like a chore, rather than a celebration. Now, having attended my oldest son's university graduation ceremony, I regret not attending mine. -Scott Baisch, 7536447"
No, "I had taken a job in another state and couldn't fly back for it. Graduated 1997."
No, "I received a BS in Occupational Therapy in 1974. My classes ended in June of 1973 and I had 6 months of internships after June of 1973 before I could graduate. I moved out of state in March of 1974 and doubt I would have gone to the ceremony even if I had stayed in the Seattle area. "
No, "1970 After Kent State 5/70, it didn't seem relevant. I also graduated 12/70. I was being married 6/71 and no time to do graduation, too."
No, "1971. Didn't connect with the UW spirit thing and had no relatives to attend. "
No, "Too impersonal. I have one BA and three master's degrees from the UW, and I never attended the UW commencement ceremony. My last degree was an MLIS, and the iSchool had its own ceremony. I went to that."
No, "The UW is such a large institution that it feels so impersonal and the ceremony is more of a circus. I recently attended the UW medical school graduation and was also surprised how it was so large. All the families sitting in Hec Ed in the bleachers. It didn't feel academic at all. All the students were sitting where the basketball floor would be in folding chairs. I thought it looked pretty low end. If that's as good as it gets for the medical school, what can we realistically put together for the larger ceremonies? I graduated with a bachelors in 1989 and then later with a master's in 1994 and didn't attend either ceremony. They just don't seem very special and I'm the first in my family to graduate from a 4-year college/university. I was more relieved to be done than proud of an achievement."
No, "I wasn't interested in sitting around in the sun all day long. I went to my department ceremony and that was all I needed. I graduated in 2003."
No, "1992. I was pregnant with my 1st child, due June 22. I had pre-term labor issues (all those Bio Chem classes did it, I think) and wasn't going to risk having that baby in the middle of the commencement. "
No, "I completed my studies at the U in August of 1972. I entered law school in September and didn't attend the ceremony the following June, because I was living in St. Louis, Missouri at the time. Steve Krom, 72.
No, "I was a graduate student so I walked in my departments commencement ceremony. I didn't want to make my family suffer another long and boring ceremony (I had that as an undergrad)."
No, "The idea of walking across a platform at Hec Edmundson to get a piece of paper seemed such an anticlimax that I neglected to tell my parents there was a graduation ceremony. It was a beautiful day in the summer of 1951 so my best friend and I went swimming at Richmond Beach. I think we both got a sunburn. It was a completely different story in 1969 when I pulled out all the stops and did the whole cap and gown thing to receive my Master's degree in Librarianship. "
No, "Graduated in the winter of 1972, was married and employed at the time, and felt no rah-rah connection with what was, even then, a massively huge institution. I really can't conceive of what it would be like to take part in a graduation of 'more than 10,000'. "
No, "Class of '91. Reason #1: I finished in March. Returning 3 months later to walk when I was already a contributing part of the business community seemed crazy. Reason #2: Due to my odd (i.e. on and off) schooling schedule, I had few friends in college, so no one to really walk with. In high school, that cadre of friends was what pulled me hard into attending the graduation ceremony. Reason #3: It’s just way too big... Yea, I graduated, but it feels like its something that EVERYONE is doing...with 10,000 graduates at once...."
No, "The main graduation is too impersonal, with no names of undergraduates called during the ceremony (due to the size of the ceremony). Instead, I attended the UW Business School graduation ceremony at Hec Ed, and it was more personal, with names being called, and it was just as formal as a college graduation should be. Plus, I actually knew the people I was graduating with."
No, "1984 I had finished the bulk of my course work in 1981 and didn't feel like I belonged to/in the Group who graduated. I also had previously attended the ceremony of a friend, and it was long and minimally applicable to him and his degree. So I determined I had better things to do with my time."
No, "2001 - not interested in the ceremony. I was 46 when I graduated and it seemed silly to participate."
No, "1983 - Didn't feel my education was over and wasn't proud of my achievement.... and too much hassle."
