Monday, April 2, 2012

Graduation Hood, Robe for Graduation & Everything Else You Need when Claiming Your Diploma


After studying for years, you are about to graduate from high school or college. Considering the amount of time that people invest to get good education, it is definitely a must to celebrate each and every academic achievement. Fortunately, teachers and parents have pointed out the need for younger students to have their efforts in studying recognized. As such graduation ceremonies for preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school are now being celebrated. It may seem tiresome for you as a student or for parents to attend such graduation ceremonies, but remember that each one brings you closer to your goal of earning your college diploma.

Renting versus Buying a Robe for Graduation

Let’s say that you already have a schedule of when your graduation ceremonies will be held. Naturally, you need to be dressed appropriately for the occasion. Since the 12th century, the formal academic gown, cap and hood are being worn by academic graduates from all over the world. When the way that graduation regalia is worn became standardized based on the degree that a student is earning, it has become quite easy for would-be graduates to get the academic ensemble that they need.

To give you an idea, here are the two options that you can choose from when putting together your academic ensemble:
·         Buying your graduation regalia.
If you’re graduating from college or high school, you would need a formal robe for graduation. Those who are earning a bachelor’s degree for college are also required to wear a bachelor’s graduation hoods. The same thing holds true for those who are earning a master’s degree, a higher doctorate degree or a PhD. When buying your graduation robe, make sure that the academic gown is made from good quality material. You can take your pick from cloth which has a shiny or matte finish to it. Most college and higher degree graduates are required to wear black graduation robes. For high school students, the color is usually based on the hues of the school flag.

Buying is a much better option than renting if you would like to keep your academic regalia as souvenir. It’s also suitable for members of the academe who attend graduation ceremonies regularly, so that they would not have to rent a robe for graduation every time they need one.

·         Renting your graduation regalia.
Your second option is to rent your graduation gown, hood and cap. Naturally, renting is cheaper as compared to buying. Most students go for this option since the garment will only be used once. However, if you would like to keep the graduation gown or cap as a souvenir, you obviously have to buy instead of rent it.

After obtaining your graduation robe, make sure that you have formal but comfortable clothes underneath. Your graduation day deserves to be celebrated so also put together a simple gathering with friends and family after the formal academic ceremonies.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Graduation Gowns, Caps and Honor Cords


Graduation is the most anticipated event every year in all schools. Regardless of the levels of the graduates, teachers, staffs and heads of schools make sure that this kind of event becomes smooth, successful and memorable. For parents, it’s more than those things which can give them excitement and feel proud of what they have contributed to their children that they make it that far. Now, if you are one those ecstatic parents, this is your opportunity to prepare one aspect of this big event. That is to prepare the graduation caps and gowns and even honor cords.

The Dress is the Masterpiece

Graduation gown is the uniform and traditional attire worn by all graduates. This is a robe that is usually familiar to all ages of people. You can see preschoolers wearing a graduation gown mostly in light colors. Middle school students also get the chance to wear black, blue or other color of the same gown before they become high school. After high school, it is another event for seniors to wear graduation gowns. The most important of all graduation events is the college graduation where students wear a more complete type of graduation regalia.

The Hat that Marks the Graduate

The partner of the graduation gown is the graduation cap or hat. In every cap, there is what people call as the graduation tassel. This is made of different materials like cotton and yarn. It is like the bell in a tower or in a church that has a very special and significant role. Well, in a graduation ceremony, the tassels of the caps of graduates are repositioned from right to the left side. That is the time appointed to each and every graduate that he or she graduates from a particular level of education in school. This means that no graduate can wear any hat or a plain graduation caps without tassels. There must be always tassels hanging on the top of graduation caps.

The Honor Cord that Distinguishes Deserving Students

For higher studies and education levels, students who have academic honors and non-academic achievements are given a special accessory that they can only wear. This is called the honor cord which is made of the same material used in a graduation tassel. It is very long that is must be worn around the neck. If your children have a few good merits that include them to be among those special graduates, they are expected to wear this cord along with their graduation caps and gowns.

These three things can complete the graduation regalia of a student who is expected to receive a special reward or a few awards from his school. If your child is one of those fortunate students, you are probably more proud of it. Yet, remember to get all these things that he needs to wear for the most joyous occasion in this entire school year. You must have them ready before the day of the graduation event happens. It is vital that you take some time choosing the right products made from a quality material and a reliable company or maker

The History of College Caps and Gowns


College graduation is one of the best years of a person’s life whether he is the best student or the most behaved one. It does not matter what kind of student you are but graduating from college is quite a big achievement. The wearing of graduation 
Graduation regalia
 in college is surely a big deal too. If you are graduating soon or just graduated, before you continue with the next chapter of your life, you must know something how graduation regalia started and developed.

