<p>ivayhopeful - Both UD and Miami are both schools with great campuses, so if money is not a factor, then I would try to go to the school based on the type of person you are. Miami is more of the preppy, underground ivy type school. UD is the more laid-back, welcoming school. </p>
<p>If you go to UD you have to live on campus! So if the parents insist on UD, then discuss with them about how important it is to live at least the 1st year on campus. The first year dorms are not that great, but the whole experience of the UD community is what makes UD a welcoming place to be. It is the only campus I visited while in H.S., where regular students came up during the tour and said how much they love UD. </p>
<p>Although UD is a catholic university, the emphasis is really on service. So regardless of religion, everyone feels welcome. UD has fraternities and sororities, but Miami definitely has the beautiful fraternity houses and the larger Greek community.</p>
<p>However, UD is probably more of the party school than Miami. So that make help convince the parents that UD may not be the place to go. There is a reason UD has spring break – it is to prevent St. Patty day parties that used to mess up the campus. There is also a reason UD does not have homecoming – again, it is to prevent homecoming parties that used to mess up the campus. </p>
<p>As to the whole downtown Dayton is a depressed city, UD really does not seem part of Dayton because of how the campus is laid out. Also, UD students never go to downtown Dayton, if they want to go shopping or what not, they go south to the suburbs and/or the Dayton Mall area.</p>
<p>With regards to medical school, it is probably more important to have a strong science background when taking the MCATs, than anything else. I have several friends who graduated from UD, but in chemisty or chemical engineering, then went onto med school and are now doctors. Good luck!</p>
<p>Newsun…we visited both Miami and Dayton over spring break. From what I can tell, you sure are right on the money. I have a question for you about Dayton if you don’t mind. What if you don’t drink? I know things can certainly change, but right now, my son is pretty adamant about not drinking. Is that a problem at Dayton? Are there others who don’t or at least those who don’t care that you don’t? I was so incredibly impressed with Dayton. We have hit almost 10 schools and the Dayton kids were so incredibly kind as we were on tour. It sounds so hokey, but everyone was so friendly and welcoming as we would walk by.</p>
<p>I know this post is old but I am hopeful a few of you are still out there
We are in the process of finalizing our college decision. My daughter has been accepted at both schools with the option of joining their honors programs. I am not sure it is necessary and want to make sure she has an experience in college that is not all studying without any downtime to socilaize and be an active member on campus. </p>
<p>Dayton had offered her a nice merit based 4 yr scholarship that will bring the cost of tuition down to our instate school (Univ of IL) we have not heard from Maimi - I believe they will let us know in March. We know that she did not receive their Honors Scholarship - I am not sure what other Merit ones will be available. Most likely we will not be in the running for need based financial ones. With two in college maybe…waiting on FAFSA results.</p>
<p>We visited both schools (UD snd MU) on the same day and it was a bit rushed so we did not get a feel for the surrounding Oxford commuinty. Both campus seemed to have a lot to offer and I can see her attending either. Didn’t realize Dayton was a Catholic university until we arrived which a a bit of a bonus for me since we are Catholic. They did not push any religion during the Dayton tour which was good since my daughter had been shying away from the religious schools. Having only attended public schools - she seems a bit intimidated by the schools that really push their religion. Dayton focused more on their community service and overall service projects as their goal.</p>
<p>My questions to those of you in the know…
Miami seems to have a rep as being preppy, snobby, ivy league-ish either you fit in or you dont…I did not see that on our tour. I saw a bunch of kids running around in their sweats and pony tails. not in their Burberry’s and penny loafers. The campus was beautiful and the students seemed like any I had seen on our visits to other schools. What was I missing?</p>
<p>To futher confuse us…
A teacher at her school questioned her selection of Miami as a top choice - telling her she wasn’t Jewish or rich so why would she go there? That was a surprise to me? As stated above we are not choosing a school based on religious demographics …Is Miami considered a Jewish majority school? We didn’t discuss an faith based topics on our tour.
Do only well-off students attend this school? Will the middle class kids stand out? </p>
<p>Education Major…we live in IL and the majority of education degrees earned in our state for Primary Ed would be K-8 - To my knowledge Miami offers only a Pre-K thru 3 degree and then jumps into Middle School options with concentration on certain teaching subjects. Has anyone out there attended UD or Miami that lived in IL and came back to teach here?</p>
<p>sorry its so long…she told me last night that Miami has moved up to one and Dayton is second. I want to make sure she will be happy and is making the right choice.</p>
<p>I don’t know where that teacher’s “Jewish” comment came from, as it’s not the case. Is your daughter considering joining a sorority? If so, I think that helps with the adjustment at Miami. Even though our high school is known as having wealthy, preppy kids, some of them have gone to Miami and then decided they didn’t like it. I’m not sure why.</p>
<p>Yes, I’m a U. of Dayton Alum, you do have to have 18 credit hours in religion/theology. I am not catholic, but actually I enjoyed most of the classes I took (World Religions, Judaism, Women Mystics, etc., so not all Catholic coursework per say). </p>
<p>I was a huge partier in undergrad at UD (that Ghetto gets crazy), so I may not be the best person to offer advice since I pretty much majored in beer, but Dayton isn’t the nicest city, to say the least. My sister went to Miami U. for grad school. Oxford is a really nice college town. Would probably choose Miami U. over UD if giving advice.</p>
<p>I am a high school senior living in Oxford, practically on the Miami campus. I have lived here my entire life and even taken some PSEO classes at Miami. From living in such close proximity to the university has given me a pretty good feel for the school without actually going there.</p>
<p>My brother and sister both went to Miami and did well. My sister received a Fullbright grant as an indirect result of her education at the school. She made the most of her education. Unfortunately it seems as if she was an oddity.</p>
<p>Oxford is a great place to live, don’t get me wrong. The University is also a very good one. The problem I have with Miami is the students.</p>
<p>Some in this thread hit on the main points already: Miami is very preppy. The students drink like no other (I mean Green Beer Day? Come on! Its a local’s worst nightmare). From what my siblings say, its a playground for “daddy’s little girl.” An excuse to go party first and get a degree second. Again, I’ll point to student-led riots a few years back as an example.</p>
<p>Just driving through Oxford can show one the true situation. The student body is polarized. There are those who apply themselves and those there for the ride. Now, granted all colleges are like this to some extent. I realize that. From all of my college visits it seems as if Miami is just more so than others.</p>
<p>I have several friends whose parents work at Miami. I have spoken with most of them, and almost all back up what i just said.</p>
There is a reason UD has spring break – it is to prevent St. Patty day parties that used to mess up the campus. There is also a reason UD does not have homecoming – again, it is to prevent homecoming parties that used to mess up the campus. </p>