Miami University-Oxford Top Questions

The first time I visited Miami, I remember being swept away by the Autumn leaves, the red brick, the breeze; everything about Miami was perfect. Once I became a student, that original feeling never left. To be honest, I still see Miami the way I did three years ago. With that being said, nothing is actually perfect. If I could change one thing about Miami that would be the way in which the departments are run. A few, not all, of the departments can be quite a nuisance when you have to interact with them. I've only had two problems over the past three years that warrant this change. The first time I was given the run around was from the Spanish department. I wanted to know if I could take Spanish 202 online to satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences Language requirement. I was transferred several times, sent half a dozen emails, and finally received a simple answer of no. However, I do not blame this entirely on Miami and the Spanish Department. I place most of the blame on myself for not knowing the proper person to call. Aside from that, I never really had a problem with the university as a whole or the student body. On the topic of the student body, freshman year I found myself repeating my high school ways. I joined a lot of organizations, most serviced based. While I enjoyed these organizations and found myself interacting with the student body on a daily basis, I realized that this was just a repetition of high school and I wasn't branching out and trying new things. It slowly dawned on me, actually it took three years, that I failed to understand the importance Greek Life and school spirit have in the overall college experience. Greek Life has become a vital part of the man I am becoming. The brotherhood that I havee joined has created in me a sense of importance, percerverance, as well as given me a support system. Going through my first two years without this can account for over involvement in campus affairs and never getting a chance to enjoy them. School spirit is another thing I found that I was lacking that other students were not. I have never been into sports. Once I arrived at Miami, I found that a considerable number of students were involved in some form in sports. I went to my first hockey game late in my first semester and fell in love. Sophomore year I attended every game. It wasn't the sport that I enjoyed, it was the school spirit I saw. It wasn't just at hockey games that this spirit was demonstrated. Baseball games, swim meets, and football games were all filled with students eager to cheer on their team and even in defeat we praised.

Miami University is a great college, as long as you make the experience your own. One thing that I think many students fail to grasp about Miami is that it prepares you for the real world, by throwing in to an experience where you are proactive about your education. You are placed in the small college town, with a large amount of student population, and forced to start to your career. Now, not to say that you don't have support from faculty and staff, which Miami heartily provides. Places like the Rinella Learning Center, Academic Advising Office, and the Howe Writing Center are just the a portion of the help Miami provides for struggling students. I've never had a bad experience that wasn't fixed by helpful faculty and staff, even though the Financial Aid office will always give you a hard time no matter what. When I tell people that I attend Miami University, the reaction is always a "Wow". Miami has a reputation of being a top competitive school, with a large amount of successful alumni, a major plus about Miami. One thing that I would change about Miami is expansion of the town, because there are so many opportunities to make Oxford, OH accessible to all students, but it fails to do so. Besides that, you still can have a great time in Oxford, whether it's uptown or going to the Greek houses. As a sophomore, I am so busy that I'm every, and I'm never sitting down. I like that about Miami, because you can always keep yourself busy with something. The most recent controversy was the Westboro Baptist Church protesting our college, but the students positivistly reacted and nothing came of it. When it comes to incidents like this, Miami students take pride of their campus, when it comes to every aspect. This I love, because you live in community among people that acre about the welfare of Miami University and want more for the world. Your learning extends outside the classroom through organizational experiences, volunteering, class projects, and etc... My most memorial experience was joining America Reads, a tutoring program in which students are paid to go to community sites and help young students in reading. I love this program, because I am being paid to help students with their education and it's so fulfilling to do so. My opinion of Miami is that while some students, don't feel welcome or have a place at Miami, it's a great school with many opportunities and a great education.

My overall opinon of campus is very positive. I think that Miami is the perfect size, not too big and not too small. You can walk anywhere you need to go on campus, and you will probably run into someone you know. The secluded placement of Oxford creates a real community because everything is close and easy to get to. Highstreet creates an ideal college town experience.. Although we are not passionate about traditional sports, Groggin ice center explodes with school pride when our hockey team plays. The biggest controversy is where the money for the school is going. The school is starting to build a 60 million dollar student centert, when our faculty haven't recieved raises in years. Miami is one of the most expensive public schools and it isn't clear where that money is going.

Miami is a university steeped in tradition. Generations of students have fallen in love with the sundial, Upham Arch, and Tuffy's toasted rolls - and it shows. Miami students love their campus and, for the most part, love the University. Whenever I tell people "I go to Miami University," the ones who know it's not in Florida invariably say, "Oh, that's a great school." And it is. Miami is, for me, the perfect size. It is big enough to afford students plenty of opportunities, but small enough that I run into people I know on the street or in the Shriver Center on a daily basis. As a member of the Marching Band and a music minor, I spend the majority of my time around the music department buildings, though my English classes have taken me to every corner of campus. Classes at Miami are geared toward engaging students' minds, and even the toughest professors work to make sure students get the most out of their classes. A lot of students complain about the Miami Plan for Liberal Education (which makes up our "gen-ed" requirements) but in the long run, almost everyone understands just how valuable it is. We are presented with a vast range of studies designed to instill us with the critical thinking skills we will need to succeed in the workforce. Like any administration, Miami's has its share or bureaucratic hoops to jump through. I think the difference at Miami, though, is the degree of student input that is sought out and applied. The administration communicates very actively with the student body in open forums such as our student-run newspaper and even social media. Earlier this semester, a controversy arose over the Westboro Baptist Church's decision to protest at Miami after a simple miscommunication; the administration handled the situation very gracefully, putting its support behind a student-organized and run rally aimed at celebrating diversity on Miami's campus. Additionally, end-of-semester course evaluations are taken very seriously in determining how professors are doing in the classroom. Honestly, the one thing I'd change about this school is our sports culture.While a Friday or Saturday night hockey game will have the Goggin Ice Center stuffed to bursting, we don't have much a student section at football or basketball games. It would be fantastic to see more support for our student athletes. Otherwise, my Miami experience has truly been an exceptional one, and I've made so many memories that will last me a lifetime.

