Miami University-Oxford Top Questions

Academics are definitely challenging at Miami, but while they are difficult, they are rewarding. For instance, being an English major, I have to read a variety of literature and write a number of papers, but in the process of doing this I have discovered various new topics in literature that I was not aware of before entering the major. When first committing to being an English major, I thought it would be a lot of Shakespeare reading and such, but now leaving the major after 3 years of serious investment, the major is so much more than that. What I have learned is that it is about learning how to properly critique and analyze various realms of literature, preparing oneself to present these findings in different ways, and allowing oneself to use literature to broaden one's view on numerous subjects. The professors at Miami are especially gifted at teaching these skills, and give their students many opportunities to succeed in this regard.

Starting answering!I think that the academics at Miami are really great. The professors really care about how the students are doing and they try to make the class as interesting as possible. Most of the classes I have had have been relatively small and the professors have been pretty good about remembering names. The education is focused on learning to use logic in order to think outside the box as well as figuring out how to deal with the problem at hand. I feel that this is perfect for life outside of college because not everything is going to be straightforward and easy to solve. My least favorite class and my favorite class were both Art History classes. The first time I took it, I really hated the grade I ended up with and retook the class. The first professor was very demanding. For exams she required us to memorize on hundred paintings. We had to know the name of the piece, the artist, and the date it was made in. It was just so much memorization. The class was purely lecture and I just didn’t feel like anything I learned in there would be retained after the final. The second time I took it the professor engaged the class. We had to do small projects on the pieces and when we learned about architecture she had us go out and photograph specific styles that are still used today. I feel like the second time around was a much more Miami education experience. It was challenging but fun and rewarding as I still remember a lot from the class. The classroom environment at Miami is pretty laid back but it’s a lot of work. Professors expect students to be fully prepared and ready for discussion. I think that Miami’s academics are amazing and I feel confident that when I’m done with my education I will be prepared for my career.

The professors at Miami are really nice. They really try to relate and to help you. Besides the Miami plan classes I had to take, I've always been in classes where the professor knows my name. They are constantly trying new ways to help us learn. I have one professor come up with a game called "textual tetris" where he cut out tetris blocks and wrote theses on them that we had to support using the novel we were reading at the time. It was hard but fun at the same time. There is usually a group element to most of the classes, even if it is as simple as leading a class discussion. I'm an English Literature major with a Management minor. There are some major difference between the departments but the one thing that never changes is how much the professors care. My English classes are cool because there are so many different things you can study. There are guidelines but you really get to pick what interests you. One of the requirements is that you have to take two 400 level classes. The 400 level classes are the best because they are really specific to what the professor wants to teach. I took one on the Old West in films and books and I took one on how we look at terrorism. Both were probably the best classes I've taken. They both had 10 page papers at the end which seemed difficult but we were given plenty of guidance and help if we needed it. The management classes are cool because a lot of the professors have been in the fields they are teaching. You are getting people that were actually in the business world and can tell you about their experiences. They tell you what really works and what doesn't. Some of my more interesting classes for my minor were about leadership and motivation. In my leadership class we talked about the difference between a leader and a manager. It really made you think about which you wanted to be and showed that there are differences. In motivation we questioned whether money is really what makes people like their jobs. Both are applicable to my real life and I loved them both.

The academics at Miami probably differ on the major, but I'm sure there are connections all across the board. Students definitely study a lot...at least, near midterms and finals, ha ha. The majority of students at Miami are dedicated to their studies, more than I've ever seen before, and make sure that they have plenty of time to study. Class participation in the English department, which is the one that I'm in, is constant--whether it's literature review or discussion about a nineteenth-century novel, students always have something to say. It's less of a competition in this field because there's very rarely a right answer, it's about perception and interpretation. Every professor I've had in the English department has learned all of their students names. Granted, the biggest class I've been in was about thirty five students, but still. Professors are on a first name basis with their students, always willing to meet outside of class (or come in early/ stay late). The education within the English department is geared just as much towards learning as it is for getting a job. The basic design of college is to get one prepared for the job that they wish to have. Since there are a plethora of outcomes for someone with an English degree (not just teaching, as most people assume), learning for the sake of learning is one of the best ways to go about it because, instead of "teaching to the test," it encourages students to think on their own, enjoy learning, and find happiness in what they do.

Miami University is a state school that prides itself on the personal attention it gives to its undergraduates—a statement that seems to ring true. I personally have taken classes that are smaller, comprised of twenty some students, and larger, lecture-hall classes. Regardless of the size, professors make a genuine effort to know their students, and be readily available concerning any questions about course material. Office hours are adequate, but professors are very flexible in meeting outside these times as needed. In small classes, professors not only make it a point to know a student’s name, but also to follow that student’s progress and address concerns. Some lecture halls make personal attention difficult, but I personally was impressed with the methods professors use to make such classes more engaging. My psychology professor, in particular, assigned group work and encouraged small group discussions when possible, making the class both more interesting and more intimate. Admittedly, large lecture halls can become disruptive and monotonous, but this is a small problem because lecture halls are mostly for Miami plan requirements. Once a student is inside his or her major, classes rival the small size seen in private schools. Class participation varies dependent on the course, as I have witnessed both ends of the spectrum. Lower level courses tend to have less participation, as many students are simply taking the course for credit as opposed to interest in the material. Likewise, upper level courses tend to have very active participation, but it depends on the professor itself. One of the negative experiences I’ve had concerned a professor that discouraged students because the professor shut down answers he/she did not agree with, rather than encouraging new lines of thought. On the other hand, I have had a professor that had such enthusiasm and open support of her students, that the whole class participated often. Fpr the most part, Miami University promotes student participation. In my experience, students tend to be very different outside of class. Except for students purposely meeting for a group project, it is not common to hear anyone students leading intellectual discussions. Admittedly, many students are too concerned with social affairs to discuss their classes, unless it is to commiserate on a heavy course load or difficult professor. While students at Miami are serious about their academics, this does not usually translate into their daily lives. Many students study diligently on Sundays, spending their weekends engaging in social activities. Cramming for tests is common, and students tend to think about course materials more in concerns to their grade then how it applies in their life. Miami University has a strong academic program; that is fairly certain. Perhaps the greatest weakness is translating that success into passion. Students are very successful, with high job placement rates upon graduation, but I see few that learn for the sake of the love of learning. It is of course, difficult to blame a school for this, in the difficult current economy, but it is still a challenge the University should consider. As for my personal experiences, I am in enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, pursing a degree in English/Creative Writing. My least favorite course I’ve taken was a lecture hall science course, which I took to satisfy Miami Plan general requirements. Partially this was due to my lack of interest, but it was more so the manner the course was taught. Tests were written so as to question a student’s confidence, and, I feel, were not accurate to a student’s knowledge and dedication. My favorite class, on the other hand, was an introductory literary studies course. The professor was extremely enthusiastic, exceedingly encouraging, and creative. Every class consists of open discussion, and I truly believe my writing and analytical abilities were fostered over the semester. The course required hard work, but it also helped students grow, and welcomed many ways to go about succeeding and developing one’s one voice.

