<p>I attended an online chat with Miami the other night where it seemed many parents (and students?) are faced with the same OSU vs. Miami dilemma---which school to attend?</p>
<p>Here's the facts: My son has been admitted to OSU (still waiting on Scholars decision) and just received acceptance into Miami honors program. He really wants to go to OSU. He wants the big college atmosphere/games/etc. His friends are attending as well.</p>
<p>So what's the problem? My wife and I feel that the Miami honors program is tailor-made for him. And that the appeal of 6 home football games shouldn't be the overriding decision criteria for attending a college. At the same time I know that OSU trumps Miami in the multitude of opportunities it affords. </p>
<p>Here's the other wild card. Miami (as a result of scholarships) will be around 5,000 less expensive for us each year. I think we're probably like a lot of families in that we could probably afford it, yet it is something that shouldn't be ignored. (20,000 is a lot of money when you have another daughter yet to attend and looming retirement.)</p>
<p>My wife and I were thinking that our son should be responsible for the extra 5 grand (through stafford loans) and that if he truly wants to attend OSU then he should attach a price to it?</p>
<p>At the same time, I don't want to make it about money and want him to be truly happy with his decision. </p>
<p>We were in the same boat 2 years ago and are in it again right now with D#2. D1 chose Miami Honors over OSU Honors after attending an OSU Honors open house day and an overnight visit at Miami. For her (and us) there was no comparison. Miami was a much better fit and as a current second year, she couldn’t be happier. There is no doubt that football is not big at Miami–but Hockey is! When walking the campus at OSU it is not unusual for students to call out to visitors about how great OSU is–they do something right there, we just didn’t see it for D1.</p>
<p>D2 will be going to OSU and Miami for Honor overnights. There will be programs for both students and parents and the students will attend an Honors class in their areas of interest the next day. We’re hoping she will get a feel for where she wants to be–the reality is, she wants to be at a small LAC. Evidently we’re not eligible for FA, so we’re waiting to see what is offered in the way of merit scholarships. We’re not thinking it will be enough to come close to offsetting the 50K price tag of the LACs. This week she was offered a full ride (tuition, r&b, books-the works) to the local state university, but I don’t think she will take it, for a few reasons, but primarily because she is thinking of possibly wanting to go on to a PHD and teach at a college level.(She currently is taking some classes there and is impressed with the quality of the academics.) Sadly, its prestige level can come into play here, limiting opportunities for her future. Because she is liking the LAC situation better we are thinking Miami will be the better match for D2, but she will have to go with her own gut on this. </p>
<p>I would suggest you encourage your son to go to both overnights then make his decision. The extra $$ doesn’t sit well it’s true, but be thankful you can do it. Good luck they are both good schools.</p>
<p>Miami Honors will have many more Merit $$ than OSU Honors. Besides, schools are so different, it is not that hard to see which one fits better. In our city, kids who went to OSU, would not even consider Miami and vice versa in most cases, they are almost in opposite sides of spectrum. Visit, talk to kids, spend night, figur out financial, then decide. Nobody can give definite advice. My D. considered both, and at the end of process had no question which one fits her the best.</p>
<p>it really just depends on what your son whats to do with his life. for example, my sister could have easily gotten into psu honors, osu honors and such… but she decided to go to a much smaller school and take the free ride. her school is still very respectable in the pittsburgh area… the point is that she decided to go smaller school known in pittsburgh because she doesnt plan on moving. if your son plans on moving to a big city like columbus, chicago or such then OSU would be a better choice…</p>
<p>on the money, i think he should be responsible yet you shouldnt make him feel guilty and feel like he is causing a problem for your family… let him be proud of where he wants to go but tell him that he can go where ever he wants but he will be paying the difference</p>
<p>what scholarships did you get from miami that make it 5000 less b/c it is about 5000 more before scholarships? i don’t understand how you could get so much from miami and so little/none from ohio state</p>
<p>Miami has a lot of private type of Merit scholarships. If you file FASFA (which they strongly recommend) they tend to pile up Merit scholarships, which is case of my D. has been covering her full tuition. She would not have anywhere near as much at OSU. However, fit is more important. In D’s case, it was easy, OSU was way too big for her. She loves Miami campus and College suits for upper classmen are awesome. They just lowered the rent too. Honors has been very good with priority registration and one can apply for special Honors grants for Research.</p>
<p>Unlike some LACs, Miami of Ohio bases their merit money strictly on statistics, grades and test scores. They don’t distinguish a GPA from a public school from a similar GPA from a rigorous private school. I was told that would “discriminate against students who couldn’t afford private school tuition”. I think this will hurt the school in the long run. My child received lots of merit money from other schools (ACT 31 with 3.1 GPA),but didn’t qualify for money at Miami since their cut off is 3.7. This may be the deciding factor for what school we choose.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if things changed, but Miami gave a lot more financial assistance (scholarships and grants – not loans) than originally expected based on numbers only. I know 2 students who had very good stats (but not ivy stats) who were given very generous packages. I don’t think it was based on scores alone. If you like Miami (or any school for that matter), apply and see what happens. When my s. applied to schools, the packages varied widely. It may help guide your choices, but don’t base your applications on numbers only. You never know.</p>
