Keeping in Touch with UR Friends
“With social media and group chats, it is pretty easy to stay close with your friends. But you do still have to make an effort to stay in touch. Find out who else is in your city and get together with them once a month. And for people who are far away, have a yearly get-together (maybe at Mel Weekend).” –Matthew H. ’15
“If you know most of your friends are concentrated in/near one area, always plan meet-ups once a year.” –Rory-Stefan A. ’15
“Group chats! It’s the easiest way for friends to vent and get support or share success and receive praise.” –Anansa B. ’15
“I think I’m the only UR student from my year (2015) who lives in Idaho. I Skype everyone and talk on the phone with those I care about the most.” –Douglas B. ’15
“I live in the same area and I try to connect at least once a week or every two weeks for lunch or just having a good time.” –Kendra H. ’14
“Snapchat is always a good option. Even if you don’t have time to catch up all the time, it is very easy to send a picture and a quick quote to let others know what you’re up to. Often, friends will snap back with what they’re up to!” –Morgan P. ’15
“Social media is a great way to keep in touch with people you don’t get to see super often.” –Nahoma P. ’15
“We have a google chat and a Facebook group with all my best friends from the UR and we still keep in touch quite a lot. I also try to visit the US once a year to catch up, see them, and have a good time!” –Ioannis Z. ’14
“It is important to have the expectation that while you will likely be talking to your UR peers less frequently, they still care a lot about you. Everyone will be busy and have different schedules (or time zones) for that matter. Scheduling a time for a phone conversation or Skype session has proved effective for a meaningful conversation in addition to text message threads.” –Ryan W. ’15
“Facebook and alumni happy hours.” –Lauren K. ’15
“Facebook and Snapchat are great for keeping in contact. Not a day goes by where I don’t get a Snapchat or someone doesn’t post in our group message.” –Patricia C. ’15
“Decide whether you’re going to reach out to friends weekly or monthly or what, and then do it. I’m a routine person, so I set up weekly Skype dates with friends who are no longer close by.” –Emma A. ’15
“Facebook, Facebook, Facebook. Also, texting. Nobody else I know lives in Central PA.” –Hannah V. ’15
“Social media; hopping on a place; phone calls during commutes.” –Deborah P. ’09
“Now that we’re all in the working world, many of us stay connected over G-chat all day long while we’re in the office. It’s also been fun to travel the country to vacation in the various cities where your college BFFs now live! I’ve taken vacations to NYC, Richmond, and San Diego to visit friends from UR.” –Emily H. ’12
“Signing up for the alumni and young alumni lists may seem cheesy, but take advantage of it! The events are well put-together and attended, and I got a chance to see many classmates I had not seen since they graduated! Don’t be afraid to travel as often as you can. A full time paycheck can sustain you relatively easily. Once you’ve saved an emergency fund, blow it all on travel. Please note, I am not qualified to give financial advice.” –Vincent D. ’13
“Facebook, LinkedIn, and traveling! Travel with your Rochester friends!” –Kwame B. ’17
“Social media, Google groups, e-mail threads, and making time to see UR friends in your area. Once you get to the point in your life when you have high school, college, graduate school, and post-graduate school friends, it’s hard to make time for everyone, especially if you’re also married or in a committed relationship. If you make a conscious effort to keep the U of R people around, they’ll be around forever.” –Anonymous
“Group chats with mutual friends. Don’t wait to keep up with them, start in the summer. “Hey, how did moving out of Rochester go? What are you doing this summer?” Keeping up from now will make it less awkward later.” –Evelyn G. ’18
“Social media, scheduled phone dates, and coming back for Mel Weekend! Living in Rochester means you can offer your apartment as a spot to crash for out of towner friends for Mel Weekend.” –Emma R. ’12
“Meliora Weekend has been a great way to keep in touch with UR friends. I’ve also gone on trips to meet up with friends, which is great because it gives you a chance to check out a new city while catching up with friends.” –Katlyn M. ’10
“If you’re smart, you’ll email Gwen Greene for a 15 minute in-person chat. Just talking to her will make you even smarter.” –Armando R. ’12
“INNNTEERRNET. Is that horribly millennial of me? And just keeping up traditions and making it a priority to meet up even if we are spread across the globe!” –Elizabeth H. ’13
“We keep in touch via Facebook and Facetime. Specifically, we plan to meet once a year.” –Christine P. ’11
