Let’s take the opportunity for the Class of 2021 to share our “Make it Miami” experiences, answer questions, and share tips so everyone can have the best experience possible, and provide insight for those who are unable to attend.
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I am thrilled to share our experience from the March 31 “Make it Miami” Day. This is a comprehensive post. Long and short: Arrive the night before, explore the campus and eat at Bagel and Deli. Then, on the day of, Divide and Conquer to make the most of your Make it Miami experience.
Make it Miami:
A little bit of background: We live on the east coast, and had not yet visited Miami, so this was our first time in Oxford. I read on CC some “must do’s”. Based on our experience, I would highly recommend you come in the night before Make it Miami officially begins, and experience college life unscripted at night.
We arrived on the Miami Campus at 9:30pm (I would recommend aiming earlier if possible.) Because it was “after hours”, we parked on Oak street, near the Recreational Sports Center. If you arrive during the day, you have to park in the Campus Avenue Garage otherwise you risk getting a ticket or towed.
Our very first experience at Miami was walking into Goggin Ice Center, the most amazing ice arena ever! The place was abuzz with an intramural ice hockey game on the main sheet of ice, as well as intramural broom ball on both half ice sheets. You will learn from the opening session, that broom ball is the most popular intramural sport at Miami and the students and faculty play against each other - including the President himself! There is an awesome pro shop, too, with cool Miami gear. Then we toured the Rec Center and walked around the track. It was great to see the students working out, hanging out, running, and just having fun. Oh, and did I mention these are state of the art facilities?!
At this point it was 11:30pm and we were starving . Upon recommendations from CC “must dos”, we went uptown into Oxford and ate at the Bagel and Deli shop on High Street. This place is legendary. We asked the students working what their majors were and they provided great insight into their experiences. Through speaking with them, again unscripted, we learned first-hand of the awesome engineering department and how the hands-on philosophy is being put to use in an internship in the UK. (You will learn that every department has a focus on hands-on, real world learning, with an emphasis on internships and study abroad opportunities.)
Okay, okay. I know I spent four paragraphs talking about the “night before”, but I really do believe the evening provided invaluable insight. You should do this, too.
If you choose to drive in the morning of, here is what to expect at your Make it Miami Day. You will want to arrive at the Campus Avenue Parking garage by 7:45- 8:00am, but absolutely not after 8:15am. You will catch a bus that will take you to Armstrong. Registration begins at 8:00. The student will register and get a name badge and hoodie bag, while the parents can enjoy coffee, etc. We got there early so there wasn’t a long line for the students; but the date was “sold out”, and as the time grew nearer to the 9:00am official start time, the place totally filled up. Plan accordingly.
Another reason to arrive at Armstrong on time at 8:00am is for the following reasons: 1. Have a chance to chat one-on-one with the President and his wife (the Miami Ambassador.) They will make you feel right at home. 2. You will watch the video clips of countless Miami experiences; and 3. You will have a chance to look through the Make it Miami agenda and make your plans to DIVIDE AND CONQUER afterthe specific major/ Divisional presentations end at 1:30. More on that later.
The event started promptly at 9:00. There was an excellent overview of Miami in the Welcome. The student panel provided a nice feel for different opportunities. They will answer any questions you have. The staff did a great job talking about Miami successes and what to expect during your four years.
At 10:45, students and parents were escorted to a delicious and complimentary buffet lunch in a dining hall, and then we were escorted to Divisional presentations. We attended the engineering presentation, where the Dean (or one of the faculty, I can’t remember for sure), spoke generally of the engineering program. We also divided into our specific area of engineering, toured that area, and had a chance to see students learning “hands on” in labs. Divisional Presentations ended around 1:15.
This is where you need to divide and conquer. Seriously. Trust your DS or DD to go off on his/her own. For the rest of the afternoon, there are Campus tours, Presentations, Walk In Advising and Open Houses. Remember that red Make it Miami agenda? Here is where you implement that plan, take notes and of presentations.
Here’s what we did:
DS
1:45 campus tour (Tours are offered at 12:45, 1:30, 1:45, 2:00 and 2:30)
2:30 visited his advisor (Walk in advising for each department was available from 2-3)
3:00 Study Abroad Open House at MacMillan
3:15 Toured a Residence Hall at Tappan Hall
3:45 DS and spouse met at bookstore and bought cool stuff, including a Miami magnet for the car
Spouse:
2:00 Business Opportunities for the Non-Business Major in the Farmer School of Business
3:45 Bookstore meet up with DS
My schedule
1:30 Housing and Campus Living Presentation
This was a great time to get information on the LLCs, meal plans, dorm room costs, etc, Miami dollars, declining dollars, laundry, and other things.
2:15 Housing Options and Meal Plans open House consisted only of picking up the hand outs of what was discussed in the Presentation.
We all met at the parking garage at 4:30 and drove to the football stadium, where we walked around and took pictures.
My only regret is that we didn’t get a final look inside Goggin Ice Center. My son is an ice hockey player, after all 
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Further info: I included what we experienced, but there is so much more to explore, depending on your interest. When your student registers for Make it Miami Day, you will sign up for your major and that is really the only area that is “strict” according to numbers. After the divisional presentations, you can choose the following:
*Farmer School of Business Building Tour
*College of Arts and Science Lab and Building Tours (Chemistry, Geography, Urban Planning, Geology, Earth Science, Psychology)
*College of Education, Health and Society Reception and Advising (Athletic Training, Kinesiology, Nutrition, Public Health, Spiort Leadership and Mgmg, Family Science, Social Work, Special Education, Teacher Education
Presentations
· Career Services
· Housing and Campus living
· Business Opportunities for the Non Business Major
· Honors Information Session
· University Academic Scholars Program Presentation
Walk In Advising
· Admissions Staff
· College of Arts and Science
· College of Creative Arts
· College of Education, health and Society
· College of Engineering an Computing
· Farmer School of Business
· Pre Law
· Pre Med
Open Houses
· Art Museum
· ROTC
· Housing Options and Meal Plans
· First Year Residence Hall Open House
· Club Sports
· Financial Assistance
· Library Services
· Office of Diversity Affairs
· Office of Research for Undergraduate Students
· Study Abroad
· Wils Leadership Institute
Have fun! And make the most of Make it Miami!!