<p>Does anyone have any information about university of miami? The academics(biology, chemistry, pre-med), the social life, the dorms? I have looked on their website and i have liked evreything I have seen about it so far and i plan to visit during the summer. I was just wondering if anyone had any information or expierence with the school. Thank you.</p>
<p>I teach at UM in the biology department, feel free to email me if you have any specific questions.</p>
<p>cheers,
CUgrad</p>
<p>Is Donna S. doing a good job in moving UM ahead?</p>
<p>In my opinion, no. But then again, I think you would be challenged to find any faculty member at any institution who is satisfied with their administration.</p>
<p>cheers,
cugrad</p>
<p>lilred...UM has a number of outstanding departments and, in general, provides an excellent liberal arts education. However, there are a number of serious problems with the biology/premed program that are being resolved. Most biology students here are pre-medical, yet presently, the biology program for undergrads does not fulfill the core requirements for admissions to most medical schools (e.g. biochemistry). Furthermore, while research opportunities can be found on campus, the majority of faculty focus on ecology/organismal biology...not exactly conducive to a student wanting to pursue bio-medical research (though the medical school offers fantastic research opportunities). Presently, the administration is pumping money into the biology department--building renovations, new faculty etc.--but those won't come to bear for some time, at least five years or so down the line...</p>
<p>In my opinion, pre-med is one of miami's weaknesses. If you were interested in marine science, conservation biology etc., I would say by all means, apply. I think, however, you would be better off at a place like U of Florida as a pre-med than at miami.</p>
<p>cheers,
CUgrad</p>
<p>as an aside...it is a beautiful campus, and I love living in Miami.</p>
<p>CUgrad, just wanted to welcome you to CC. It is always great to get an insider's view of a school. I am wondering how you view the accelerated MD program at UM. Also, do you have any numbers on UM med school admissions?</p>
<p>I think CUgrad and I had a discussion about the pros/cons of Miami back on the old board. </p>
<p>To the OP: A completely different outlook here. I know that my son LOVES UM, feels he's getting a top notch education (of course, maybe that's because he's in one of the Bio programs which require BioChem LOL) and feels as though he made the right choice with UM. </p>
<p>I can also say as a UM Parent that every dealing I've had with the university has been a pleasant one.</p>
<p>Definetly don't waste your time and money at University of Miami, the only thing that is really only worth going is the fact is that they have a 7-year medical program, other than that it's just a private school for the not-so-bright rich. Sorry to relay this so harshly, but it's true. Your better off at UF.</p>
<p>CUgrad</p>
<p>I was wondering if you could share any thoughts on Miami's biochem and neuroscience (neurobio track) programs. S will be entering in the fall, pre-med, and is torn between the two majors. </p>
<p>Also, there seems to be 3 pre-med tracks, Bio first, Chem first or Bio/Chem together. S would like to do Bio/Chem together. Do you have any recommendations?</p>
<p>All of our dealings with Miami have been very positive. We had the opportunity to hear an address by Donna Shalala during our last visit and thought she was a real dynamo. We are very happy with S's choice to attend Miami, but I appreciate your honest opinions and welcome hearing about the school from another perspective. Thanks.</p>
<p>Donna Shalala is a very dynamic speaker and leader, but that doesn't always equate with excellence. She is not a bad president, but I certainly think more could be done...</p>
<p>...the biggest problem, in my opinion, with the biology major is that 90% of the faculty are in fields unrelated to the medical division (ecology, evolution, behavior, etc.). Currently, the department has hired a new chair whose job is to integrate the department and bring in more cell and developmental research. These faculty lines have been approved, but the search process for new faculty takes time. Miami, in general, is an excellent school, but a university like UF, for example, has much, much more diverse offerings in the biological sciences--in both coursework and research opportunities. All that being said, the quality of life in Miami is amazing. It has a very cosmopolitan feel, but so very different from the northeastern cities. The campus, in general, is beautiful, but I could see how some might think of it as a bit dull. The school is definitely not lacking in spirit, and student loyalty is high. It's not the most intellectual university, but some students appreciate that.</p>
