Miami is a great school at a low cost!

<p>Miami is a selective school and with one of the best undergraduate teaching programs in the country. Students at Miami are afforded a top education, on a stunningly beautiful campus, at a school steeped in history, and "public-ivy" opportunities. The acceptance rates for law and med schools for honors students is impressive as well. Miami even has a branch in Luxembourg in addition to many other study abroad opportunities. For those interested in being greek, it is considered the mother of fraternities as many frats original chapters are located there.</p>

<p>Considering the cost ($26,000 OOS) and merit scholarships for high ACT/SAT scores (i.e. $10,000 OOS for 30 ACT), Miami is remarkably affordable. </p>

<p>On a lighter side...if you lose your dorm room key...no worries. You can text your room door to tell it to open for you. </p>

<p>For the record, I am only a father of a 2016 applicant and not affiliated with the university.</p>

<p>yes, my D. really enjoyed her 4 years. Her tuition was all covered by Merit awards (we are IS). She misses it a lot, visiting frequently. Great place to be with opportunities well beyond most people’s expectations.</p>

<p>MiamiDAP, </p>

<p>I hope you don’t mind me asking, but my daughter is interested in Miami and I wondered what stats are required to have the entire tuition covered by merit scholarships. We are out of state and she would already qualify for the automatic $10,000/per year scholarship. I was curious what GPA and ACT scores are needed to get additional merit money beyond the $10,000. Thanks.</p>

<p>As [I’ve&lt;/a&gt; argued before](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/11243447-post104.html]I’ve”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/11243447-post104.html), Miami is not the cheapest public, but it is a GREAT value (high return…dollar for dollar) for both in-state and out of state candidates.</p>

<p>Some programs/majors are VERY rigorous and indistinguishable from those at a highly selective private institution (I’ve paid for highly selective colleges both as a student and parent)…including zoology, psychology, music, graphic arts, interior design, architecture, education, business, accounting, finance, interactive media studies.</p>

<p>The Harrison Scholarship is very very selective, but it’s true, with the automatic scholarship pool, MU is very affordably priced for a strong student. My son is a freshman and has been very happy with his choice. Advising is outstanding and professors are encouraged to participate with underclassmen. In his honors classes, my son has no more than 15 kids in his classes. In his “large” lectures, there are fewer than 40 kids. This isn’t true in all lectures, I hear only in honors, but it’s been amazing. Emerson hall, honors dorm, has been a good choice, although it’s a little far from most of his classes. Miami’s smaller dorms have fostered a strong community environment. Too much alcohol on campus, but Miami is making a concerted effort to keep it under control.</p>

<p>Need_coffe,
Here are the facts about D’s merit awards:
-D. has graduated from Miami
-We are in-state
-D. had about $2,700 from our state as she graduated #1 in her private prep. HS class.
-Some awards were from Honors. 4 years ago Honors were only very top 200 kids, many valedictorian from private schools.
-Most Merit awards were private (with names).
-All initial (freshman) D’s Merit awards were automatic
-When she was accepted we received a letter strongly advising to file FASFA for full range of MERIT awards. We have done it for 4 years and still continue for Med. School. We do not qualify for need based by a lot, not anywhere close.<br>
-D. has applied for Returning Student Merit Awards starting with March of her freshman year. Kid needs about 3.8 college GPA to be able to receive any. Awards are very large, do not miss this opportunity. D. received additional $4k for her second year. Deadline for these is March 15 and you cannot miss it by one day, you will be out. D. missed deadline in her second year.
-D. had about 10 various awards to cover tuition+
-Stats: as I have mentioned, she was #1 in her HS class, GPA=4.0uw, ACT=33, and continued with straight A’s in college.
-D. had to apply to Harrison because it was a requirement for her program. She did not get Harrison (about 43 spots), but she got into her program - only 10 spots, which was more important for her. The program has been cancelled since then.
In regard to alcohol, it is everywhere on every single campus. We drink in our family. None of us ever been drunk. I actually encourage this behaviour. They need to learn how to control themselves. So, it is up to a student. D. liked bars in her senior year (had more time). She had fun on the weekends. I did not hear of her being drunk ever. Bars did not prevent her from having college GPA=3.98 (3 “A-” in her minor), they did not prevent her to graduate Summa Cum Laude and be Phi Kappa Phi and Kappa Beta Phi (or whatever the most prestigious that one has to be recommended) and to receive award (only one was given) for most outstanding pre-med and get accepted to several Medical Schools.<br>
Kids have to learn to be in any environment and remain themselves and know who they are and thier priorities in college…and how to have fun and stay safe. Unfortunately there is no guarantee, we can only talk and trust and give examples.</p>

<p>Not at all criticizing responsible use of alcohol. I think that Miami has a very pragmatic approach. They lean hard on abusers and drunks. If you receive a level 1 infraction, you have pretty strong penalties. A second and you are in grave trouble. They publish the names of students who are arrested in the Miami Student with a full description of the infraction. That said, your daughter perhaps the lone exception, I have spoken with some professors who think that the use of alcohol is still too high. And it IS too high at most campuses. I don’t really know how that can be denied. Fortunately, Miami, unlike many other campuses has a relatively small drug culture.</p>

<p>“your daughter perhaps the lone exception”
-she did not enjoyed alone, she definitely was surrounded by her friends, she had very many and some are younger, up to 2 years behind her. I never heard of her friends getting into any trouble. D. is still visiting Miami, she will love it forever, she is very happy that she went to UG that originally was her #2 choice. You never know. I told her if school shows a great love for you, it is a good sign. It appeared to be true 2 times in D’s case, choosing HS and choosing UG. In 4 years we will know about her Grad. school.</p>

