Love-hate relationship with my UG, which was small. (Though in many good ways, it sharpened my thinking.) Loved my grad school, which was big. For the person I am today, should have gone big for UG, but that’s not who I was, then. Still close enough to friends from both.
We do give to where my kids went. Very grateful for the financial support and how well educated they turned out (and that D2 did graduate.)
Wow… you expect Michigan to give your kids a break when you live OOS? The mission of a state university is first to educate the students of that state. It seems petty to me to start to hate them because they do what every other state university in the country does (charge high tuition to OOS students). And their OOS tuition is still cheaper than a lot of comparable private colleges.
Michigan’s OOS tuition and Fees is $43,476 for lower division and $46,528 for higher (Junior/senior) division. I wouldn’t compare that to most public universities. I don’t have an issue with Michigan charging OOS whatever it can get, but then again, I’m not an OOS Alumnus.
I absolutely loved my alma mater- the friends and activities, as well as the education. My friends are the best a woman could hope for. My daughter is thrilled with her college expereience, and we all wear her shirts now. Next year, my son will likely choose my alma mater, so I will get the garb again.
@Bigmacattack Not sure what you expected out of UM but OOS tuition has always been high. When I was there in the dark ages, IS was $2400 and OOS was $12,000. It was very common knowledge that UM was expensive for non-residents. I’m happy to pay the OOS tuition there for my kids. And the flag still flies proudly at my house.
My alma mater, Indiana, also charges a lot more for OOS than other midwestern state flagships (although, wow, didn’t realize U Mich was that much!)
But it doesn’t bother me, because
They have improved their need based aid for OOS students, too. And if you want to look at pubic universities, they are not much different from comparable public universities (Berkeley is more expensive, UVA only slightly lower).
I attended the University of Florida, and choose the school because it was the best school that my parents could afford. The first inkling that alumni thought it was a special place was on move-in day at Fletcher Hall when an older gentleman and his wife knocked on my door. He explained that he was dropping off his freshman daughter, and wanted to see his old dorm room. I let him in, and he remarked it hadn’t changed in 25 years. As he was looking around the room, he muttered “I wonder…”, and walked over one of the two ancient desks. Pulling out a drawer, he excitedly pointed out his signature on the back of the cabinet which he signed when he was a freshman.
In a couple of years, I will be the older gentleman taking my kids to move-in day at some college. Since we are OOS, I doubt they will end up at UF, but I hope that whatever college they choose will make them as fond of their alma mater as I am about mine.
War Eagle! I loved my time as an UG at Auburn! I met my hubby there and got a degree from the highly ranked College of Architecture, Design, and Construction - one of the toughest majors around. Have a short list of ego maniacal professors I’d like to strangle, but otherwise awesome!
I really enjoyed my time at Williams, got a great education, met some really interesting people and friends. I didn’t major in art history while there but took enough classes that I was able to get a full tuition fellowship for a masters in art history elsewhere. I am pretty convinced that happened because of Williams reputation in the field. I have also been hired for at least two jobs due in part to Williams being on my resume (interviewers commented on that). It’s always fun to talk to other alums who turn up around the world (and typically if someone has on Williams gear they have some real connection). I have donated relatively modest amounts pretty much every year and continue to do so. I will admit however that my D’s rejection by Williams in 2013 took some of the luster off my feelings for the college. I know it’s not rational but that’s how I feel.
I empathize with @Bigmacattack OOS Michigan alum from NY. Can’t afford to send my kids there now either. But I love my alma mater so much that I was willing to send my son to arch rival Ohio State at an affordable cost–because I wanted him to experience a lot of what I had experienced —going to a OOS flagship with vast resources, excellent academic and recreational facilities, with Big 10 rah-rah school spirit/sports, greek life, and strong academics and fun social life. This way, i could live vicariously through him! Who would ever have thought?! What’s that saying, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery (of alma mater)?! Go Blue! And now, also, Go Bucks!
Yes I love my college. (Texas A&M University) But, I wish they still asked whether you are a legacy on their enrollment as they talk a lot about their alumni but then it is not as big a deal as it used to be. Secretary Gates did away with that as a consideration.
Another UofM grad here. As the years go by I have grown more and more detached. Had a great time there…maybe too great! We’ll be throwing an app their way next year, so we’ll see if things change.
And, UofM, quit asking for $$ please.
Love, love, love! Hook em’ horns! Although my college friends are appalled that my daughter may go to Alabama. I’ll still bleed burnt orange.
Never claimed that UofM should give my OOS kids a break, I just expressed how shocked I was to learn how much they charge OOS students compared to what I paid 30 years ago. This sticker shock may be an experience many have had when they started looking at schools for their high school kids.
And in my view, with an OOS COA of $57,000, Michigan is in private school territory, and the undergrad experience is not comparable to a smaller private university by any means. Too much “reputation” is based on metrics not relevant to undergrad learning.
Michigan likely has a better reputation outside of the Upper Midwest (you do the defining- I’m not mentioning any schools on purpose). The nearby states don’t see it as much better than the local flagships, certainly not worth OOS tuition when we benefit from our own top notch flagships. There is a lot more to a school than its sports.
I love my undergrad alma mater (Northwestern) but, ironically, didn’t have a particularly great experience there. Part of that was my own fault (personal maturity + struggled academically), but part was due to the consistently poor quality of teaching in my major (Computer Science). I think the school of engineering has become a lot better since I left (25 years ago). Anyway, I’ve been a consistent donor for the past 20 years, NU sticker on my car, living and dying with each football & basketball game, etc. Go Cats!
That said…D1 is a HS Senior, NU is her #1 choice, and we’re waiting to hear back from Admissions right now. If she gets rejected, I fear my attitude toward NU is in for an abrupt change. It’s not fair, I know.
As for my graduate alma mater (Notre Dame), I’m kind of meh even though I had a fabulous experience there. Part of it is ND’s strong Catholic identity (I’m Protestant) and part of it is that I didn’t have the on-campus experience that really binds you emotionally to a school.
I live in the NE and have never seen anyone in a Harvard t-shirt. I do see the occasional bumper sticker. I haven’t worn a Harvard t-shirt in decades. It’s not a secret where I went, but I never mention it in real life unless asked. Generally where I studied architecture is more relevant any way. I’ve been impressed with my friend who went to Sarah Lawrence. She is still best buds with a bunch of them and they all go to each other’s poetry readings and art shows.
I’ve got mixed feelings about Harvard. I had some miserable times there, and some enjoyable times. I actually had a great major - very small, I knew all my professors well. I’m facebook friends with one of my drawing teachers.