Introduction
Many university students wonder what happens to their student ID after graduation. This article explores the fate of your student ID, including whether you can keep it, the expiration of your ID card, and what information it contains. We will also discuss how you can retain key elements of your student experience, such as access to your student email, even after you've graduated.
Keeping Your Student ID for Keeps
When you graduate, your student ID becomes a memorable artifact of your academic journey. You can keep it, using it as a tangible memento in your scrapbook or share it with your family to show your achievements. In the digital age, your student ID number remains a unique identifier, even if the physical card expires.
Your Unique ID Number: An Endless Combination
Your student ID number, especially the numerical part, is a finite but vast collection of possible combinations. The length of your ID number determines how many unique identifiers are possible. For instance:
Eight-digit ID: If your ID number is eight digits long, there are approximately 100 million different combinations possible. This is more than enough for most university enrollments. Seven-digit ID: With seven digits, you can have over 10 million unique IDs, providing ample space for growth. Nine-digit ID: A nine-digit ID offers an incredibly high number of combinations, likely exceeding any immediate need for new IDs.Given that many universities enroll a few thousand new students each year, the number of ID combinations is far beyond the current enrollment capacity. Therefore, you can keep your student ID with peace of mind knowing that it won't run out anytime soon.
What Happens to Your School ID after Graduation?
Once you graduate, your school ID is deactivated to prevent unauthorized access to the school's resources. This means you won't be able to use it to access certain services or campus facilities. However, you can take it home as a nostalgic piece of memorabilia.
The Military Service Number and Permanent Records
Student IDs often contain vital statistics, such as your birth year, embedded in a way that makes them unique to you. As a result, these IDs become part of your permanent records, which can be valuable for genealogical research and other purposes. While the information in the school's database may be deleted at some point, the unique identifier remains a part of your personal history.
Retaining Your Email Address and Other Benefits
Even after graduation, you can still access some university benefits. For example, many schools allow you to retain your student email address by registering as an alumnus. This can be particularly useful for alumni events and maintaining social media connections. Additionally, you may need to ensure your tuition and fees are paid in full before obtaining your diploma in some institutions. Checking with your university's alumni office can provide more detailed information on how to retain and make use of these advantages.
In conclusion, your university student ID is more than just a piece of plastic—it's a symbol of your academic journey. Whether you keep it, deactivate it, or retain certain privileges, it can be a valuable long-term memory. As we move into the future, your student ID will no doubt continue to hold a special place in your personal history.