<p>My Rising Senior Daughter is interested in visiting Miami. Should we go during the summer or wait until school opens in the fall? In the fall she would be able to do a Saturday/Sunday visit only with her schedule. She is very interested in going Greek as well, so it would be nice to see the campus when it is in full swing. Can anyone provide any information on the sororities at Miami? I saw that there are wings in dorms for the groups, does this mean the sororities do not have houses? Are recs needed for each house for recruitment? Thanks in advance!!!</p>
<p>How far do you live from Oxford? The summer is nice in Oxford for parking and getting around easily as it will be basically deserted, but if you want to really get a feel for a campus you need to go when school is in session. If you can only go once, go when the students are there.</p>
<p>The sororities do not have houses, but have a wing in a dorm that includes a suite for their meetings and gatherings. The suites are large living room type areas with one or two additional smaller rooms/areas and a kitchen. Most girls in a sorority choose to live with their sorority the second year. After that, most students move off campus. D lived with 5 girls, all 4 from different sororities and one non Greek. D2 will be living next year with girls from 2 different sororities. She was not interested in Greek life and is involved with other activities. My point is that even though you may join a sorority there doesn’t seem to be pressure to restrict your friends to mostly your sisters. Even though they mix, there is a bond with the sisters as well. It seems to be a great way to open the university socially. Rush occurs just prior to the start of second semester. The girls go back a few days early for, from what I know, some pretty intensive talking and smiling, and fun times. I don’t know how important recs might be for each house. I will ask D next time I talk to her.</p>
<p>We live in Michigan, about a 5-hour drive. We will probably wait until school is in session to visit. Thanks for the info!!</p>
<p>It is very expansive OOS, but maybe you are not considering cost. My D. has graduated last year, it was a perfect place for her, prepared her very well. She mentioned that there are a lot of OOS there and she was impressed by how expansive it is for them. If we lived in Mich., D. would definitely consider U of M, but again, it was way too expensive for us OOS, being less than 1 hours from it. But no regrets here, only great memories, tons of friends, many sorority sisters, everything was beyond our family expectations. Best to your D. I hope she will like Miami and attend.</p>
<p>Yes, UMiami was not considered originally due to OOS tuition until Miami announced their new scholarship program for 2013. My daughter qualifies for 1/2 to full tuition, so she will apply and see what happens. If she receives full tuition she will consider Miami, as she qualifies for the free tuition scholarship at Alabama as well. She would love to go to Michigan (and is definitely applying), but we know she will most likely not receive any $$, making it more expensive than Miami and Alabama. Thanks for the information, I think she would really like Miami based on what I have seen online and have heard from others!!</p>
<p>We are going to visit next week, on a tour of schools for D. Any suggestions on things to see or places to shop in Oxford?</p>
<p>Oxford is tiny and Miami has very pretty campus. Just walk around get a feel, visit Rec. center - one of my favorite, but D. was using it a lot. I heard that new Business school building is awesome, never been there. Food service is one of the best in the country among college campuses. Visit College Suits, some upper classmen live there.</p>
<p>Sylvan - Please pm me or post how your visit was, also, where are you from? What other colleges are on your tour? Have a great tour!</p>
<p>MiamiDAP- Thank you for the information! I decided to take my daughter to visit the first week of July, then head back in the fall if she is definitely interested (I think she will be).</p>
<p>Sylvan, while uptown in Oxford, be sure to stop in Bagel & Deli and get a bagel. They have been there forever, a real Miami tradition, and they are delicious! Grab your bagel then walk around uptown.</p>
<p>I personally addicted to cheese colzones, they are sold on campus. I will always crave cheese colzone at Miami. No plans for any visit, D. has graduated in 2011. But we used to visit there before she attended as their Rec. center hosts championships and they used to sell those colzones right there. I wish I can have it right now…</p>
<p>Sylvan
S and I were in Oxford last week for orientation. The town and campus are both going through major construction right now. Much of it will be done before August with the exception of the Armstrong student center and the new dorm/dining facility near MET quad on Maple. The new dorm/dining facility will be open for the fall of 2013 for sophomore housing. It will be the first dorms at Miami to have quad housing; four private rooms with a common living area. The Armstrong student center will be another year after that as it is a major project. I was surprised to see the changes coming to Cook Field. I understand the need for the artificial turf, but fear it may take away some of the natural beauty of the area. It will be good for the intramural sport teams to have a dry playing field though. I trust that Miami will make it look beautiful, as they have with everything else thus far.</p>
