Thread: Certificate or graduate certificate? Can you call yourself an Alumni of that school?

Hi DegreeInfo! This is my first thread on here, just want to say Hi and thanks for having me. Well I am almost done with my BSBA at TESC (I have 130 credits just saving a little for that hefty enrollment fee so I can submit my transcripts). I am eying on a graduate certificate (that can be done online) at a college/university in Florida. I am also thinking of a masters degree in the future, but want to complete a certificate/graduate certificate first.

My question is, can one say, "Hey I graduated from University of Florida ", when they really only graduated with a certificate?

Oh! I'm also not the type that will be all hyped about a graduate certificate, like going out my way and yelling... "WOOT I AM A UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI GRADUATE, LOOK E HERE"... lol just trying to add small pieces to the resume, that is all.

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Of course, a person can say anything they want, who's to stop them? In my opinion, you couldn't accurately say that you graduated or that you are an alumni of UoF, but you could certainly say that you hold a certificate from that school. After I finish my current program, I am seriously considering earning the web design cert from Harvard Extension, I can't imagine myself going around and saying that I am a Harvard alumni. But it will still look really cool on my vita or resume and I will gladly tell people that I have a cert from Harvard.

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How about the old standard, "I attended (fill in the name of the school).

Originally Posted by SurfDoctor

Of course, a person can say anything they want, who's to stop them? In my opinion, you couldn't accurately say that you graduated or that you are an alumni of UoF, but you could certainly say that you hold a certificate from that school. After I finish my current program, I am seriously considering earning the web design cert from Harvard Extension, I can't imagine myself going around and saying that I am a Harvard alumni. But it will still look really cool on my vita or resume and I will gladly tell people that I have a cert from Harvard.

To play devils advocate, it is a "graduate" certificate. Technically it would not be wrong to state that you graduated from there. Alumni is a different story.

Originally Posted by soupbone

To play devils advocate, it is a "graduate" certificate. Technically it would not be wrong to state that you graduated from there. Alumni is a different story.

Playing devil's advocate to your devil's advocate. It is a "graduate" school cert, it doesn't mean you "graduated" from the school.

Originally Posted by SurfDoctor

Playing devil's advocate to your devil's advocate. It is a "graduate" school cert, it doesn't mean you "graduated" from the school.

I knew that would be your retort! In other words, I knew my argument was weak.

Originally Posted by SurfDoctor

Of course, a person can say anything they want, who's to stop them? In my opinion, you couldn't accurately say that you graduated or that you are an alumni of UoF, but you could certainly say that you hold a certificate from that school. After I finish my current program, I am seriously considering earning the web design cert from Harvard Extension, I can't imagine myself going around and saying that I am a Harvard alumni. But it will still look really cool on my vita or resume and I will gladly tell people that I have a cert from Harvard.

I think the rule of thumb should be whether your school grants alumni privileges to those who earn a graduate certificate.

Harvard Extension specifically says that certificates differ from degree programs in that "ID cards and financial aid are not available, and there is no graduation or alumni status." Online Certificates | Professional Certificates on Campus at Harvard

Stanford has the same policy, at least for certificates earned through SCPD. Course and Program Comparison Chart | Stanford Center for Professional Development

Originally Posted by soupbone

I knew that would be your retort! In other words, I knew my argument was weak.

LOL. I think we are both just yanking the other's chain.

Originally Posted by Balios

I think the rule of thumb should be whether your school grants alumni privileges to those who earn a graduate certificate.

Harvard Extension specifically says that certificates differ from degree programs in that "ID cards and financial aid are not available, and there is no graduation or alumni status." Online Certificates | Professional Certificates on Campus at Harvard

Stanford has the same policy, at least for certificates earned through SCPD. Course and Program Comparison Chart | Stanford Center for Professional Development

Never checked into it before, but that's exactly what I would expect.

East Carolina calls me to ask for donations more often than any of the schools I hold degrees from. At least in their eyes, earning a graduate certificate makes you an alumnus. Don't really know if I consider myself an alumnus or not (never really thought about it), but I've been to more ECU athletic events than UW ones.

--Fortunato

Originally Posted by SurfDoctor

Playing devil's advocate to your devil's advocate. It is a "graduate" school cert, it doesn't mean you "graduated" from the school.

I graduated from UF but I am not an alumni (no alumni ID or anything)...kind of odd. I have a graduate certificate so how did I not graduate from there?

Originally Posted by Randell1234

I graduated from UF but I am not an alumni (no alumni ID or anything)...kind of odd. I have a graduate certificate so how did I not graduate from there?

I think they want to encourage students to earn degree and not just a credential.
How can they motivate a person to stay and complete the Masters degree?
Some of the privileges can be Alumni association.

So I agree with suggestion that if you can become a member in Alumni association then you are an Alumni.
There are different rules in each school.

Originally Posted by Lerner

I think they want to encourage students to earn degree and not just a credential.
How can they motivate a person to stay and complete the Masters degree?
Some of the privileges can be Alumni association.

So I agree with suggestion that if you can become a member in Alumni association then you are an Alumni.
There are different rules in each school.

The program I finished was just a certificate program at the time. The later made it a degree program and I enrolled but quickly dropped for a few reasons - change in format and doubled the price.

Caveat: I've never attempted or completed a graduate certificate.

That being said, I personally wouldn't say that I "graduated" from any school unless I was invited to walk at graduation to receive my certificate on the graduation stage.

Key word is "invited". I only walked to receive 2 of my 4 degrees just to satisfy family members. I attended my B.A. commencement because my father wanted to see it (I was the first and only so far to graduate college) and I walked for my MSPP degree because my children wanted to see it.

Wouldn't it be better said that you completed the graduate certificate instead of graduating from the school since the name graduate certificate only applies to the level of study?

Originally Posted by RBTullo

Wouldn't it be better said that you completed the graduate certificate instead of graduating from the school since the name graduate certificate only applies to the level of study?

I could not imagine someone getting so caught up in the way you phrase it (except people on this board).