[University Entrance Ceremony] Over 80% of New Students and Parents Are Positive About Attending Together! A Venue for Families to Share a Milestone
A survey by Souei Seminar reveals that attending university entrance ceremonies together has become a common practice, with over 80% of both students and parents viewing it as a positive, shared family milestone. The results indicate a shift in values where parents are seen as welcome participants rather than an anomaly.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: March 30, 2026 at 22:56 (2h 56m after Published)
Souei Seminar (Souei Corporation) conducted a survey among students and parents regarding their attitudes toward parental attendance at university entrance ceremonies.
In recent years, it has become increasingly common to see parents and children attending university entrance ceremonies together.
In fact, parental attendance at university entrance ceremonies was once perceived by the parents' generation as "somewhat unusual" or "a bit overprotective" during their own student days. However, in recent years, the sight of parents and children attending these ceremonies together has become more prominent, suggesting that values differing from the conventional wisdom of the past are spreading.
Therefore, Souei Seminar conducted a survey of students who will begin university life in April and their parents to understand how they perceive parental attendance at university entrance ceremonies.
In this survey, approximately 80% of high school students responded that they "don't mind if parents come to the university entrance ceremony," and 90% responded that they "think it is common or somewhat common for parents and children to attend together." Furthermore, about 90% of parents also responded that they "want to attend or don't mind attending."
This reveals the reality that the university entrance ceremony is increasingly being recognized by both parents and children as an "event for the family to share a milestone."
87.7% of high school students are "happy" for parents to come; "embarrassed" is the minority.
When asked, "How do you feel about attending your university entrance ceremony with your parents?"
- "I am happy about it": 49.6%
- "I am somewhat happy about it": 38.1%
This totals 87.7% with positive responses.
On the other hand,
- "I am somewhat embarrassed": 10.9%
- "I am embarrassed": 1.5%
These figures remain low, showing that the view that "it is embarrassing for parents to come" is a minority opinion.
In free-text responses, comments included:
"It is a milestone in life, so I think it is an important day for my parents too," "I think it is a good opportunity to show my parents how I look in my formal attire," and "It doesn't matter to me, but if my parents want to come, they should."
While they accept parental attendance positively, one can see that they are accepting it naturally, including a certain amount of shyness or sense of distance.
90% of new university students recognize "parent-child attendance as common."
Furthermore, when asked, "Do you feel that attending the university entrance ceremony with parents is common?"
- "I think it is common": 44.0%
- "I think it is somewhat common": 46.0%
In total, 90.0% answered that it is "common."
These results show that it is not just that they "don't mind if parents come," but that the act of parents attending the university entrance ceremony itself has already become established as "not unusual" among current high school students.
86.2% of parents responded that they "want to attend or don't mind attending."
On the other hand, when parents were asked, "Do you want to attend your child's university entrance ceremony?"
- "I want to attend": 52.9%
- "I think it is fine to attend": 33.3%
This resulted in a total of 86.2% expressing an intention to attend.
Additionally, when asked, "Do you feel that attending the university entrance ceremony with your child is common?"
- "I think it is common": 16.1%
- "I think it is somewhat common": 67.8%
In total, 83.9% answered that it is "common."
It seems that not only students but also parents recognize attendance at university entrance ceremonies not as something "special," but as a widely accepted option.
Parents' desire to "witness a once-in-a-lifetime milestone."
In the parents' free-text responses, comments included:
"I want to witness it because it is a once-in-a-lifetime milestone."
"There were events we couldn't attend due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so I want to attend this one."
"I feel like this is the last school event I can be involved in as a parent."
"I have confirmed my child's wishes, and I won't attend if they don't want me to."
From these responses, it is clear that parents do not simply want to tag along, but have a strong desire to witness a milestone in their child's life. At the same time, there is a strong attitude of respecting the child's wishes, and one can see that it is not a case of "parents going is a matter of course," but rather that they are making decisions while aligning their feelings with their children.
University entrance ceremonies are becoming a "place for families to share a milestone."
This survey reveals that parental attendance at university entrance ceremonies is no longer a matter for a few special families, but is becoming a "common option" for both students and parents.
Unlike when the parents' generation were students, today's university entrance ceremonies may be positioned not just as an event for the student alone, but as a place for the family to realize that a new chapter has begun.
Souei Seminar will continue to share changes in values regarding education and career paths based on the real voices of students and parents.
