Miami University-Oxford Top Questions

Amazing Campus. Just the right size. Great reputation.

Miami's campus is gorgeous. When I first came to Miami on a visit, I knew that this was what a college campus should look like. Movies should use Miami's campus as the setting for their universities. The size of the student body is just right, it's not overwhelmingly large, but it's not so small that everyone knows your name. After spending the last four years here, I can not go anywhere without running into someone that I know, and that makes the college seem smaller and more personal. Oxford is a typical college town, Uptown is one main street with bars and restaurants. Miami has pride when it comes to certain things (like our hockey team!) but seems to fall behind other schools when it comes to pride in many other things. When I tell people I go to Miami, they seem surprised and make snide comments (especially if they go to a less well known college) about it being a "public ivy".

Miami is just right--not too big, not too small. It has a small town, college atmosphere, but everything you need is within the tiny town of Oxford. There is a lot of school pride when it comes to organizations such as the Hockey Team and Men's Glee Club, but sports as a whole are not very solid and you won't find hardly anybody camping out the night before the "big" game. Students are excellent academically, and many are involved in several activities. I spend a lot of my time at the Center of Performing Arts since most of my classes are there and my dearest friends are usually in or around the building. I will never forget the giant snowstorm we had about a month ago: the campus completely stopped and it felt completely unified since everyone was stuck in Oxford. I loved it!

It's a small town, surrounded by nothing, but luckily it's close enough to somewhat larger cities that even if you get stir-crazy and need to leave, you can spend some time in Cincinnati or Dayton. In spite of the stereotypes, I have met my best friends here. There are truly caring, thoughtful, conscientious people at Miami. Of course it is a largely white, upper-middle-class, heterosexual, Christian campus, and the lack of diversity is a very large issue. The university does recognize the problem and is taking steps to remedy it. If you want to see school pride you should check out a hockey game, but be prepared to lose your voice.

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The school is just the right size. One thing I'd change: there need to be more things to do on the weekends that don't involve drinking. The only thing to do really is go uptown to the bars. I spend most of my time either in my apartment or at Martial Arts practice. People react favorably when I tell them I go to Miami. It's a college town. Uptown Oxford is basically an extension of Miami. It's where all the bars and restaurants are, and where everyone goes on the weekends.

The best thing about Miami for me is the academics, the professors are really there to help you, they want you to do the best you can. The think I would change would be having sorority houses. Miami is the perfect size for me, big but not too big where you get lost in the crowd and not too small where you know everyone. People are very impressed when they know that I attend Miami University because of the reputation it has. The is some school pride, but not a ton. That would be something else I would love to change. The most school pride is during the Hockey season since our hockey team is top in the nation. The most frequent student complaints would be the student center, Shriver, it is pretty much useless. But, they are going to be building a new one.

The best thing about Miami is its positive energy. As soon as the sun comes out, there is life and excitement on everyone's faces. I spend a majority of my time with very involved and active students, who have a distinct and informed voice. The program that I found which had the most interconnected pool of students was the Scholar Leader Program. I have mixed feelings about the administration, because they are all very different. Miami student have pride in the school, pride in each other, but may not value the same things as other universities, such as sports. That being said, I LOVE MIAMI HOCKEY GAMES!!! I will always remember walking through campus and feeling confident, capable, and like I belonged. Frequent student complaints among my network are wrapped up in Associated Student Government and its lack of ability to recruit committed and service oriented individuals who KNOW that they can create positive change. Oxford is a college town, but most people have a narrow minded view of the actual city of Oxford and the space and population that it covers. When I tell people that I go to Miami University, they usually say that they know someone who goes here or went here, and that they hear it is a good school - not too specific.

The best thing about Miami is that it is big enough for variety but small enough for you to stand out if you want to. I think the worst thing about Miami is their horrible academic advising. People tend to think you are pretty smart once they find out you go to Miami. On campus, I would spend most of my time on East Quad and near the psych buildings. It is definitely a college town, live there during the summer and you'll see that. The administration is ok. There is not very much school pride. The biggest student complaints are usually about the community.

The best thing about Miami is the campus -- it's always a beautiful sight, regardless of the weather. There's something relaxing about taking a stroll through the various quads, be it in summer or winter. But the lack of diversity makes understanding more about other cultures and backgrounds a difficulty. The best way to help this would be to increase the influx of international students. Unfortunately, international students are generally more attracted to bigger cities (and rightfully so).