<p>I am currently a regional level figure skater and hoping to attend Miami for skating. I have heard that their figure skating department is wonderful, but how is there overall sports program and what are my chances of getting in? I am a wonderfully devoted skater and plan to continue with it throughout my life. I also have pretty decent grades. So, what is there to know about the sports program and how hard is it to earn scholarships or to just get in for sports?</p>
<p>Hi Hannah,</p>
<p>Skating is alive and well at Miami. I’m sure you know that there are three levels for the varsity synchronized skating team (senior, collegiate and junior), and there is also a club team, which competes at the Open Collegiate level. Beyond that, the school has a fantastic intercollegiate program. Students are pretty aware of the synchro teams. Many know that the teams are very good - “Aren’t you guys, like, ranked number 1 in the world?”</p>
<p>As far as the sports culture in general, freshmen go to the first football game and many never go back. The only sport that the student population stays up-to-date on is the hockey team. Games are very fun, and the synchro teams will often skate in between periods. This is typically where students find out everything they ever know about the teams (aka their only exposure besides small shows here and there that no one outside of friends and family attend).</p>
<p>As far as scholarships go, synchro does not award any, but it isn’t terribly hard to get an academic scholarship. (I mean, it is by no means easy, either!)</p>