UMiami social life? Acadmeics? Help me out!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Alright, so I'm starting to think that University of Miami may be the school for me.</p>

<p>I've always thought I'd be going out of state, but the more I think about it the more I like the idea of being able to drive home, while still going to a private school and being around people from all over.</p>

<p>I was just curious about the social aspect of the school (how are the girls? the dorms? etc), and how you strong the areas of Psychology and Philosophy are at the school.</p>

<p>Everyone I know who goes to Miami is a really cool person, and is fairly open minded and social.</p>

<p>I have a 3.76W GPA, and a 2070SAT as of right now (just retook, hope to get around a 2100)
and have Varsity Lax and other ECs as well. (Am I a good match? or would I be a reach?)</p>

<p>Thank you guys so much!</p>

2

<p>The weather is horrible, the girls only more so, SoBe stinks and the football team is crappy. What more could you ask for?:)</p>

3

<p>hmmm sarcasm?</p>

<p>is it lame to stay in state for a person who considers themselves to be open to change?</p>

4

<p>no one else has any input?</p>

5

<p>I think UMiami is a good experience for the right person. Great weather, great sports, apparently hot girls, and the school has a good balance between academics and social life. What state are you from, OP?</p>

6

<p>I think going out of state might be more interesting and would probably make you more well rounded. If you are from Florida, UM is going to be more of the same…gorgeous girls who are only interetested in getting tan and dating rich guys and guys who are only interested in football, girls and drinking. The academics are good but there are many other schools with just as good and better academics. Most of the people who are attracted to UM are there for the weather and social life. If you are intellectual or down to earth, look elsewhere for sure.</p>

7

<p>"If you are intellectual or down to earth, look elsewhere for sure. " </p>

<p>Bias, are we? With Miami’s 29 Median ACT and 1290 median SAT- Ya, it would be next to impossible to find an intellectual culture at Miami. The ACT score is a bit higher than UNC Chapel Hill’s (29 for Miami vs. 28.5 for UNC) and the top 20% is the same at 31. I don’t understand why there is such an overtone of negativity about colleges where students have fun. Even smart people drink, watch sports, have sex and can enjoy themselves while still being intellectual- both in college and in the real world.</p>

<p>The U- Miami:
SAT Critical Reading: 580 - 680 62%
SAT Math: 610 - 700 62%
SAT Writing: 580 - 670 62%
ACT Composite: 27 - 31 33%</p>

8

<p>My son spent 2 1/2 years at UM, so even though there are many smart people who attend the school, the overall culture there is as I mentioned. Different schools attract different types of people no matter what the median gpa or SAT scores are. Many kids at UM tend to be concerned with their image and going to South Beach. I’m not saying that is all they care about, but it’s a big part of the UM scene.</p>

9

<p>My daughter is a freshmen at U of Miami. She had a 3.96 UW GPA and a 4.42 W GPA in HS with a 2100 SAT and is the down to earth academic type. She LOVES it at Miami!!</p>

<p>There are a lot of stereotypes out there about Miami. I was afraid of them being true before she began attending. We have found that they are wildly overexaggerated. I asked her to address these aspects of the school. Here is what she wrote:</p>

<p>Party School:
I don’t party, so I’ve never been to one. I have friends who do party though, so if you want it, it’s there. I haven’t heard of any parties on campus, and if there were, no one wants to go to them because the school has a zero tolerance policy toward on campus parties. Basically, if you want to party, just ask around and you’ll find one, and if you don’t, they’re really easy to avoid. To avoid drunken people, live in Stanford (not joking), and don’t stay up into the wee hours of the morning, when everyone’s going to be stumbling home from the parties.</p>

<p>Type of students:
You get both, and a little in-between. I find that the down to earth type people tend to gravitate towards Stanford (dorm), and the flashy cars people tend to gravitate towards Hecht (dorm). But there are rich students who have the flashy clothes and cars that are also down to earth. I’ve only met one of the stereotypical “rich” people in my time here, but that’s OK because no one else in my class can stand her. Same as with the drunkenness, you can find it if you look for it, but it if you don’t want it, it’s easy to avoid.</p>

<p>Sports:
It’s really only the football games, and only during football games. Sure, there’s some sort of fun sport going on a bunch of the time in the fields right outside Stanford, but if you’re not into sports, there’s plenty for you to do. The only time it “takes over the school” if you will, is DURING the actual football game, and even then pretty much only if it’s a home game. If you don’t want to go, it’s a perfect time to do laundry, catch up on homework, watch some TV on your roommates tv because they’re at the game…</p>

10

<p>hmm so you guys think going out of state would be better?</p>

11

<p>It’s not always better to go out of state.
My neighbor’s kid is at University of Miami(film program) and I think she’s pretty smart. I think she had 4.25 high school GPA from a very tough high school. She did get into UCLA but not USC film school. She eventually picked University of Miami.</p>

12

<p>Yeah… </p>

<p>My top schools are USC, UMiami, and UC-Boulder.</p>

<p>I’ve always dreamed of going out West, but UMiami has alot to offer and ends up being quite a bit cheaper.</p>

<p>I also have a pretty serious girlfriend who is a Junior, and I’d really love to be able to stay in touch with her/she wants to go to Miami as well. (never saw myself being the type to have a girl sway my decision, but she means so much to me)</p>

13

<p>Looks like you’ve pretty much decided.</p>

<p>USC and UMiami are also on my list, the only private college matches for me. The rest of them on my list are crazy reaches, safeties, and publics.</p>

<p>I’m in Norcal, so I’m looking at Socal as OOS experience for me.
Perhaps it’s similar for Florida being a large state?</p>

14

<p>Ya i think you guys are a little biased because all the people who i know who’ve gone to miami are smart and down to earth, and want to be around different people in a cultural place… So you think staying in state may be an alright idea?? How’s the psych department? And how are the abroad oppertunities?? </p>

<p>Thanks so much!!</p>

15

<p>Anyone?</p>

<p>Please I’m so stressed/confused!</p>

16

<p>Stressed/confused about what? Whether or not to apply? Just apply there and see dude…</p>

17

<p>Definitely apply - keep the door open.</p>

18

<p>I’m applying EA so I’m almost positive I’m in…</p>

<p>My school has very good relations with UMiami and like everyone gets in.</p>

<p>I’m stressed about the girlfriend, and where to go, and everything!</p>

19

<p>Don’t stress :)</p>

20

<p>“I also have a pretty serious girlfriend who is a Junior, and I’d really love to be able to stay in touch with her/she wants to go to Miami as well. (never saw myself being the type to have a girl sway my decision, but she means so much to me)”</p>

<p>DPC, No matter how it “right” it seems right now, please don’t think it will ever change. Fast Forward to your Sophomore year and her Freshman year. Trust me, the pressure on her to go out and “experience” things in college will be enormous. Do you think a bunch of male juniors and seniors won’t hit on her? That her new girlfriends, ones she is trying so badly to impress, won’t succeed in getting to go to a party? If she has the right “look” a club promoter will get her in at 18 or a Frat will gladly offer her beer and tell her to come in to their houseparty. No, this isn’t just UM, it would be pretty much most urban or large state schools. You? You are in the dorm, age 19 and fuming mad. Don’t know how many guys I met in the service who went through that exact scenario, quit school and joined up.</p>

<p>UMiami might just be perfect for you, but if you decide on it or another school, PLEASE don’t do it for a girl.</p>