<p>Tell me about Miami (ohio). I'm unable to visit (yes, i know I live in Ohio, outside circumstances), well I might be able to, but I don't know. I'm trying to decide to apply here or not. My dad went here, so I plan on asking him some things, but that was like back in the stone ages ;). Anyone know anything? And how are they in Spanish (not majoring/minoring but I do enjoy it and might have to take some for core), psychology (considering as a double-major), biochemistry (my primary major)? How about socially? Anything you've got, I want.</p>
<p>I've hung out there a few times, probably a total of 10 days (lots of kids from my high school go there). </p>
<p>-The school is alright but its reputation is not as strong as people in Ohio think.<br>
-ITs the only college I have ever heard people praising Bush openly assuming everyone agreed with them. I met some more liberal minded people and they were complaining about how conservative it is.
- Its VERY white and the students are very good looking but clearly not doing too much independent thinking. Lots of people go there to move to Columbus, work for Nationwide and buy a BMW.
- The bar scene is totally happening, and there are plenty of other parties. Once again, no diversity at all.
- Campus is beautiful. Looks like an Ivy
- I have seen a fight break out every time I am out there. I have NEVER seen a fight at my alma mater so this was strange.</p>
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<li>Personally it is way to superficial and self-righteous for me to ever consider it. It is a fun place to party for a weekend, but every time all I can think is how glad I am to have gone elsewhere. I know there is a place called Western which seems to be more open minded, but I dont know how it plays into the social scene. Being from Ohio my brother could have gone in state for practically nothing, and he is totally the jock type. His response to my parents: Not a chance.</li>
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<p>Well, it's not like I'm applying there for prestige reasons ;). I'm not so smart!</p>
<p>Celebrian, did you read my post? Prestige was only one point out of seven!!! My entire post was on the social life/ student body. I could care less if Miami had the prestige of Harvard and it were free, I would NEVER go there.</p>
<p>OoOoOoO I see, I misinterpreted. My mistake. Well, looking back, all of Ohio is conservative and white, I'm pretty darned used to that by now. It doesn't bother me all that much.</p>
<p>
You obviously haven't spent all that much time in Cleveland. The Ohio you describe is south of Akron and Medina. Anyways, Miami is very much J Crew U. Imagine how liberal Athens is, and Miami is the exact opposite of that conservatively.</p>
<p>
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Personally it is way too superficial and self-righteous for me to ever consider it. It is a fun place to party for a weekend, but every time all I can think is how glad I am to have gone elsewhere.
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I have to say I totally agree with this assessment. </p>
<p>I'm from Central Ohio and most of my friends go to Miami. I love my friends, but it drives me nuts that they're all on the "Miami is the best, coolest, most academically challenging school in the whole world" bandwagon. Many people at Miami seem to think they're amazing, and I find it really perplexing.</p>
<p>Celebrian, I don't see how you could misinterpret my post????</p>
<p>Anyway if you are used to a lack of diversity of thought and race, and want probably an even more homogenous environment than you are used to, Miami is waiting for you. Personally I found college to be a time of growth, largely led by the amazing people I met, and Miami offers none of this. The kids I know at Miami haven't grown at all. Largely (not everyone of course), they don't know what's going on outside of their own state, let alone outside the country. The difference between the students at Miami and a place like UNC is extrordinary (the UNC kids being a million times cooler and more aware of the world).</p>
<p>And Mollie, I agree with you, I can't believe how kids at Miami think its a great school. My friend told me that Miami's goal was to be the best public school in the country by 2010. Good luck with that one lol.</p>
<p>I PMed you.</p>
<p>It's actually "First by 2009," which is more of a vision of enhancing the school by its bicentennial class with 8 specific goals rather than wanting to be the best public school in the country.</p>
<p>I do think students from Ohio exaggerate Miami's reputation, but it is not as bad as what people have been saying, especially if you are in the Honors Program.</p>
<p>Their Spanish program seems to be decent, but a few classes are taught by grad students. However, that seems to be the exception, not the rule. I don't know very much about Spanish other than what my friends have told me. I have no idea what their psych department is like. My roommate is a biochem major, and she really enjoys it. The first year of biochem is very similar to that of other science majors-- intro chemistry, intro botany/microbiology/zoology, calculus II, etc.</p>