“Signing up for the alumni and young alumni lists may seem cheesy, but take advantage of it! The events are well put-together and attended, and I got a chance to see many classmates I had not seen since they graduated! Don’t be afraid to travel as often as you can. A full time paycheck can sustain you relatively easily. Once you’ve saved an emergency fund, blow it all on travel. Please note, I am not qualified to give financial advice.” –Vincent D. ’13
“Meliora Weekend is when all of my UR friends get together and connect. Most of them make it a point to reserve that weekend and travel back to the Roc.” –Sarah W. ’13
“I’m discovering new things in Rochester all the time! For being a small city, it still has a lot to offer.” –Sarah W. ’13
“Join the alumni group! It’s fun to see everyone at get-togethers. Also, if you’re in Greek life in college, join your alumni chapter where you settle down. You’ll make instant friends, and no doubt find some UR people, too.”–Ashley C. ’09
“Unfortunately my close friends are in San Diego and San Francisco, so we just choose a city and meet up there at least once a year.” –Amelia S. ’11
“I try to connect with people any way I can, whether it’s phone calls, Skype sessions, text messages, Google chats, or Facebook. Find whatever works for you and your friends, like having a weekly Skype date or emailing each other with life updates. You’ll find that it’ll be hard to stay in touch with some people and it may be surprising whom you stay friends with.” –Mary Abbe R. ’13
“In NYC, a Rochester friend is just a subway ride away. We have regional events which I always attend, from happy hours to performances.” –Emily H. ’12
“Having an email chain with friends and organizing trips to a specific city every few months.” –Rachel T. ’10
“Write letters, send holiday cards, visit when you can, text, video chat, and actually pick up the telephone and talk to your friends! I don’t know why our generation is scared of hearing voices over a telephone…” –Dan G. ’14
“My senior year roommates and I maintain a private email chain. Although we are all working or in graduate school in four different cities, we have also made time for in-person reunions once a year.” –Caitlin C. ’11
“It’s hard to Skype and talk on the phone with the time difference, so we iMessage and Facebook chat to stay in touch and keep each other updated.” –Miriam F. ’13
“This is always hard. Honestly, Meliora Weekend has been the best way to reconnect. I do a lot of Gchat.” –Lauren R. ’10
“I love using Skype, but just make sure you’re making an effort to get used to your new life as well. Real letters are great too because they don’t demand an immediate response and they’re more personal. The relationships that are meant to last will last.” –Melissa G. ’13
“Facebook, weddings, and cheap weekend flights.” –Anonymous
“All forms of social media, combined with a constant group text. I’m lucky in that I have quite a few U of R friends with me in D.C. and we’ve actually started a group of 2012 unofficial alumni brunches. Also I highly suggest traveling, it’s fun to see where your friends live, try a new city, and have gatherings. I see my closest group of friends in a meet-up every three months or so.” –Anonymous
“All of the wonderful and silly tools we have today: Facebook, text, email, Snapchat, LinkedIn, etc.” –Brad O. ’10
“Invite them to stay with you! Don’t just talk the talk about getting together sometime, make it happen. Everybody has a floor their best friends can crash on, and for once you’ll feel like an expert tour guide in your new city rather than a visitor.” –Sam B. ’14
“I try to text my friends from UR every month or two to see how they’re doing. If I’m going to be in their city, I make plans to see them.” –Patrick M. ’13
“Try and make weekend trips to visit your friends who end up in different cities – it’s a great way to stay in touch as well as explore new places.” –Matt B. ’14
“Attend local alumni events, always go to Mel Weekend, and just maintain friendships from UR.” –Nikolaos D. ’09
“Visit them. Don’t rely on school- sponsored alumni activities to see them. Form a fantasy football league.” –Ross B. ’09
We have a monthly UR in D.C. brunch that we’ve set up which has actually helped me make more friends I didn’t even know during my time at UR. Friends outside the D.C. area I try to connect with through the phone or Skype.” –Anonymous
“Bug them with annoying voicemails and Facebook message chains. We’re all busy and sometimes we just need to be reminded that other people are out there. We also try to do some kind of group trip once a year.” –Emily W. ’10
