Anonymous wrote:I went to an LAC and have attended most of mine. Friends who went to bigger schools are surprised that so many of us attend and that it’s a big deal. Your experiences? I have to admit that my positive experience at my college has made me prioritize college-fit for my kid.

If your graduating class had only 800 students, you likely knew most of them. If your graduating class had 6-8K+ students, you likely didn't. Neither is right or wrong

I went to a big state school. The school doesn't have specific alumni reunions but the Spring "open house" event is attended by alumni and over the years I've gone back several times for reunions with people from the music program that I was really involved with.

DD, however, goes to LAC and I see they do a big, well attended alumni weekend every year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For big football schools, homecoming during football season is a bigger thing. For other schools, homecoming is often trivial and spring reunion (or "reunions" as they say at Princeton for some reason) is more meaningful.

I have realized that saying "I'm going to reunion" is a kind of code for "I went to an elite, non-football school." Colleagues who did not go to top tier schools have no idea what I am talking about. It is IYKYK.

Oh give it a rest. It's not code for going to an "elite" school. It's code for going to a non football school. My college always has well attended reunions and it ain't elite. You need to get over yourself.

There are a lot of very average schools out there where football is not big and they don't have reunions or reunions are not a big deal.

DCUM is so focused on a tiny subset of the schools in America.

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never been to one and have no desire. (UVA)

My BIL goes to every UVA reunion, and has informal mini ones with his college friends every summer. He was in the honors program. Maybe that creates the sense of a smaller school within the big school that results in LAC-style alumni attendance?

Anonymous wrote:For big football schools, homecoming during football season is a bigger thing. For other schools, homecoming is often trivial and spring reunion (or "reunions" as they say at Princeton for some reason) is more meaningful.

I have realized that saying "I'm going to reunion" is a kind of code for "I went to an elite, non-football school." Colleagues who did not go to top tier schools have no idea what I am talking about. It is IYKYK.

Oh give it a rest. It's not code for going to an "elite" school. It's code for going to a non football school. My college always has well attended reunions and it ain't elite. You need to get over yourself.

I went to Duke and reunion is a big deal. But we also have lots of mini-reunions at basketball games. The final four (when we make it) serves as a big reunion but obviously one cannot count on that and it is very last second.

Duke purposely plays a game at MSG in NYC every year which becomes a big reunion for NY-area alums as well as many others who come to town. This year they are doing a similar game in DC, where there are also tons of alums.

For big football schools, homecoming during football season is a bigger thing. For other schools, homecoming is often trivial and spring reunion (or "reunions" as they say at Princeton for some reason) is more meaningful.

I have realized that saying "I'm going to reunion" is a kind of code for "I went to an elite, non-football school." Colleagues who did not go to top tier schools have no idea what I am talking about. It is IYKYK.

Anonymous wrote:My SLAC kid went/goes. My big school kids don't. Doesn't mean they didn't like college. They have more opportunities to visit the campus and also get together locally than the SLAC nerds do because of big sports. Local bars, for example, will be a "Michigan" bar on college game day etc.

That’s an interesting point. I lived with some Michigan alums and game days really were like mini-reunions for them.

SLAC grad. I have loved the reunions I’ve been to. Absolutely loved.

My SLAC kid went/goes. My big school kids don't. Doesn't mean they didn't like college. They have more opportunities to visit the campus and also get together locally than the SLAC nerds do because of big sports. Local bars, for example, will be a "Michigan" bar on college game day etc.

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the school. Big football schools tend to have reunions at football games, so they are extremely well attended. Places like Notre Dame say every football weekend is Alumni Weekend.

Yes. I’ve never been to an official reunion but we organize and meet friends at a football game one a year (UVA).

I’ve never been to one and have no desire. (UVA)

I'm a SLAC grad, and reunions are a big deal and well-attended despite the school's remote location and lack of ample comfortable lodging nearby.

Depends on the school. Big football schools tend to have reunions at football games, so they are extremely well attended. Places like Notre Dame say every football weekend is Alumni Weekend.

I went to an LAC and have attended most of mine. Friends who went to bigger schools are surprised that so many of us attend and that it’s a big deal. Your experiences? I have to admit that my positive experience at my college has made me prioritize college-fit for my kid.