Toni-Ann Neita, Staff ReporterYOU have studied hard. You have persevered. Now you are graduating. You smile and breathe a sigh of relief (sigh). But that sigh can quickly turn into a gasp for many when they realise how much this whole thing called 'graduation' can end up costing.
A graduating student is faced with a list of 'must-haves' and their respective costs as well as a list of 'might-wants' and their respective costs. A must-have for every graduating student is the ceremonial gown (and mortar boards, for some). The average ceremonial gown will cost a student about $2,000 to rent for the night. At the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, students must pay $5,960 initially and are then refunded $3,960 upon the safe return of the gown. A representative from the university said that this is "regrettable but necessary" as a means of reducing the incidences of theft of the gowns. Necessary? Maybe. But also hard on the pockets of many students.
Then there are the garments that must be worn under the gowns. Men are usually required to wear suits and the women are usually required to wear dresses. Specifications are usually made about the colour, length, and other features of these garments. If you do not have an outfit at home that matches the specifications made by the school, or if you just want something new for the occasion, it is time to go shopping.
The shopping list
A dress for the woman can easily cost in the range of $2,000 to $5,000. Female graduates from the UWI are required to wear plain white dresses. Many graduates at the 2001 UWI ceremony yesterday and Friday complained that finding a plain white dress had been very difficult.
"I couldn't find anything in the stores," said 23-year-old graduate Keisha Campbell at Friday's ceremony. "I had to go to a dressmaker." The dress ended up costing her $3,000.
A man's shopping trip can prove to be quite a bit more expensive. The middle range for a decent suit for him is about $8,500 to $16,000 according to a representative from Spencer's Tailoring.
It goes without saying that a graduation outfit would not be complete without the perfect pair of shoes. A decent pair of shoes will run in the range of $2,000 to $4,000 for both the woman and the man.
Therefore, the approximate cost for the complete ensemble (dress and shoes) for the woman is $6,500. The complete ensemble for the man (suit and shoes) costs approximately $13,000.
The finishing touches
The story does not end with the outfit. "You can't put pretty wrapping on an ugly gift," joked one graduate. "It wasn't enough that I had a great outfit. I had to look good too!" Looking 'good', by this person's definition, meant having the perfect hairstyle, make-up, manicure, pedicure and the works. It was clear that the other graduates at the recent University of Technology (UTech) and UWI graduation ceremonies shared similar sentiments as evidenced by the elaborate hairdos, acrylic nails, and 'pedicured' toes that were on display. The men, not to be outdone by the ladies, sported new haircuts and neatly shaven faces.
A trip to the hairdresser to create the perfect hairstyle costs an average of $1,500. A manicure and pedicure costs about $500. So all together, a ladies 'beautification process' for the big night can cost about $2,000. For men, the 'beautification process' is usually limited to a trip to the barber. A trim and shave at the barber costs about $200 to $500.
The 'might-wants'
Having dealt with the 'must-haves' for the occasion - the gown, the clothes, the shoes and so on, the graduate is faced with the choice of the many 'might-wants'. Do I want to buy my university's graduation ring? Do I want to buy a souvenir graduation pen, mug, watch, hat, or bag? The overly exuberant graduate can find their expenses mounting if they are not careful.
The guests
Attending a graduation as a proud parent, relative, or friend can also prove to be quite expensive. Guests at the UWI and UTech graduations were decked out in their finest attire - many donning new outfits and expensive hairstyles. The guests may have also bought congratulatory bouquets, gifts or cards or placed a congratulatory advertisement in the paper. Consequently, total expenses for guests (outfit, grooming, bouquet/gift) can easily run in the same range as the total costs for the graduates.
A graduation can prove to be quite expensive for all those involved, especially those who "go all out" for such an event. The potential cost has often served as a deterrent or even a hindrance for some graduates. Tricia Foster chose not to participate in her graduation this year. "I realised how much it could end up costing," she said, "and I have already paid so much to get my degree. It was a heavy financial strain for my family. I just didn't feel it was necessary to 'pay' to graduate on top of everything else."
In spite of everything, the large turnout at these ceremonies suggests that many still think it is worth the cost and somehow find a way to pay the expenses. In the words of one beaming parent: "I was able to scrape together the funds for three years of university and so I knew that I could somehow find the funds to make today (the graduation) possible for my son. We just didn't spend on any unnecessary stuff."
The lesson? In the end, a graduation is only as expensive as you make it and it is 'worth' more to some than it is to others.
Women Men
| Gown | $ 2,000 | $ 2,000 |
| New outfit (including shoes) | $ 6,500 | $13,000 |
| Grooming | $ 2,000 | $ 350 |
TOTAL COST (FOR GRADUATE) $10,500 $15,350