<p>1tcm, I don't doubt that your son loves UM, but I would suggest that his frame of reference is rather limited (assuming he's an undergraduate).</p>
<p>Bottom line, I think Miami is an excellent school that could certainly improve in a number of ways (but what school couldn't). I would not hesitate to say, however, that Miami's weakest programs are, without a doubt, in the sciences (excluding marine science). Students can be extremely successful--I know of two students this year goint to Stanford for medical school, and one to CalTech for graduate school in chemistry. In my opinion, for both medical school preparation and for those intending graduate school in the sciences, a place like UF simply has their act together more than UM, both in the structure of their program and in resources...</p>
<p>just my 2 cents
CUgrad
I should add, that I have no affiliation with UF, other than I enjoy watching the hurricanes whup up on gators on the football field...I only use UF as a reference since most students deciding on UM are from Florida/the South and UF is high on their list.</p>
<p>BCBounded wrote:
[quote]
Definetly don't waste your time and money at University of Miami, the only thing that is really only worth going is the fact is that they have a 7-year medical program, other than that it's just a private school for the not-so-bright rich. Sorry to relay this so harshly, but it's true. Your better off at UF.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm really curious why BC Bounded has such thoughts about UM? And if in fact he/she has actually ever stepped foot on campus? And if so what facts does he/she have to back these statements up? I can guarantee that my S is not in the <em>not-so-bright-rich</em> kid category. Mom may be not so bright, and not rich! But that's a different story. :)</p>
<p>Opinions like those of CUgrad are much better appreciated. I'm still curious however CU, if you're still having so much dis-like for the way things are, how come you are still there? I went and found the thread where we discussed things last year on the old board and you seemed unhappy then. It seems that you are even more un-happy with UM now than you were then. Last year you told me...and I quote:</p>
<p>
[quote]
to answer 1tcm's question...I'm a Ph.D. student in biology. In biology, perhaps more than other science related fields, it matters less where you go and more about who you work with. Miami does have a few excellent young faculty members who--to prove my point--are not being granted tenure simply because UM does not want to invest funds in research that's not related to the med school...this is really a shame because many of these faculty are tops in their field...they're just not able to get big money NIH grants because they don't work on C. elegans cell biology or Danio genetics.
[/quote]
So I'm just curious last year my son would be okay because he was studying exactly that cell bio/genetics, but this year he's not because he's not in ecology/evolution type bio? I'm confused...(which is normal for me. LOL)</p>
<p>I indeed still wish you good luck with your studies and hope you find what you are looking for. Oh and I ask son if you were ever his TA in his labs and he said no.</p>
<p>These are not throughly my opinions, I may, or most probably, am wrong about this school, but this is what I know from current student's there and high school couserlors, I didn't mean it as my own personal opinon, but that of what I know of it.</p>
<p>Oh, and yes I've seen the campus, I have lots of kids who went there...and transfered, but some who are still there. Campus is nice, Coral Gables is really nice as well...Though I don't see myself in Miami for college...thats just me though.</p>
<p>1tcm...perhaps I wasn't clear enough. The faculty emphasis is on ecology, evolution, behavior. Therefore, a student with an organismal focus who intends to pursue graduate study would actually be in an ok situation at UM--heavy emphasis on ecology related courses and research. It's the students with a more molecular focus who I feel are getting the short end of the stick, and it just so happens that the majority of pre-medical students want to concentrate in cell/developmental biology and do related research (which is non-existant on the coral gables campus, but readily abundant at the med school).</p>
<p>And to answer you second question, I am moving to the university of california, starting in the fall of '05. Most of the faculty and graduate students are not happy with the current state of affairs in the department and realize that this does trickle down to the undergraduates. It's a shame, because as a city and campus community, Miami's a great place.</p>
<p>cheers,
CUgrad</p>