<p>My daughter was accepted in December at Miami, and it is a great fit for her in so many ways, but we're a little worried about what the students, particularly the girls, are like. The reputation seems to be that the majority of the girls are beautiful, and care mostly about what designer name they're wearing. We've also heard from a recent grad that many of the girls end up with eating disorders. My daughter is very pretty, but she doesn't care that much about the name on her clothes. We tell her with 14,000+ students there, they won't all be the same and that she'll find a group that she'll like. She'll find those types at any university, but she doesn't want the majority to be like that. We are OOS, so don't know much about the kids from in-state. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>It depends where she end up being. I can only tell you from my D’s (IS) experience being in Honors and pre-med. D. realized that she would be enriched by surrounding herself with variety of people. One way to do it for her, was to have a Music Minor and be part of sorority (was not planned, she surprized us with this one). In regard to Honor, from our info sessions and later on from my D’s comments, most of these were valedictorians with great number of kids from private schools. However, I do not know actual numbers, this is strictly from observation. D’s roomate was valedictorian from public school in OH. Well, we are not big on labels and things, but D. loves to shop, does not have much time now as she is in Med. School. All of D’s pre-med friends are in Med. Schools now.<br>
From the situation in our city (in-state), those who love Miami, usually do not like Ohio State and vice versa. From what I hear, many from private HSs prefer Miami and Dayton, graduates from public HSs prefer Ohio State, but, of course there are exceptions to this. D. had great experience with sorority, many of thesm that we have met were out of state though, and mostly non-pre-med majors. If you have more specific questions, you can PM me. D. has graduated in 2011.</p>
<p>My perspective as alum and dad of alums (2Ds) 2003 and 2012.
We are OOS and have nothing but the highest regard for MU. It is true that this is not the most diverse campus in the country. The average kid is bright, of an upper middle class Midwestern background and would lean conservative (esp relative to the normal college campus).
Having said that, both my Ds cried on the day they left Oxford, degrees in hand. It is, and will always be, a very special place for us.
Both were good students but neither was part of the Honors Program. D2 was “Scholar” but that program is now defunct. D1 major was Communications, she was not Greek, and extremely involved in campus ministry activities. Ten years later she has a successful career in sales. D2 was Zoo major (originally Pre Dent) now in law school. She joined a sorority and was ultra involved in residence life, even holding a campus-wide leadership position and representing the university at regional conferences.
As for designer clothes, beautiful young women and a few girls who don’t adapt well to college life, yes, Miami has that. D2 saw it all as an RA for two years. But the vast majority of women at Miami are strong students of strong character who find their way into leadership positions later in life. This is a quality crowd comparable to any top public university in the land, particularly it might be at the top if you could somehow benchmark book smarts + social smarts as a measure of future life success.
I suppose that Miami isn’t a fit for everyone, but for this family it has been a perfect fit.
Next D has applied and been accepted this year. Still awaiting a decision on Honors, but even so, somehow I think another tearful departure from Oxford is in my future.</p>
<p>^Gunner, my D. was also Zoo major, interesting. Most pre-meds at MU are Zoo major, but pre-meds could be any major. Yes, this place will be in my D’s heart forever and she visited it many times since graduating. She did not cry at graduation, she knew that she would be coming back many times and she did and probably more visits in a future.</p>
<p>Thanks to all for your posts! It was helpful to hear different perspectives!</p>
<p>I don’t have a daughter but do have a son who’s a sophomore. I agree that you can generally find all types of students at all schools - sometimes you might have to look a little more. Also, students will change as they grow and mature but yes, they can and will be influenced by their peers. My son left home (OOS) 18 months ago basically wearing jeans from Old Navy and plain t-shirts or polos - just things we’d picked up from Marshall’s or TJ Maxx. This past Christmas? His list was only clothes and consisted of Brooks Brothers, Ralph Lauren, and J Crew. This could’ve happened at any school but just wanted to share my experience.</p>
<p>Well, my D. is switching to more and more expansive stores. She syas she needs to look professional. It might also to do with age and various outside of school proffessional experiences. They go to interview, they have to dress up. Certain internships might call for it also.</p>
<p>Well my son went with the requisite suit and also a blue blazer that the Farmer school recommends, multiple button downs and ties as well as dress shoes for interviews, etc. His new clothes are strictly for day to day dressing and have nothing to do with interviews. As I said, some is due maturing but I do believe a lot is due to what he’s seeing around him. Luckily for us we taught him well and all the items he put on his Christmas list were half off sale items!</p>
<p>I have two very different kids and both are really enjoying Miami. S could care less about clothes. His favorite outfit is athletic shorts and a T shirt. D is more fashion conscious but both very down to earth, good, hard working kids. I agree with the posters who have said that there are a lot of bright, upper middle class socially conservative students on campus. In all fairness, I would say that our family fits that demographic to a T so I am not sure how they would feel if they were from a different background. I think it is a good fit for a lot of families like ours whose EFC is over the cost of attendance and see the great value that Miami offers. As far as conservative, D is involved in the Republican club and Paul Ryan spoke on campus last summer. Diversity is very important, however, as S is a RA and much of his training focused on supporting diversity and making sure all groups felt welcome.</p>
<p>Our son asked for a suit for Christmas and went, last weekend, to a leadership conference. Miami is definitely grooming Farmer kids to be able to fit into a corporate world. He studies hard, makes good grades, and the kids around him seem to be committed to that same track. </p>
<p>That said, he is in a fraternity, has plenty of social time, participates in athletics, and is having a lot of fun.</p>
<p>When I suggested he look into staying a 5th year for his Master’s, he was pretty happy about the idea. How many college kids WANT to stay an extra year at college. Miami is a near-perfect college experience for a well-adjusted conservative kid. He’ll come out prepared for a job, with the work ethic to handle it.</p>
<p>DS is considering attending as a gaming major. We just met with the director while he was in SF and he assured us that there are at least 250 geeks for DS to find a few kindred spirit.
