| I can give you some idea of what my son's experience has been so far. He is a freshman and home for winter break.
He is in Stanford, a mostly freshman dorm. The rooms are small and very basic, however, he has made most of his friends by living here. I have been impressed with the quality and training of the R.A.'s. The front desk in the lobby has come in handy at times and I didn't realize that not all colleges have front desk help in the dorms until speaking to Mom's whose children are at other schools.
The food has been reported as so-so, however, my kid is a very picky eater. The fact that the kids are able to use dining dollars at the fast food places around campus and The Rat is a big plus. I know my son eats at those places quite often.
First semester classes have been hit and miss....a few good ones and a few bad ones. Some professors were easy to talk to and others not. My son had to miss a final due to health circumstances and that professor was great about it.
While my son has been enjoying the social life, he is not into clubbing and there is a large segment of the student population that does. He prefers Coconut Grove, house and beach parties. Much of the social scene is off campus and lacks the campus cohesiveness that you would find at a school with not so much going on around it. On the other hand, a night out at the movies, a local restaurant or taking in a concert is easy to do and a fun alternative to partying. Going to the beach or pool on the weekends is also a fun option. I'm glad my son has lots to do.
One interesting comment he recently made was that he has noticed that quite a number of kids he knows are transferring or thinking about it. He thought that maybe a number of kids come to Miami to see what it's like there and then transfer out once they have been there done that.
As a parent, I feel that the university is very on top of things. I always get a live person when I call and everything is handled quickly and to my satisfaction. Having now dealt with a health issue, I know that things were handled quickly and professionally with the Doctor's Hospital right across the street. The Health Center, too, has been very easy for my son to get his needs met. As a parent, UM gives me a feeling of confidence.
I'm sure others will chime in with their experiences. |