<p>I'm graduating this year and I just got a letter from the alumni association--is it really worth it to pay to join it? It's fairly pricey, and I'm not sure I'll getting much of value, aside from the occasional discount on insurance and what not. Any alumni find it at all useful?</p>
<p>Some of the reasons:
- If you’re interested in hosting Dinner for 12 Strangers,
- Helping out and volunteering on the Alumni Association’s scholarship selection panel</p>
<p>I think there’s other things, and it’s cheap now compared to what you would pay later for lifetime membership. Pretty sure I’ll do it - I’ve gotten a lot out of them from Dinner for 12, and although i haven’t really tapped the alumni list as much as I should.</p>
<p>Its cheaper to join before graduating than after, and cheaper the 1st 3 years after graduation. As for usefulness, my guess is its probably more useful for recent alums. Quite a few chapters have “Young Alumni” meetings for drinks and events; older people tend to have families and are less likely to go out drinking and trying to meet up with new people. There are other benefits such as some discounts on insurance and the like, a one-time discount on a UC extension class, etc. </p>
<p>Overall I’d say the assoication isn’t really all that useful for most people after they’re out a few years, but my guess is that the past isn’t that representative of the future. For one thing the costs of keeping people in touch and setting up activities are much lower now than they were 15 or 30 years ago; back then if a group wanted to contact 5000 alums in the area it would cost about $1000 in postage; now it is essentially free via email. More importantly, the UC schools are realizing they need to start acting more like privates in terms of keeping alums in contact with (and supporting) the school. Many top privates have periodic get-togethers on campus for alums where they socialize and the school hosts “alumni college” classes and seminars, the alums are actively beating the bushes looking for students, etc. As UC schools move to admit more students across the country and get stronger alumni support (financial and otherwise) I think you’ll see them become more like top privates in what they offer thru the alumni association.</p>
<p>If you have the money, take the life time membership. You will really appreciate it in 10 years (when you need the network and the price is doubled).</p>
<p>I don’t get it. You pay $55 so that UCLA can fleece you for money 30 years later when you’ve made your fortune?</p>
<p>I often get emails for alumni volunteer or social events, but from the photos it seems that the people who go are all married and definitely are not recent grads. Is it still worth it to go to those events to form connections with the older people who might help you eventually find a job? I’d also like to meet fellow recent grads, but I haven’t gotten any notifications for the ‘young alumni’ meetings.</p>
<p>If you have not yet graduated, go over to the James West Alumni Center to find out more about the Alumni Association. It’s located northwest of Ackerman, past the Bruin statue. It’s next to Pauly Pavillion (to the east). You can talk to the people in there and get all the info you need to make an informed decision. Most of them in there will be recent grads.</p>
<p>Most of the alumni connectors – i.e. those working in the office, and those who put together the organizing of events are relatively recent alumni. They work together with the older (and established!) alumni, such as me, my husband, my next door neighbor, my best friend (we’re all life time alumni!) and we come in to do the Dinners for 12 Strangers, Parent weekends in the fall, and interview incoming students for Alumni Scholarships, among a variety of other things. You can contribute your time as much or as little as you want. </p>
<p>Lifetime membership is the way to go if you don’t want to get hit up every year for a donation. After few years of paying, what was it, about $50? (and the $$ goes towards those scholarships some of you have been getting!), I did the math, and when they offered up those periodic $300 lifetime memberships with free gift, I was there. Got my husband one in 2006 after UCLA hospital saved his life (car crash). </p>
<p>Is it worth it? It depends. If you feel you got a good education, and want to participate in helping other students who may have insufficient financial resources get a kick start at a great college, then yes, of course. If you don’t have beaucoup bucks, but prefer to be philanthropic, as meagre as it may be, than selfish, then, yes, it is worth it. If you want to give back to the school in some small way then, yes, it is worth it.</p>
<p>My outlook has always been better to give than receive, since that is, in itself, it’s own reward.</p>
<p>Notwithstanding the above comment, yes, there are rewards for being part of the alumni association (although being told I’m old and the only use you have for me is to have some work connection is kind of a ****y thing to say). Aside from feeling good about donating for a worthy cause (and the fact that it is tax deductible!), there is a very viable network, both in terms of long term friendships and collegial relationships, but in career opportunities as well. In addition, there are numerous discounts including, but not limited to on campus performances (think: Royce Hall, plays, music, etc.); student union discounts (20%, I believe) for all non-textbook items (Bruinware, etc); free access to all sporting events other than men’s football and men’s basketball (the women’s basketball team is awesome!); and when participating in certain events, like Dinner for 12 Strangers, Par, ents weekend, etc. you also get free gifts and sometimes free food. If you like politics, you can be on lists to get invitations to a number of programs and forums on campus. Finally, if you want to take an extension course, you get 10% off one course per annum. These are just a few of the perks to being part of the Alumni Association.</p>
<p>It is also a wonderful way to stay in touch with those professors who may have touched your life in a special way, and stay in touch with the department of your major.</p>
<p>Is everyone old and married in the Alumni Assn.? God, no, but sheesh, this is not a singles club you’re joining! And we don’t all have tails!!! But if you have a good attitude, you may just meet someone who is trying to give a little back to UCLA, just like you, who is single, personable, and possibly even be relatively cute.</p>