OMSCS Journey Throwback: Walking at Fall 2025 Commencement
2026-08-24
…This blog posts described my experiences from prep-works leading towards my walk at Georgia Tech’s Fall 2025 Commencement as a remote student who holds Vietnamese passport. As visa requirements and travel disruptions happen in real-time, the post may no longer be relevant
Table of contents
- 👨💻 Personal Background
- 📝 OAG and RSVP for Commencement
- 🛂 Visa Application Process
- ✅ Other Logistics
- 👨🎓 The Special Day: 13 December 2025
- 🍑 Other things about Atlanta, Georgia
- 💰 Cost breakdown
- 📝 Conclusion
👨💻 Personal Background
I am a 🇻🇳 Vietnamese software engineer, currently based in 🇸🇬 Singapore and took OMSCS to expand my knowledge. I joined the program in Fall 2023 and finished my last course of CS6515: Intro to Graduate Algorithms in Summer 2025 semester. Despite being invited to Commencement very early on in September 2026, I only decided on the trip to Atlanta near the RSVP deadline, late Oct 2025. Luckily, all processes were smooth and I had the best time in the whole 2.5yrs OMSCS journey attending the ceremony on campus.
📝 OAG and RSVP for Commencement
It is a fact by now that most of us have to take CS 6515 to complete the program, thus the demand for a slot in the course is always very high. If you are taking it in your final semester in OMSCS, you may apply to graduate in that final semester as this will grant you special permission (once the first audit by your advisor is done) to register for CS 6515 under a different class section from the usual one and go around the waitlist. Details on how to submit the application for this (OAG) is here
Sadly I missed the deadline to do so 🤦♂️, due to miscommunication and ignorance. However, I managed to beat the waitlist, completed the last course in the end and applied to graduated in Fall 2025. Nothing much will change as both Summer and Fall graduate candidates will be invited to walk during Fall Commencement anyway.
The RSVP invitation to walk at Fall 2025 Commencement came around late Aug/ early Sept, but I was seriously considering to walk late during Spring 2026 one instead as my family wished to fly in as well and winter is not something we are fond of. Things happened and in late Oct 2025, just a few days from RSVP deadline, I decided to walk in the December ceremony, kickstarted an intense visa and travel prep for someone with a relatively weak passport like me.
🛂 Visa Application Process
In Singapore, you can obtain US visa photos at Fotohub. Staffs are knowledgeable enough to get you the correct sizing. Make sure to get both software and print-out copies as you will need to bring the print-out to the US embassy on your interview.
I filled into the DS-160 non-immigrant visa application form online by 24th October 2025, putting B1/B2 as travel purpose. The application is directed to the embassy in Singapore and I managed to get the earliest slot of 2 weeks later (13/11/2025) for interview. I also paid 259 SGD for the MRV fee online and selected delivery to a delivery partner location in Orchard area in Singapore.
On interview day, I come 15 min earlier than the slot. The queue to go into the embassy is FCFS and is manageable. The interview went well and I was informed of visa outcome immediately on the spot. My passport is ready with the visa stamp on 17/11/2025. However, directly after visa outcome on interview day, I have moved on to purchase by flight tix and accommodation for the trip.
✅ Other Logistics
✈️ Flight
I have to say that this is my first trip to the United States and I have never taken any transit flight before, so being a risk-averse person, I book an itinerary with as much layover as possible to buffer anything wrong that can happen. My departure flight route is Singapore → Doha, Qatar → Atlanta and return is via New York JFK → Doha, Qatar → Singapore and the total ticket was about $3000 SGD.
The departure leg is however only about $1200 SGD. In Qatar, I pre-booked the Al Maha lounge which provided nice shower and food for relaxing. The lounge is however too crowded and lack of flat-lying space to sleep. Perhaps you can consider going to the transit hotel at DOH instead.
‼️ Do travel a few days before the event if you are flying in from Asia as the jetlag is really no joke. Most of the time I fel very sleepy around 1-2pm in the afternoon. Your body will needs time to readjust to the US timing for sure!
🏙️ Accommodation
In Atlanta, I stayed at Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel, which is steps away from Barnes and Nobles in Tech Square. It is about 10-15 minutes walk away from Bobby Dodd stadium where the Master Commencement ceremony would be hosted.
For 4D3N stay, the cost is $624 USD.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/WKFc6djcWPWzKPMz5
🎓 Regalia
For the Regalia, I ordered it via the email link and sent it to a friend in the US who would be coming to my Commencement too. However, you can have option to keep it at Barnes and Nobles and come there to pick up a few days before the ceremony.
‼️ PSA 1: bring a steamer to iron the regalia as it would be crumpled and creasy from transportation
‼️ PSA 2: Remember to wear your mortar board correctly. The longer, pointy side should be at the back, the shorter, flatter one should be at the front of your head!
💻 Tassel webapp for RSVP and actual date namecard
You will have to RSVP using Tassel which also provide ticketing details. This application will allow you to customize your name details and pronunciation for the actual date itself. Tassel will give you a QR code that you can scan on the actual date so that the AI/speaker will read your full name as you walk across the stage.