◆ Survey Overview
Survey target: Students and parents of Souei Seminar
Survey method: Questionnaire survey
Survey period: March 2026
Number of valid responses:
- Students: 339
- Parents: 87
◆ Company Overview
Souei Corporation
URL: https://www.souei.net/
◆ Inquiries regarding this matter
Souei Corporation
Public Relations: Watanabe
TEL: 045-641-4119
MAIL: k.watanabe@souei.net
In recent years, it has become increasingly common to see parents and children attending university entrance ceremonies together.
In fact, parental attendance at university entrance ceremonies was once perceived by the parents' generation as "somewhat unusual" or "a bit overprotective" during their own student days. However, in recent years, the sight of parents and children attending these ceremonies together has become more prominent, suggesting that values differing from the conventional wisdom of the past are spreading.
Therefore, Souei Seminar conducted a survey of students who will begin university life in April and their parents to understand how they perceive parental attendance at university entrance ceremonies.
In this survey, approximately 80% of high school students responded that they "don't mind if parents come to the university entrance ceremony," and 90% responded that they "think it is common or somewhat common for parents and children to attend together." Furthermore, about 90% of parents also responded that they "want to attend or don't mind attending."
This reveals the reality that the university entrance ceremony is increasingly being recognized by both parents and children as an "event for the family to share a milestone."
87.7% of high school students are "happy" for parents to come; "embarrassed" is the minority.
When asked, "How do you feel about attending your university entrance ceremony with your parents?"
- "I am happy about it": 49.6%
- "I am somewhat happy about it": 38.1%
This totals 87.7% with positive responses.
On the other hand,
- "I am somewhat embarrassed": 10.9%
- "I am embarrassed": 1.5%
These figures remain low, showing that the view that "it is embarrassing for parents to come" is a minority opinion.
In free-text responses, comments included:
"It is a milestone in life, so I think it is an important day for my parents too," "I think it is a good opportunity to show my parents how I look in my formal attire," and "It doesn't matter to me, but if my parents want to come, they should."
While they accept parental attendance positively, one can see that they are accepting it naturally, including a certain amount of shyness or sense of distance.
90% of new university students recognize "parent-child attendance as common."
Furthermore, when asked, "Do you feel that attending the university entrance ceremony with parents is common?"
- "I think it is common": 44.0%
- "I think it is somewhat common": 46.0%
In total, 90.0% answered that it is "common."
These results show that it is not just that they "don't mind if parents come," but that the act of parents attending the university entrance ceremony itself has already become established as "not unusual" among current high school students.
86.2% of parents responded that they "want to attend or don't mind attending."
On the other hand, when parents were asked, "Do you want to attend your child's university entrance ceremony?"
- "I want to attend": 52.9%
- "I think it is fine to attend": 33.3%
This resulted in a total of 86.2% expressing an intention to attend.
Additionally, when asked, "Do you feel that attending the university entrance ceremony with your child is common?"
- "I think it is common": 16.1%
- "I think it is somewhat common": 67.8%
In total, 83.9% answered that it is "common."
It seems that not only students but also parents recognize attendance at university entrance ceremonies not as something "special," but as a widely accepted option.
Parents' desire to "witness a once-in-a-lifetime milestone."
In the parents' free-text responses, comments included:
"I want to witness it because it is a once-in-a-lifetime milestone."
"There were events we couldn't attend due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so I want to attend this one."
"I feel like this is the last school event I can be involved in as a parent."
"I have confirmed my child's wishes, and I won't attend if they don't want me to."
From these responses, it is clear that parents do not simply want to tag along, but have a strong desire to witness a milestone in their child's life. At the same time, there is a strong attitude of respecting the child's wishes, and one can see that it is not a case of "parents going is a matter of course," but rather that they are making decisions while aligning their feelings with their children.
University entrance ceremonies are becoming a "place for families to share a milestone."
This survey reveals that parental attendance at university entrance ceremonies is no longer a matter for a few special families, but is becoming a "common option" for both students and parents.
Unlike when the parents' generation were students, today's university entrance ceremonies may be positioned not just as an event for the student alone, but as a place for the family to realize that a new chapter has begun.
Souei Seminar will continue to share changes in values regarding education and career paths based on the real voices of students and parents.
◆ Survey Overview
Survey target: Students and parents of Souei Seminar
Survey method: Questionnaire survey
Survey period: March 2026
Number of valid responses:
- Students: 339
- Parents: 87
◆ Company Overview
Souei Corporation
URL: https://www.souei.net/
◆ Inquiries regarding this matter
Souei Corporation
Public Relations: Watanabe
TEL: 045-641-4119
MAIL: k.watanabe@souei.net