Confessions of a New Admission Counselor

Hi everyone! I hope everyone is off to a good start this year! We’ve been excited to begin visiting your schools and thrilled that you have been visiting us here at Miami. As I started my job as an admission counselor at the beginning of this month, I began to ask myself many of the questions you may be asking yourself when you talk to a counselor.

1. Does my admission counselor really love Miami this much?

The answer, quite simply, is YES! While some of us, such as myself, spent our undergraduate careers studying here in Oxford, others have come to Miami from different experiences because they feel a very strong connection to the university and its mission.

2. Is my college counselor giving me the same speech he/she gives every student?

The answer is a resounding NO. We understand the individuality of each student as well as the diversity of questions in the minds of prospective students. As a result, we answer these questions personally and as they pertain to the individual.

3. Is my college counselor looking for a type of student?

Actually, yes. ALL OF THEM. Miami is looking for all students that are hoping to excel in college and contribute to the university and society. We do not look for a “typical student.” Our students come from all walks of life, all over the nation and all over the world. We want students that are looking to make the most out of their education.

4. Can I really contact my college counselor at anytime?

Absolutely! You can always call the office of admission or our direct phone lines to get in touch with us. We are more than happy to answer your questions. In addition, you can send us an email at anytime, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

5. Why does my admissions counselor keep mentioning they wish me luck with my college decision?

We understand that choosing a college is a big life choice. We have been there ourselves. Myself, more than once. After initially going through the college decision process, I found that I was in a different place after I started college than I was when I began my college search. As a result, I went through the college process more carefully when I decided to transfer schools, looking at institutions that met my needs. That search brought me to Miami. Ultimately, we want you to do what is best for you because this is your education and your life.

I hope these have helped answer some general questions you may have about your college counselors. Please contact us if you have any questions about Miami. You can visit www.muohio.edu/askacounselor to ask your counselor a question. And sincerely, we wish you the best of luck on your college search.

Fall already?!

Alright. It’s not even okay that it’s September. Where did summer go?! For many of you, this fall is the beginning of the end: your last year of high school! It’s also a time when you start deciding where to send in your college applications… which means that it’s an important time for us in college admission as well. As you start classes this fall, you may notice your guidance office advertising visits from colleges around the country who come to talk about their school and the application process. In the admission world, we call this “travel season,” where we visit high schools during the school day and attend college fairs in the evening. Many of us are on the road for over a month!

Traveling is my favorite part of being an admission counselor. Don’t get me wrong… I also love reading applications, giving presentations on campus, meeting with families and planning our on-campus programs, but there is something special about the thrill of going from school to school, seeing new faces, and talking about Miami to students who may not have the opportunity to visit our campus. I also love hotels (free cable, pool, and gym? Yes, please!) and exploring new cities. This year I have the amazing opportunity to travel to Atlanta, Denver, Nashville, and Cleveland, where I will hopefully meet many future Miami students! This is Shaker Heights High School in Shaker Heights, OH... one of my favorite schools to visit!
You can see where Miami is hosting programs at www.muohio.edu/inmytown. Be sure you’re getting emails from Miami by filling out a request form at www.muohio.edu/requestinfo, and we will email you if we will be coming to your high school or to a college fair in your area! You can also visit www.muohio.edu/askacounselor to email your counselor and find out if he or she will be at your school.