“Social networking is an option. But call your friends from time to time. Actually hear their voice and see how they are doing. We project our ideal selves on social media. However, you get a sense of how your friends are actually doing if you call them. Postgraduate life can be difficult at times, especially if you have moved to a new area. That phone call may be what you or your friend needed to get through a tough day.” –Janise C. ’13
“Social media makes it hard to not stay close these days. The ball is always in your court. Just reach out and talk with your classmates here and there; you both will appreciate it. Also, make some in person visits when you can. ” –Allan H. ’18
“Most of my friends moved to NYC and I talked to them regularly and have visited a few times. They have visited me as well. ” –Eileen R. ’18
“Making an effort to text/call/FaceTime once in a while just to see how they are doing and planning visits once every 6 months. ” –Daniela B. ’18
“Find reasons to visit them or have them visit you! Especially for business travel, often times this aligns well with visiting at least one friend. In the meantime, keep in touch periodically as you would anyways. Doesn’t mean you have to be in constant contact, but at least touching base once a month or two is cool at the very least. ” –Joshua P. ’18
“Use the internet—my friends and I send around update emails every once in a while to keep each other informed. Your friend groups definitely change after college, but I think maintaining these relationships is super important. No one knows you quite like your freshman year crew.” –Leah O. ’09
“I usually keep in touch with my UR friends through Facebook. If someone is visiting NYC, we’ll usually connect and try to catch up. I have a lot of friends from UR who live in NYC now and we like to meet up at the young alumni happy hours.” –Andrea M. ’12
“Besides the obvious texting and social media (my favorite is Snapchat), I would recommend people write letters to each other. It’s always exciting to receive snail mail from a friend!” –Katherine V. ’15
“I tend to randomly run into people on the streets a lot. But if you know someone from UR lives nearby, just text or Facebook message them and ask to catch up, especially if you don’t have a lot of friends in the area. Maybe you guys weren’t best friends in college, but you could become so with proximity!” –Jill D. ’16
“I keep in touch closely through Facebook, and about once a month we try to do a group Skype session! Even a Snapchat once in a while helps let your friends know you’re thinking of them.” –Morgan K. ’16
“My friends and I have like five separate group chats that we use to stay in touch.” –Amanda C. ’16
“Come back to Rochester for Mel Weekend.” –Maya K. ’16
“Calling weekly. There’s no such thing as being too busy. If you want to keep in touch and never lose friendships, put time in your calendar and call the people you care about.” –Elias D. ’16
“I visit my friends in their cities, and they come to visit me too! Group chats are always a great way to stay connected, too.” –Kelsey S. ’16
“Not only do area alumni hold formal reunions, but the alumni office held an event at a Smithsonian museum which was a great way to reconnect and even meet other alumni.” –Dominick S. ’16
“I tend to randomly run into people on the streets a lot. but, if you know someone from UR lives nearby, just text or Facebook message them and ask to catch up, especially if you don’t have a lot of friends in the area. Maybe you guys weren’t best friends in college, but you could become so with proximity”–Teresa R. ’16
“Check in with them once every other month and simply ask how things are going. If you find a job before they do, offer to help them however you can. This strengthens your friendship and will pay you back in the future.”–Sailesh D. ’16
“Texts are good but long phone calls and planned reunion trips are the best. It’s also nice to send/receive a card or a care package just because. The point is, we make time for the things and people that are important to us. So, if you care, even the little things will make a big difference.”–Elizana-Marie J. ’17
“Attending alumni weekend is a blast as an alum. Snapchat, GroupMe, and Skype are also great ways to keep in touch. My teammates and I are planning a summer meet up in a new place to all of us. What better way to catch up than explore a new place together?” –Shelby C. ’17
“FaceTiming weekly; becoming pen-pals; multiway video chats.” –Jianyu T. ’18
Staying Connected with Your Alma Mater
“Yes, Rochester does exist even though you graduated. Your clubs, groups, and younger friends are all still there. If you’re able to, try and visit once a semester or once a year while you still know people here. But even if you can’t, there are a bunch of Rochester events going on in cities near you. You spent four years in a place you called your home. If you can’t visit, bring your home with you.” –Matthew H. ’15
“I tend to visit when I can because I have friends living in the area and working there so it’s always nice to stroll in once in a while.” –Rory-Stefan A. ’15
