Graduation questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>For parents who have been through this before…do you have any helpful tips for graduation? I am concerned since I have a bad back and can’t sit or stand for long periods of time. I just looked at the street closures for graduation and wondering where the heck we are going to park. Also, how early do you need to get there? I know the ceremony is around noon, but the procession is at 9:45. What is a good time to arrive? Any good parking suggestions (we will be coming from our hotel downtown)? It does sound like an all-day event. In fact, I vaguely remember someone suggesting you bring snacks or lunch since there is no time to eat… </p>

<p>Any suggestions would be welcome (this is my first and last child at Brown). Older one’s graduation was very different.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!!!</p>

2

<p>Park, haven’t you been there? Parking is terrible around there anyway, take a taxi or bus. If you were staying in the dorms, you could watch the procession assemble then go back and rest and come back. It is mostly a blur, but I did go over when the procession was lining up and there were lots of seats. I moved around and stood under a tree for the ceremony, there was a bit of rain. I don’t know what to tell you, sorry.</p>

3

<p>Yeah, I would avoid driving at all costs - they block off many of the streets around. If you’re staying downtown, it’d be a very quick taxi ride or you can just walk.</p>

<p>For the procession, many parents and families watch the livecast from the main green, where you can sit for the whole time. The only time you’ll have to move is when the main ceremony ends and you go to your child’s specific department ceremony.</p>

<p>The Blue Room right off the main green will be open and serving sandwiches/water/pastries, etc. They’ll also have a tent on the green with the same sort of food.</p>

4

<p>Sunday morning, the procession starts at 9:30 or 10. Some parents get there early and stand along the walk to watch the grads as they walk by, but if you can’t stand for long then don’t do that – just get a seat on the Main Green and watch the whole thing on the big screen. You can sit there as long as you want. A sibling or other relative can go watch the procession while you sit and save their seats. </p>

<p>There are people who show up to grab seats as early as 7 am. Most people don’t show up until after 9 am. There are plenty of seats. There are always empty seats. If you want something in the shade on a hot day, or close to the main stage, then you have to get there on the earlier side. </p>

<p>First the grads march down the hill to the church. You want to see on the screen what happens at the church where the grads are. Then the grads march back to the Green, where the honorary degrees are awarded and the 2 student speakers speak (another thing you’ll want to see). Then you’ll go to the department ceremony. There is always food after that, and some of it is quite extensive and good (depends on the department).</p>

<p>Parking is tough. Get there early. The Power Street lot is open and free if you can get a space there. If the weather is nice, just sit on the Green and watch people. The alums can be entertaining. </p>

<p>Food: there are food trucks and other food options on the Green. Del’s frozen lemonade will be there. But if you want to bring food that’s a viable plan. </p>

<p>Watch the weather forecast carefully. I’ve been to commencements that have been brutally hot, others have been cool and overcast – last year was very cold, we had to wear coats. It can be very casual. Yes some people dress up, but it’s OK not too. Wear something that looks good in photos. And comfortable shoes. You will be walking on grass. </p>

<p>I’m happy to answer any other questions. </p>

5

<p>Thanks so much for the replies, especially the detail from fireandrian. Sounds like if we plan on 8-8:30 we should be in good shape. I did talk to a mom from my bookclub whose daughter graduated a few years ago and she also said there were plenty of seats. I will be better off sometimes standing and sometimes sitting (as I can’t sit too long–you should see me walking up and down the aisles of a plane on a long flight!). I’ll just figure it out. I do want to see the procession. Been checking the weather and looks like (fingers crossed) graduation will be a perfect 69 degrees (which will feel like heaven because it is 105 at my house right now). My older son’s Stanford graduation was blisteringly hot. So, this will be a nice change. Will be at the chemistry department graduation for my biochem son, which should be much smaller than the econ department at Stanford!</p>