The students at Miami are extremely smart in my opinion, and the academics here push students to continue growing and learning. My favorite part about Miami classes, is that almost all of my classes have been 30 people or less, which really has allowed me to get to know my fellow classmates and my professors. My teachers have been so nice and open which has helped me out greatly in school. I have visited almost all of my professors' office hours and been able to continually communicate with them via email when outside of class. When not in my Literature or Creative Writing classes, I have had the opportunity to take many interesting courses though my Miami Plan requirements. These have ranged from Sociology to Math to American Studies classes, none of which are my major, but all extremely beneficial to my education. I could go on forever about Miami's academics, but I am not going to. Just know that Miami really does a great job encouraging their students to learn and then succeed later on in life.

I have found that the academic experience at Miami is very fulfilling. In my first semester I took 4 classes: French, Creative Writing, Sociology, and Women's Gender Studies. As an English major, I found that these courses were a great way to explore my interests in an academic setting while still pushing myself intellectually. My largest class consisted of about 50 people and my smallest had 12. Creative Writing and French were set in a more intimate environment that provoked discussion based learning and innovative thinking. My professors in those classes were extremely engaging and attentive to each student and his or her individual needs. While Sociology and Women's Gender Studies were taught at a larger scale, it did not take away from the learning experience. The professors were still very good at making sure that we were keeping up with the material. All of my professors were courteous and professional and made me feel as though I was not just another number on their roster. There is a wide variety of students here at Miami. Some spend countless hours at King Library while others take a more lax approach to their studies. The good thing about Miami is that if you want help there is always a way to get it. Whether it be through a private tudor, a T.A., or even one on one assistance from your professor during office hours, there are ways to make sure that students are not falling behind.

Professors know your name, especially when you don't attend class. This was the case when one of professors called me out on not coming to class regularly my freshman year. She sat me down, and explained the importance of education towards a better future. It took me by surprise, because i didn't understand why she cared so much. These are the type of professors that you will experience at Miami. They are invested in your success and have no problem in helping you, even networking with you outside of the classroom. My favorite class was Contemporary American Fiction so far. I thought this class was interesting, because we read amazing American fiction books and had discussions regularly about the book and what it meant to literary world. It made me happy to be an English major, because it engaged me in the material that I will soon make my profession. My least favorite is any science class, just because I dislike any sciences. This is the case sometimes, you end up taking many classes in the beginning that you either dislike or are really hard. This is the result of the Miami Plan, a liberal arts collegiate system that forces the student to take classes in different areas of the arts to be a well-rounded student. Also, most of your pre-requisite classes for your major are made to be extremely hard to "weed students out" of their academic capability. This can be a good and a bad thing. Good, because Miami has no problem in challenging students so you will be prepared to leave Miami. Bad, because sometimes it can be too much and discourage students from their majors, or even from college itself. But this is when services like the Rinella Learning Center come in, providing free tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, disability modification, study sessions, academic counselors, and etc... The typical Miami student studies most of their time and is well-knowledgeable, just because of the liberal arts education that Miami is rooted in. You learn so much in different areas, in not just your own, but outside other classes you take. I like this because it makes you well-rounded in the world. You attend Miami, not just to get an education, but to be a productive citizen in the world.

Academics are very important here, just like at other universities. Having talked to some friends studying in other states, I can safely say that I am fully satisfied with Miami's program. Within the English and Journalism departments, my majors, my class sizes are small, which allows for class participation and teacher recognition. I can't say that I have a favorite class for the following reason: the success of a class comes from what you contribute. I feel that my professors have done an amazing job creating a "forum" in the classroom for which I may speak of my knowledge, or lack thereof, as well as criticisms of texts or lessons. Both departments are homes to wonderful professors who I've spent time with outside of the classroom. I've always felt that the professors here treated me as an adult and there are few teachers who demand that you call them Dr. Surname. In fact, I am on a first name basis with quite a few of professors. Professors here see the students as an investment, at least that's what I think. They take the time to ensure that you are properly educated and, when the time comes, that you have your foot in the door towards a career. I recently sat down with one of my English professors and one of my Journalism professors and discussed my future career wise. Both of them provided me with contacts in my desired field as well as a list of leads for positions.

Professors know your name, especially when you don't attend class. This was the case when one of professors called me out on not coming to class regularly my freshman year. She sat me down, and explained the importance of education towards a better future. It took me by surprise, because