NEED HELP FAST! Villanova OR University of Miami w/scholarship

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Hi - I need advice quickly! My daughter accepted her spot at Villanova but was just unexpectedly accepted off of the waitlist at University of Miami. She also received a meaningful merit scholarship versus no scholarship at Villanova. We are trying to take the cost out of the decision but the scholarship will certainly help.

The schools could not be more different in terms of college experience but she could see herself at both schools.

Can you share your honest perspectives and the biggest pros and cons of each?

I’ve heard housing at UMiami can be difficult. Do most have to live off campus after freshman year? Is it easy to find apartments close to campus? Given her late acceptance, will she have an issue with freshman housing and finding roommates??

All opinions welcome. We thought we were set and now we are rethinking college decision Thank you!

Maximum parent contribution per year.

Major/division admitted to at each college, if applicable to the college. Also, any special programs like honors programs or combined degree programs (e.g. BA/BS->MD).

If you applied to regular fall term start, specify if you were admitted to start at a different campus, in study abroad, in an online/distance or extension program, or other than in the fall term.

Desired major and post graduation goals (including if pre-med, pre-law, etc.).

If not a frosh admit finishing high school, indicate status (e.g. sophomore level transfer, junior level transfer, frosh after gap year(s)).

International or domestic student (and state of residency if domestic).

Student preferences beyond the above (including weather, class sizes, campus culture, college demographics, fraternities/sororities, distance from home, etc.).

Preliminary assessment of each college based on the above.

Why did you apply to each college you are considering?

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What’s your budget and what’s net cost at each (so we can offer some sort of ROI analysis):
Net cost = (tuition fees room board)-(scholarships l, grants)

What major?

Is your child into the Catholic core ethos or not?

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Thank you for your reply! Had expected to pay full tuition at both school so the scholarship is an extra bonus but will certainly make a difference. She is majoring in psychology – likely going on to get a Master’s in psychology (focused on persons with developmental disabilities). She has attended private Catholic school throughout her academic career so the Catholic ethos is considered a plus.

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To state the obvious: Villanova should be a comfortable environment for her. U Miami is a school that applicants really want to be at if they apply as its location is so distinctive.

In my view, this really depends upon the student. I am familiar with both schools and locations as I spent a lot of time in the Florida Keys and in the Miami area and have been to Villanova many times with lots of friends who attended.

This is more than a Philly versus Miami decision, but the locations are quite different and, therefore, should play into one’s decision. FWIW College students & young adults love Philadelphia.

Of course, Miami is a very vibrant, exciting city. Fun to visit other locations in Florida whether the Keys, St. Augustine, Clearwater, etc. Florida is about outdoor activities and having fun. Lots of cruises. Bahamas.

May depend upon your daughter’s state of mind at this stage of her life.

Personal decision based on personal preferences. Maybe the scholarship award, if significant, will come into play.

Congratulations.

P.S. If she selects Miami, it will be a different experience than Catholic school. Enjoy life !

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Congrats on the waitlist admit. Housing isn’t guaranteed at U Miami after first year. The website says first years have to apply by May 15 for housing and is first come first serve, so I would also make sure there is still housing left for wait list admits. U Miami off campus housing market is tough, and can be expensive. But that’s no different than many other areas around colleges.

I can’t speak to the issue with finding a roommate, but would advise her to join the admitted students instagram or whatever other social media pages might be out there.

I would check to see if there is a U Miami parent Facebook page you can join and ask about off-campus housing.

The vibe at U Miami will be quite different than Villanova. Has she visited the U?

@michaelcollege can you share any recent experience at Miami, as well as off campus housing?

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Thank you so much! This is very helpful. Appreciate the insight.

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Thank you! She has been to Villanova but not UMiami…which is making this more challenging. She will love the campus itself but hard to experience the students and vibe without being there. Unfortunately, the decision timeline is tight so a visit is not possible from the Bay Area. I will take your advice on finding out more info. on housing. Thanks.

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Has she been to South Florida ?

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Yes, she has spent time in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. But, she would NOT have experienced the full immersion of nightlife as a teen. We have been there on vacation.

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From the very few kids I know at UMiami, they spend a lot of money on outside fun with parents footing the bill. Is that feasible for your family or will your daughter be on a more “typical” student budget and be unable to participate in all the extras offered in the area and the school culture?

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So long as she is familiar with South Florida, she should be able to make a decision based on her personal preferences.

I cannot comment on nightlife as I am/was an adventurous outdoor, athletic individual. Was offered a scholarship to the law school at U Miami, but dropped it after a few weeks because I would fly-in each week.

The safe bet for your daughter is Villanova, main-line area of Philly and Philadelphia adventures since she would be continuing on with Catholic schooling. Still should be exciting as college students & young professional love Philadelphia.

Miami is exciting. If she like nightclubs, there is no shortage in Miami.

Again, if the scholarship is meaningful, then Miami should be enticing. My best guess is that kids spend more money at U Miami than at Villanova.

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The Miami school culture can veer to “rich kids doing tons of fun stuff”.
Villanova’s vibe is closer to the Catholic schools she may be used to - importance of humanities+building the whole person through study, reflexion, physical activity, spirituality, good deeds.

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Appreciate all of the insights. She and I will have a comprehensive discussion tonight as we work through this process. I can’t thank you enough for sharing your perspectives.

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It might help to know the overlaps for each school.

Villanova overlaps: Boston College, Fordham, Georgetown, Lehigh, Notre Dame, U Penn, Northeastern, & Notre Dame.

U Miami overlaps: Tulane, USC, NYU, U Michigan, U Florida, Emory, FSU, & U Wisconsin.

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When you chose Villanova over TCU, the scholarship they offered didn’t seem to be a consideration. Is Miami’s a bigger scholarship? If the funds are not an issue, its really a matter of personal preference. Throw 2 coins in the air, one with each school name on it and see which one she reaches for.

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For a student planning to major in psychology with a focus on people with developmental disabilities, I would also look at the Department of Education in each college because it is special education teachers who actually work directly with children with developmental disabilities up to the age of 21. While your daughter is planning on psychology now, her interest may change as she explores the field further. In this aspect, Miami has a teacher training program in special education while Villanova does not. This would be a significant factor favoring Miami for me. (I was a school psychologist.)

Strictly looking at the Psych Depts in the two colleges, both seem to be strong. Both offer neuroscience in addition to traditional psychology. Miami seems to have the larger department with more divisions; the website says it is one of the largest departments in Arts & Science. The website says that the neuroscience major is very competitive for admission, requiring either a 1360 SAT or 30 ACT. A phone call can verify that and find out if there are any additional requirements. Miami has a PhD program in Child Development and so would appear to have more resources in this area.

Villanova offers a combined bachelor’s/master’s degrees program in which 9 credits can be double counted for both undergrad and graduate degrees. This saves both time & money at the graduate level and gets you out into a job sooner where you will be earning money instead of compiling debt - BUT only if you do your graduate work at Villanova.

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Very helpful. I appreciate the comprehensive perspectives on the psychology programs. We will continue to research departments at both schools. You’ve called out some great considerations.

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Yes, scholarship more meaningful versus TCU. UMiami also ranked higher on her list.

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BTW, some states are working towards allowing people with a masters in psychology to be licensed. They may also be licensed in some states as a professional counselor or marriage and family therapist (no apparently your daughter’s interest). In what capacity does she want to work with students with disabilities?

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Right now she is interested in working with children with Down Syndrome. This has been an area of focus for her throughout high school.

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