Is UMia any good?

california_love8 · 07-31-2006, 03:02 PM

I've heard not great, but good things about it, and then I've heard really ****ty things about it. Convince me either way that its good.

I'm especially looking at a career in med, law, or engineering

taxguy · 07-31-2006, 04:08 PM

Look, no one will sell you on Miami. You need to check it out for yourself. Cerainly, if you are asking is it academically better than Harvard or Yale, the answer for most programs would be that it isn't ranked higher than those schools. However, in my opinion, I would recommend Miami over schools like Syracuse, Northeastern, Boston University, and a number of others for the following reasons:

1. WEATHER: Miami has fabulous weather. It is really hard to best it. It also has some of the most unbelievably good looking people that you will see.

2. Miami has fabulous connection with the city of Miami and with Florida jobs in general. If you are looking for a job, internship or coop in Miami, Miami alumni are very involved and very strong.

3. Miami has some very strong programs and a LOT of choices. If you check out their majors, they rival in quantity and quality that of a big state university without being nearly as large or impersonal as a big state university. Thus, you get all the advantages found in a big school combined with the advantages of a small-midsize school. The student teacher ratio is also very good. I should note that you also have a plethora of choices for duel degree programs as well.

4. Graduates of their undergrad program do have a leg up for admission into their graduate and professional schools.

5. Miami has a very good endowment that allows for great campus maintenance and facilites.

6. School spirit is very strong at Miami. With their top ranked football team and good basketball team, they generate a lot of school spirit.

7. Miami gives out lots of merit aid to top applicants in addition to substantial need based aid. Try getting merit aid from schools like Brown or Carnegie Mellon.

8. Miami has a lot of professionals who are currently doing well in their field teaching courses. This provides a very useful, practical education. This is not as true with some other large or midsize universities.

9. Since Miami has some strong sports teams, their athletic facilites such as gyms, pools etc. are very good.

10. Miami gets a lot of research money from the state and federal govenment, which provides for good labs and scientific equipment.

11. Miami has fabulous diversity in both students and faculty. Since Miami is the gateway to central and south america, you get a great variety of students, which adds a lot of their education.

12. Many kids come to Florida, especially to Miami Beach, for their vacation. Here you are living right near there.

13. The city of Miami is one of the most vibrant, fun cities around. It is chuck full of culture with symphonies, museums, shows, top notch sports teams and much more. It is one of the best cities, in my opinion, to attend school. If you combine this with fantastic weather, It is an unbeatable place when compared to many other schools.

14. It is one of the schools noted in the book, "The best 361 college rankings."
15. It is rated in one of the best 140 schools in the southeast as rated by Princeton Review.

Dunkaroo · 07-31-2006, 04:36 PM

Well said taxguy. I would take University of Miami over Syracuse University, Boston University, Pepperdine, George Washington University, Northeastern University and a few others for the same reasons.

Dunkaroo · 07-31-2006, 04:38 PM

Taxguy, do you know Miami's acceptance percentage for this year and 25-75% SAT scores by chance?

sunnyflorida · 07-31-2006, 08:47 PM

From the website--admissions then click on freshman applications:

» Applications: 19,100
» Freshman class size: 2,000
» Average weighted GPA: 4.2
» Mid-range SAT scores: 1220-1370
» Mid-range ACT scores: 27-31
» Ranked in top 10% of HS class: 68%

http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Ma...6206-2,00.html

coincolectr · 08-01-2006, 02:15 AM

I chose Miami over Cornell, and I know many people who have. Besides the students, very prestigious faculty are enticed by the wonderful weather and atmosphere, and they chose Miami over a variety of other (some very respected) universities. Asking, "sell me" is just looking for an easy way out, and to be conviced, I suggest visiting campus or just google it!

Dunkaroo · 08-01-2006, 09:43 AM

Those statistics are quite impressive. Look for University of Miami to make a jump either this year or next into the top 50 and within the next three years into the top 45. Within the next 10 years Miami could very well be a top 40 or even top 35-30 school if it keeps improving at its current pace.

The selectivity has been getting MUCH higher in the last 5 years and University of Miami already has one of the 10 largest drops out of any school in acceptance rates from 1964 to now (2005-2006).

taxguy · 08-01-2006, 05:43 PM

Folks, I attended University of Miami Law School many moons ago. Trust me, it is a fabulous place to attend school. However, don't be fooled by the fabulous looking people or wonderful climate or great facilities. It is a tough school. You do need to work hard; however, with good time management, you can get good grades and have a very enviable lifestyle.

my-3-sons · 08-01-2006, 10:53 PM

"At UM, students work hard, learn hard and play hard."

ridnwaves4life · 08-21-2006, 12:42 AM

i just had my first day and the dorms are disgusting

taxguy · 08-21-2006, 10:06 AM

Ridnwaves4life, check out the other dorms. Not all dorms are bad

Also, if you go to other schools, usually freshmen get the worst dorms. I don't know why that is,but it does seem to be true. College dorms are generally very mediocre at best,which is why many kids at many schools live off campus.

ctmom · 08-21-2006, 10:29 AM

Ridnwaves4life - I'm sorry your first night wasn't great

- I hope things will get better for you as you get used to your new home.

Honestly, I wasn't that impressed with the dorms last year, but my D didn't seem to mind, and it got better with a little TLC - we got some cheap rugs at BBB and covered the floor, a curtain that fit the window with a pressure rod,
lots of throw pillow to make the bed a place to sit, posters for the walls...you get the idea. There's only so much you can do to a concrete block room! Good luck

ladyconfused · 08-21-2006, 03:07 PM

I moved in on Friday and I honestly don't think the dorm rooms are that bad.... mine at least isn't! I saw another dorm room on my floor though and it's amazing how different they can look for better and worse.

I'm happy I picked UM. It's my freshman semester and I'm going to be able to do research with a professor and take a 500 level course (masters level). On Friday I also find out what volunteer etc. oportunities there are for pre med students which will be interesting. I honestly don't know how someone can't like it.... Even my older brother who's very opinionated and picky, liked the campus/dorms/dining halls/etc...

I think it's the way you look at things, I've made a point not to be negative.

taxguy · 11-05-2006, 10:56 AM

I thought this thread contained a lot of good info for prospective kids. Also, it was recently noted in a newspaper that University of Miami just got 19000 applications for 2000 spots.

B407 · 11-19-2006, 12:37 AM

Wasn't U of Miami ranked number one in the Princeton Review for Worst Dorms?