The home stretch of your college career can be a busy and emotional time. University of Iowa students who are preparing to graduate are hunting for jobs, putting in quality time with friends, and studying for final exams. As you’re getting ready to say goodbye to this pivotal time in your life, here is a list of things to help you wrap up and prepare for your next adventure.
1. If you want to graduate, you have to apply for your degree.
Without your application, you can’t graduate. Hawkeyes looking to don their cap and gown in May should follow these easy steps to apply for a degree.
2. Unpaid fees will keep you from getting transcripts or your diploma.
The UI will mail you your diploma about six to eight weeks after graduation, but not if you have outstanding fees on your U-Bill. Also note that your diploma will be sent to the address you list on your degree application. And if you don’t list an address there, it will go to the residing address given in MyUI.
3. Create a forwarding address before you skip town, both for physical and electronic mail.
Too many students move away from Iowa City without creating a forwarding address at the post office, and their diploma and other important mail gets lost. Setting up a forwarding address is quick and easy. Check it out here. Also, your uiowa.edu email address lives on for a while after you graduate, and it can still receive important information about your grades, fees, and other things you wouldn’t want to miss. Our advice is to keep checking your Iowa email, or set up a forwarding address under “Email Tools” in MyUI.
4. You don’t have to attend graduation to graduate, but if you do, pick up your cap and gown early.
Pick up your cap and gown at the Hawk Shop in the basement of the Iowa Memorial Union. Remember that getting it straight from the bag at the last minute can leave you walking across the stage covered with crease marks. Speaking of walking at the commencement ceremony…
5. Find out when and where your graduation ceremony takes place.
Not all the college commencement ceremonies happen at the same time, day, or place. Find out about your ceremony here.
6. Plan ahead, and make reservations for moving trucks, hotels, and restaurants.
Last spring, about 4,000 students participated in commencement ceremonies. That means a lot of families might be looking for a place to eat before or after graduation, and maybe also a place to spend the night. Make a reservation and save yourself the worry. Summer also is a popular time for graduating students to move out of their apartments, and moving trucks can become scarce. If you know you’ll need help leaving town, reserve a truck ahead of time—like, now.
7. Don’t throw away furniture and electronics.
Every year, thousands of dollars’ worth of furniture and electronics fill dumpsters around Iowa City when former owners could have sold or donated the items. If you live in a residence hall, three trucks will be stationed around campus to take clothes, furniture, and electronics through the Move Out Donation Drive. If you don’t live in a residence hall, you have a variety of options for selling or donating unwanted furniture, clothing, and electronics, such as selling items online or consigning them. This is a handy list of such places, and if you need to recycle electronics, here’s an equally handy list of where you can do that.
8. Have fun before you go—hit up Senior Week and Grad Herky!
Graduation is a time for celebration, and we wouldn’t want you to leave without a smile on your face. Senior Week (April 24–28) this year will include networking, wine tasting, and graduation cap decorating events. And don’t forget to snap a photo with Grad Herky on the Pentacrest after April 25! #UIGrad17
9. When in doubt, check the registrar’s graduation checklist.
If you’re worried you’ve forgotten something important related to your schoolwork or university life, check this graduation checklist from the Office of the Registrar. It will remind you about health insurance, loans, parking passes, and a number of other little things you might overlook.