No, "I attended the Business Schools ceremony, which was more applicable to my degree (MBA, 2004). "
No, "In both cases, 1980 and 1982, my degree completion was not in spring, and due to work conflicts I was unable to return to the ceremony. However, when I completed my Ph.D. (UCSD, 1996) I did participate, in large part because my attitude about the importance of recognizing for myself the accomplishment of a long-standing goal had changed."
No, "Had been to my sister's and figured I'd been through one--why go through another? (...But did attend my doctoral hooding at the UW...)"
No, "I completed class work in Dec. 1968. Attending graduation exercises the following June seemed a long time away from the event."
No, "Wasn't interested in being 1 in a crowd of 5,000 (2001). But I will definitely walk when I receive my Master's degree from the Evans School next year!"
No, "1975 - Too impersonal I went to the Law School graduation ceremony 3 years later - smaller class - more personal."
No, "Graduated 2003; I did attend my department graduation ceremony. "
No, "1969, graduated in December on active military duty by March and I don't think they had a mid year graduation"
No, "It was never a question in my mind that I would graduate, so it wasn't like I needed some public acknowledgement of the event. My parents had just attended my brother's ceremony the year before, so I think they were willing to miss the logistical hassle. 1990"
No, "During my fourth year or my senior year at the UW, I studied abroad in Sweden through a direct exchange program. It was one of the best experiences of my life and highly encourage others to do so if possible. When I got back I still had some classes to take before graduating. I officially finished March of 1995, however most of my friends and classmates had graduated the previous year. Therefore when it came time to walk in June of 1995 I was not as connected to the university. I had an opportunity to travel to Europe for a month as well as attend an event at the university in Sweden where I had gone to school. But that meant missing graduation and I was okay with it. Now I am finishing grad school at Seattle University. I am receiving an M.B.A. and have decided to walk in part because I missed the experience as an undergraduate. Many of my classmates are not walking because they said they went through it as undergraduates. I understand not wanting to sit through a long ceremony, but I also think that it is important to experience it at least once. Therefore I encourage students to go through the pomp and circumstance. You worked hard to get where you are at and you deserve the ceremony and celebration of your success.
~ UW Alumni, Class of '95"
No, "Because, I had to go to summer quarter to finish my requirements, and didn't want to go through the ceremony when I still had three months of school to negotiate."
No, "Class of '72 I graduated at the end of Summer Quarter. I'd transferred to the UW as a Junior and knew very few students, none of whom were graduating with me. I rented a gown so my parents could take some pictures on campus. Sitting through a typical graduation ceremony seemed impersonal and a waste of time."
No, "I graduated in 2005 and it was pouring that day. I had already been to my sister's ceremony at UW two years prior and didn't want to put my family through the boredom again, and since it was raining I didn't want to sit there for four hours either. "
No, "library school grad in 1992, we did four quarters, so we were all off working the following June when we would have been eligible for the ceremony"
No, "My graduation was delayed a year because of a paperwork snafu. I was already gone from the university at the time of the graduation ceremony."
No, "Too crowded, too long, threat of rain/heat, impersonal. The individual school/program graduation ceremonies are fun though."
No, "I graduated in 2002, and could not imagine having my family and friends sit through such a large, long graduation ceremony. I have seen a graduation ceremony for only 200 law students before, and that took 2 hours. I could only imagine how long mine would have been with all us undergrads! Instead, we celebrated at my parents' house the week before. Just about every person I could think of attended that party, and it was wonderful! I think that's a better memory."
No, "I graduated in 1975 but should have graduated in 1968. I left school with a year left to get married. When I went back to school, I worked and took classes part time and had a husband and family to care for. I just didn't take the time to go to commencement, especially since I didn't know anyone and didn't feel part of that particular class. Libby Walgamott"
No, "Class of 93. I was an older student and did not want to drag my children and husband through the ceremony. "
No, "I graduated in 1970 and did not attend graduation because the timing conflicted with a ""walk"" down the aisle at my wedding to a UW medical student. Thirty-seven happy years later, there's no question I chose the more meaningful ceremony to attend!"
