Graduation checklist: How to prepare for graduation.
As your graduation date gets closer, you will have a million things to do. Creating a graduation checklist will help you get it all done.
Graduation is an exciting time. It may be something you’ve worked toward for several years. If you forget an essential step leading up to the big event, though, it could spoil the graduation experience. You may need help getting everything done. Your family and friends will be happy to help out.
What’s involved in graduation planning?
Graduation planning involves several important tasks to ensure a smooth and memorable event. You need to order your graduation attire and send invitations to family and friends. Organizing your day includes planning celebrations, taking photos, and ensuring all necessary arrangements are in place. After the ceremony, you might attend parties and send thank-you notes. Each piece plays an important role in making your graduation day special, and having a graduation preparation checklist can help you keep track of it all so everything is taken care of.
Break graduation preparation checklist into phases.
Graduation preparation can seem daunting, but creating a checklist and breaking it down into phases can make it more manageable. Each phase focuses on different aspects of the preparation process. You can start by creating a PDF or adding items in a Word document first. Then, convert Word to PDF for easy sharing, which can also be helpful if you prefer to have a printable version of your to-do list.
Here’s an overview of what to consider during each phase when planning your college graduation checklist:
3–6 months before
- Planning. Confirm your graduation date and venue, and begin designing invitations.
- Ordering. Get your cap and gown, and reserve a photographer or videographer.
- Guest list. Start planning who you’ll invite and look into travel arrangements for out-of-town guests.
2–3 weeks before
- Invitations. Send out formal invitations and finalize your guest list.
- Confirmations. Make sure all bookings and reservations are confirmed.
- Logistics. Arrange transportation and parking, and order party favors and refreshments.
Day of
- Setup. Decorate the venue and ensure you have your cap, gown, and any other necessary items.
- Coordination. Work with your photographer and videographer, and make sure seating and arrangements are in place.
- Preparation. Gather any speeches or materials you need, stay hydrated, and make sure you eat well.
Post-graduation
- Celebrations. Attend or host graduation parties.
- Follow-up. Send thank-you notes and share photos and videos with family and friends.
Create your graduation checklist leading up to the big day.
The best way to make sure you remember what you need to do before your graduation is to create a checklist. Make a list that you can share with others to track each task and see what you still need to do. When using Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat online services, you and your friends can collaborate and edit PDF checklists to add text, make comments, and share.
Here’s a list of some common things graduates want to remember leading up to the big event broken up into phases:
3–6 months before
- Make sure you’ve met the graduation requirements.
- Confirm your graduation date and location.
- Order your cap and gown.
- Send out save-the-date invites to family and friends.
- Arrange for a photographer and/or videographer.
- Reserve a graduation party venue.
- Design and order invitations.
2–3 weeks before
- Send out formal invitations.
- Finalize your guest list.
- Confirm any bookings and reservations.
- Arrange transportation and parking.
- Prepare and set up decorations.
Day of
- Set up any decorations.
- Order party favors and refreshments
- Make sure you have everything you need for the ceremony.
- Have your cap, gown, and any other attire ready.
- Coordinate with your photographer and videographer.
Post-graduation
- Attend or host graduation parties.
- Send thank-you notes to guests.
- Share photos and videos with family and friends.
Don’t forget follow-up items and graduation party checklist.
Graduation day is a major milestone, but you can complete some follow-up tasks when the ceremony is over. Here's a checklist of items to remember after graduation:
- Send thank-you notes to family, friends, and faculty
- Update your address if moving from campus housing
- Begin managing your student loans and repayment options
- Collect your diploma if not received at the ceremony
- Update your resume and LinkedIn profile with your new degree
Print and share your college graduation checklist.
Digital documents such as checklists offer advantages over paper notes. When you create a digital college graduation checklist, you can include who will complete each item and even a deadline, if there is one. Then, you can share with family and friends, and everyone can add notes and comments. Don’t let your special day fall flat by forgetting a critical task.
Take a moment to discover what else you can do with Acrobat when you create PDF online to manage checklists of all kinds.