Buy a basic graduation cap for cheap on a short time frame?

May 2, 2013 12:12 PM

Okay, so I am a community college faculty member who is supposed to wear my academic regalia to our graduation ceremony next Saturday. I've got my gown and hood, but I can't find my stupid mortarboard anywhere. My wife has hers, but as her noggin is significantly smaller than my enormous melon, when I put it on it looks like I'm being sucked into a wormhole head first. So what I need is: a) a basic shiny black academic cap and tassel, b) that fits giant heads, c) at low cost, d) delivered in the next eight days. I've found places on line where I can do this for $45. Is there a way to do it for $20?
posted by Pater Aletheias to Education (14 answers total)

Response by poster: Oh, I should mention that I'm on track to graduate with my doctorate next year, so this particular mortarboard only has to last me through one or two ceremonies. I won't be digging it out every spring for the rest of my career.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 12:13 PM on May 2, 2013

Amazon has some options, like this one.
posted by troika at 12:14 PM on May 2, 2013

And this one's adjustable. Alternately, do you know any recent college grads/any of your friends have kids who are recent college grads? The cap & gown are the kind of thing that moms like to hold on to, they might have one to lend you.
posted by troika at 12:16 PM on May 2, 2013

When I taught in high school, the school provided that stuff for us as a rental.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:26 PM on May 2, 2013

If I'm reading this right, the University of Houston's bookstore is selling them for $8.25. Although they are identifying it as "cap", which is weird. Have you tried your school's bookstore?

I'd be more than happy to pick one up at UH for you, and send it to you.
posted by Houstonian at 12:27 PM on May 2, 2013 [2 favorites]

Where do your students gets theirs? Will they not sell/rent you one?
posted by supercres at 12:29 PM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]

How big of a head are we talking? I have mine in the closet somewhere and will mail it to you if you want :)
posted by Nickel Pickle at 12:31 PM on May 2, 2013

I just called the UH bookstore. They do sell it, but not for the $8. It's $35.
posted by Houstonian at 12:38 PM on May 2, 2013

Best answer: At my school, the convocation ceremony organizers always order a few extras for faculty who forget to put in their rental requests on time *cough* as I know from experience *cough*. Contact whoever's in charge of the event at your school--hopefully they'll be sympathetic and just give you a cap to use for the day.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:45 PM on May 2, 2013

Best answer: Define "Next Saturday". I have one sitting in storage that I could send to you for free if you mean May 11th and not May 4th. I was cleaning out my storage unit last Saturday and saw it and was like huh...I probably should give this to Goodwill.
Note I have a big old head so that should not be a problem. Send me an email if you want it and it's yours!
posted by ramix at 1:05 PM on May 2, 2013

Response by poster: The bookstore does rent that stuff to faculty for free, but I missed the deadline (thinking I had it already). It's worth a shot to send an email and see what happens, though.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 1:24 PM on May 2, 2013

Response by poster: (Ramix, I may just email you if the bookstore can't help me out. Thanks.)
posted by Pater Aletheias at 1:28 PM on May 2, 2013

I would check with any local high schools in the area. They are all gearing up for graduation right now, and would have some available. Also, depending on your area, check for a Herf Jones, or other graduation companies. They should have them ready to go. We have a local store that has about any color or price your willing to pay. Not sure if your area has it's own store though. Good luck!
posted by snoelle at 2:32 PM on May 2, 2013

Response by poster: Thanks, guys...good ideas. The Amazon stuff looks too cheap to me, and the bookstore here says I missed my chance. There are no grad supply stores in my unsophisticated town. But I'll run through the other options.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 9:28 AM on May 3, 2013