For those seniors who are in denial that you are about to march your feet across a stage in front of hundreds of people, there are exactly 25 days until graduation. That’s right. We are about to sit in a crowd of your fellow classmates, probably next to some kid you never even saw on campus before, in the hotlanta heat, in the color black no less, and finish college.
I am sorry to break the news to you if you have yet to come to this realization; however you can thank me only because it is way past the time to make hotel and dining reservations. If you have yet to get your SH*T together, or if you are a lucky youngster with a year or more of college left to go, here are some tips on planning for this inevitably tear-filled day.
1. Figure out who is coming to graduation. This is the key factor in knowing your plans for the entire weekend. Not only does this play a factor in how many hotel rooms to book or air mattresses to set up, it also changes how early you should arrive at graduation to save seats! You are probably hoping your mom or dad took care of this already, but just in case, you should probably ask the fam.
2. Book the hotel. Okay, let’s be honest seniors, if you haven’t done this already, your options will be limited. I know for a fact that the Emory Conference Center and Emory Inn are completely booked—and I will take a guess and say anything within a five mile radius is close to booked too. You may have to start looking further and into Buckhead, perhaps.
3. Dining reservations. First, you need to figure out how many reservations you need–is your crazy remote uncle coming? Is your best friend from high school making an appearance? What day are they all coming over to the great state of Georgia? It is also important to note that this year graduation falls on Mother’s Day weekend. In case you didn’t know, Mother’s Day weekend is the busiest restaurant weekend of the entire year (yes, it honestly beats Valentines Day). So, you need to make reservations RIGHT AWAY! Many restaurants such as Canoe and Bones are close to full, so start brainstorming and make your calls.
4. Graduation ensemble. Whether you are buying something new or rocking something a little more vintage, you should probably think about what you are going to wear under the very black, very insulated cap and gown. Things to keep in mind: fabric material, sweat marks, and length. Maxi dresses will hang out the bottom of your gown, which is totally tacky; many materials, such as silk, show sweat and are very warm; color choice should be particular if you sweat a lot—many bright colors show sweat. Graduation could be hot so plan accordingly so you can maximize your own comfort!
5. Selling your furniture. Whether you are planning a “take-over” or to move everything out, you need to organize it way ahead of the day you’re actually leaving. Look around, think about what you want to sell and what you want to keep, look back to what you paid and how much damage has been done, and then total-up a price. Post to conferences, Facebook, Twitter—whatever your method, get organized and get it out of there!
6. Packing up. This is the last thing anyone wants to have to decide. But unfortunately, depending on your lease and your friends, you may want to have a plan of action for having your boxes filled and your car packed–for more tips read HC Emory’s article Packing 101! Packing an entire room of college belongings and themed outfits takes longer than you think, so plan accordingly so you can still enjoy the last of the Atlanta heat and a Maggie’s beer pitcher.
Enjoy your time as a college student–it rushes by faster than you can guess. And when it’s almost over, make sure you prepare accordingly to mark the end of your college career with a great graduation!