<p>I have to say for any incoming families…my son has had an amazing four years. I could not have been happier, even though logistics across country can be challenging (like when he had appendicitis during finals and I couldn’t make it in time for his operation). He has loved the academics (from biochem to gender studies), the social life, and Providence. He has a job in Boston for next year, as do many of his friends. I can see why people are passionate about this school. </p>

6

<p>Congrats L.A. Parent! My S1 graduates next year as a neuro concentrator and hopes to work in a lab for a year or two before grad school. Will your son be working in a lab in Boston, or is he pursuing something else?</p>

7

<p>Thanks, Renaissance Mom! He spent four years at Brown working in a lab and was advised that if he ever wanted to leave academia to try an industry job, this would be a good time. Once you get a Phd, it is tough to leave academia and ever get back in (so he was told). So, he took a job in consulting–health care and biotech (so his biochem background was a definite plus). This way he can see how he likes working in a non-academic environment (since his previous summers were spent in the lab). I assume he will go back for his Phd in a couple of years (and most higher-ups in health care consulting have Phds or MDs) , but we’ll see. Funding issues for scientists are quite discouraging. Frankly, he was all set to apply directly for Phd programs at the end of junior year, but talking to a lot of grad students made him decide to take the break and he scrambled to prep for fall interview season.</p>

<p>It is personally amusing to me that my biochem son landed up working in consulting…how cliche is that for an Ivy League grad? Especially since son #1 went into investment banking. At least they are making good money and off the family dime. Very good news after the pain of eight years of tuition (for both boys). </p>

<p>Oh, and don’t forget to make your hotel reservations now for next year. We booked a year in advance (and made many of our restaurant reservations as well…the rest we made in January of this year).</p>

8

<p>Graduation weekend was everything the posters have described and more. We enjoyed every activity, starting with the Campus Dance and ending with the Commencement Exercises. I will take back some ideas for changes in how we handle graduation at my own institution.<br>

We were among those who made a hotel reservation almost a year in advance. We wanted to be within walking distance, so we got a room in the Hampton Inn, which is about a five-minute walk from the edge of campus. Others we talked to stayed at hotels near the airport and drove in each day. They had no complaints about parking. (Perhaps this was because they knew how much they were saving on their accommodations.) One couple we spoke to rented a boat that was moored a mile or two from campus. So, there are many options. </p>

9

<p>Just got back from graduation and had a wonderful time. My concerns were groundless. Since I have a hard time walking hills with my back (and we were staying downtown), we drove to graduation at 8 am and found plenty of parking (right near where his department ceremony was going to be). We probably didn’t need to be there that early, but we didn’t want to worry. Put our hats down on a couple of seats under a tree and near the Jumbotron (very useful when the sun came out) and then went had some breakfast at the Ratty. Edible and convenient and we met some very nice alums. Lined up at Faunce Arch to see the procession there and then sat down for the rest. Did buy some sandwiches in the tent around 11:30 which I recommend since some people said they ran out later. It was just a great day. The student speakers were terrific and I loved his department ceremony. Biochem and chemistry are small enough that they talked individually about each student (told about their research, post-graduation plans, some of their extra-curricular activities). Very meaningful. </p>

<p>My son felt the alumni inclusion in graduation was the best part…loved the high-fiving and applauding. I was very jealous that I didn’t get to do that with my Stanford son (as an alum). </p>

<p>For all you parents next year…you will enjoy. Just be prepared for a lot of weather changes!</p>

10

<p>Thanks to the parents who are reporting back that they enjoyed graduation. </p>

<p>As an alum, I experience the day very differently than the parents, since we participate in the march. I’ve often wondered what parents think – it’s a very long day (the department ceremonies don’t end until mid to late afternoon), and so much of it is spent on the Green watching a big screen. I love that graduation is student-centered, but some might feel cheated out of hearing a famous person give a speech.</p>

<p>LAParent – glad to hear your son enjoyed walking by the alumni. I love that alums are involved in graduation. I do think that makes Brown’s celebration special. I know I have a blast whenever I march. </p>

