In full disclosure, my daughter is graduating from U Miaimi next week. A lot of the opinions on the school here are based on stereotypes that do not hold true for the majority of students. Here is our experience:
U Miaimi has significant income and ethnic diversity, far more than what you would see at other schools that people perceive as wealthy - Tufts, Washington U, NE Liberal Arts Colleges, and more.
The social life at Miami is equally diverse, and there is something for everyone. Athletes and people who love to watch them, greek, and then yes - bar and club goers, too. Since the colleges are a similar level academically, and it sounds like Miaimi is offering a sizable scholarship (my daughter got the Presidential as an FYI), I think it would be difficult for you not to seriously consider it over Villanova. Yes, Miaimi is maybe 10% fast and wealthy, but that is not the college experience that the large majority of people have. My daughter was in a sorority, but was definitely in more of an academically serious peer group.
Regarding housing, my daughter moved to one of the nicer ānear-campusā apartments sophomore year (by choice). It was still 25% cheaper than the campus housing options.
3 Likes
What did she decide? Sounds like two great choices - congrats to your daughter. I know nothing about UMiami but happy to answer any questions about first year experience at Villanova. My D24 just finished her freshman year and has had a great experience.
2 Likes
Thank you. Glad to hear your daughter had a wonderful experience!
With so many students living off campus, did your daughter find that the community did not feel as close knit/cohesive? Are there off-campus apartments that house mostly students to create that communal feel? My daughter is still 50/50.
It sounds like your daughter found her people/areas of interest. My biggest concern is that my daughter would feel left out since we are not in that fast/wealthy crowd. Your feedback is very insightful. Was it hard getting into a sorority not being in that crowd? That has been her concern.
Need to make decision on Monday. We are in constant discussion.
Thank you! She had not made decision yet. This is very tough. As you can tell by my questions, sheās been focused on the perceived lack of social life at Villanova now that she has the UMiami option. Anything more you can share would be helpful.
Social life at Villanova will not be as fast and āBIGā as a big state school. Iām not familiar with Umiami but I suspect it has a faster scene than Villanova.
I highly recommend joining a sorority at Villanova because of the activities and social network doing so affords. Almost every girl who rushes gets a bid (>99%), which is nice. But itās still the standard stressful rush process, even if itās lower-key than southern schools. Every year about 10 percent choose to drop out of recruitment because they are unhappy with their final choices. If you choose not to rush (or drop out of recruitment) you can still attend frat partiesā¦at least the girls can. There are no fraternity or sorority houses on campus, so parties are off campus at private homes. In addition to weekly frat parties there are all the standard greek formals and mixers. Separate from fraternities and sororities, there are several different club sports teams that routinely host parties and occasionally host formals.
IMO there is a reasonable/normal amount of parties/social activities but not an overwhelming amount. By contrast I have many friends who have children at our state flagship and there they have multiple options for raging parties every night of the week. Thatās not really the case at Villanova.
Itās definitely not a crazy scene but itās enough for my daughter. Mind you, sheās not a huge partier so her normal routine is to go to a frat party once a week and go out to dinner or a concert downtown and hang out with friends once or twice a week. Sheās attended 6 formals this semester (none last semester before she rushed). Is that enough for your daughter? I suspect your she would have a lot more social options at Umiami, but again Iām not really familiar with it.
Although the school is not overly religious there is a definite Catholic vibe and a degree of familiarity with the āCatholic School Feelingā since she came here from one. The President of the university is a priest and he is phenomenal. She doesnāt attend mass often - maybe 3-4 times a semester but some of her friends attend weekly (and others are not Catholic and never attend)
There have been some things Iāve been disappointed with, but I assume that would be true anywhere she went.
So in summary - I think both schools are great options. There is (maybe) enough going on socially at Villanova if your daughter plans to rush. Maybe not enough if she chooses not to. I feel pretty sure that Miami will have a faster social scene and since she doesnāt have time to visit, she may just have to take a leap of faith with one or the other. I think she can have a great experience at either school. Good luck with your choice!
7 Likes
Thank you! I appreciate your time. I think you helped to make her decision. As of tonight, she is going with Villanova!
9 Likes
Just a note: U Miami is private. Its not a state school
5 Likes
Starting with the sorority, it seems that the underclassman appreciate them, but by junior year people start to lose interest. There are flavors of them for most anyone. Regarding housing, the buildings are filled with students. 0 loss of community IMO. Good luck!
1 Like
Yes I am aware of that. I am trying to contrast the environments. Miami is the size of many big state schools and has a reputation for having a similar vibrant social scene. Villanova is smaller and does not have that type of scene.
2 Likes
U Miami is more of a medium+ in terms of size.
4 Likes
Oh my. Ok. Itās very easy to google the number of students at each school. I believe my original comments were very clear about trying to contrast the environments of the schools, which is exactly what OP is asking. But if youād like to debate what constitutes a big school, a medium school and a medium small school, have at it.
1 Like
FSU population is more than twice that of Miami (looking at both main campus and Jax), and UF has almost, but not quite, twice the # of students.
not at all. truly thought you may not know the school well based on your comments.
1 Like
Iām glad to hear that sheās not basing her decision on the perceived bigger social life. Itās a lot of money to pay for a few years of social life, which, as you are well aware, are over before you know it. Kids can approach college like itās a destination. In reality, itās the bridge to the rest of their life, some place you pass through to get to where you want to be
2 Likes