OT: Who Should Claim UM Alumni Status
So posts on another thread inspired me to post this as I have wondered about it for a while. To be considere a UM Alumni, do you have to have graduated from UM? I myself had about 50% of my undergraduate credits from UM, but I graduated from another school (grew up in Ann Arbor, had to leave). I have never been comfortable saying I am an alumni from UM. We certainly consider athletes who don't graduate alumni. The UM Alumni Association will take anyone who wants to write a check as a member.
April 23rd, 2015 at 10:57 PM ^
Do they publish the Wunderlichs for each campus?
April 23rd, 2015 at 12:33 PM ^
Haha. Ok. So maybe some MSU grads should just go about saying they are Michigan alums since they "could have been accepted." Okay, keep telling yourself that. Look at the average SAT/ACT scores of entering students and tell yourself that they are the same schools. They are not.
April 23rd, 2015 at 12:37 PM ^
April 23rd, 2015 at 12:42 PM ^
Good god, what's the view like from up there on your thousand-foot tall Palomino?
Wish I had that 3.9 GPA from Michigan (Flint) rather than that 3.4 from MICHIGAN.
Just fucking be honest with yourself.
I didn't go to either one, jackass. I'm not an alumnus of Michigan. I'm a fan and live in Ann Arbor. Where'd you grow up, the Hamptons?
Yes Michigan is a more prestigious and better school than UMDearborn or Flint. This isn't a GRE forum or something. If I had gone to any of them I would indicate which one if I was filling out a resume, aside from that, who honestly gives a shit.
April 23rd, 2015 at 12:56 PM ^
They are different schools. Let's take other states as an example:
UCLA and Cal Berkeley? Both U of California, right? No one thinks that. To say nothing of UC - Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Riverside, etc.
University of Illinois - Chicago (UIC) vs U of I (Urbana Champaign)? Different schools.
IUPUI? (Indiana University Purdue University of Indianapolis) Claims 2 Big Ten programs, but its not the same.
Alabama disbanded their football program!!!!!! (At Birmingham, UAB).
And a dozen others just like it.
They are not the same school.
Don't worry. They'll forget to include that "small" fact on their resumes. For jobs they are competing against you for.
3.9 - BS. Engineering - Michigan (Flint)
3.4 - BS. Engneering - Michigan
1. I'd assume Flint and Dearborn engineering students can't get into CoE career fair in Ann Arbor, or access CoE online career portal.
2. Even if they could, a career fair rep, who is almost always a CoE graduate, would detect almost immediately they weren't an Ann Arbor student.
3. Ann Arbor CoE kids are going to have strong, prestige-heavy internships.
4. Every internship and corporate job you get asks for a transcript.
The calibre of students between the main and satellite is NIGHT AND DAY. I've never seen a Flint or Dearborn kid that could hang with an LSA kid, let alone a CoE grinder.
Does someone who went to UW-Green Bay say they went to "Wisconsin"? Does someone who went to UM-Duluth say they went to "Minnesota"? Do grads of UIC say they went to "Illinois"? I don't think so, and I don't think they should. Hell, how often do Puerto Ricans get referred to as "Americans"? If you drive a Chevy can you say you drive a Cadillac?
It doesn't make you a bad or dumb or unsuccessful person if you went to UM-Dearborn or Flint (any more than going to UMAA makes you automatically good, smart, or successful). They are fine schools and might be a great choice for any number of reasons. I'm glad they exist. But they aren't the same thing as the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. There's a reason they get ranked separately in college rankings, and there's a reason admissions (and costs to attend) are much different between the two.
If you spent your entire college career without taking a class at UMAA, then I really don't think you went to "Michigan", any more than someone who went to State did. Certainly less then someone who took a couple years at UMAA and then went somewhere else. A college is a lot more than the name on the door and the colors on the flag. Frankly, going to Dearborn and insisting you went to "Michigan" speaks to an unpleasant sort of inferiority complex. You went to a good school, you're successful. Own it! Don't try to sell yourself as something you aren't, because you know damn well that 99% of people think of Ann Arbor when you say "Michigan", and you know damn well that you're hoping they make that erroneous assumption.
