<p>My top two choices for schools that I would like to go to are Richmond and University of Miami. I love both schools, but I want a school that is big enough for me to not know everyone I see, and I know that is an over generalization to Richmond but it is small. So I guess what I ask is, is this school large enough for me to meet new people periodically throughout my stay there? I am afraid that once I know my basic class student body it will be boring and then It wont be exciting anymore. Whereas at Miami I feel like although it is more raging and superficial, I would continuously meet all kinds of different people on campus. So if anyone can help me I would love that...is Richmond large enough?</p>
<p>I guess it depends on the type of environment you want. Yes, MiamiU has more students then UR but how many students you meet is entirely up to you. Many people make a solid friend base their first year, it shifts somewhat second year, and then people are added through classes, clubs, Greek life, honors program, etc. Your circle can be as big or small as you want to make it. If your major is rather small at the university you’ll find by your third and forth years you spend a lot of time in class with the same people. This can happen no matter how large your university is. Your perspective may also be shaped by the size of your hs. </p>
<p>Where I see a distinct difference is Oxford is a rather rural college town. This is what you may outgrow if you like a lot of action. There is plenty to do but it all revolves around the university. The campus at UR is beautiful, but in 5-10 min on a bus that comes to campus you can be in the heart of Richmond at museums, excellent restaurants, concerts, internships, etc. MiamiU is about an hour from either Dayton or Cincinnati making off campus activities more difficult. </p>
<p>There’s no ‘right’ answer. You just have to decide which environment fits you best.</p>
<p>oh im sorry I think you are mistaken, I was speaking of University of Miami, the one in coral gables florida, not Miami university in ohio. Still, thank you for the advice you gave me, it still applied. I guess I also have not considered the fact that Richmond the city is pretty close by, but yes I have heard about all of the activities revolving around the campus.</p>
<p>I certainly did botch that! Your post clearly stated UMiami not MiamiU. I apologize. The attributes about URs proximity and easy access to downtown Richmond would still apply. </p>
<p>The schools definitely have different vibes and I would think one or the other might appeal to you more. Again, there’s no right or wrong, just what you decide is right for you personally. I think applying to both (and others) is a good strategy. I have seen some students change a good bit in their Sr year as far as what they wanted out of a college. Having several options in the spring is a good thing. Best of luck! :)</p>
<p>The two universities are similar only in that both have well respected academic programs. Other than that, the look and the feel is widely divergent. The University of Miami has more of a large research university vibe, set in a cosmopolitan, big city culture. Students at the Coral Gables campus are well served by the convenient Miami Metro for easy access throughout the region. The University of Richmond, while still located in decent sized urban environment, has a small, liberal arts college feel. It has an isolated, suburban campus setting and is located in a community with a decidedly southern ambiance. The Richmond student body includes far less diversity than Miami, and includes a high preponderance of white, affluent Yankees from the eastern seaboard and the rest of the US. At Miami, youll find a higher percentage of in-state residents and nearly 50% of undergraduates are Hispanic, Asian or Black. While both schools compete in NCAA Division 1, Miami obviously has the edge in big time sports and school spirit, especially with its solid football program. Richmond is a residential campus, with 90% of students living on campus all four years. Most University of Miami students live off-campus after freshman year. Richmond will generally have smaller, more interactive class sizes, whereas youll probably see somewhat larger classes at Miami of 30-50 students, especially during the first two years. At Richmond, theres a four season climate with beautiful fall and spring seasons and moderately chilly winters and not much snow. In Miami, while youve got the beach, palm trees and warm weather year round, beware of sweltering heat & humidity for about four months of the academic year. </p>
<p>To the original poster, I would be less concerned with the size of the academic population and focus your attention more on what type of environment and setting you prefer and which university best suits those priorities and your likely academic major. Rest assured, neither school is so small that youll know everyone at the end of four years. </p>
<p>Good luck to you wherever you end up.</p>
<p>Well, the school is the same size as when I got out, so I figured I could share my experience. By junior year, I felt like I at least recognized everyone in my year, knew a good number of the seniors and thought the school may have been a touch small. Senior year rolled around, and all the familiar faces I had spent 3 years on campus with were no longer there. I realized I knew very few people in the years below me. Then came the shock at graduation, when I saw literally a couple of hundred people I never had met, let alone seen. I don’t know how I didn’t cross paths with them during my years, but there were more strange faces than I anticipated on graduation day.</p>
<p>I wish UR was probably 4-5k, but 3k was still more than enough to give me surprises up to the end of my days there. I came from a HS of ~1,500 guys for comparison sake.</p>