No, "But I wish I had. My story is complicated. I had all of my classes but one taken. It was a math class and they wouldn't let me walk because of that math class. I took that class in the Fall and I would have had to walk in the Spring. By then I had moved out of the state and it was so long after actually finishing that I didn't walk. I felt like the University should have let me walk that first May, then I would have done it. I wish I had done it. I love UW and I feel like I missed out on a monumental moment not walking. I graduated-finished the math class- in December of 2006."
No, "I chose not to walk in the graduation ceremony. As an older, married graduate student with one child, I hardly fit the typical college age stereotype. I was there to get my education, get my ticket punched, and then go on with the rest of my life. Few people remember the name of the commencement speaker, what was said, etc. So why put myself through the tedious ceremony for little or no benefit. Pardon me, but I remain somewhat cynical about society's expectations and traditions. Count me out. MSW '77."
No, "I was on active duty in the U.S. Army and could not return to Seattle for the ceremony. Class of 1967."
No, "I graduated from the School of Nursing in 1978 and preferred to participate only in our smaller, more intimate celebration. "
No, "Graduated from the Univ. School of Nursing (Swedish Division) in March of 1961. I was in the Army Nurse Corps undergoing Basic Training during the Main Univ. Graduation."
No, "I didn't actually complete work till August; by the next spring the ceremony seemed irrelevant. I now regret the way it worked out. PhD, 1978"
No, "I took off for my honeymoon that day (6/10/1978), to my eternal regret. I should have attended commencement."
No, "No, I didn't attend the main graduation ceremony. I participated in the School of Nursing graduation ceremony. My parents were coming up from California the next weekend for my wedding and weren't able to attend graduation. I don't even remember hearing much about the main ceremony. I think we were a bit anti-ceremony in the 70's! Class of 1976"
No, "Ph.D. in Music, 1978. I did not walk because by the time I finished entirely financing my own Ph.D. I could not afford the graduation paraphernalia and other costs."
No, "Graduated in 1968. I view graduations as a general waste of time and have never felt they had any value. The only reason I might attend would be for my parents but they had no strong desire to attend."
No, "'79 Economics. I graduated in December of ‘79; by the time commencement came I was fully engrossed in meeting the demands of my first job. Plus I pretty much completed college on my own without family support so there weren't people pressuring me to make the walk."
No, "Class of 2000. The main graduation ceremony is way too long, and I don't get anything out of it. I did, however, attend my MUCH smaller (and shorter) departmental graduation ceremony."
No, "I graduated early, and none of my cohort were graduating at the same time. (1974) I didn't want to ""walk"" all alone with a group of strangers. Looking back, I wish there were smaller group options for the departments, and perhaps for the odd persons out like myself who completed their bachelors quickly."
No, "1957 - conflict with job - earning a living more important"
No, "It was a choice between going to 5th grade camp with my daughter and walking at graduation. I had to choose my daughter, hands down. "
No, "lived off campus, did not feel connected, and was eager to ""get on with it"" and start working. Ceremony was not a big thing in the 70's."
No, "I graduated in December, and wasn't still in Seattle for the June commencement."
No, "I still had two papers to submit for publication from my Master's thesis research after my actual ""Graduation"" so I felt like I wasn't really done. "
No, "In the spring of 1969 the graduation ceremony seemed unimportant in light of everything else that was going on in the world. Also, I felt it would be impersonal to be a little speck among the thousands. My parents (also UW alums) were very understanding; my dad (class of '43) was called into the Marines before his graduation, and my mom (class of '44) said that hers was a bore to sit through."
No, "Class of 1962--I'd had my fill of lectures and lines and life on campus. No bitterness--loved the UW and still do. But, no regret at ""missing"" attendance at ceremony. I went on to teach high school seniors for 34 years; and, yep you guessed it - - attended 34 graduation ceremonies. Sigh."
No, "Graduated Dec. 2005 so technically part of the class of 2006. By the time commencement took place, 6 months after graduation I was already working and college was in the distance past unfortunately. It was off to the working world for me!"
No, "Class of 2002...just didn't feel like it. I had my small graduation with my department and that was sufficient for me. "
No, "I am very proud of my degree from the U of W. But, to be one of ten thousand, didn't seem that special..."