April 23rd, 2015 at 12:00 PM ^
I once hired someone who listed "University of Wisconsin" on their resume, only to find out later that she was a graduate of University of Wisconsion-Milwaukee. I never made it a big deal, but it seemed odd.
April 23rd, 2015 at 12:09 PM ^
My apologies to the person who negged me - I meant no offense to UWM. The employee from my cool story was a valuable urban planner that I would rehire as quicker than I can down a High Life. The strangeness and discomfort came more from catching someone in a white lie about their background.
Except it is not at all a white lie.
If someone puts University of California on their resume.... the general assumption is that it means Berkeley.
They went to Riverside. Changes the dynamic.... doesn't it? Same thing, if not more, for Michigan.
April 23rd, 2015 at 12:38 PM ^
It's different here in Wisconsin. All the state schools are University of Wisconsin - Insert City Here. I believe it would be the equivalent of comparing UofM Ann Arbor to Western Michigan.
That being said, UW - Milwaukee is a pretty good school from my understanding and I work with a lot of UWM grads.
April 23rd, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^
Division III powerhouse University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team members will always state proudly that they are UW-Whitewater alumni, not University of Wisconsin alumni.
It is different in Wisconsin since we don't have directional schools. We have a University of Wisconsin system with distinct flavors named by city/location.
Back in my HS days, I wanted to visit Beloit College, FWIW. Seemed cozy and leafy.
Excellent Geo program, too.
Can you explain why it's different though? I mean, yes, UM Dearborn/Flint/Ann Arbor all share a president and Board of Regents - but so does the UW system! The level of "official" independence seems similar.
Yes, there is a governing body for the entire UW System, but each has its own particular fiefdom. Administratively, it is probably very similar to the UM "system" at the top level. I'm definitely not an expert at college administration, though.
I will say that this entire conversation would be kind of "huh?" to grads at the various UW campuses. You're a "UW-Platteville" or "UW-Stevens Point" grad, not a "UW" grad. Students at the non-Madison campus also do not get any privileges at Madison for football tickets, etc. So that seems to be a distinct difference. I didn't know that UM-Dearborn or UM-Flint could get access to football tix. When I was a UM student a couple decades ago, I honestly didn't know that UM-Dearborn or UM-Flint existed and were considered part of the UM family. I appreciate this thread because I've actually learned a ton.
It does seem like at least a few of the UW schools had independent existences before being absorbed into the IW system, whereas UM-Flint/Dearborn were founded as satellites from the start.
But the complete difference in attitude is still odd to me. Maybe it's just the EVERYTHING is UW, while Michigan has many public schools not labeled "University of Michigan".
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"University of Wisconsin" was technically correct in her case, but it's misleading. Probably 99% of people outside the state would assume that "University of Wisconsin" means the Madison campus.
April 23rd, 2015 at 12:00 PM ^
Totally agree with this. Dearborn is a completely different school. I did my undergrad at UM, and am getting my Masters part-time at Dearborn right now while I'm working (work in Dearborn so its very convenient). I only do anything 4 days a semester. Two midterms X two classes. Usually it's a review of material from my undergrad (but going into less detail) and I can re-learn everything the day of exams and pass easily. That would not fly at UM. If you went to Dearborn, you cannot claim you're a Michigan Alum.
Also, for undergrad, I went to walk-in admissions at Dearborn for a back-up. I walked out less than 5 minutes later with a full scholarship offer in hand. UM gave me $500 for finishing top in my high school class... I think that speaks a little to the difference in caliber between the students.
But I am definitely going to take advantage of the fact that I can get student tickets for the next couple years!
April 23rd, 2015 at 12:01 PM ^
I don't know about others, but I've always considered each and every campus as part of the University Of Michigan family in every aspect. This university has representatives all over the world and although most of them probably spent time in Ann Arbor, there are folks who attended classes in Dearborn and Flint wearing the maize and blue proudly as well. The satellite campuses might be smaller in size, but we should think of them no less.