👨🎓 The Special Day: 13 December 2025
🚶 The Walk to Bobby Dodd Stadium
I left hotel around 7:30 to walk to Bobby Dodd and meet some friends before going in together. The weather was cold and breezy but as we come into the stadium and the sun rises, it got warmer and at certain point sweaty for me, so do plan your inner clothes accordingly.
I was very much surprised at how friendly the local are, some cheering for me as they jog through the neighbourhood. Some yell out congratulations from their cars as they stop by the junction. Something don’t normally do in Singapore or Vietnam. A very refreshing experience indeed.
🏟️ The Walk across the stage
We were seated around 8:45 and the ceremony would started with the usual: national anthem, speech by the dean, speech by the valedictorian and more motivational speech.
Then it was our turn to walk the stage, where we are ushered row by row to walk to the side stage to scan our QR (via tassel). Then we walked across the stage and had our fake diploma given. I only received the official one in early 2026, sent to my address in Singapore. Do check your email as they will require you to confirm your final address and name before the diploma being sent out.
👨🏫 Dr. Joyner campus tour for OMSCS students
After the ceremony, I had a short lunch break around Midtown and came back to the campus in the afternoon to attend Dr Joyner’s campus tour. This is a tradition for OMSCS students who don’t get to spend much time on campus to get a better understanding of the school ground. Dr Joyner walked us through many popular sites in Georgia Tech campus before ending the tour around Tech Square.
The tour is conducted via a phone app where you can listen in from Dr Joyner live voice broadcast. There was a lot of tech issue, but I appreciate him spending the time to show us around campus.
Of course I took many photos for memories. Hope to be back to campus again in the future! Oh, I even caught the Ramblin' Wreck in action!
🍑 Other things about Atlanta, Georgia
🍔 Food
My time in Atlanta was really short but sweet. I hung out mostly in Midtown Atlanta and managed to try some food joints that is popular to Gatech students.
📍 Atwoods Pizza Cafe
This pizza joint is just opposite Tech Square and our hotel. The highlight was the sinful, wood oven-baked pizzas and the crispy, crunchy brussel sprouts with vinegar sauce. Food portion is very generous in my opinion
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3caTet82FFcgJgwQ6
📍 The Flying Biscuit Cafe
This cafe specialized in Southern food staples like waffles and fried chickens, and grits. It is about 15-20 min walking from our hotel but I believe there can be public transport option that can shorten the journey. Food portion is again, very generous. This is the first place I tried grit in my life, love the creamy and heartwarming texture of it. Staffs are very friendly and caring, giving that soul to the soul food as well.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/oM9ixNuyNwAcjuEU8
📍 Bohos Taco
This tacos joint is located at Tech Square, next to Barnes and Nobles. My recommendation is the Fish tacos, very crispy!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/VvjQwjfL3MtKhPb38
📍 Waffle House
A staple for Tech students breakfast. It is very affordable and I love the staffs’ banter as they go through their shift
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3mW2TwGnbriYMpp77
📍 Mary Mac's Tearoom
This restaurant is a must visit in Atlanta, which is about 5-10 minutes away from our hotel by Uber/Lyft. They serve very sumptous southern kitchen dishes and is a popular spot for the local. Our Uber driver mentioned coming here every weekend and I can imagine doing so if I ever live here.
My favorite is the cornbread which is fluffy and buttery that can suck all the flavours from the juicy polticker. Another highlight is their Peach Cobbler served with vanilla ice cream. Can’t say you visited Georgia without trying something Peachy.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5kDEi2wzdBXCfoZw7
🛒 Shopping for school merch
Barnes and Nobles is so huge with 2 floors and have so many merch of Georgia Tech. Unfortunately, we left it until the very last minute of our time to do shopping here and only get some cups and blankets to decorate our house back home
🧳 Other touristy places
I didn’t managed to visit the Coca Cola Museum due to misreading of their open hours. However I managed to have an extensive walk around Georgia Aquarium, see the dolphin show and of course witness the massive spotted whale shark.
💰 Cost breakdown
Here is a cost breakdown for our trip to the US for Commencement. I’m only counting the spending in Atlanta as much as possible.
| Category | Cost in SGD | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa Processing | 259 | |
| Flight | 3000 | Return flight from JFK-DOH-SIN is the expensive bits |
| Hotel | 850 | |
| F&B | 400 |
So in total it is about 4500 SGD for 1 pax.
📝 Conclusion
It felt surreal to finally got out from OMSCS program, and it is even more surreal that I managed to fly in for the Commencement event. All those late night doing coding assignments, studying for exams and also going through the courses' forum to learn together with people around the world finally came to an end. I got out with more confidence about myself that I still got it in me to do whatever I want to achieve, as long as I put in the long hours and dedication needed for it. To the future me, stay hungry and disciplined as always.
Despite my last minute decision to make the trip, Commencement 2025 was really memorable for me. It was also my first trip to the United States and it have given me a lot of positive view about the country. Hope to be back to Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta again in the future!