I sometimes have a hard time feeling like I fit in with the crowd at Miami University, simply because my life before this moment in time has never come within an inch of theirs. I've experienced different things and learned different lessons, that most of my friends still can't comprehend. But I chose this school for a reason; I wanted to better myself, and I thought this was my best choice. I built a life for myself here. At Miami I've been able to meet people from all different kinds of life that was impossible in the small town I grew up in. I met people of my caliber and my intellect and found my own little niche in society. I've learned that where we're born has it's importance in life, but where we place ourselves shows more about our inner selves and sadly a seeminly small choice, for example, what college you attend, can mean all the difference.

This school is a perfect place for someone to come into his or her own. The dedicated faculty make an effort to be available and get to know their students on personal as well as intellectual levels. While campus can seem large at first, after freshman year the fact that Oxford is a small college town is clear and it is uncommon to walk to class without seeing at least one familiar face. The dining services are among the best I have experienced after visiting different schools. There are many common areas such as the student center and the cafe on the bottom floor of the library where students can socialize as well as study. One important facet of Miami University is the Associated Student Government which is large enough to include a large number of diverse students. Something that is really beneficial to the Miami student is that campus is so close to "Uptown" that it feels like there is an extension of campus that provides even more places to study or hang-out. In short, Miami University provides just about everything the typical college student needs.

Miami University was just recently ranked the second best college in America for teachers. As a student I am not surprised, I have had some amazing professors during my time at Miami. One of the best things about Miami is that it takes a big school and makes it feel small. Though there are roughly 15,000 students I have never felt overwhelmed by the size, at the same time I am always meeting new people, even as a senior. Miami also has a great tradition of academic excellence. If you are interested in business then I would look no further as Miami has one of the best Business schools in the country and a consistent record of placing students with fortune 100 companies after graduation. Little known is Miami's excellence in the sciences, especially for pre-health majors. As a pre-med major I often hear percentages thrown around, at Miami I have consistently heard that the acceptance rate into medical school of anyone attending Miami is around 60{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}, which for those of you who do not know is extremely high. As well as boasting great majors, Miami brings a liberal arts feel to a non liberal arts school. Miami Plan is often dreaded by freshmen but I can honestly say it is the best thing, academically, I did at Miami. It allowed me to take classes I most likely would not have taken and gave me a taste of my eventual minor, comparative religion. Academically Miami is a great school and by all means fulfills its duties as "The Harvard of the Midwest". A necessary part of college is the time you spent outside of studying and class. I have had some of the best moments of my life at Miami. Oxford most certainly is a college town, considering Miami makes up most of the town, but there are many things that can be done off campus. There is the infamous Uptown, which is a street filled with multiple bars, a lot which are 18+. A cool part about Miami is that you will often see a professor kicking back a beet at skippers or steinkellers after class on a friday and most likely they will invite you to drink with them. If partying is not your cup of tea, Miami also offers a wide variety of sporting, musical, theatre, and various on campus events which are a great time too.

Miami has all the perks of being a fairly large and reputable institution, with the feel of a small town. If you are scared to break out into the big city after high school, this is the perfect place to start your life away from home. The atmosphere is not too big and not too small, but just right. Professors are very helpful and accommodating to undergraduate students. However, it is all too easy to get trapped in the "bubble" of Oxford, Ohio, located in Butler County, surrounded by cornfields. Challenge yourself to think globally on a daily basis, because some Miami students seem to get caught up in their own self-centered world. Remember, there is life after college.

My favorite thing about Miami University is that we are in a true college town. Most of Oxford, Ohio revolves around Miami's students, from our uptown entertainment district to our stores, its geared mostly to the college-age person. I also love that both the campus and town are stunningly beautiful. Our brick buildings, sprawling lawns, and historical sites from more than two centuries ago were enough to get George Clooney and Ryan Goseling to film a movie here (The Ides of March). One experience that I'll always remember about Miami was my first hockey game. The students arrive at the arena the day before big games and camp out for the best seats. There is so much pride around the team and the crowd is always rowdy and has a bunch of really amusing cheers. If you visit campus, be sure to see our new business building, The Farmer School of Business, its really amazing.

Miami U is a great school because it feels very personal and tight-knit, but there are enough students on campus to compete against other major sporting teams, hold profitable charity and fundraising events, and have fun campus-wide competitions. So, Miami is a personal school and campus with a large personality and plethora of campus life activities.