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By Clare McGee, 95’ Warrington, parent of Sarah, Actuarial Science, ’23, and Vice-Chair, Penn State Parents Council

As both an alumnus of Penn State and the parent of a graduating student, graduation comes with mixed feelings- nostalgia, anxiety, gratitude, joy, pride, and exhaustion. College is a marathon for many parents and to finally see the finish line in sight is a culmination of years of hard work on both the part of students and us as parents!

Looking back on the last year, I realized that graduation planning for my family started a full year before the anticipated graduation date. For parents of students who are graduating in 2024, here are some of the things I learned along the way:

1. Start your planning by visiting Penn State’s commencement webpage: https://www.commencement.psu.edu/family/. From this page, you can find future graduation dates through the 2027-28 academic year.
2. Make hotel reservations early. I recommend 12 months in advance of the anticipated graduation date. This will give you the most options and best pricing. Consider an Airbnb or Vrbo as an alternative outside of town.
3. Make dinner reservations early. I recommend calling January 1^st or the next business day after the new year for May graduation. There are fewer graduations in December so you will have more flexibility in making reservations.
4. Graduation Photos: Some families like to commemorate graduation with pictures. There are many great options for getting that perfect shot including professional and student photographers.
5. School Rings: If your student is interested in a class ring, they are available to be purchased through Jostens.
6. Yearbooks: Penn State’s yearbook, La Vie, has continuously been published since 1890. Details about La Vie are available online. If your student would like a copy, they are offered for purchase through Jostens, but the email notification goes to your student so I recommend following up with them 4-6 months before graduation to see if they have received a notification. Parents can call 767-5217 for assistance. Relatedly, yearbook photos are usually taken in the fall semester of each year—make sure your student makes time to have a photo taken.
7. Purchase your Regalia (Cap, Gown, Tassel) 2-3 months before graduation to have the most options available for size. Regalia can be purchased at the Penn State Bookstore on campus, the Student Bookstore on College Avenue, or through Jostens.
8. Confirm with your student if there is a limitation on how many graduation tickets they will receive. This can vary by college and time of year. For Spring graduation this year, I can tell you that the Smeal College of Business restricted the number of tickets to 6 per student.
9. For friends and family who are unable to join you at University Park, the ceremony will likely be live-streamed. You can find the 2023 Spring Commencement live stream here: https://www.commencement.psu.edu/media/live/.
10. Finally, make sure you enjoy this last year at Penn State. Both parents and students should make a “bucket list” of things that they want to do before graduation sneaks up—pictures at the Nittany Lion Shrine, eating Creamery ice cream (again), experiencing a PSU tailgate, or a visit to the Arboretum. Having a plan will help you check things off the list before the year flies by!

To the Class of 2023, CONGRATULATIONS! “WE ARE” so proud of you!

The Parent-to-Parent Blog is written by members of the Penn State Parents Council who are dedicated to enhancing communication about the Penn State family experience. Opinions and experiences expressed in the blog are those of the writer(s). The blog is a partnership with the Penn State Parents Program.