Not enough tickets

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So I'm graduating and while I'm looking forward to being done, I am no longer looking forward to my graduation ceremony. It's not the fact that I have to pay for my cap and gown instead of renting them. But the fact that my family will not be allowed in without tickets and we only get 4 in total. So after 4 years I have to choose who is allowed to see me graduate at all. It's not even enough to include my immediate family and my immediate family isn't large, just larger than 4. Basically only my parents would be able to come. I could write the administration, but its nothing they have not heard before. Apparently this has been a problem for years, but you only find out about it when you are about to graduate yourself. Thoughts, Ideas?

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So I'm graduating and while I'm looking forward to being done I am no longer looking forward to my graduation ceremony. It's not the fact that I have to pay for my cap and gown instead of renting them. But the fact that my family will not be allowed in without tickets and we only get 4 in total. So after 4 years I have to choose who is allowed to see me graduate at all. It's not even enough to include my immediate family and my immediate family isn't large, just larger than 4. Basically only my parents would be able to come. I could write the administration, but its nothing they have not heard before. Apparently this has been a problem for years, but you only find out about it when you are about to graduate yourself. Thoughts, Ideas?[/quote']

Invite your 4 ppl and them go out with everyone that you invited prior to dinner or a get together.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

Try asking your classmates if anyone has tickets they won't use. Maybe you could get extra?

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I would ask other graduates if they have extra tickets they could spare. Some do not attend their own graduation or do not use all their tickets even if they do. Send out emails, post on your school's Facebook wall, or just ask anyone you know who is graduating. You may be able to score a few more tickets.

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Unfortunately, you get tickets only if you are attending graduation which means I can't go and see if the people not going will give me theirs. They ensure that you are in fact going by issuing them at the same time you purchase the cap and gown; those are not cheap. Ultimately they overbooked by trying to graduate too many colleges at once. If they split them everyone's family would be accommodated easily, but they appear to be unwilling to do it. I've debated myself whether or not its worth showing up for if my reason for going in the first place was to celebrate with those who supported me, but I do not feel like I should make a hasty decision when upset.

Edit: I will be continuing to ask others if they are using all of theirs, but as it stands now most of us have the same problem.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Is there an option where those who can't get tickets to get in can watch either via remote video feeds or online streaming? My brother had the same scenario when he graduated. The tickets went to our parents, his wife, and their children. My other siblings and I watched on a television screen set up in another area. When I graduate with my MSN after this semester, I will be allowed 5 tickets. However, the school offers online streaming live video for others to watch, including those who choose not to attend the graduation in person. Heck, even my high school graduation only allowed parents in the gym to watch; everyone else was in either the auditorium or various classrooms watching video feeds.

Bottom line: Don't let this get you down. Get those in who you can (heck, draw straws if you have to in order to choose fairly) and then celebrate with everyone either before or after. Unfortunately, schools can only squeeze in so many people and maintain safety. Limiting students to the same number of tickets is the fairest method.

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I'll have to look into the streaming method. I think it might be kind of odd(and will look hilarious) to have a good portion of my family sitting outside gathered around a notebook, but if that's the only way they can see it I guess it's better than nothing.

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what about inviting some to graduation and then some to the pinning. We had 2 separate ceremonies so.............you can also ask students who will have a few tickets left over, some ppl prob wont have 4 fam members attending. When its all said and done don't be so stressed out that you wont enjoy graduation trust me been there.

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Unfortunately, you get tickets only if you are attending graduation which means I can't go and see if the people not going will give me theirs. They ensure that you are in fact going by issuing them at the same time you purchase the cap and gown; those are not cheap. Ultimately they overbooked by trying to graduate too many colleges at once. If they split them everyone's family would be accommodated easily, but they appear to be unwilling to do it. I've debated myself whether or not its worth showing up for if my reason for going in the first place was to celebrate with those who supported me, but I do not feel like I should make a hasty decision when upset.

Edit: I will be continuing to ask others if they are using all of theirs, but as it stands now most of us have the same problem.

Get together with a bunch of your buddies, boycott the limited event, and have an alternative event with as many people as you wish-- take a banquet room at a restaurant, throw your own party. Do it after real graduation so you'll have the diplomas, hand them out all over again, march to the music you want, have a party!!

Believe me, I have never enjoyed any graduation myself, and you really aren't missing something if you DIY.

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Thanks for all the feedback. Feeling a bit better about it. I'm pretty sure we have the pinning and it would be a lot smaller than the ceremony with all of the health profession and health profession related colleges. I talked to a few family members about it and they are not thrilled with the idea of me not going to the big one, but are happy at potentially seeing me walk for the pinning.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

There's a great compromise. Besides, the pinning ceremony is more intimate because it's just your nursing class, instead of the whole university.

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Specializes in ICU.

The pinning is nicer anyways. When I graduated with my Bachelor's in May (non-nursing), all my family and friends came to the small graduation for my college. I got to walk across the stage, had my name called, and even had a slide in a slides how with my picture, major and minor on it. It was more intimate. The big graduation for the entire university, only my parents came. There no personalization. The big graduation is more for your own personal gratitude and excitement, and the small one is the time to share with your loved ones. Try and get more tickets, but don't sweat it if you can't, invite them to the pinning :)

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