It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for…the day your child walks across the stage and gets handed a college degree. It’s a proud moment and an important milestone in the lives of your family. Four or more years of schooling has culminated in this special event, so it’s essential that students are well prepared. The following article provides tips to help guide your favorite student through graduation day.

Leading Up to the Big Day
The senior year in college is likely to be very busy, so it’s easy for students to get distracted and forget about the particulars of graduation day. However, it is essential that you remind your kids to start planning early for the ceremony. Make sure they find out when graduation will take place – the University’s Student Affairs Office is a good place to start. It’s important to have this information as soon as possible, since you’ll want to save the date, schedule to take time off of work, and arrange any necessary travel. Work with your son or daughter to determine what hotels are near campus. Keep in mind, your child is not the only student graduating, so be sure to book the hotel early. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that hotels near campus will be sold out.

Find out how many tickets your child can get–most universities will provide free tickets to each graduate, but there may be a limit. If you need additional tickets and the university isn’t willing to supply them, encourage your son or daughter to check with classmates to see if they have any extras. Some students sell their tickets, a practice that isn’t supported by school officials.

You’ll also want to determine the seating arrangements. The school may have designated areas for parents with cameras, so take this into account when looking for a seat. Find out if the ceremony will take place indoors or outdoors. If it’s indoors, consider the kind of camera you’ll be using and whether it’ll get the job done in low light situations.

On the Day
Remind your son or daughter to get some sleep the night before the big day. And make sure they’ve taken care of ironing their gown. Graduation gowns often come folded up and wrapped in plastic, so they’ll want to get them unwrinkled. If the ceremony is outside, give them sunscreen, as they will likely be out in the sun for a while. The rest of the family should also be using sunscreen and you may want to plan on bringing an umbrella, if rain is expected. It’s also a good idea to bring a few bottles of water as the family may get thirsty during the ceremony.

After the Ceremony
Once your child has received a diploma, moved the tassel, and hurled the cap into the air, it’s time to celebrate. Plan the post-commencement activities for your new graduate a few months earlier. If you planned to have dinner after the event make sure you’ve made a reservation at a nearby restaurant. If the school is holding a special event get all the information and determine how many guests your son or daughter can bring. The key is to enjoy the day and preparing for it early will help ensure that it goes exactly according to plan.