April 23rd, 2015 at 12:16 PM ^
I did my entire college career at UM-Flint. I absolutely feel like some of my Ann Arbor friends look down at me a bit.. but it's not necessarily my education. It's more like they just don't think I am as big a Michigan supporter/fan/etc. since I wasn't growing up in Ann Arbor. For me, I grew up in the country just outside of Flint, in some nice suburb area in northern Oakland county. I got accepted to Michigan, but Flint was MUCH closer and a cheaper option for me all around.
Anyway, I had a great experience, although I did my schooling while living off campus in an apartment with a couple friends, who also went to UM-Flint. I totally understand, we didn't have the day-to-day UM/Ann Arbor experience. I'd love to have that, but it didn't work out that way. I made it down to Ann Arbor MANY times though to celebrate all the great things that come with being a Michigan student/fan. Bottom line, I don't feel cheated on my education at all and none of my employers, from what I can tell, have had an issue with UM-Flint instead of Ann Arbor. I've never been to the Dearborn campus, but I'd assume things are pretty similar. We're all a part of the Michigan family, and alumni. But if somebody who went to Ann Arbor wants to be a bit more.. i don't know, proud/snobby about it.. I kinda get it. Just don't get TOO out of hand.
and in the years since I've occasionally gotten the back of somebody's hand with the "Oh - so you didn't REALLY go to UM." I learned to shrug it off a long time ago. My HS grades and ACT scores got me accepted to Ann Arbor easily, but I went to Flint for two reasons: One, it's my hometown, and Two, it was a hell of a lot cheaper (and Mom and Dad weren't picking up the tab.)
Many times I've wished I'd gone to Ann Arbor, or transferred there halfway through, but overall, I'm quite satisfied with the education I got in Flint. And I've enjoyed seeing that campus grow to what it's become now. Sure, it's not the Diag and the Engineering Arch and the Law Quad, etc., but it's nice to know I was there in '78 when it was just one building and a muddy hole where the second one was being built. Feels like I got in on the ground floor of something nice.
As far as the snobs go ... screw 'em. Anybody who'd be small-minded enough to pull that shit isn't worth impressing anyway.
I've occasionally gotten the back of somebody's hand with the "Oh - so you didn't REALLY go to UM."Out of curiosity, what do you tell people when they ask where you went to school?
I tell them the truth: "I went to UM-Flint." The funny part was, when I relocated to the Detroit area in the early 90's, a lot of people didn't know there was a Flint campus. Dearborn, sure, but not Flint.
I've never had any problem identifying myself with UM-Flint and being proud that I went there. If somebody wants to sneer at it, let 'em. It says more about them than it does about me.
GO BLUE!
OK, I thought you were saying that but was curious. I do think it's a little disingenous for a graduate of Flint/Dearborn to simply tell people that they went to "U-M" because are going to associate that with Ann Arbor. But, no one should feel any shame about where they went to school. Only around a quarter of the adult population has a bachelor's degree, so going that far in your studies is already a solid accomplishment.
April 23rd, 2015 at 11:04 PM ^
...because you hurly-burlies insist on standing at the football games and it is the only way I can see over you. Down in front, young man.
April 23rd, 2015 at 12:16 PM ^
I got in to Ann Arbor but they did not offer my major, so I attended and graduated from Dearborn, and consider myself a Michigan Alumni.
April 23rd, 2015 at 12:22 PM ^
I'm curious, what was your major? UofM Dearborn is a lot smaller so I'm surprised anything is offered there that isn't in Ann Arbor.
April 23rd, 2015 at 12:41 PM ^
I am a special ed. teacher and the Ann Arbor campus does not offer a special education teaching program.
April 23rd, 2015 at 12:58 PM ^
That's fair. But when someone asks where you went to school, do you say UofM or UofM - Dearborn? It seems like a lot people on here think that everyone that goes to AA is 100X smarter than anyone who goes to Deaborn. Although I would agree that the competition there is a lot harder, there are definitely people that are in cases like yours or for financial reasons that choose to go to Dearborn instead of AA. It is still a different school though, and even if you were smart enough to get into AA, I think you should make the distinction.