No, "I was in Rome for my last quarter of study (at the UW's Rome Center) and traveled to Greece afterward - I wouldn't have cut short that trip for anything, not even commencement! I handmade my graduation announcements in Rome and mailed them to friends and family back in the U.S., with a light-hearted explanation of why they weren't invited to the ceremony - because I wouldn't be there. :-)"
No, "I graduated in March of 1972, following Winter quarter. I immediately began the interview process and gained employment prior to the June graduation ceremonies. Frankly, I forgot about the event but wouldn't probably have bothered. I think the real benefit of ""walking"" is to publicly demonstrate appreciation to others whom have provided moral and financial support to the student. Virtually everyone in my family graduated from the UW. My father and daughter ""walked"", while my mother and I chose not to. My son graduated this quarter and has yet to decide."
No, "graduated with a BS in 1963 -- I just didn't want to go through all the hassle, there were thousands of graduates, it wouldn't feel personal to me. I also did not go through the ceremony in 1973 when I got my Master's degree, for the same reasons If I had attended a much smaller college with smaller graduating classes I'm sure I would have gone through the ceremony.
No, BS Physics 1975. I didn't walk because NROTC Commissioning was the morning of graduation and I had family here from out of town for that and then my Wedding was the following weekend. My wife and I both felt that we had enough pomp and ceremony in our lives at that point without the walk with thousands of people we didn't really know."
No, "I graduated with a B.S. in geology June 1977. Until December 1976 I had planned on attending my graduation ceremony since my father, in Ohio, was planning to attend my graduation. He died suddenly the week before Christmas so I had no reason to attend. In addition I was offered my first geology job to begin as soon as possible, so I started work as soon as classes were out. "
No, "Too many in the ceremony. My parents (my mother was in poor health) would not have been able to see or photograph me. 1969"
No, "I attended the law school graduation instead. I have no interest in watching thousands of strangers graduate. I graduated in 2006."
No, "BS Psychology, 1990 As a reward for finally earning my degree after 7 years of starting and stopping my college education, I went to Costa Rica. What was supposed to have been a 2-week vacation turned into almost 4 months! I loved it there, so I got a job teaching English and came back when classes were over."
No, "1986. It's too big to have personal meaning."
No, "I finished in August 1978 with a professional degree (M.Lib.), and by the following June when I could have participated, I was working at a temp position in the library field in another state. "
No, "1975--The size of the graduation and, for me, the size of the school, the graduation lacked relevance. I had my degree and was ready to move on. I have never regretted my decision. I later graduated from the UPS (now Seattle U.) Law School and the more intimate class made it most important to attend graduation."
No, "Class of '63...I thought it was silly to ask my parents to drive from Spokane to try and find me in the mass of thousands...I think they appreciated being off the hook! I've had no regrets..."
No, "I had to report to my new career position _ Forester for USFS in Anchorage, AK. However, looking back many, many times -- I so wish I had stayed and attended!!"
No, "I got a masters degree in 2003. I was in a special program that enabled me to complete the degree in one year (half the time). So, I didn't know any of the other graduates in the department and would have felt uncomfortable at the ceremony."
No, "Not sure why I didn't want to spend quality time with my 5,000 best friends who were also graduating."
No, "Class of 65. Was happy to be done with school, I was married, and I was anxious to move on with my non-school life. I am proud to be a Husky as are many members of my family, three generations back and one forward. "
No, "I didn't feel close to my class, and I don't think any of them walked either. TC '00."
No, "I received a graduate degree, Masters of Librarianship, 1971 and I was not interested in going to graduation. I attended my undergraduate graduation the year before."
No, "MPH in MCH, 1991. Didn't attend because the degree was the most important, the ceremony wasn't. Family couldn't come from Montana to attend. After being in Seattle for 2 years, I was very anxious to return to Montana."
No, "Graduated with the class of 89 and had to choose between attending the ceremony or competing in what turned out to be the last ever Bob's Hole Kayak Rodeo in Wenatchee. I chose the rodeo and have never regretted the decision, though my family expressed some disappointment at the time."