<p>All the beauty of the campus is a small part of being at Miami. I have never seen such a happy group of people. The students love being there and are generally just nice and helpful people. H and I are always impressed with how well organized and smoothly run the university is, from major events like commencement to everyday billing questions. The staff is knowledgeable and get back to you in a timely manner. For us and others we have spoken to, it has been hassle free. I guess that is all part of what makes up the, “Miami bubble”. </p>
<p>We hope S will be as happy and successful as Ds were/are at Miami. After being at orientation, he can hardly wait to start and I am comfortable letting him go!</p>
<p>Hope you find a nice fit for your upcoming senior whether at Miami or elsewhere. It can be a stressful year, but also fun! Enjoy and good luck.</p>
<p>Thank you all - I will post after our trip. Any additional suggestions are welcome. </p>
<p>Some student sites have posted to the effect that MU is a “party school” and the people are clothes conscious and mostly from well-to-do families. I know every school gets this type of comments, but does anyone who has students there (or grads, MiamiDAP), have comments or perspectives?</p>
<p>I will do my best to try and answer this clearly and not seem contradictory. </p>
<p>When my Ds started at Miami I sent them with a couple of new pair of jeans and the clothes they had from HS. They had nice clothes from HS, but not super expensive or anything. They had clothes from Gap, Old Navy, J. Crew, some Urban Outfitters, H+M, and Macy’s and probably some things from TJ Maxx. The students walk around in flip flops, Sperrys, shorts, jeans, Ts, sweatshirts and tops any kid that age would wear. So, nothing different from what teens and young adults that age wear anywhere. The thing is,… kids there are generally attractive in their appearance and the way that they carry themselves. They are generally clean cut and have a positive attitude. That attitude, which includes a smile, seems to maximize their attractiveness. If they didn’t know how to dress nicely before they got to Miami they learn quickly how to put clothes together to make a basic outfit look a little more special, yet in a simple way. There is nothing flashy about the way they dress at all. D said a large part of the fun of going out as a freshman was trading clothes with other girls in the dorm. (I just read this to her and she laughed and said it was a large part of all four years). </p>
<p>There are house parties off campus. I have been in my Ds house the morning after a party and it was in good shape for just having had approximately 60-80 twenty-one year olds over socializing…though it included a somewhat sticky floor and a recycling bin full of empty beer cans/bottles. When driving around town on a weekend night, one can spot a house party here or there. I never saw anything other than people socializing in a civil manner. (I have to admit I generally went to my hotel before one am.)</p>
<p>There are students from all backgrounds, but there is a feeling of a fair amount of wealth. I am not sure what it is that gives that feeling, certainly no one talks about it…maybe it’s the clean cut look, a strong sense of intelligence, and the pleasant manners of the students. Parents often refer to the Miami students as being in a bubble that is not reality. I would have to say there is some truth to that. It is a nice transition to an independent adulthood. Over this summer D, H and I have talked with local students who attend other schools. More than a few times we have wondered if they were always so cynical or if we are just noticing it more now. I just don’t see it with the kids my Ds socialize with at Miami. (and Ds are both very different). Maybe it’s just a coincidence, maybe not, but I certainly prefer people with a positive attitude and a pleasant demeanor. </p>
<p>I hope this is helpful to you. Feel free to ask any questions. I will answer them as best as I can.</p>
<p>Back from our tour of Ohio - OSU, Dayton, Miami, Xavier. </p>
<p>Miami campus is probably the single most beautiful we’ve been on. The fact that the buildings are so similar (compared to most schools) did become disconcerting and disorienting after awhile - kind of like eating 6 boxes of ice cream all at once :). We were impressed with the presentation, and the very “private school” feel. Great potential for merit scholarships. School is also BIG on study abroad (like 49%). Dorm was gorgeous, history palpable. </p>
<p>D’s main problem was the isolation of the campus (city girl). “Bus to Walmart” syndrome. Nothing they can do about that, but could be a deal breaker for a mall rat.</p>
<p>^In regard to Walmart specifically, this one seemed to be one of the most common shopping trip while in Oxford, there would not no problem lookng for somebody to go together in a car and it is very close.
In regard to being in a middle of nowhere, this is correct and is the main attraction to non-city type of kids,…like my D. She mentioned it several times after graduation as she is in a city currently. She misses Oxford a lot, she said, she will never live in a city. So, I understand this concern and it could be a breaker very easily.</p>
<p>Sylvan - Thanks for your post! I’m curious as to how my daughter will view Miami. She LOVES the big city, but we are from a smaller city so we will see! My dd is planning on study abroad, and I know Miami is big into that! Thanks again for your input!</p>
<p>sylvan,
remind your D that in college there is not a lot of money or time to spend in malls anyway!</p>
<p>Also, I believe Zipcar is available to students on the Miami campus, and it is a very quick drive to malls in and around Cincinnati, if she is in need of a retail fix.</p>