This is the official thread for those applying EA/ED to Miami University - Ohio.
List your unweighted GPA, any SAT /ACT scores, and ECs. What majors are you going into?
Ask your questions, the CC community is here to help!
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Hi,
My son is senior and wants to study International Relations and either Comp Sci or Cybersecurity as a double major along with IS. Miami offers all of these programs plus they have 2 different Club hockey teams that he could play for if he tries out and makes it. According to Collegevine, Miami is a safety for him (97% chance of admission for whatever that’s worth), but who knows.
My question is about the student life there. Like I said, the programs he wants are there and the campus looks amazing, but I have read some reviews about it being a big party school, where if you’re not into that (drinking and all that that entails), it will be hard for you to fit in. My son is definitely not into that. He really wants an evironment where everybody is focused on academics primarily. Don’t get me wrong, he likes to have, I’m sure, but to him it’s first things first and he stays away from all the unhealthy stuff. It’s just not his personality or his world.
Is there any truth to these reviews? I’m sure every school has some of these same reviews, but the negative reveiws on Niche for Miami all seemed to follow the same theme. Party, party, party. What do you guys think?
Thanks!
sablue,
My kid is a Freshman at Miami now and we are only a month in so take it for what it is worth, but a couple of things.
1.) Miami is a party school. No question. That being said there are a ton of kids who do not party or party all the time, my kid included, and find their people. So I wouldnt let that scare your son away. Its a fun school and my daughter loves it so far. We are OOS from New England so she is fairly far from home.
2.) The hockey is good at all levels. Miami draws kids from Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Michigan as well as the Chicago suburbs. So making the club teams is no guarantee. My daughters friend played New England Prep Hockey and didnt make the girls club team and she is a good player. So go into that eyes wide open or try to make the connections in advance so you know his chances.
3.) The honors college might be an option for him if he is focused on academics. They have their own dorms and its a quieter scene.
We didnt have Miami on our list when we started her search but we are happy we found it and she is really pleased with her decision. Good luck and enjoy the process.
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My son is similar to yours, but I think that Miami is big enough for all types of kids. My son is interested in Farmer’s and the Honors College.
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My son is a sophomore at Miami. We are from VA. We visited Miami on a whim, and he was sold from the moment we got there. It just felt right.
He and his friend group are not big partiers. None of them are in the Greek System. About 1/3 of the school is greek, but at a school as large as Miami, with over 18K students, that means there are 12K or so non-greek students. Certainly non-greek kids party, but there are many who don’t. My son and his friends go out sometimes, but their lives don’t revolve around it at all. They are very focused on their classes and their clubs. With a 2 year campus residency requirement, there are about 8k students on campus. There’s always something going on that isn’t drinking related. The main library is open until 1am every day. There are certainly fully academic focused kids at Miami.
I don’t know about the hockey players’ party/drinking scene, but I’m sure it is there if wanted.
We’ve been very pleased with Miami. My son has thrived there. If you have any specific questions, let me know.
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Just poking around, as EA decisions should be out in the next week, and found this thread. Our S25 has applied EA. He’s got about a 3.75 GPA unweighted from a competitive, fairly low grade inflation Jesuit school that sends around 15-20 kids to MOhio every year; has visited and we know at least a dozen kids there now. 30 ACT, submitted, applied to Farmer. Based on Naviance, there’s no reason to believe he won’t get in (and get a modest auto-merit scholarship)*, although obviously strange things happen in college admissions circa 2024 so not counting any chickens here.
In any event, I wanted to briefly add a couple thoughts in re: the partying/Greek discussion upthread. While everyone’s no doubt correct in noting that there are plenty of opportunities for social life outside the Greek system and that don’t revolve around beer, a third of the school being in a fraternity or sorority is actually a lot. Anything more than about 20% is a lot. If Miami were in Miami, Florida, that would be one thing. But charming and quintessential as it is, there is not much going on in town in Oxford, Ohio on a Saturday night outside of kids at bars and fraternity parties. That could very well be one of the reasons the Greek system got so big in the first place. A third of the university being involved means that a significant part of the social fabric of the school revolves around Greek life. There may be less ability here than at a public university twice the size and/or where a smaller percentage of students pledge somewhere to just not even notice it and feel like you’re not missing anything. To the OP, I’d suggest, if Miami ends up in the running for their kid, have him find a way to meet and talk to, maybe even spend a weekend with, some independents.