No, "BA, Home Economics, 1974 -- didn't go because of work and living outside of Seattle, travel and cost of graduation, etc., and a general lack of interest. I was just glad to be out! Margaret Walmer"
No, "It was for a graduate degree and was too much hassle to attend since they mail the diploma anyway."
No, "I graduated in December of 1998. I chose not to attend the ceremony, as it seemed far too large and impersonal. I did not feel I would derive enough benefit from attending to tolerate having to sit for several hours!"
No, "Class of 1988. I was an out-of-state student and graduated a quarter early. I didn't want to fly back to Seattle for the ceremony. I also knew that I was going on to law school, and that it wasn't my final ceremony."
No, "The large number of people attending the ceremony and the length of it wasn't reasonable for me as I have 4 children and elderly parents."
No, "'05 - The main ceremony seemed too crowded and impersonal. I attended the smaller ceremony held by my department."
No, "Class of 1973 No real interest. The University is so big that I did not feel a part of the University. Even though I grew up in Seattle and felt attached to the University, the important part was getting the degree not ""walking"" in some long ceremony. I don't remember if there was a convocation for my department but that would have been more personal if there was."
No, "Was not interested in the ceremony---just moved on and used my master's degree for professional advancement. 1967"
No, "I graduated in December 1995. It seemed odd to walk in a different year than when I graduated. My parents didn't care. I think my Mom thought I went to Wazzu. Only my then boyfriend (now husband) supported my education efforts. He didn't seem to mind if I walked or not. "
No, "1975: Dual degree (Oceanography & Chemistry) so would have been split between colleges. Sheer size of graduating class and lack of individualism. Commissioning was more intimate and important on a personal, professional and family basis."
No, "I value my skin, so I wouldn't attend an open-air ceremony. I did, however, attend an indoor ceremony mounted by my department. (M.S. 99)"
No, "1995, friend's wedding was the same day and also I was starting medical school so I figured I’d go to that graduation ceremony"
No, "I was living on the east coast and did not have the funds to return. I have always regretted being unable to attend."
No, "I did go to my formal 2005 UW MBA graduation. However, in 1988 I chose not to walk because it was WAY to big an impersonal. Further, my years in high school band and having older friends had sent me to nearly a dozen graduations already and I was quite bored of the whole gig."
No, "1993 Considering the size of the UW undergraduate graduating class, I did not believe the ceremony would be a personal one for me. As a minority graduate, my family and I had the fortunate and rewarding opportunity to attend other ceremonies that recognized my accomplishment, sponsored by NSBE, Office of Minority Affairs, and others. When I recall my undergraduate graduation, I have very fond memories of those ""graduation experiences!"""
No, "I graduated in 1985, and honestly just too many people. Plus I was starting work that next Monday and needed to get moved."
No, "Class of 1974. I did not walk. As a working student the cost and the time off from work were the two biggest factors in not participating. "
No, "1976 (BA, BS) I had no interest in ceremony and so did not attend. (I also did not attend the ceremony held for my JD diploma at Northwestern U. in 1980.)"
No, "I finished up a quarter early in Winter 2004. My dad was working in Hong Kong so I planned to visit him for 6 weeks to explore the area, etc., then I was scheduled to fly back to Seattle for my graduation in June. After being in Hong Kong for 2 weeks, I was in love with the area and the experience of being somewhere fresh and new...so I decided to stay and look for a job. I cancelled my return flight and hunted for a job, which I found and began in July 2004. I spent almost 2 years in Hong Kong and had an amazing experience with my first full-time job, as well as just living life and meeting an endless variety of people from all over the world. Sorry folks, but I'm not sad in the least that I didn't ""walk"" in the ceremony because the adventure I ended up having was priceless and completely life changing!"
No, "Well in 1974 (Bachelors degree) and 1976 (Masters degree) it was all about doing your own thing and not doing the traditional anything. Also could not afford to be anything but a hippie."
No, "It's too big to be personable and make it a real memory of graduating. I went to my best friend's graduation at Eastern instead."
