<p>In one case, I was chosen by a Harvard alum over a recent Harvard College grad. All I know about my former competitor is that he attended Harvard College. I have no clue if he was equally or better-qualified than me. Perhaps he wasn't as charming and handsome as yours truly? :D
However, I do agree with you that my particular situation may have been somewhat anomalous. To what extent I don't know.</p>
<p>Nightingale,</p>
<p>People who attended the Ivies and the top 10 liberal arts colleges have generally heard of Williams. Once you slide a touch (and I mean a touch) below these tiers, Williams is virtually unknown. Ask folks who attended Georgetown, Bucknell, WashU, Lafayette etc. if they've ever heard of Williams and you'll probably get blank stares. In fact, my neighbor who attended Vassar recently asked where I "went for undergrad." Upon hearing my response, she responded with a quizzical, "Hmmmppphh...I'm not familiar with that one. Is it in [X]?" :where X=the state where I grew up</p>
<p>To be fair, our common alma mater is a very fine boutique product. Emphasis on "fine" and also on "boutique". There must be 3,000 wonderful, exotic boutique stores in New York City, many of them serving up very fine products. But, unless you specialize in boutique purchases, it is not likely you'd be able to name more than a handful, if that.</p>
<p>Williams alums are indeed very faithful. We believe we received a fine education. But there just aren't very many of us.</p>
<p>My son at Swarthmore has gotten externships through his alumni networks and so far his summer internship search has been helped I think with contact from alumni. Swarthmore does not have too many alumni, since it is a small school, but the alumni are loyal.</p>
<p>My best friend got her foot in the broadcast journalism door seven years ago, straight out of college, because of the connections of her college newspaper. She's now risen through five ranks at that first employer. These things can matter.</p>
<p>I can't say too much from personal experience, because in my field it's impossible to tangle out undergrad alumni connections from law school alumni connections, which generally matter more. I do know that I got one interview -- for a desirable and competitive position -- because the employer noticed that he and I shared the same undergraduate honor at my alma mater. But after that, it's mostly been about law school.</p>
<p>
[quote]
originaloog writes: I know that in the College of Engineering Career Center, it was not uncommon for recruiting interviewers to be OSU alums.
[/quote]
That's mostly by intent, not by chance. When larger companies are sending staffers to recruit at colleges, they look for people who attended that school. The thinking is this will help to build rapport with the students, and also that someone who attended the school knows the ropes and can better evaluate the courses chosen by the candidates.</p>
<p>Nightingale, Michigan and UVa have alumni networks that rival those of the Ivies, both in terms of influence and in terms of loyalty. I am sure other state universities, like UCLA, UNC, William and Mary, Texas-Austin, Wisconsin-Madison etc... have very active alumni networks too. Not all state universities are built alike.</p>
<p>i go to a large state school and have found that the alumni networks of smaller groups i'm in (e.g. my sorority; my business school honors program) have been extremely helpful in making connections.</p>
<p>Post #47 on this thread points out that many public universities have strong alumni network. Many of those mentioned are just as or more selective, then some of the top tier private institutions. Don't get me wrong, if I lived in a state with public colleges of that caliber I would feel fortunate. Regrettably in my state the public system is strapped financially and populated, to some extent, with under achievers who eventually drop out or get too distracted by the party scene to succeed. Other kids are there because it is the only affordable four year alternative.. or two year if they transferred in from a CC. Many of these kids don't make it because they just can't swing school and the job needed to help pay for school. Others decide going into debt for 20 or 30k just isn't worth the cost of admission to begin with. It seems an alumni network and the advantages associated therewith are the domain of the most selective public and private institutions in the country. As such, unless a kid is wealthy, brilliant and/or underprivileged or perhaps a URM, it's off to local state sponsored (often underfunded) diploma mill. So yes alumni connections should be considered if your S or D is going to one of the best public or privates. Otherwise, don't count on much help. I'll do my best to pony up the money if my S or D is lucky enough to be accepted into a great school. It seems the advantage of the alumni networks associated with those colleges should be factored into the overall cost.</p>
<p>My relatively small dept produces an annual directory and has a system tracking deals where both ends involve alums. Typically a small portion of the deal commision goes to the alumni association. They also produce a reunion and conference every two years that attracts about half of the alums. It is quite elaborate. My first two jobs came through alums.</p>
<p>I agree with Northstarmom. My alumni networks never helped a bit. When I was young, being from UMass did not help much in the Boston area (may be different now that there is a Boston campus), but graduating from the large private schools did. Boston College, Boston University, and Northeastern,would all have been better for me than going away to U Chicago. Tufts and Brandeis would probably have helped as well.</p>
<p>Nightingale: Your comments about Williams gave me a smile. I'm a Notre Dame alum and at an alumni event a few years back one alum was telling me how disappointed he was when his son chose to go to Williams over ND. I replied: "What, are you kidding? Williams is one of the best small colleges in the country..." After I got done singing the praises of Williams, he looked at me like I was crazy. His wife, however, gave me a knowing smile. She later told me how much she appreciated that I spoke so highly of Williams and did so so enthusiastically in front of her husband. It is all a matter of perspective.</p>
<p>Back to the subject at hand. I am very active in a Notre Dame alumni networking group in Chicago and we have many success stories of people helping with business and job contacts. I frequently get calls for help and gladly do what I can. I always have a handful of resumes of new or recent ND grads sitting on my desk that I refer to potential employers. Although I have generated personal business through those alumni contacts, what I value more is the help for my charity and volunteer work as others have mentioned. For this, the network has been extremely valuable in getting assistance, advice, contributions, etc. </p>
<p>Finally, I agree that you only get out what you put into your alumni network. Having the common ground of the same university degree may well warm up a relationship that otherwise would be just a cold call.</p>