“I remain involved by staying in touch with some of my friends who are still students there, and I also try to keep in touch with the computer science community because I think the department will grow significantly in a quick span of time.” –Michaela K. ’15
“I work part-time here, which is important because of future possible opportunities.” –Isabella T.V. ’14
“I keep in contact with the leadership for the student organizations that I was a part of. I’ve also attended the larger events these student organizations have held. I also keep in contact with faculty and staff that guided me throughout my 4 years. It’s important to stay involved because much of what I bring to the professional setting comes from what I learned at UR. Each sector from Rush Rhees’ B level stacks to OMSA has aided in the success I’ve had thus far. It’s cliché, but I have had life changing experiences at UR and I’ll be forever grateful for the people I met here and opportunities that were provided. I also believe it’s important to remain involved because I know that I took full advantage of my college career and I would like to pass that same spirit on to current students. I also want to ensure that UR continues to strive to be ever better and create intentional change for the betterment of all students.” –Anansa B. ’15
“I still receive notification via email, as well as updates via social media about events happening on campus that I am interested in.”–Kendra H. ’14
“I’m still at the University!” –Nahoma P. ’15
“I try to get involved and help other young alumni as much as possible as well as attend alumni meetups when possible. I believe it is a great honor and opportunity to be part of the UR family.” –Ioannis Z. ’14
“Facebook and speaking to friends that are both alumni and current students has been great for hearing about recent UR updates. UR has also reached out to me by providing news and asking about general current information. Being involved in this way is important to me as I care about UR. It’s where I got my foundation as a well-rounded, competitive applicant for jobs and professional school. Hearing about growth at UR makes me proud and by providing information to the university, administrators can make targeted change where needed to make every graduate feel as I do.” –Ryan W. ’15
“UR serves as my foundation and home especially when I feel lost. It’s nice to know that there is a network of fellow classmates and professionals who came from the same place, share similar challenges, and are willing to help one another.” –Lauren K. ’15
“I’ve done admissions interviewing and have attended various on-campus events. It is lots of fun to connect with future UR students and to remember what it was like to stand in those shoes. It’s a good reminder of how we got to where we are today.” –Emily H. ’12
“Working for the University helps. I’ve also taken up alumni advisory positions for a few groups I was involved with on campus.” –Vincent D. ’13
“After graduation from the River Campus, I immediately dived into the APNN program at the School of Nursing! In addition, I worked for Highland Hospital (and still do!)” –Julia J. ’11
“I stay involved with the University through networking events and I’ve given talks at SWE events on career advice to current and prospective engineering students.” –Katlyn M. ’10
“I try to support the departments that I was a part of, and keep up to date on alumni and learn about giving opportunities.” –Elizabeth H. ’13
“I am involved as an advisor with a sorority and certainly attend alumni events.” –Christine P. ’11
“Since I’m a graduate student at the University, I’m still very involved in the community here. However, for me it’s been important to participate in the UR community in new and different ways. My experience as a graduate student is a totally different one, instead of feeling like I’m an overgrown undergraduate.” –Sarah W. ’13
“I try to stay involved by going to alumni and other networking events. I’m going to make it a point to help out with recruiting and interviewing this year. It’s important for me to share how much the University has given me with others, especially prospective students.”–Ashley C. ’09
“I try to attend alumni events in the area when I can. I mostly stay involved by keeping in contact with my classmates and helping fellow alumni when they come in town.” –Amelia S. ’11
“Serving on a committee and staying connected with current students I mentored as an upperclassman are my two favorite ways to feel connected and involved.” –Bradley H. ’12
“Interviewing prospective students has made me realize how much of an impact UR had on my life and development as a person.” –Katie L. ’10
“Local happy hours are a lot of fun. It makes you feel like things never changed, except people actually have money to buy things now.” –Anonymous