Though the frat/sor crowd always stands out on every campus, it sounds as though with such a large population, everyone can find their nitch.</p>
<p>Do the Ohio kids stick together in packs? Heard from one mom of son there, that since 85% are from Ohio already come to Miami with group formed complete with hierarchy from high school and hard at times to break in for out of stater.
I have an OOS D who was accepted into Farmer.</p>
<p>Miami is definitely not 85% in-state; the in-state percentage is significantly lower than that.</p>
<p>We have a good friend who graduated last June. We and they are in NY but this girl’s mom is from Ohio originally and has strong family ties there. This girl has a white mom and an Ghanaian immigrant dad and was on the track team. The family never had the income to support designer duds and the girl did all kinds of jobs throughout high school and summers and vacations for spending money. She is beautiful and stylish but no eating disorders at all and her friends from school are also very normal. She loved her time at Miami U.</p>
<p>Per the Miami Student:</p>
<p>[Miami</a> puts emphasis on out-of-state recruitment - News - The Miami Student](<a href=“http://www.miamistudent.net/news/miami-puts-emphasis-on-out-of-state-recruitment-1.2934155#.UWiSmL8bKvE]Miami”>http://www.miamistudent.net/news/miami-puts-emphasis-on-out-of-state-recruitment-1.2934155#.UWiSmL8bKvE)</p>
<p>OOS percentage is approximately 40% and climbing.
I am unaware, from personal experience, of instances where freshman students gravitate primarily towards relationships or groups from their high school days. The residence life programs at Miami are entirely geared away from that sort of behavior.
It is true that, if you went to a large high school in Cinci, Columbus or Cleveland, you are bound to know a few dozen of your fellow classmates upon arrival to campus. But your social circle can’t help but expand rapidly with loads of new friends and acquaintances from the get go.
It is true that socially you will reap what you sow, but it seemed to come readily to both of my out of state older girls.</p>
<p>Our S recently accepted for class of 2017. One of the things we really liked about Miami was their dorms setup; while not a Yale/Rice-style residential colleges system, it’s definitely a feature of life there and seems to encourage mixing it up geographically to find their crowd. Our S went on the FB page for the incoming class (closed to allow only enrolled students), posted info about himself, and quickly found a likely roommate from NJ. We’re from the Chicago area (one of what they refer to as The Four C’s; Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Chicago). I agree with GunnerDad’s observation; it appears they clearly want to mix it up but there will also likely be social circle carryover from some high schools in OH.</p>
<p>Miami is a great school for making friends from all over. I think kids definitely tend to form friendship groups with kids who live near them in their dorm and who do the same activities …not by sticking with high school groups! </p>
<p>BTW, I went to Miami many moons ago, but I was from Delaware— my friends (who are still my close friends today) were from several states, several high schools in Ohio, and none of them hung around their high school group. Being from another state just makes you a little more interesting : )</p>
<p>I am also a ‘many moons ago’ Miami grad. I lived in The Pines freshman year and have many fond memories of the Miami experience, including getting to know girls from all over. I am from Ohio - my roommate was from Missouri - others I got to know: next door - Illinois (she became my sophomore year roomie) and Michigan - down the hall, New Jersey (still remember her accent), Delaware, Vermont, India. </p>
<p>Makes me want to dig out and reminisce with my ‘baby book’ - the paper bound directory all freshmen received to get to know fellow classmates. :)</p>
<p>Sleeponit, I totally remember the baby book! They probably don’t have those anymore since there’s Facebook… Lots of wonderful memories and I am hoping my son (junior in HS) decides to go there in 2014.</p>
<p>Miami seems to be popular with Chicago kids. We never could figure it out.<br>
Definitely was the perfect place for my pre-med D. (in-state).</p>