<p>For candidates reading these posts researching Miami, this post ([Miami</a> is #9 in Smart Money Survey: Colleges That Help Grads Get Top Salaries](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/miami-university-ohio/1205270-miami-9-smart-money-survey-colleges-help-grads-get-top-salaries.html?highlight=smart]Miami”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/miami-university-ohio/1205270-miami-9-smart-money-survey-colleges-help-grads-get-top-salaries.html?highlight=smart)) may also help.</p>

<p>On Miami’s website they state: 30 ACT and 3.7 uw GPA for $40,000 oos over 4 yrs.
I wonder if there is any wiggle room on the unweighted? His ACT will be 32 or 33
Daughter is in great shape… son is currently just under the 3.7.</p>

<p>They are both interested in Biz. Major and Music Minor.</p>

<p>^Check with admissions. Business school is more selective than others.</p>

<p>As a current student at Miami, I can give a different perspective, imo.</p>

<p>I know people in the Honors Program and they all hate it. Whenever it’s mentioned, someone always rolls their eyes and complains. I’m sure it has great upsides, but my roommate is in the HP and I’ve seen the works she has to do for that class and it’s nothing but busy work. After talking to a few people about it (as I was interested in applying at one point) most only do it for priority registration which is being done away with in the near future. There are perks like small class size, but as you move up in your major classes after your first couple of semesters, the small sizes will get smaller on their own. </p>

<p>I also know quite a few people that are seriously struggling to graduate within 4 years. Miami’s very finicky about transferring credits while you’re a student there at another school in the summer. </p>

<p>The campus is stunning, though. For the first few weeks here it was near-constant clear skies and during fall? Breath-taking. (Even though Oxford is boring as hell.)</p>

<p>As a parent of May, 2011 graduate, I disagree with some points in post #12. D. graduted Summa Cum Laude with Honors. Major - Zoology (pre-med), minor - Muisc, was 2 classes short of getting another minor.<br>
D has never mentioned that she did anything specifically for Honors. Some of her academic and EC’s were counted as Honors’ requirements but she did not do them for that reason. She did not go to New Zealand for Honors, it was her life long dream. Whatever other Honors reqirements, she has always had something to fill them. keep in mind, there are Merit scholarships for being in Honors. Priority registration and small classes made huge difference for my D.<br>
D. has graduted in 4 years, no single summer class. One of her friends graduated in 4 years with triple major. Both had great choices of Med. Schools to attend and both are at Med. School currently.
I agree that campus is stunning. D. has visited few times after she started at Med. School. she misses it, it is very unique, awesome place to live in 4 years. Also, check out college suits.</p>

<p>For OOS, how hard is it to get to Oxford, OH? What airport is closest and most convenient? Is there transportation to airports for the breaks (Thanksgiving, winter, spring, end of the year?)</p>

<p>I think I read that the engineering program is highly rated. Does anyone here know about the engineering program?</p>

<p>I’ve read a lot of great things about this school and it seems like it has a lot to offer at a great price.</p>

<p>I imagine that airport would be Cinci or Dayton, not sure, since we are IS.
D. was surprized to learn that Miami is so popular with OOS. Strangely enough with Chicago especially. I am not sure about OOS price. We had an impression that it is expensive OOS. Merit awards are great though.</p>

<p>One of those Chicago parents here. My DS is a Sophomore. The Miami Metro (campus bus) typically has several runs to the Cincinnati airport on get away days. However, last year my son used Oxford Limo because the times weren’t convenient for his flights. On get away days all limo rides were billed as shared - so $45 vs. $90 each way (last year’s price - I have no idea what the rate is this year). For return trips to campus it was basically load and go. There are several limo/sedan companies servicing Oxford - the school website lists some of them. The Cincinnati airport is about an hour away. Luckily he has his car with him this year!</p>

<p>^Yes, my D. drove few times to Chicago from Oxford for Med. Schools interviews. It is very doable. So after freshman year, it is not too difficult. Her friends from Chicago had cars.</p>

<p>My D received a call yesterday from an admissions counselor that she is being recommended for the Harrison Scholarship. Does this mean that she will get it or is just being considered for it?</p>

<p>We weren’t really expecting that. I was sure she would get in. Pretty certain she would be selected for honors, but the Harrison…wow! Thrilled for her. If she gets this, could be a game changer when making the final decision.</p>

<p>Anyone have any feedback on the Harrison program? Any additional benefits (besides $'s)?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>There are student charter buses that leave Miami University for NE Ohio and Chicago for all the breaks. The round trip for NE Ohio is 80~85 dollars. It has been good for us in past years. Ds didn’t seem to like the idea at first, but later they appreciated the time to study or sleep without feeling like they had to make small talk. </p>

<p>I saw the stats for 2011 freshman. 52% of students are from OOS. Maybe there will be a need for bus runs to other areas as more students are from OOS.</p>

<p>Cincinnatti is probably the best/closest airport…about 40 minutes away.</p>

<p>It does indeed offer a lot at a good price! An outstanding university!</p>

<p>Took S to see campus. It is stunning indeed! We met a family member there who attended ten years ago and had our own night time tour…even went to library at 11:30 pm and saw students were studying. Then had the not-so-academic tour…saw his(family member’s) name on a bar wall. He earned that by drinking 3 beers a day at the same bar for 14 days in a row. Lots of fun!</p>