Monks Started It

During the Middle Ages and prior to those times, monks used to enter research facilities and learning institutions with a special robe. There’s no picture to show you but you can just imagine what the graduation robe looks like. That’s how similar the robe the monks used at that early period. That also explains how the traditional and modern graduation gowns worn lately started. It all originated from the times of those monks. The modern country which first adapted the design or the concept of graduation robes in schools for graduation events was in the United Kingdom. After some years, the United States followed the same trend and the rest is history.

The Concept of Color Codes

Have you noticed that the graduation gown, graduation cap and 
Graduation caps
 must always be in the same color? Did you also observe that there are somewhat codes in terms of color in graduation regalia? This has been long practiced by many schools in the US, the UK and even in other countries around the world. Colors of graduation gowns and caps may refer to the ranks, the subject areas for high studies or degree of graduates. That’s why if you attend a graduation event for college and graduate studies you will see there are more than five colors to be identified.

Present-Day Graduation Regalia

Many people of different ages nowadays can have the chance to wear caps and gowns. Preschoolers have graduation days and they wear graduation gowns and caps with tassels on top which make them a lot cuter. Middle and high schoolers also get the chance to wear graduation gowns. This kind of academic robe is not just for higher studies like college students. That just proves the fast development of the concept of wearing gowns and caps for graduation events.

The Future of Graduation Gowns and Caps

Since we’re talking about the history, both past and present, of graduation regalia, it won’t be an oblivious thing to think about the future of it. There might be some people who have once crossed into their mind about the new designs of graduation gowns and caps years from now. It is possible that there may be changes, alteration or additions but the use of this kind of attire surely lives on as far as education is concerned. Just hope that you graduate at some certain point with the newest and trendiest style of graduation gown and cap which will be a cool experience.

Protect your graduation diplomas


The graduation ceremony is like a dream for all graduates-to-be. Right from the beginning of their school or college days, they start imagining this day. What really lures them is the graduation attire consisting of 
graduation robes. The preparations for the graduation attire start way before the ceremony’s scheduled date; which may go up to 3-4 months. All graduates are so excited about their graduation robes, that they start searching its stores at the earliest. After all, getting a chance to wear these dresses is an honor in itself.

Graduation ceremony is not only about wearing the academic regalia, but it’s about receiving the graduation 
diplomas 
. In fact, this is the thing for which the graduate studies hard throughout the year. Once the graduation ceremony gets over and you've celebrated it with graduation party you start thinking over your career path. This is the time you start thinking about your graduation diploma as well. If you have enough space, you may opt to frame your diploma on a wall. However, it is strongly recommended that you consider having your diploma professionally framed and matted. This way you can avoid the situation when many diplomas remain stuck to the glass of the frame when you try to remove it.

One piece of advice is to photocopy your diploma before you have it framed and make several copies. Place one copy in a safe location, like a safety deposit box or fire proof box. That way should you need a copy later for a resume package or if you are joining a professional organization that requires proof of your degree. It will come handy because you are prepared. With some of the technology that exists now when it comes to making color copies, you could copy your original diploma and either store the original, or hang it in more than one place.

There are several ways to protect your diploma certificate. The simplest of them all is to buy diploma covers for the certificates. These hard covers will help you keep the certificates away from any external damage and common problems such as folded corners.

The graduation diplomas are not just recollections that you can frame to decorate your drawing room. It holds more importance in your life. The day you got it, since that day you have enormous power; the power to make a difference in your life, to make your career and the power to take admission into University.

Kindergarten graduation attire: an important accessory during the convocation ceremony


Academic regalia are the soul of graduation ceremony. These robes hold a special place during a very special event is a student’s life, which is his graduation. These dresses represent that the student is graduated and has specialization in a certain degree. However, how many of you know that the roots of these special gowns actually belong to ancient times? Colleges and universities adopt this kind of dress of the early monks and clergymen because this was the time where research and many studies were established. Before, there were no educational institution that focuses in this kind of activity and the monks and clergymen is the one who is responsible in discovering new things.

Bigger level of school will require a much higher level of intellectual exertion and emotional maturity than the kindergarten going kids. At the same time, however, it is a significant part of growing up and becoming an independent, responsible and happy adult. Although no kindergartener would be able to really understand all of this, the graduation ceremony should be an opportunity for you to start introducing these concepts to your child.

Different kinds of academic robes and graduation hoods are worn in different types of academic rankings such as undergraduates, masters, bachelors, and doctorates. During ancient universities, it is common for undergraduate to differ according to on their status in the university or in the society. For noblemen at that time, their academic robes are made up of elaborate and colorful robes with gold lining and plain black academic robes for commoners and scholars.

Find out what accessories need to be included with the dress. Accessories include sashes, caps and tassels. You don't want to miss out on anything. Find out what cannot be worn by your child. His or her preschool may specify that certain things are not to be included in the dress. Just, in case, you'll want to know if there are any such restrictions. Think about ways that you can use the freedoms that the guidelines allow. For example, there may be no specific guidelines regarding whether or not to wear a sash, or to have a tassel. Or it is possible that certain colors are specified, but how to combine those colors is not.

