Help me choose! Marquette University or Miami University

Hi everyone, so I got into Marquette University, Wisconsin and Miami University, Ohio. I have to pay $18000 at Marquette and about $25000 at Miami. I want to pursue neuroscience as a career in the future. Both colleges have a Neuroscience minor/co-major so I will be majoring in Biomedical Sciences/Biology and minoring in Neuroscience. I want to pursue research in the future so I want to have good neuroscience research opportunities available.

Personally, I like Marquette better. Miami U’s party school reputation puts me off. But that is secondary, and I want to prioritize the academics in making my decision. Any insight would be helpful!

We know current Marquette STEM students who have been very pleased with the research opportunities they have had so, if you are leaning towards Marquette, and it is less expensive, I would go with Marquette. The kids we know have done research with med school teaching faculty during the summer and with Marquette faculty during the school year. Milwaukee is actually a really neat city – great music, sports and restaurant scene so there is lots to do as a college student. Other than basketball at Marquette, we understand sports don’t play that central a role, though there is lots of community support for the Milwaukee Brewers (pro baseball team) and Milwaukee Bucks (pro basketball). Milwaukee airport is also very accessible to Marquette, maybe a 20 minute drive and there is a bus that goes there throughout the day.

Miami is a terrific public university, though has a different feel from Marquette as it is in a smaller town and campus does not feel urban at all. Dayton is probably the closest airport. Miami can be generous with merit aid so there are definitely high achieving students who chose Miami because it was more affordable so there will be plenty of smart kids. But with a more suburban, small town campus, and strong fraternity/sorority presence, if that doesn’t feel like your thing, I wouldn’t hesitate to go with your gut and take Marquette.

either will provide an excellent eduction. The Jesuit role in education cannot be understated. And since you seem to like Marquette better, go there.

Marquette.

@Midwestmomofboys Thank you for replying! My concern about Miami U was that I don’t want to be surround by people who are in college only to party, so it’s great to hear that plenty of high achieving students also attend.

Strictly speaking in terms of research and academics, would you say one is better than the other?

Based only on the current Marquette STEM kids we know, including the research opportunities on and off campus, because of the large health care facilities in town, including a med school, Marquette offers lots for the motivated student. I don’t know enough about Miami to say one is better, I can only say that Marquette has been amazing for the kids we know. And, being in the city, with less of a dominant greek life presence, it will offer more for the non-partier.

Not sure what research opportunities would be available through the university but I can say that Miami is best known for business. Also there is not a large medical facility close by to offer convenient off campus research opportunities. Marquette does have ample off campus opportunities nearby.

Those are 2 very different schools! One is urban and one is definitely not! I went to Marquette many moons ago and will say that it definitely had a party atmosphere, but because of it’s city location you could very easily find other things to do other than party. And I really loved the Jesuit atmosphere. If MU is cheaper, I think that’s a really good choice. You won’t be disappointed with that school. Good luck!

Why are you not considering Wisconsin?

Both are fine schools. Since you prefer Marquette and Marquette is less expensive it seems like an easy decision.