<p>As people have said, Miami is predominantly white, upper-middle-class, and conservative. The honors students are markedly more liberal and more interested in current events, although still mostly white UMC. There are a LOT of parties. About 1/3 of the campus is Greek, and there are multiple frat parties every weekend. If you are not a partier, there are plenty of other non-drinkers, so don't worry about that. On Friday and Saturday nights, there is a program called AfterDark, which shows movies and has other activities.</p>
<p>The Harrison is their big scholarship, as I am sure you know. Other rarely mentioned perks of that include several trips as a group. We are going to New York for 4 days in December, and I'm putting together a proposal to go to the Czech Republic this spring. Others are proposing Peru and Belize. Definitely apply for Harrison if you are interested in any of the scholarship programs; most students that are accepted into the other programs come out of the Harrison pool. </p>
<p>Students in Western design their own majors and have their own core curriculum. I don't know very much about it, but the students I have met are very friendly and not nearly as concerned with appearances.</p>
<p>My daughter spent the summer at Miami, as a h.s. senior taking regular Miami courses. Her comment was "I have an 8:30 a.m. class, and the girls in the class are dressed in 'outfits' with full make up." We have another family member who just graduated from OU, and OU's atmosphere is much more laid back. </p>
<p>We have a few friends whose kids attend Miami. These kids are not the stereotypical Miami-J Crew U kids. Both live on the Western campus, and say that makes Miami tolerable for them. One has a Harrison scholarship, which is too good to pass up. The other has always lived in the International Student dorm. </p>
<p>If you live in Ohio and cannot visit Miami. . . . Are you visiting any other schools that you're applying to?</p>
<p>"makes Miami tolerable to them"</p>
<p>I think that is the problem with Miami, you have to make it tolerable. There are plenty of schools of similar selectivity with just as good a social life and atmosphere without the "flock" mindset and unwarranted pretention (OU comes to mind). </p>
<p>Ever see the show "Laguna Beach" on MTV. If you have, want to spend four years with 12,000 kids like them? Because that is Miami in a nutshell...</p>
<p>Celebrian I know you have this almost martyr-ish notion of choosing a school on fit, not selectivity. I think you need to look a little deeper though, one commonality all the Ivies do have is the caliber and open minded-ness of the student bodies, you can almost take this for granted (there are many non-selective schools with amazing students as well of course!!!) </p>
<p>I cannot emphasize this enough: beyond prestige, environment, and even academics, your college peers will set the tone for your college experience.</p>
<p>Celebrian, if you are interested in the Harrison Scholarship, you have to have both your regular application and scholarship application (and teacher recommendation) in by 11/1.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for your information! But slipper, what do you mean martyr-ish? :confused:</p>
<p>Perhaps rebel is better. I mean I think you have this noble notion that you aren't choosing on prestige, but rather for fit, which is great but I think you are missing a big point in all of this. You can assume a comfortable and nurturing environment will exist among students at almsot all top 25 schools. You know that graduates from that school are pretty top notch, because they too offered something special enough to get in.</p>
<p>Yes, well I'm not a rebel. But if you're not superior stats wise, and I can't get into any schools that actually are in the top 25, than shouldn't my main consideration be happiness? I understand the value of prestige, but my stats pretty much suck. It's just that unlike a lot of other people, I realize this.</p>
<p>How are your stats? If you can't get into a top school, its not an issue at all, there are plenty of less selective schools with great student bodies. I guess my biggest point is don't say "there are people like that in my H.S." College isn't H.S., you are going to want to be around the coolest people you can be around, so make sure to take this into account as a factor.</p>
<p>Well my stats are 28ACT, 1220/1850 (nov. retake) SAT, 3.882w/3.74uw gpa, 5 ap classes + reg. physics this year, most difficult courseload, 4 on ap bio ap test, 2 on ap euro, 3 on ap us, URM,various scatterred not very good EC's, ranked 70/437. And I don't quite get the point you're getting at in that post.</p>
<p>You aren't going to get close to Ivy, but you have a very fair shot at some of the mid-range LACs such as Kenyon, Denison, Macalester, etc and maybe even a place like Hamilton or Bates (which doesnt require the SAT...although over a 1280 I would send it).</p>
<p>Well I know the other places I'm applying, but either Miami or a another LAC has to come off (besides I don't like Denison, Mac, Hamilton, or Bates, and not Kenyon enough to apply). But I don't get your point. Who says I wouldn't like a preppy crowd?</p>