“I could not be more pleased with my undergraduate education. Since moving to Boston, I have lived with eight different UR grads since graduating, four of which I did not know in college. UR has a great community, where people want to help other people who went there.” –Anonymous
“I help with interviewing new students for admissions at the UR, and it’s been great to deepen the connection I have to the school. It also keeps me up to date with what’s happening on campus. Seeing these students go through the admissions process makes me feel nostalgic, and it reminds me that I was lucky to have such a positive college experience that I can help inspire incoming students.” –Lauren B. ’10
“All of the events help me stay connected. Something special happens every time you get a group of Rochester students together. They may have been your best friend from college or you might have just met them, but Rochester alumni bring something different to the table.” –Emily H. ’12
“Come back for Mel Weekend!” –Patrick A. ’14
“I love meeting current students. Even though I’m just out of college, it helps keep me connected and I enjoy hearing students’ stories and giving advice.” –Anonymous
“I am an international student alumni interviewer, because I want to keep in touch with UR and help out in the admissions process. I also want to meet the prospective students and answer any questions they might have.” –Wen O. ’12
“I stay involved by being a part of Young Alumni Council and going to as many UR events around the Bay Area as I can. It’s great to see other young alumni I knew in school and also engage with older alumni who usually have interesting career and life insights.” –Joshua P. ’18
“Go to alumni events! The food is great and it’s nice to talk with a variety of people in different fields who share something in common with you: Rochester!” –Anastacia B. ’18
“I visit my girlfriend regularly. UR feels like home, so I have to visit.” –Joshua K. ’18
“Follow UR on social media to stay in the loop on big events and happenings on campus. Also, attend formal university meet-ups in your area or have dinner with reps who stop by your city. It’s pretty fun.” –Anonymous
“I donate, visit, speak with current students, and represent the brand as best I can. I am always trying to demonstrate that UR is a phenomenal institution and it really does ameliorate students. I try to be a leader in everything I do so people can see UR in a positive light.” –Nikolaos D. ’09
“Meliora Weekend is a great event that makes me nostalgic for my undergraduate career at UR. It’s always a pleasure to come back and see the school, and it’s a lot less stressful to be there without having homework! Also, I really enjoy going to events and breakfasts hosted by the UR NY Metro Women, which provide a great opportunity to meet and network with UR alumnae in NYC – it’s a slice of UR in the Big Apple!” –Alyssa E. ’11
“Pittsburgh has a surprising number of UR alumni and I see them out and about ALL of the time! I still play squash with one of them.” –Lauren R. ’10
“I always enjoy Meliora Weekend, returning to campus is magical even though it has already changed so much in my one-and-a-half years away. I also think that alumni events are great. People are in your city who you didn’t realize or maybe had seen but never met. It’s a good way to expand your UR network because what you have is a bond that only someone who celebrated D-Day and loves a good garbage plate would understand.” –Anonymous
“I read the UR update and like getting emails. If I start a job search I will get in touch with alumni. I am also part of an alumni group.” –Emily R. ’14
“I really enjoy interviewing prospective students. It allows me to reminisce about my experiences at UR and I feel like I am helping someone at the same time.” –Emily W. ’10
“The alumni regional events in D.C. have been great. You see so many people who live in your area that you may not have connected with otherwise. It’s great!” –Lauren L. ’11
“I find that providing help for current undergrads reminds me that I have a network of people who are proud of my accomplishments and look to me because they are confident in my ability to help them. This inspires and encourages me to continue giving back to my alma mater.” –Janise C. ’13
“Feeling a sense of familiarity in meeting up with fellow alumni or attending sporting events has made the transition to my postgraduate life a lot easier. Alumni are always willing to connect and offer advice, so it’s nice to have that resource.” –Andrea M. ’12
“I already had a very deep UR connection before graduating so these events have only helped me maintain my connection. I keep in touch with some of my professors, and while I haven’t been back to the campus in the last couple years, Rochester will always be home to me.” –David L. ’09