11

<p>We, too, thoroughly enjoyed the graduation festivities (if not the cold, rainy weather :frowning: ). I had made hotel reservations at one of the downtown hotels last June, but ultimately was able to take advantage of a Brown prof’s offer of a guest suite in her house that she rents out for such occasions. This proved to be absolutely ideal as we had a free parking space at her place and were right up along campus (10 min. walk to the Green). And about half of what our hotel costs were going to be!</p>

<p>Our daughter was beginning to talk about not seeing the point of actually participating in Graduation ceremony, but we told her she earned it and it was a big deal, even if she didn’t think so now. She did comment that many students sometimes felt like 'why do the alums all come and get involved? They act like this is for them. THIS should be OUR time, not theirs." She personaly didn’t have much view one way or the other, but didn’t really understand why there were always so many alums around. </p>

<p>She did participate in the Graduation ceremonies. (She wasn’t really planning not to). The parents are kept pretty much at arm’s length. We are on the Green watching on a Jumbotron. I did happen to get to see her walk through the arch by the Ratty as they were coming in, but that was just dumb luck. I would have liked to have seen her exit through the gates, but everything said it would be a hopeless endeavor as the view would be blocked by alums and the Marching Band. Hrruppphm! Well! Surely parents should be in a position to watch their graduate exit those gates!</p>

<p>But, knowing we couldn’t, we just went with the flow. Found a nice seat on the Green and enjoyed the Jumbotron and the ceremony. We were asked several times by various people (local folks at restaurants, friends at home, etc) who the speaker would be—but we realized we just never found out . . . until we were reading through the Commencement Booklet. Honestly, I LOVED that there wasn’t an imported speaker. I found the Brown tradition to be very special.</p>

<p>I particularly enjoyed seeing the look on Lois Lowry’s face when she was introduced for her Honorary Degree and the graduates welcomed her. She seemed genuinely touched and surprised that so many of them were so familiar with her name and book (“The Giver”) and gave her such applause.</p>

<p>When we reunited with our daughter, she was very proud. She said she NOW understands why the alums are around that weekend and she feels like she is so much more a part of Brown. She LOVED the procession with the alums and the high-fiving, the hugs, and having the various class reunions there with their banners. She was particularly moved by the class with the 75th Reunion----she said, 'They were so cute!!! They have to be in their 90s and they are there with us!" She has vowed to go back to graduation as much as possible, too, so she can give the graduates that special experience she got.</p>

<p>It is quite a ‘club’ daughter now belongs to and she is very, very proud to be a member. She has loved Brown from the minute she set foot on campus and was not the least bit anxious to leave.</p>

<p>Thankfully, Brown left the gates open all day Monday, too. Kiddo was willing to put her cap and gown back on and take pictures at the gates then. Wish we had done it on Sunday when we parents looked presentable as well (rather than all bedraggled from moving her out of her apt), but she was just too tired and anxious to get to dinner.</p>

<p>Thank you all for your guidance in heading out for graduation. It was very helpful.</p>

12

<p>Aww, treemaven, I have a lump in my throat reading this. I’m so glad your daughter appreciated the alumni embrace of the graduates. It is such a special event for everyone involved.</p>

<p>I can understand that parents want to see their graduates walk through the Van Wickle gates, but with 1500 graduates – there’s no way thousands of parents/siblings/grandparents can see their kid walk through, even if the band and trustees weren’t standing there (it’s actually not the alums fault – we’re further down the hill). If you buy the video, you’ll see your daughter as she walks through – there is a camera that captures every graduate as they go through.</p>

<p>As for the weather – trust me, it’s been worse. It didn’t rain during campus dance (it was just chilly), and graduation day was gorgeous.</p>

<p>Especially this year, given all the controversies over graduation speakers, I am even more thrilled with the way Brown has student speakers. </p>

13

<p>Once I heard how our daughter experienced the trip through the gate, I no longer had any of those thoughts. :). It was so special to her that I wouldn’t have changed a thing. :D</p>