Did You Regret Not Going to Your College Graduation Ceremony?

The Decision Not to Attend Graduation

Contrary to popular belief, not every graduate harbors regrets about missing their college graduation ceremony. While there are always those moments of nostalgia, my experience at Fordham University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) left me with no such remorse. In fact, I deliberately abstained from attending my graduation ceremony, not just once, but multiple times.

For my master's program, I enrolled in the MS in Applied Research Methods. This program promised to equip me with the necessary skills to excel in my professional journey. However, the experience was far from what I had anticipated. From the moment I stepped into the program, doubts and frustrations overshadowed any shred of positivity I might have had.

Why I Regret Attending Graduation?

First and foremost, the weather was often a detriment. Ceremonies were scheduled during times of year when the weather could be excessively hot, cold, or even rainy, making it a less-than-pleasant experience. Moreover, my career was already well underway. I was neck-deep in work before even finishing my degree, and the need to be elsewhere took precedence over what was essentially a formality.

The Pitfalls of My MS Program Experience

My decision not to attend the graduation ceremony was not only a practical one but also a reaction to the numerous issues I encountered during my time at Fordham. My experience was marred by a series of disappointments and what I consider outright academic fraud. Here are some of the key issues:

Grading and Academic Probation

I was unable to graduate on time due to spurious grading practices. Andrew Rasmussen, the Director of the MS in Applied Research Methods, instructed me to take a class in another department, which did not align with the program's requirements. Professor Monika McDermott, the instructor of the Political Science Survey Methods course, failed me without any valid reason, despite my excellent work. This led to my academic probation, during which I was denied a fair grade appeal process. The violation of the grade appeal procedures was evident, and the professors' refusal to acknowledge the discrepancies was both dishonest and unprofessional.

Email Falsification and Miscommunication

My graduate email account was hijacked, and damaging emails were sent in my name. This led to further complications and unjust accusations. For instance, Donna Heald, my supervisor, falsely accused me of not completing her orders. However, my emails to her consistently showed that I had already completed all the necessary tasks. The evidence clearly showed that Heald had been communicating with the wrong student and deleting emails that she had sent. The dishonesty and misrepresentation were hard to stomach.

Added to the mix: Poor Academic Standards and Unrealistic Expectations

The academic standards were extremely low, and the course content was often arbitrary and irrelevant. For example, one of the classes required students to write inflammatory topics such as gun control and legalizing prostitution for their final projects. This was clearly a waste of time and money—a fact I came to realize only too late. The content was not valuable, and the professors, such as Tiffany Yip of the Psych Research Methods class, provided poor instruction and lacked basic respect for their students.

Conclusion

In reflection, my decision not to attend the graduation ceremonies was well-founded. The experiences highlighted in this article are not isolated incidents but rather a symptom of a dysfunctional academic environment at Fordham University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The lack of transparency, ethical standards, and academic integrity has left a lasting negative impression on my professional journey and my perception of education in general.

Lessons learned from my time at Fordham have encouraged me to re-evaluate the value of traditional academic credentials and seek alternative avenues for professional growth. Graduating from such a program has taught me to be more critical of educational institutions and to view certifications with a healthy skepticism. My decision to bypass the ceremony was not sentimental but a prudent one born out of necessity and frustration.