“Athletic events have deepened my connection, as I have met current student-athletes and also spoken with former coaches, trainers, etc.” –Anonymous
“Meliora Weekend most easily reminds me of why I love Rochester. It’s something in the air.” –Ross B. ’09
“Being a member of the George Eastman Circle is pretty neat, but it’s also great to be able to come back to campus and stay up-to-date with some of the groups I was highly involved in.” –Brad O. ’10
“While I am not (yet) in the financial position to join the George Eastman Circle, I have decided to donate my time and energy to UR. The most rewarding and enjoyable experiences I have had have been interviewing prospective students. It’s an amazing way to give back and build excitement for Rochester, reflect on your personal college experience, and remember how exciting that time of your life was.” –Lucas P. ’12
“Somehow, I have always found my way back into the space, whether or not it is to study, organize myself, visit prized faculty and professionals and to support underclassmen and women that I have grown close with.” –Kwame B. ’17
“Make at least one trip back to campus your first year out! You’ll still have people on campus, and they might even have extra declining (there is such thing as a free lunch).” –Michaela W. ’17
“I want to help future graduates of UR achieve more! ” –Jianyu T. ’18
“Interviewing prospective high school students for admission was really worthwhile. It helps to leave a positive impression with high school students who may not know Rochester that well, it felt good to donate time and effort to the university, and it’s fun to really pull for kids who you think would make the University great.” –Steven T. ’16
“I’m an alumni interviewer and I love it. I really love volunteering and I spend so much time between commuting, work, and classes that I didn’t have a whole lot of time to spare. Alumni interviewing takes a couple hours a week in the busy season and it seems to really help the team. Also, you are able to help find the newest generation of Rochester students, which is kind of cool! As someone who graduated last May, I don’t have any money to give to UR right now, so it’s a way of giving back that gives time rather than money (which I need to feed the student loan monster).” –Teresa R. ’16
“I offer advice to students who reach out to me personally.” –Ha L. ’16
“I became an alumni interviewer, and I loved the experience this past interview season. I absolutely loved my time at UR and it was a lot of fun to share my passion with applicants.” –Morgan K. ’16
“If there are alumni events in the city, I will try to attend them. There is a wide variety of events held in NYC.” –Ellen S. ’16
“I joined the Young Alumni Council after graduating because I wanted to stay connected with the University. In a big city like NYC, it’s always nice to see familiar faces at events!” –Samantha L. ’16
“I am currently one of the members of the Philadelphia Young Alumni Council. I work with two other alumni to plan events for young alumni in the Philadelphia area. I also conduct alumni interviews for the admissions office. These positions allow me to give back to the University and also stay connected to what is currently happening in Rochester.” –Jessica R. ’16
“I’m still here. But going forward, I plan to come back for Mel Weekend because I have good friends who will still be here. Also, I will be donating to the Newman Community directly to support programs I was involved in while here” –Matt A. ’16
“I have found being an alumni interviewer very rewarding and a great way to stay connected to the University.” –Amanda L. ’16
“Keep in touch with department faculty to come give talks. And, travel back for Mel Weekend.” –Elias D. ’16
“I plan to remain involved not only by staying connected with my fraternity and sports team, but also by continuing to do interviews in the undergraduate admissions process. I highly recommend doing undergraduate interviews to anyone interested. It is low-stress, low-commitment, you get to share your wonderful experiences at UR, and you get to meet other like-minded alumni. Above all else, you get to meet some inspiring young people and contribute to the ongoing success of the University.” –Dominick S. ’16
“I was heavily involved in theatre and continue to study it in grad school, so I like returning to see the Todd productions.” –Katherine V. ’15
“Through social media—both following University accounts and staying in touch through University alumni groups.” –Emily H. ’12
“I really do read the majority of the emails from the University that I still receive. My experience at Rochester is a huge part of my identity that I’m proud of so staying connected is really important to me.” –Ashley B. ’17
“I like going to the alumni events in Boston a lot!” –Gavin P. ’17