<p>Having just returned from my son's Yale graduation, I just wanted to give you all a "head's up" about what a Yale graduation entails. Depending on your residential college, a Yale graduation can be a 2 or 3 day event. While you can stay on campus (at $135/person) in the dorms, hotels go for $125 (far away)-375 or more (near campus, + you may have to pay for parking) per night, often with the need for a non-refundable pre-paid stay. Add in the cost of meals ($20-25/person for each of the brunches and lunches), Commencement Ball ($20/person), and various Glee Club and Dramat performances, and you're going to spend, spend, spend!</p>
<p>Was it worth it? Of course!!!!! But, it turned out to be a nearly $2000 experience, between renting a minivan to get us there (and son back from Yale), hotel stays, gasoline, and food. We couldn't have his 83 year-old grandfather stay in the spartan dorm accomodations.</p>
<p>Thanks for the heads up. We'll be doing this in two years, and I understand that hotel reservations are best made a year in advance. That's a "to do" for my 2009 calendar.</p>
<p>Our S also just graduated. We are from Oregon and are on a tight budget so used miles for one ticket, bumped free ticket for me, and paid for one ticket. This meant we flew at different times on different days. We always stay at the Motel 6 in Branford - about 13 minutes east of campus. Spartan, yes, but clean and secure. We only slept there and it was quiet since almost all the patrons were Yale families. You have to book one year in advance but cost was $55/night. Call them directly to make the reservations. We only attended the complimentary luncheons but did go to the Whiffenpoof concert and the musical. Arriving to the Class Day ceremony 1 1/2 hours early netted us good seats to observe Tony Blair. Arriving one hour early to commencement gave us seats in the back - which is way back from the stage. Shipping S's five year accumulation of possessions back home was a big expense. Even with an eye on your budget, it will be an expensive (but completely worthwhile) affair. S really wants a "Yale" frame for his diploma - $135 in the bookstore!!</p>
<p>What's the report on staying in the dorms, anyway? We don't mind spartan, and have younger sibs and cousins who would likely get a kick out of it. Any big negatives? Is there AC, for example, in case global warming is in full swing by June of 2012? Does that cost include any meals? Thanks for any info!</p>
<p>You can't arrive until Saturday (and some activities take place that day), no meals are included, no AC, no elevators. Weather for graduation 2008 was pretty much picture-perfect, but if it had been warm and sticky, I wouldn't have wanted to be in the dorm. Again, it would probably have been fine if we didn't have his grandfather with us, but still, we spent about the same for a hotel that we would have on the dorm, given how many of us there were.</p>