There can be many ways that you can work within the set parameters while still being creative and putting together a beautiful and unique graduation dress for your child. You can also use shells, beads and other little items to make the gown more attractive. After all, preschool attire is way too casual than the doctoratecap and gown.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

I Just Graduated from College: How Do I Prepare for a Career Ahead?


Graduating from college is both an exciting and anxiety-filled time for students. It’s actually a relief for some to wear their robe for graduation and graduation hood because they won’t have to deal with homework, essays, college professors and research papers anymore. Getting that all-important college diploma is definitely an accomplishment by itself.

However, being out of the university also means that you become a full-fledged adult. Along with this phase in your life come the responsibilities of living your own life outside of school and your parent’s wings. You can consider it both as a challenge and a blessing. As long as you know how to prepare for a career that you will build ahead of you, then you should be able to accomplish your goals after your college graduation.

Career Preparation Tips for Fresh College Graduates

To get you started on the right track, here are a few things that you need to keep in mind when preparing for a career after graduating from college:
·         Be prepared to get accepted for entry-level jobs.
While you are sending out your resumes, keep in mind that even if you graduated summa cum laude, you still would have to start at the bottom of the corporate ladder. No matter how stellar your academic achievements are, you are still inexperienced in the real world. Before you can even think about getting promoted or being voted as CEO of a company, you naturally need to get accepted for a job position first – and entry level is always the way to go.

·         Increase your network of professional contacts.
No matter what industry it is that you are in, it always pays to increase your network of professional contacts. These are the individuals who you’ll never know might be able to help give your career a boost in the future.

·         Grab the opportunity to expand your experience.
You really cannot apply for a job position which requires experience until you actually obtain that experience. Attend as many trainings, skills improvement sessions and everything else that will help give your resume a boost. The more valuable your skills are, the more you can contribute towards the improvement of a company.

·         Make plans, but be flexible with them.
You might have a ten-year career plan which you have always wanted to follow. It is perfectly fine to have such plans for the future but when something better comes along, make sure that you can go with the flow and adapt to the situation.

·         Don’t easily get frustrated.
One of the biggest challenges that you will face as a fresh college graduate is competing with other new graduates. The competition in the job market is quite stiff, so prepare for rejections and plenty of disappointments. Remember that it is experiences like these which will make you grow stronger as a person, and prepare you for your trip up the corporate ladder once you start building a professional career for yourself after your college graduation.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Giving Value to the most Memorable Educational Event


Have you ever wondered what makes a graduation ceremony so aesthetically appealing other than the synchronized action and the orderly events that take place? It is the uniformity of the graduates’ dresses. The academic regalia is one of the most important aspects to take care of when thinking about attending a graduation.

The gowns worn on these occasions are very specific. They are tailored to perfection, according to specific needs and designs. They symbolize mostly, a celebration on the successful completion and end of a certain level of education. The materials that are used to make these forms of apparels vary just as the designs vary. There are specific and strict rules regarding the hood, gown, length, lining and trimming exercised by the American Council of Education but when it comes to the materials of the dresses, the rules are very lenient.

Other than meeting the specifics of designs that are required by the specific schools, the other thing that must be probed on must be the material of the clothes that makes the apparel. Especially when it comes to kindergarten graduation gown, children can be very choosy and picky. They would not like being stuck in something that is not comfortable to wear.

The only rule that needs to be followed when it comes to the material of the gown is uniformity and the fact that the hood, regalia and cap must all be made of the same material. It is no rocket science when it comes to figuring out that places with hot and humid weather usually go for a very light material because it does have to be worn over clothes, and heavy material would be extremely uncomfortable or even unbearable. The places situated in cooler areas have a wider range of choices to choose a suitable material from.

Among the fabrics that are chosen for the regalia are rayon, silk, cotton poplin, broad cloth and silk. Cotton is one of the most widely used choices for such an outfit. The attributes that make it so suitable are its softness, dept and its non wrinkle nature. Ironing it is no big hassle and can easily be done by the student or the student’s parents, so no need for an expensive dry cleaning job. Silk is mostly preferred over cotton. This is so because silk is not rare, it is quite easy to spot it and bargain for a right price. Moreover, it is of a better quality than cotton and an outfit made of silk would look far more regal and sophisticated than that made of mere cotton.

Broadcloth was initially just made from wool; it had a dense woolen texture. Modern broadcloth though is a different story. It constitutes of cotton, silk or polyester. It can not be described as extremely comfortable to wear but it is not unbearable to don either.

Rayon has a very interesting story. It is manufactured from a plants internal part; cellulose. It has the ode of being the first manufactured fiber created by man. It was created as an alternate to silk. So, these were a few materials that you can select in order to design your academic gown.