*Interestingly, now that we’re in the middle of evaluating some decisions with our kid, Miami may want to consider upping some of its auto-merit scholarship packages. Even with $6k per year off the sticker price, all-in at Miami would be at least $4-5k higher than at two other, more generally well-regarded academically, and definitely “hotter” in the market right now, schools that he’s been admitted to. That’s enough to matter to a lot of potential students and their families.
I’m guessing you’re in state so I’m not sure if it’s relevant but our D23 received a much higher merit award than the auto merit chart suggested. I think she had a 3.9ish weighted GPA and received 22K in merit. The chart said she would receive something like 10K. Hopefully that holds true for in state as well!
S25 applied for Honors and Farmers. He has a 4.0/4.27 GPA and applied test optional even though he has a mid 1300s SAT (no idea why). He did submit his AP 4s and 5s.
Good luck to everyone, I imagine EA decisions will be out soon!
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Interesting, thanks for the info! We’re OOS, and comparing to other OOS publics at the moment.
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Curious where else your S25 applied. My S25 applied in stated to Miami biochem, premed, honors. 3.83/4.31 GPA, 32 ACT and is anxiously waiting Miami and a few others. Accepted to several privates with good scholarships that make them near Miami’s sticker price. He is really focused on the Honors and might not go if he doesn’t get in.
Mostly Power 4 publics (Boulder, IU, Clemson types) with a few privates that have a tendency to throw scholarships around because they know they can’t compete at full sticker price (Denver, Dayton). Not quite an honors college level kid most places, nor does he think that’s something he’d really want. “Fit” for him has turned out to be finding lots and lots of his people, more than being attracted to the most selective places he can get in - the top 3 in his pecking order (at the moment) are probably 4-6 in terms of selectivity. Pre-results, of course; things could change if he gets a “yes” from a place with a low acceptance rate and he feels flattered instead of intimidated.
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Just saw the email, decisions on Friday!
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Received the same email saying today; but the portal says the 15th…
When do they announce those accepted into Honors typically?
It’s definitely today for decisions, my son showed me an instagram post about it last night.
I think Honors comes at the same time but honestly I can’t remember.
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This is one decision I’m really looking forward to. My S25 just got in to Indiana and that appears to be his top choice, but when I looked at Miami’s merit chart starting at 15K for a 4.3 GPA, I was pumped for that. He’s got a 4.43 W GPA and they confirmed they accept whatever the transcript says. On top of that they have his program and club, the campus is really great looking, the grants are the best I’ve found for a public like this. He’s got some pretty good ECs (we think anyway); a lot of helping with special needs kids, hockey coaching for special needs kids and he also works with special needs kids in his HS thrugh a special program he’s doing instead of gym. He’s a good kid, if I may say so myself 
. Anyway, I think the grant will be higher than 15K, but I’m prepared for the kick in the B^&%*S. LOL
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The contradictions!!!
Decisions are out! S25 was accepted to Farmer and the Honors college with 19K a year. Less than his non Honors college and lower gpa sister in 2023. A great option for him though!
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S25 just left for the gym to play basketball with friends, so I will have to wait patiently! Does anyone know if they are not accepted into their major (my son applied to Arch., which is competitive), can they still be admitted to the university?
My S25 was accepted with the RedHawk Excellence Scholarship in the annual amount of $25,000. He was really happy. He’s also being considered for the honors college and the presidential fellows program. He’ll find out about those in January and March, respectively. We can’t wait to see the campus. This one is definitely in the running!
Congrats to everybody that got in and best of luck to everybody else!
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25K is great!
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