re: Question about alumni status

I think med or law school grads, or folks who earned masters or Ph.D., can fairly say they are alumni.

To me, when someone says he is an alumnus it implies that he earned a degree from the institution.

Perhaps by technical definition those who merely attended are alums, but I would think less of someone if he said he was an alumnus and I learned he just attended a while and dropped out.

I notice the alumni association asks on its membership application: "If you are an LSU Graduate, what year did you graduate?" But I'm sure they would accept my dog if he paid his dues.