Visit Report by binx (Member since August 19 2004 with 1595 posts) Visit Date - January 2007
Visit to Miami University - Ohio in January 2007 by binx (Parent of Student, HS Class of 2007)
Visit Activities:
Information Session:
Yes Campus Tour:
Yes
Miami University - Ohio Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 2 - Fair -
My D's tour guide was from Atlanta. My sister in law felt she was very snobbish toward the (large) tour group. Ignored my d's questions. No other students talked to her.
Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 5 - Excellent -
Music staff has been warm and welcoming. Prompt responses to our questions.
Appearance of Campus: 4 - Very Good -
First visit in fall, campus was gorgeous. Second visit in winter, trees were bare - they could use some evergreens! Fountains were drained. Everything looked a little "on hold."
Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 4 - Very Good -
Everything looked well maintained - buildings, grounds, etc.
Dormitories: 3 - Good -
D saw a new apartment-style dorm, that I assume is only for upperclassmen. Also saw a dorm room that was "normal." Many students move off campus because it is cheaper.
Security/Safety: 5 - Excellent -
Town is nearly all college, so any problems would most likely come from within.
Overall Campus Impression: 4 - Very Good -
Feels like a college campus.
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 3 - Good -
Streets with traffic cut through campus. Train tracks cut corner. But area is mostly nice, with historical homes and green areas. Off-campus housing looks iffy.
City/Town/Community: 3 - Good -
Tiny town, not much there. Handful of eating places. Dayton and Cinci are about 45 minutes away each.
Campus Visit Notes for Miami University - Ohio:
Visit Description:
Miami-Ohio entered D's list late, after she visited the only non-LAC on her list, and liked it very much. We began thinking that she might like a larger school because of the wider course options and ECs. OOS total for Miami is under $32,000.
I visited Miami with my D, who was there for a music audition. It was my first visit, her second. She had done the official tour in November. We didn't get any official tour this time, but the music teacher showed us around, and we did some of the walking tour on our own.
The day was gray, overcast, cold, with a sprinkling of snow. I'm glad my D saw it in the fall on a nicer day. The combination of all red brick, gray skies, bare trees (also gray) was a bit cold and boring to my eyes. My sense of direction is not good, and I envision myself getting lost easily, since all the buildings look so similar! But I can imagine it as quite a beautiful campus on good days. There were areas of the campus that were still quite attractive, despite the weather. I wish they'd at least planted a few evergreens, though. There is a plaza in front of the performing arts center that has a large fountain area that was drained of water for the winter. I would like to know how much of the school year is not so barren.
After the audition, we went on a driving tour, and then into the one-street downtown for lunch. The campus is roughly a mile square (more of a rectangle.) It covers several city blocks, with roads running through. I asked if they'd ever considered shutting off some of the roads and making it pedestrian only, and the teacher said it comes up frequently, but the roads are major thoroughfares with big trucks, and they haven't found a way to smoothly divert them. Even so, it seems that some of the smaller cross streets could be closed off with traffic routed around the campus.
On the driving tour, with the focus on streets and campus buildings lining the streets, the impression was of a more urban campus. However, once we started walking, and got off the streets, it did seem more of a "stereotypical" college campus, with lots of green space, trees, etc. There is a heavily-treed area with walking paths that is a bit of a "preserve." I was impressed that my D was able to direct me here and there, repeating portions of the tour she took last fall. We saw lots and lots of bicycles, even with the cold and snow! There were plenty of students about - some playing football (in the mud, and with frequent use of the "f" word at the top of their lungs.) The library looked large, new, and was very busy with students. There are a number of eating places on campus. We went in the student union, where there is a food court (with TVs hanging all over, like in a sports bar), bookstore, etc. Although we didn't have much interaction with students, it definitely felt like a college, rather than high school (which has happened at several of our visits.) Miami is making an effort to diversify, or "make the campus more colorful," but it is still pretty white. The teacher explained that Miami grads are very loyal, there are lots of legacy admits, and therefore, new students tend to look a lot like previous ones.
There is an area west of campus that is a former female seminary, known as "West Campus." The buildings here are gray stone. It's a very pretty area of campus, and is home to the art-related subjects, and includes the art museum. This area has the frisbee golf course, too, which apparently attracts folks from all over the country. A pretty, old chapel, stone bridges, "swan lake", etc. One of the largest buildings is currently being rennovated to contain the music program. It is across the street from the current performing arts center (PAC)
The music teachers and classrooms are currently in the PAC, but the auditorium there is for the theater program. The music venue is located on the other side of campus!
There are several bell towers. Apparently people keep leaving money to the school designated for bell towers. One plays Westminster chimes. Another plays songs. It was easy to always know what time it was!
Miami has lots of history. Several homes on campus have historical markers, including the home of a former faculty member who was the author of the "McGuffy Reader."
We didn't see a dorm. Students live on campus the first two years, then many move off campus because it's cheaper. That probably accounts for the number of bicycles! My D saw some housing on her first visit, including some new dorms that are apartment style with kitchens. That would appeal to me more than her living off-campus.
The music teacher said it is easy to double major with most majors. Miami has a core curriculum called the "Miami plan", that is pretty extensive, but has a lot of choices. For instance, "Intro to Linguistics" fits into their math requirement (which is officially called "Mathematics, Formal Reasoning, Technology" and also includes some computer classes, so no, you don't have to take Calculus if you don't want to.) I like it because my D is "undecided" about her second major, and this would give her an opportunity to explore. Her AP classes will help eliminate a few requirements, and her double major would overlap some of the other requirements. They also have a thematic sequence requirement, which can be met with a minor or double major, as long as they come from different departments.
Some of the early required courses can be expected to have large (~120 students) seminar-type classes. In the music program, they told us there are usually about 50 students per entering class, which are usually divided among two or three classes for things like theory or music history. Larger, of course, for orchestra or band.
Miami is probably best known for it's respected business school. D likes Miami because of the range of language offerings. It is one of the few undergraduate schools that offers linguistics.
ECs are various. Ice hockey and "women's synchronized skating" are popular. Greek is big, but "you don't have to."
Miami was generous with scholarship money (for music and for out-of-state "high achievers"), and it is looking like this is where d will be next year.
Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments:
We ate at a little sandwich shop in town that was very good. Don't remember the name, though. There is also a good coffee shop, we've been told.
Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):
Miami has a shuttle bus that goes around campus, which students use most in bad weather. I think they also provide regular shuttles to Dayton and Cinci airports at break times.
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My D's tour guide was from Atlanta. My sister in law felt she was very snobbish toward the (large) tour group. Ignored my d's questions. No other students talked to her.
-
Music staff has been warm and welcoming. Prompt responses to our questions.
-
First visit in fall, campus was gorgeous. Second visit in winter, trees were bare - they could use some evergreens! Fountains were drained. Everything looked a little "on hold."
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D saw a new apartment-style dorm, that I assume is only for upperclassmen. Also saw a dorm room that was "normal." Many students move off campus because it is cheaper.