<p>We are in the same boat. My daughter is coming from a private school with a rigorous program and her grade-point converts to a 3.5 by Miami’s methods. Consequently, Miami offered offered her very little money even though she has a ACT of 32. We are sick about this.</p>
<p>I did not know that Miami converts GPA. I wonder what would be converted GPA for 4.0 uw. You are saying that it could be much lower? But 4.0 uw means all A’s, and if they convert that means that they are saying that although one had straingt A’s, he actually had some B’s. I am not sure I understand at all.</p>
<p>Do I understand this correctly; low GPA (3.4) and high SAT/ACT (1420/1600 33 ACT) students should not expect much aid from Miami and OSU will probably be more generous?</p>
<p>In general, Miami will have a greater undergraduate focus. I know a math professor at OSU, says he would rather his kids do undergrad at Miami, though OSU is excellent for grad school. However, if he wants the big time traditional college experience OSU offers, that’s worth something. It’s important to be excited about where you go to school. YOur education is what you make of it</p>
<p>Miami may use their own formula to reconfigure the GPAs. Miami probably then re-weights the honors/ap classes with their own weighting scale. This would help to even out the playing field. Someone may have a 4.0 GPA, and maybe/mostly all As but a less rigorous course load, less honors/apclasses. Another student may have a lower GPA, not all As, but a more rigorous courseload, more honors/ap classes. This student may come out ahead of the first student with the Miami system.</p>
<p>I see a lot of over inflation of grades these days. Many schools are allowing up to 1.0 for ap classes and say .5 or more for honors. Many of these students end up with a heavily weighted GPA, 4.0 to 4.5 and above. But then you have schools ( many privates ) that do not weight nearly that much. At my daughte’rs school they are weighted .33 for all honors and ap classes. In addition to all the different weighting scales used in schools, you need to look at the actual difficulty of these classes. Not all honors and ap classes have the same rigor between schools. This is more difficult to assess than to re weight to a common scale. Colleges/Universities can not be familiar with all the many schools out there and the actual rigor of the classers. I would think though that Miami would have a better understanding of many of the Ohio school systems.</p>
<p>Also a factor to consider is a limitation or not of the honors/ap classes. At my daughter’s school yu are limited to a combination of three ap/honors classes per year. Many schools appear not to limit these classes. You will also find schools that do not offer advanced classes, or not many. It does become very difficult to compare schools.</p>
<p>My daughter is in the same boat as many other students I see on the thread. A lower GPA, higher test scores, no money at all from Miami ( GPA 3.3, ACT 31,SAT 1410/2100 ). Out of the thirteen schools (waitlisted at two ) my daughter applied to, Miami was one of only two that did not give her any merit money. She received many generous merit aid packages from both private/public schools,large/small, higher ranked schools/and lowerranked. </p>
<p>I see that some are trying to compare potential merit aid between Miami and Ohio State. Depending on their GPAs and test scores they may very likely receive more from Ohio State. I believe that Ohio State bases scholarships more on test scores.</p>
<p>I guess though that I shouldn’t fret about this any longer. My daughter has chosen Miami Honors, and submitted her deposit on Thursday.</p>
<p>^^^
I have an older daughter that did the same thing (different college). Applied to about 10 colleges (accepted by 9) and received aid offers (some substantial) from 8. Ended up going to the one college that offered nothing. Go figure.</p>
<p>It is surprising to me that Miami will admit your daughter to the Honors Program but doesn’t think that academically she warrants merit aid. Good luck to both of you.</p>
<p>Miami must have started accepting more kids to Honors. When my D. was accepted, only 200 freshmen were accepted to Honors, 500 to Scolars. They had to have ACT=31 and make top 2% of class to get to Honors. There were a lot of valedictorians in Tappan (looked like most of Tappan)</p>
<p>Yes, they have changed the honors program from what it used to be. I spoke
with the director of the honors program a while back to clarify the new program.
Miami does not have the scholars program any longer, only honors. Instead of the 200+
honors students plus 500+ scholars students, there are 400 or less honors students.</p>
<p>Also the requirements for the program have changed. There are now 12 honors experiences
you must complete, a tier system for requirements, a portfolio to maintain, etc. etc.
There is no strict gpa/test scores for admission to the honors program. There is a list of the
criteria used to determine admittance. They still want you to try to maintain the 3.2/3.3 gpa,
but not as strictly enforced as prior. You will not be booted out of the program if you fall below .
They will work with you to achieve the 3.2/3.3 gpa. But if they eventually feel that the honors
program is not for you, you will be asked to leave.</p>
<p>I believe it was stated that 11% of the student population is in honors, and 4% of those will
eventually drop out of the program. The honors selection uses more of a holistic approach vs
a specific criteria as for the scholarships.</p>
<p>This was NEVER the case for Honors (edit: in the past 5 years, that is), and more than 200 students were accepted to Honors in your daughter’s year. A 31/top 2% was the average; it was never, ever the requirement.</p>