U of M Alumni Membership

did the trial membership after graduation, but didn't really get much out of it. maybe i just didn't know how to take advantage of things, but not worth the money imo.

most big cities have alumni clubs, and you only get a slight discount for the functions iirc.  most meet up things like watching games are free entry anyway.

Access to local events if you aren't in Ann Arbor is nice. You also have access to a lot of discounted items. You can usually find tickets through the club as well without being gouged. Networking with other alumni never hurts either.

It is worth it if you want to be involved with a local alumni club especially if you are no longer in Michigan. It's very helpful if you are in a larger city with a larger alumni base. I signed up for it last year and mostly appreciate it for the networking and discount on my insurance through liberty mutual. 

However, you don't need to be a lifetime member to get those benefits. I would advise to get a yearly and see if you use it. If you don't then no big deal. 

I got the lifetime membership a long time ago,  They raise the dues from time to time so the lifetime membership locked me in at what now seems like a great deal.  I didn't want to keep paying annual dues only to end up buying the lifetime membershp.  I think the biggest reason I joined was just for the pride of being a member rather than the tangible benefits.  The benefit I use the most is Michigania because you need to be alumni member to go but they have group membership benefits and special events from time to time.  Last year they had a skating event at Yost which included a tour which I liked.  They have also had events during art fair and football tailgates among other things.  They often have incentives  to buy the life membership - last year on Black Friday there was a 20% off special.

I started a thread about this very topic earlier this year.

They had a deal that included a coat and a good discount. I am on the board of the UofM club of Toledo and we do 6 or more events a year. You local club does get paid from the alumni association for each member in their area and paid even more for lifetime signups. I figured I would join every year, so it was cheaper in the long run.

I did it for the Nike t-shirt.  "Always a Wolverine."   Totally worth it.

Joined on an annual basis years ago and saw no return for the cost. I was dismayed to have been called from a calling center in Virginia asking me to renew. I live in Ann Arbor and see little value to the membership. Give your money to another unit where it can be used better.

The discounts on hotels and rentals have more than paid for it yearly for me

 

Almost immediately after joining I began to receive resumes from Dearborn and Flint campus graduates. Sorry, but I matriculated U-M/Ann Arbor and have nothing but the name in common with the other campuses. I dropped participation like a hot potato and haven't looked back. We meet up on an informal basis in Chicago if you're on the private emailing list AND you graduated from the Ann Arbor campus. Different schools, love the Wolverines regardless.

Love it. Local clubs all over the country offer discounts for members, and you never have to worry about being bugged about membership. Plus there are other random perks from time to time (for example a life member exclusive ticket giveaway a couple of weeks ago).

If you're a lawyer, doctor or general science enthusiast, the access to the umich scientific databases is well worth the price of membership.  However, that seems to be a much more niche benefit.  Beyond that, your money can probably be spent better elsewhere (unfortunately).

Not worth it at all. "Discounts" on stuff still tend to be in line or cheaper elsewhere. Just get called all the time. Only benefit would be to say you're a member IMO. Still have access to local events with the local alumni group. I just "joined" the local group. *shrugs*

Easy decision.

I got the life membership as a gift. It'll pay off eventually, Camp Michigania is the greatest place on earth, but as a young alum... Not much of a benefit for the cash.

And I intend to live a long time yet. Easy decision.

You can find the benefits below:

http://alumni.umich.edu/membership/benefits/

I haven't been able to take one of the trips they offer under Travel, but it looks like a lot of those trips would be fun.

They also help fund scholarships for students who need financial help. It might not be a direct benfit to members, but it's nice they do that.

http://alumni.umich.edu/scholarships/

Plus, I just found this UM graduate Physician Directory. I can't speak for everyone on the board, but I'd rather see a doctor who went to UM than some douche who went to OSU or MSU.

http://physicians.umalumni.com/

For those wondering, I tried to use the link so people could just click on it, but I keep getting blocked (it's being considered Spam).

The AAUM dangled free tickets for new life members last season. Then, cut Football Saturdays program. They'll dangle something every year. This year was access to a t-shirt. If you intend to maintain membership for life, lifetime membership is a cheaper way to go. You won't see as much value without football tickets, but you will get a magazine, cut select travel costs by 10%(ish), and stay connected with local alums. Also, non-alums can join.

I let mine lapse. Like others, I didn't see the benefit other than pride. I liked the Football Saturdays promotion of yesteryear. I did, however, recently join the NRA at a discounted rate of $25, but mostly to get the camo duffel bag.

I jumped at it when they offered the free fleece jackets and Ohio State tickets for face value last year. It was really worth it and I was tired of renewing each year.

My wife and I have been members the last 10 years but I don't really see any value to it w/o the Football Saturdays thing--I was sort of just paying for it because it felt like the right thing to do. I guess the magazine is nice. I likely won't renew when it comes up.

As an older alum, I joined from time to time on yearly subscriptions. Been moving around outside of Michigan and lost contact w/ UM events and issues for periods of time. Now following things more closely, as I have more time/interest. I'm now able to get the reduced "senior" rates and will do the lifetime membership. Should have done this 3 decades ago, would have saved $$$ and been better connected to UM along the way. If you can afford the money, it is a good investment when you do it early.

Had an offer this fall for a lifetime member ship for the wife and I for $499. Normally it's $1400, so I jumped at the chance. Got the two fleeces, discounts, yadda yadda, but the real benefit to me is that a good chunk of your dues if you're in an out of state alumni association goes to a student scholarship fund for your area, administered by the local alumni club. When I was in Dayton, we would usually give $4-5k in cash scholarships to local incoming freshmen. 

Self-servingly, the ability to get on the Radrick Farms eligibility list was a big benefit as well.

 

The Alumni Travel program offers truly great trips.  We've taken them to South Africa, Italy, Switzerland, and will be going to Tanzania and Alaska next year.  We haven't had one bad experience on any of the trips.  The travel program requires a membership.  It cracks me up that my Buckeye wife now has a UM Lifetime membership.

I've never seen discounts that beat what you can get from Costco Travel, assuming you're already a Costco member.

Discounts are great and for family trips you get an additional driver included for no extra charge.

Is it really an "Alumni Group" if anybody can sign up?