That UM-AA studens are automatically 100X smarter, it's that UM-AA is 100X tougher to get into. The top studetns at UM-D or UM-F that CHOSE to go there for location or financial reasons may be just as smart, but the low-end students would clearly have never been considered for admission at UM-AA.
You also need to take into account how much people grow during their undergraduate years in Ann Arbor vs. Flint/Dearborn. Being around a ton of students who are all really smart and driven does a lot for one's personal growth, both intellectually and otherwise. Just because someone (and I have a hard time believing this is a large number of people annually) chose F/D over AA doesn't mean that they're at the same level at graduation as the students who went through four years in Ann Arbor.
out of curiosity, how old are you? You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but you speak as though you still have a whole lot to learn. In somewhat of an ironic way, your post about your personal "growth" reveals a stunning lack thereof.
There are 90 year olds who hate certain people solely because of the color of their skin
Anyone smart and ambitious enough to attend Ann Arbor would utilize the 2+2 transfer agreement and transfer to Ann Arbor after their sophomore year. Nobody with the capacity to attend Ann Arbor graduates from Flint or Dearborn. I am sure there are a HANDFUL of "smart" outliers seemingly capable of getting into Ann Arbor, yet choose to remain in a low-achieving environment. But why would you possibly want to graduate from a top to bottom inferior school which costs the same price as Ann Arbor? According to research, this teases out a character flaw, i.e. a red flag to hiring managers and grad schools.
source: http://theamericanscene.com/2011/12/07/how-elite-business-recruiting-re…
isn't true, at all. You act like "going to college" is just this identical experience where a upper middle class kid goes to college to find him or herself and discover the wonder of college without a care in the world and without any other factors contibuting to the experience they can have. That is not the way the world works man.
The "capacity" to go to Ann Arbor. News flash man, you are not anywhere close to as smart as you think you are.
According to both UM-Ann Arbor and UM-Flint websites, the costs of a 12 credit full-time load for an in-state student are:
Ann Arbor - $7,429.00
Flint - $4,605.00
A difference of $2,824.00. To many of us, that's reason enough right there not to transfer. Or there may be any number of other reasons both personal and professional. The reasons are as various as the people are. You seem to be forgetting one important point: many people's decisions are determined - or possibly limited - by the circumstances of their life.
In my time at Flint, I knew many students who were married, divorced with children, taking classes part-time at night - any number of differing circumstances. Yet they were as smart and ambitious as anyone who walked the Diag every day, and to dismiss them as having some sort of "character flaw" is lazy thinking. Transferring to Ann Arbor wasn't in their cards - or maybe it simply wasn't in their interest.
1. Ann Arbor's financial aid is one of the most generous in the nation. That $2800 difference would likely be covered by anyone with an income level where a $2800 per year swing is a concern.
2. In terms of college tuition these days, $2800 x4 = $10,000 is largely insignificant. Further, that's the signing bonus of a Ross or CoE graduate. As the research I previously linked to suggests, choosing such an inferior school is the sign of faulty judgment, to put it mildly.
3. I would bet the average lifetime earnings gap between Ann Arbor and the satellites is $1mm.
4. Spin all you want, not even 0.10% of Flint or Dearborn would even make Ann Arbor's waitlist, i.e. it wasn't a choice. Using college readiness rate and subsequent college grad rate of both satellites, 2/3 of the students in each should not even be on a university campus.
With all sincerity and with all due respect, you are a douchebag. A smart, educated, elitist douchebag. You are in the upper class of douchebags. So you have that going for you, which is nice. I have read all of your posts on this thread and therefore I have become an authority on douchebagginess.
At the National Douchebag Convention, you will give the keynote speech, "How to be an Elitist Class A Douchebag". The regular plain old douchebags who went to UM-D or UM-F will be listening to you and taking notes, because they could only aspire to your high level of douchebaggery.
Well I hope you don't consider yourself an Alumni, unless there's more than one of you ;)
April 23rd, 2015 at 11:44 AM ^
Alumus: A graduate or former student, especially male, of a particular school, college, or university.