I have a kind of stupid question regarding college in general:

[SmileyBoy]

This upcoming year will be my 5th year in college, the 3rd year at a university (the first 2 were at a technical college). I have decided to change up my major a little bit, from architecture (which is a degree given at my current university) to graphic communications, in which the degree is offered at a mid-size public university in a neighbouring town across the river. The good part is that for the next two years, because of a program that exists at those universities, I can take classes at both universities, the one I'm currently going to, and the one I will eventually get my degree in, and I can stay living on campus at my current university. I will then only have to spend one year at the other university in which I will have to take all my classes there.

Now here's the problem: I have lots of respect and immense school pride for my current university (which is North Dakota State), and I really don't like the university which I have decided to eventually get my degree from (Minnesota State-Moorhead). I personally think Moorhead is basically a joke of a school, and while the specific program there seems very good and of high quality, and I have decided I want to get a degree from there, I might feel ashamed of graduating from a school that I think is a joke. I love NDSU, and I originally wished to get my degree from there, and while it seems I will have spent at least four years there, I won't be a graduate of that school that I love.

Now here's my question: Once I graduate from MSU-Moorhead, can I still consider myself an alumnus of North Dakota State?? Even though I will have graduated from MSU-Moorhead, I will not feel any kindship or ties (other than pure educational) to that university. But on the other side, I'll still be a HUGE fan of NDSU sports, and I might donate lots of money to NDSU, and all that. I'm just afraid that I'll be considered a so-called "phony alumnus" if I tell people I'm an alumnus of NDSU, even though I graduated from MSU-M.

In other words, can I be considered an alumnus of a college if I didn't graduate from there, but yet I spent a majority of my time there??

Do you understand what I mean??

Input is appreciated.

[gmoney]

1. First time I've heard of someone not wanting more head...

I actually act as an alumus of the school where I spent my first two undergrad years, and sort of disown the big state school where my degree is from.

[SmileyBoy]

2. OK, so it's not so crazy to do that??

That's good to know.

[gmoney]

9. well, I don't put it on job applications or anything...

although it's been years and years since I applied for a job...

[unsavedtrash]

3. Isn't there a program that will let you go to the other for a year but

still graduate from your university? Kind of like an exchange program?

[SmileyBoy]

4. No. I have to get the graphics comm. degree from MSU-M.

I'm also gonna take as many classes as possible at NDSU that will count towards my graphics comm. degree at MSU-M.

[clydefrand]

5. Take a look at this definition of alumnus and see if you can make

it work.
dictionary.com says:
n. pl. a·lum·ni (-n)
A male graduate or former student of a school, college, or university

Former student sounds like you fit the bill. So be an alumnus of both places.

[SmileyBoy]

7. Thanks. That's good to know.

:)

[OldLeftieLawyer]

10. Please

dictionary.com is only half right.

With that kind of sloppy and inaccurate "definition," any drop-out could claim to be an alumnus.

See how many alumni newsletters a drop-out gets.

[greatauntoftriplets]

12. Or fund-raising requests?

I only get them from the university that I graduated from, not the one I attended for the first two years.

[SmileyBoy]

14. I won't give one penny of my money to MSU-Moorhead.

But I might be inclined to give money to NDSU.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

15. Exactly

I went to three law schools, but I'm only on the fund-raising list of the one from which I graduated.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

6. You're an alum of the school...........

...from which you receive your degree.

Sorry, but Latin has strict rules.

You're not graduating from North Dakota State. Therefore, you're not an alumnus. Not ever. You'll be an MSU-Moorhead alumnus.

This sounds so funny. Ah, to have such worries .................

[SmileyBoy]

8. Look at post #5.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

11. I did

It's wrong. Absolutely wrong.

[SmileyBoy]

13. I'm still gonna call myself an alumnus of NDSU anyway.

:P

[OldLeftieLawyer]

16. Why?

You'd misrepresent yourself just because ........... why?

[steely]

17. it's a school spirit thing -

chuck the rules - go with what you want - screw the others.
if your friends and heart and memories are/were with one over the other, it doesn't matter one iota. years later, you'll tell your friends and maybe brag a little, but there are no alum police out there, so you have every right to claim one more than the other.

I got my undergrad degree at one place, and did graduate work at the another - so my sit. is different. I had tons of fun, even as a non-tradish student (older), but I found the administration pretty rigid and condescending at the one loc. - so guess where my donations go.

It's not like you're lying about your degree or doing anything fraudulent. many a student changed his/her mind, and took a tailored road.

[Left Is Write]

18. My mother went to Moorhead.

But that was 45 years ago.

My husband is considered an alumnus of St. Olaf, though that is not where his degree is from. They send him alumni stuff all the time.

[Floogeldy]

19. This isn't really a "college" question.

This is a question about self-perception and anxiety about how others might perceive you, based upon from where your degree comes.

B-)

[Orangepeel]

20. well, since you asked for opinions...

It would be unethical to imply that you are a graduate of a different university in any kind of official situation (like on a resume).

In social situations, if you tell people that you are an alum of NDSU and then they find out later that you graduated from a different university, I think that they are going to think you are odd (best case scenario) or a liar (worst case scenario).

If it means a lot to you, I'd suggest you say something like, "I attended NDSU for several years and then I finished up at Moorhead."