Miami University-Oxford Top Questions

The academics are fantastic at Miami! The professors always know my name and encourage discussion in and out of the classroom. I am an English literature major and the department as a whole is a tight-knit community. The professors are engaging and always open to helping students outside of the classroom. I have never had a problem getting office hours, and have found that professors will work around my schedule and even meet somewhere off campus. The grades are not easy but they are fair. Furthermore, it's a nice feeling that Miami gives anonymous, student evaluations at the end of every semester so the professors can continue to improve.

The academics are hard, they are challenging. After my first class at Miami University I realized that high school did not prepare me adequately enough. The revelation was amazing and at the same time, terrifying. My back woods education was not enough to put me at the same level as other students, but my determination and accommodating professors allowed me to catch up and even surpass some of my (expectations!) peers. One thing that I believe is important to know, not just with my school but every educational institution, is that professors, teachers, educators love it when students ask questions. They need an indicator to make sure that they are teaching you correctly and you are understanding them. They would rather you not understand the material and ask them questions than understand it right off the bat. Students are competitive and because of this asking questions may seem silly and embarassing, because it admits you weren't born an Einstien, but the competitiveness allows you an edge and pushes you harder.

Miami has been ranked among one of the best public universities in the nation. I feel that this is a fair evaluation of just how dedicated the administration, faculty and students are to a liberal arts education. There are required courses every student must complete and this provides them with a well-rounded sense of the world which they will be entering in four short years. One of the most surprising thing to me is that within the first two weeks of every class I have taken, my professor knows my name (unless, of course, it is a large survey course). The professors are required to hold office hours every week and are really excited when student show up for extra help, or just to chat. I have met with two separate teachers off campus at a cafe to discuss my writing and another has even held a end-of-the-semester dinner at his house. Moving on from the professors, Miami students are all motivated. The library is almost always full, even on Friday and Saturday nights! Each student is forced to take an active role in his or her education and the great part about it is that student enjoy it. Finally, it is important to note that from day one, each student is placed with an academic advisor who helps the student which paths might be right to pursue.

Though some do not realize college is really about getting an education. At Miami you will get one of the best educations in America. Whether you want to do business, science, religion, or education Miami boasts a great tradition in all. Miami takes pride in its small class sizes and I can only recall two classes that were larger than 50 people, each being an intro level science course. I am a zoology major with a comparative religion minor and pre-medical focus. I have thoroughly enjoyed my academic time at Miami and have really taken advantage of Miami multiple different areas of study. One of the best parts of Miami are the professors. I have gotten to know many of my professors and have actually gotten drinks with them at the local bars. Some have invited students over for dinner and most have written some letter of recommendation. I have not found one professor in my four years that is not approachable during office hours.

Miami is known to have difficult classes, as it is also commonly called a public ivy school. Some classes are big where professors do not know your name, but there are also plenty where professors know a lot more than just your name! I have met many friends through classes. In big classes where professors don't know names, if you attend office hours they will definitely remember you! Also, for the big classes there are usually SI sessions, which are helpful sessions for the class and they are amazing!

Everyone is scared when starting college that it will be totally different from high school and loads harder. It really isn't. If you know how to balance your time and actually read and do homework outside of class, you will be fine at Miami. Most class sizes are between 20-30 students. The biggest class I ever had was a 100 level history class, with over 100 people in it; about half the class showed up on a daily basis. I would challenge anyone to pursue their academic interests outside the classroom, because that it what college is preparing you to do. Most people don't seem to have intellectual conversations outside of class unless they are in a group setting specified to such an endeavor. Definitely get to know the professors, and don't be afraid to ask questions. They are there to help you, and most are very approachable and easy to talk with.

Miami has been classified as a top tier academic institution since its founding in 1809. We have been classified by many as part of a select group of public colleges whose academic quality rivals that of the Ivy League schools. Class sizes range from a dozen to about 150 but in each class there is widespread student participation and its easy to get face to face interaction with professors for extra help. All of my professors have really cared about my academic success and general well-being. Its quite common here to find students walking around campus having deep and thoughtful academic conversations prompted by something heard in class. Miami definitely challenges its students to think at a higher level and to achieve at the best of your abilities, but if you put the time in, you will come away with a top notch education and a degree that is respected across the world.

Academically, Miami is very rigorous and was listed in 2011 as the second best school in the country for undergraduate teaching. Fortunately, Miami offers a variety of classes on interesting topics that students are actually interested in and aren't just required to take. For instance, I am in a music class that is titled "Global Music of the iPod" that teaches students how popular music varies across the globe. Very cool.

Just last year Miami University was ranked as the second best public school in the United States (Just behind Stanford I believe) for undergraduate teaching. Just that statistic says a lot. The professors at Miami love what they do and are always willing to help the students. Not to mention, they are extremely knowledgeable and worthy, in my opinion. As far as majors and courses go, Miami has so much to offer, especially with respect to the study abroad program. A greater percentage of students at Miami study abroad during their college career than most schools in the United States, which is probably because our program is promoted so well and has the credentials to do so. All in all, the academics at Miami are phenomenal. Students work extremely hard, which is evident in the high post-college employment rate of Miami students.

Academics are wonderful at Miami. The professors are so involved in students' lives, I feel as if they always want to personally know me. Professors always give out office hours, e-mail addresses, and even cell/home phone numbers in case you need help. Not only do professors try to get to know you, but they want you to get to know them as well. My favorite class has been a Sociology class called Juvenile Delinquency, even though I am not a SOC major. Students are fairly competitive at Miami but academics are not the ONLY thing that matters. There is a good balance between studying, working hard, and having a "college" experience. Many student organizations are geared towards preparing students for the real world, jobs, and interviews. Miami does a good job preparing students for getting jobs--such as doing Career Fair every semester. At Career Fair, over 170 employers hold interviews on MIami's campus for students.