Matt Hoffman

Introduction
To be honest, Miami was not my first choice in schools. It was actually number 5. However, I didn't get in to my top two (Duke and USAFA) and I couldn't afford 3 or 4 (Johns Hopkins or Notre Dame). Miami is expensive but if you get scholarships or are from in state, it is not too bad. I chose Miami because it is academically stimulating and has a great reputation. So far, I have received a solid and well-rounded base education and I know that I have a great shot at getting into a law school or grad school. The university truly challenges its students and pushes for critical thinking and writing. These two aspects are stressed in every class and I think that any student coming to Miami should be prepared for these things. The profs at Miami also really attracted me to the school--the are knowledgeable, accessible, and more than willing to help. I also chose Miami because it has a great social atmosphere and the campus is beautiful. The dorms are nice, food is great, and there are always things to do/get involved with on campus.

My advice: Miami is not for everyone. You do not have to be rich (I am not), white, or preppy. Yes, there are many of these people. But others succeed at Miami. First, you need to be committed to your studies because most kids at Miami are. Most importantly is that you need to be outgoing and friendly. These traits will help you to fit in. Trust me, one you meet people that you like, race, religion, socioeconomic status, and other factors don't matter. Also, because Miami is a decent size school, you will surely find someone who you like and someone who shares similar interests with you.

Campus Life and Social Life
Partying: Greek life is big, but not the end-all, be-all. You do not have to be Greek to party, to make friends, or to enjoy your time at Miami (I am not Greek). However, most people do party, or at least go out on the weekends. Being Greek has its advantages and disadvantages. I will say that most of the large parties are held by the Greeks (but you don't have to be Greek to attend).

Sports: Interesting Topic. For the most part, there is a lack of spirit on campus. Yes, we have division one athletics but students seem to only care about hockey. These games are one of a kind and I would strongly advise any student to attend at least one (I go to as many as possible). Miami spirit is there. However, these students don't feel as strongly about our other sports. We have a decent men's basketball team and are good at baseball, volleyball, and football (with the exception of this year). Also, are synchronized skating team is one of the best in the work (very sarcastic yea!). However, students are fair-weather fans and only get excited when the teams are winning. Even our big rivalry with Ohio U is not enough to draw out students. Granted the rivalry is one-sided (in our favor) but there is an intense hated from their side without much reciprocation. (Many students will just say that we are superior and leave it at that... I must admit, I agree) There is spirit, you just have to know how to find it.

Clubs: Huge way to get involved on campus. There are a large number of clubs and all appear to be very active. There is a club for everyone and I would encourage students to get involved in as many as interest them. Our club sports teams are very competitive and are hard to make. However, apparently, most are very good. There are many aspects of campus that are run by clubs and organizations. Everyday, there are numerous activities and fairs all over campus and the administration is very helpful and responsive to the needs and feelings of the students and student organizations.

Weekend: Most people go out. Popular places are Greek parties and the infamous 'uptown'--which is basically downtown Oxford. There are numerous bars and clubs uptown. Other places include off-campus houses and even Cincy of Dayton if you want to travel. The university also provides activities every Friday and Saturday night for those who don't want to go uptown. Athletic events are also popular activities as well as speakers and visiting music groups. Academics
Great departments: Business School (especially Economics), Poli Sci, Pre-med (chem, bio, and zoology), pre-law, Western College Program (interdisciplinary studies), psychology, Honors Program, languages are decent, education
Not-so-good: Fine arts, grad school (very small but some decent programs), communication and journalism, engineering (is an upstart college and a major focus of the university, including three brand-new buildings and new programs)

Profs & TAs: Excellent. Profs are very accessible, friendly, and willing to help. Many profs will meet with students at local res truants or even invite them to their homes. Profs are often very highly respected in their fields and have great connections and advice. Most are very demanding and expect a lot from their students. This is one of the main reasons that I chose Miami and one of the things that I stress to any students considering Miami. There are ver few TA but the one that I have heard about are very good. Most just assist profs during lectures or help in recitations or study sessions. Few actually teach class.

Workload: Fairly strenuous. The workload is what you make it. Most freshman classes require a lot of writing and reading. Other classes are very intensive and involve a lot of outside work. Reading is usually a must but often times you can fake comprehension. However, the profs are knowledgeable; so, they will know if you haven't read the material. Most classes require large amounts of outside work. The workloads are oftentimes very demanding, especially for pre-med majors and in the school of business.

Western College Program: Heard very good things about the school of interdisciplinary studies. Housed in separate dorms and buildings on campus. Profs live and interact daily with students. Very unique experience.

Student Body
It depends on what you like and who you want to meet. Activities and social lives will vary based on who your are and who your friends are. There are many types of people. Weekend are usually relaxing. Sunday is usually a day of recovery/work. Partying can be found all week but begins in earnest on Thursdays.

*See above comments*

In Closing...
I am not going to deny the Miami/"J Crew U" stereotype. I am however going to say that I believe that it has been blown out of control. Miami does have a unique mix of individuals. While not exactly diverse (racially), Miami does feature a mix of beliefs, ideologies, and backgrounds. Also, the university places a huge emphasis on studying abroad and most students take this opportunity to 'culture' themselves. The stereotype is NOT AS BAD AS MANY SAY THAT IT IS. To be honest, I think that most colleges have these types of people (rich, white, preps). Again, Miami is all about who you meet and what you make it. You DO NOT have to fit the stereotype to go there and fit in. I have met so many fantastic people and I do not meet the stereotypes at all (I am a farm kid from small-town Ohio). And yes, while polos and North Face are not a requirement, they are prevalent (but NOT mandatory). The one character trait that is a must is that you must be outgoing. If you have a hard time meeting people or are unsure of yourself, Miami might not be the place for you. Everyone here has a strong personality, but for the most part, there are all extremely driven and fairly intelligent (there are a few who are here because of daddy's money--and they don't last long).

I would like to stress that Miami is a unique community and offers an interesting college experience. Academics are important (and are fairly strenuous). Campus life is exciting, active, and includes something for everyone. The Profs are fantastic and very caring. The food and dorms are outstanding. The campus is beautiful and offers a small-town college feel (both in size and the feel of the student body).

So, while Miami was not my first choice, I have come to appreciate why it was in my top 5 and why I think that everyone should look at MU. Everyday is full of challenges, laughs, and experiences that I will never forget. Miami is a special place and I am glad that I ended up here. I urge people to look past the stereotype and see that Miami is a vibrant community and has rightfully earned its academic reputation. This is a little cliche but I would like to end with a quote that is common on our campus:

Dr. Shriver (a famous MU President) one said that "All roads don't lead to Oxford. To get here, you have to want to get here; but once you're here, you never want to leave."