No, "No interest in sitting in sun (or rain) listening to a gazillion names called. Paying for cap and gown not a priority.
No, "I did not attend the main event because I was a graduate student and we had a smaller ceremony...short and quick. I have an MLIS from 1998. I am grateful for the smaller ceremony. When I was an undergrad it took 4 hours for my name to be called and I had to leave soon after that because I had dinner reservations.
No, "Graduated in 1976 with a BS and in 1978 with a MSW: Did not attend commencement because it was so big that it was impersonal. I did attend the Phi Beta Kappa banquet when I received my BS. That was smaller and more personal."
No, "I defended my Ph.D. thesis in March 2001 and then took a job in Maryland the next month. I wasn't about to fly back to Seattle a few months later to walk in a ceremony in which I would be one of thousands...."
No, "Too much trouble. Not considered important. I was there for the education, not the ceremony. I completed both my BA and MBA at UW. I never went to a graduation until I completed my doctorate at Harvard Business School.
William R. Boulton 69/71"
No, "Got a job out of state and left to get settled in new location, also no one to go to the ceremony except my wife."
No, "I completed my undergrad course requirements back in Fall Quarter 1982. I have lined up a practical training job in Atlanta Georgia and had to leave Seattle right a way. Therefore did not have a chance to attend. Regret that I've missed my graduation ceremony back then.
No, "I was a returning student/athlete who originally enrolled at the UW in 1977 and finally got my degree 25 years after my class did, in 2006. I honestly did this for myself and it was more of a relief than a celebration. Not exactly something to get dressed in a cap and gown for even though I consider this one of my bigger accomplishments."
No, "not for undergrad - too big and impersonal. I did for grad though - it was just our class and our professors and there was a social sponsored by the business school. It was awesome."
No, "1991 bachelor of nursing 1998 masters of nursing I walked for my departments graduation ceremony both times. But I didn’t walk the main ceremony. The main ceremony was too big and wasn’t as important ad the nursing grad ceremony. Parking was a problem for the main."
No, "My graduation ceremony was in the spring of 2003. I was a computer science major, and the CSE department had its own ceremony, full of friends and acquaintances from my years in the department. My family was in town, and rather than waste those hours on a giant, impersonal ceremony where my parents couldn't tell who I was without the aid of binoculars, I convinced everyone to go do something fun instead. If you want to know why 50% of the students feel no loyalty to the University of Washington, maybe you should instead be giving this survey to current students and faculty as they leave Schmitz Hall."
No, "I had moved to Europe right after my PhD (October 2004). If I had still been there the following June, I would have participated."
No, "June 1981. It was just too much of a hassle to attend the ceremony, particularly as I didn't really know most of the people in my graduating class. In addition, I had attended my husband's ceremony a year before, so I knew what to expect.
No, "I graduate this year, 2007, and I've been told by past grads that at the campus ceremony you don't get your name called or get to walk across the stage. It's very impersonal. You just sit there and listen to strangers try to inspire you. I'm planning to attend my departmental ceremony."
No, "I would have walked with the class of '74, but I found I didn't have time for all the things I needed to do... I still find there are more things to do than hours in a day."
No, "I graduated in December and by June, I was out of the area at a new job (and probably without much vacation). In hindsight I kind of wish I had gone but at the time, I had been done for a long enough time that the graduation ceremony didn't seem as relevant to me."
No, "I wanted to participate in commencement, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I was too self-conscious. I was a 47-years-old grandmother and a full-time student. If I had attended classes in the evenings with other older adults, I might not have felt so out-of-place. Earning a bachelor's degree was the biggest accomplishment of my life, but it was also the hardest. The two years I attended the UW had taken its toil on me and my family. My husband would have been the only person to see me ""walk."" I also packed on 45 pounds that even a long black gown couldn't hide. Karla Woodley, '02
No, “Our department had a graduation ceremony that was more intimate and applicable to my family. Perhaps the size is what kept me away from UW's main graduation ceremony. The size of the school never intimidated me, but it was nice to attend the graduation ceremony for our department with my buddies. 1992"