<p>Here are a few universities with very loyal and significant alumni networks:</p>
<p>Brown University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Georgetown University
Harvard University
Northwestern University
Pennsylvania State University
Princeton University
Stanford University
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania
University of Southern California
University of Texas-Austin
University of Virginia
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Yale University</p>
<p>I am sure I am missing several others (particularly small LACs like Amherst, Middlebury and Williams and large flagship state schools like the Universities of Florida and Georgia), but those schools above are definitely among the best where alumni networks are concerned.</p>
<p>The really big state schools have strong alumni groups regionally. That is, if you're going to work in Ohio or nearby, Ohio State is the largest alumni network that you see. If you're in Texas or nearby, it's UT.</p>
<p>My personal bias because of family but ND, Michigan, and Harvard. Michigan has the largest in the world and the most diverse; as said above you can find a UM fan anywhere. ND, for a school of 8000 undergrads the name recognition is unequivocal. Even if a person didn't go there, they have a form of respect knowing that you are a smart individual -or that you played football well in hs. Regardless even if a person didn't go to ND they either hate or love the school. Harvard, well it's harvard. though on the decline - most fortune 500 companies will have Ivies on the board and having that degree from there never hurts. the alumni base can do a lot for you, but it means nothing if you cannot capitalize on yourself.</p>
<p>I think people confuse "big" alumni networks with "strong" alumni networks. My brother went to a top 5 public, but outside of game watches with alums its not as if his school's alums are out to go out of their way to help each other. Sure you meet people, but its very very different. There are too many people to share intimate bonds or to go out of their way.</p>
<p>On the other hard at undergrad focused top schools you have significant percentages of alums hanging out regularly, helping with recruiting, and going to reunions. There is a constant dialogue with the school. I've seen firms with over 50% of the employees from these types of places. You get to know lots of really smart successful people very very well. Its almost a familial sense as crazy as that sounds. If you go out in New York you see people from Princeton called the "Princeton Mafia", it simply goes far beyond an interest in sports. Without a doubt the strongest, most helpful alums I've seen are those from Princeton, Dartmouth, Notre Dame, and Williams, and Wellesley. To a slightly lesser extent Duke, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Georgetown, Amherst, some of the other higher ranked LACs, and a few others. In my experience the urban schools like NYU and GW have the weakest alumni networks.</p>
<p>They're big on tradition and prefer their own over others (usually). A relation to alumni can give you a leg up in the admissions process. When you apply for a job, ND alumni will also be willing to help you out or hire you.</p>
<p>My biggest point is size is not a positive thing. Take a place like Florida or Ohio State. People love the football team and get together to watch the game. But when it comes to actual interactions there isn't a "I go out of my way" to help OSU or Florida alums mentality. This even occurs among students on campus, lots of parties where you have to "know someone" to get in. Its almost a city. Lots of people, small connection. </p>
<p>Conversely at a select group smaller schools people take pride in how much they help each other and love their school, not how much they love a team (exception Notre Dame - love of team and of school). HUGE difference. They are small schools that are very selective, so there's a lot of pride and trust in the network. And they are incredibly strong because the alums from these places tend to be successful. People know fellow alums from years back and years forward and socialize together. The alumni magazine posts every year's class notes. There is a constant dialogue with the school, whether its the alumni organization sending a mugs and calendars or the fact that over 75% of Princeton and Dartmouth alums return for their reunions. these places historically have been "old boys" clubs, but as time has passed the "old boy" part has gone but the benefit of that love of school mentality maintains, which is a fantastic evolution in my experience.</p>
<p>I second Smith College. Smith has a very strong and loyal alumni network. In addition, Smith offers solid internship opportunitiesanother great way to make connections for future jobs. Through Smiths PRAXIS program, every student is provided with a stipend for an internship.</p>
<p>Slipper you are dead wrong about the University of Florida. This flagship university has the state of Florida on lockdown. In addition the alumni can be found in very large numbers in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Atlanta, New Orleans, DC, and all over the South East portion of the United States. They also have numerous alumni abroad, and every UF alumni I have met has gone out of their way to take care of their graduates. They are also in the Top-10 for public universities in their giving rate (17% overall) and they have almost raised a billion in their newest capital campaign.</p>
<p>slipper,
Dartmouth is a pretty neat place and has a supportive alumni base, but I think that you either lack understanding of or appreciation for the many colleges elsewhere that also have excellent recruiting networks. </p>
<p>If one wants to get a job on Wall Street or with one of the Boston consulting firms, this is Dartmouth’s milieu and Dartmouth is among the very best. But its breadth and depth is far less across the American economy than what you find at many colleges in other parts of the USA. Ssobrick’s point is right on target as top local/regional publics/privates will almost always provide a recruiting advantage in its home markets over all but HYPSM. U Florida has got a ton of pull in Florida and its influence there would dwarf that of Dartmouth and many other, highly ranked privates and publics.</p>