Emily Chan

If you are planning to graduate this December, between the stresses of your final semester and filing your federal exit counseling forms, you may feel as though graduation is still a long way ahead of you. However, there are only about four weeks left in the semester. Now is the time to start thinking about what you need to finish up in order to graduate, besides your classes, that is.

The instructions might be muddled or lost in your Outlook inbox, so from one graduating student to another, here’s everything I know:

Step 1: Apply for Graduation

Meet with your adviser. Before you fill out your application, you’ll have to meet with your academic advisor to make sure you have all the credits necessary to graduate.

After having a meeting with your advisor and getting the green light, you’ll go to LionPath, and find the option “Apply to Graduate” under the “Degree Planning and Progress” tab. Take a few minutes to fill out the application. At the end, it should tell you that you have successfully applied to graduate or indicate if there is some issue with your application that needs further review.

If some sort of issue comes up, you should contact your advisor and/or the registrar, Timothy Smalarz, for help at tjs421@psu.edu.

Step 2: Order your Cap and Gown

If you’re graduating this semester, the deadline to order your regalia is October 28th and the graduation fair is Thursday, November 30th from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. (or Friday, December 1st from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.). The graduation fair will be held in Lubert Commons.

You can order your cap and gown here. You will have to pick up and pay for your regalia at a graduation fair. Your regalia will cost about $57 before tax, and you can also (pre)order things like class rings, diploma frames, and other commemorative items at the fair or online.

For those who plan to graduate in the spring (or sometime in the future), be sure to check out this page which will update dates for the above information as commencements come and go.

Step 3: Exit Forms

If you’ve received federal student aid in the form of FAFSA, you’ll receive an email from the Office of Student Aid reminding you to fill out something called a “Federal Exit Counseling form.” This form is mandatory for students who are graduating, withdrawing, or falling below part-time enrollment. The form is handled by the Federal Student Aid (FSA) website and acts as way to inform the FSA that you will no longer be requesting aid and helps loan borrowers understand their repayment options and obligations. You can fill out the form here, but you won’t be able to fill it out until you’ve been cleared by the university to graduate.

If you have not received FAFSA, you will not have to fill out the exit counseling form. However, it might be important to double check with your loan provider, if applicable, to make sure you have a repayment plan set.

Step 4: RSVP

Some students may choose not to go to commencement. The ceremony is technically not required, and you can choose to opt out. As your graduation date inches closer, you’ll receive an email from the registrar asking you to RSVP for commencement. You’ll have to update or confirm your current address and contact information, as well as RSVP for the ceremony.

If you cannot attend either one of the two graduation fairs, you will have the opportunity to provide a stand-in on the RSVP form. You will provide the full name of the person, what they’re picking up, and the reason why they are filling in for you. You will have to give them express permission to pick up your regalia and guest tickets through the form.

Step 5: The Graduation Fair

You’ve applied to graduate, ordered your cap and gown, filled out your exit form, and RSVPed for commencement. Now you can attend the graduation fair, where you will be able to pay for and pick up your cap, gown, tassel, and potentially any honorary cords that make up your regalia.

This is also the only time you’ll be able to pick up your guest tickets. Unfortunately, students will only be allowed to bring four guests to the ceremony, this includes children over the age of two. Tickets will not be available at the door and must be picked up from the graduation fair.

Step 6: Graduate

Now you’re all set to graduate, congratulations! Commencement is held in the Athletic Building (and if you’re graduating this semester, commencement is happening on Friday December 15th). There is no rehearsal for graduation. Graduates are told to arrive at the Athletic Building at 10 a.m. and await further instruction.