Spend some time on our Admission website, and you might notice a significant change. For the first time in the University’s history, we have a site set up specifically for Early Decision admission: www.muohio.edu/earlydecision. Naturally, the question becomes is this a good option for you? Before you answer that question, let’s focus on the word ‘option.’
Indeed, it is just that. There is no pressure per say to apply Early, but we’re essentially being as transparent as we can. Yes, we like it when students really like us. There’s no stronger message you send to a college than to say, “This is a great school and yes, if I’m admitted I will be coming.” It’s kind of like an allegiance you have to a name brand (Starbucks comes to mind) or a particular channel (for me it’s National Geographic). That allegiance will always come first, no matter the other options on the table. Early Decision—for the most part—works that way. It’s not to say you haven’t considered other colleges, but there is one shining brighter than the rest. If you feel that warmth when you take a tour or attend an information session, go with it. Embrace it. Apply early and tell us you love us. Your application will be due sooner rather than later, but you will also have the college search process wrapped up early into your senior year. Do you know how AllState offers the peace of mind guarantee with auto insurance? That’s what we’re offering too---less stress senior year, and more time to assimilate into the Miami Family before you actually arrive on campus.
So why is Miami emphasizing the Early Decision option now? Why now seems to be the core of the chatter both on and off campus. To get that answer, just reverse the question. Why not now? In a world where students are bombarded with so many options/incentives, we initially didn’t want to appear pushy or pressure students more than they are already pressured. We wanted to outline three specific dates and adhere to them. It’s not so much that we have changed, but the world has changed. Students have gotten smarter and they are starting their college search process earlier and earlier. For thousands, this also means that come November, there aren’t a ton of colleges left on the list. The ones that remain are serious contenders and more often than not, students just seem to “know” their top choice. Act on that and be bold. My advice is if you can complete the following sentence in less than a minute, apply early: “I truly love Miami University and I am applying Early because…..”
Here’s the real pearl in all this discourse—your chances of getting in are better. There’s just no way around it. The applicant pool (which historically has been less than a 1,000 students) is a lot smaller than the Early Action and Regular Decision pools. It’s still going to be competitive because we are a selective school, but it’s not alarming numerical odds.
Finally, whatever option you choose, make sure it’s the right one for you. Pledging your allegiance to Miami is “in”, it is popular and more and more students are doing it. We hope that after careful consideration, you’ll declare Early Decision too.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
A Few Questions with a New RedHawk
Hello Everyone! Summer is moving quickly and it’s almost time for rising high school seniors, class of 2012, to begin their college application journey. I thought now would be a good time to get some insight from a new RedHawk on the application process and what he likes about Miami. Enjoy!
Meet Kendall, an incoming first-year student-athlete from Columbus, OH. Kendall will be playing baseball at Miami. Here’s what he had to say:
1) Why did you choose Miami?
I chose Miami because I felt very comfortable as I came on my visits. Being a baseball player, that had some say in my decision as well. The major factor was how I felt when I arrived on campus; it felt like somewhere I wanted to be.
2) What are you most looking forward to?
I am most looking forward to meeting new friends during my first year. I'm curious to see how well I'll make the transition from high school to college as well.
3) What are you most nervous about?
I am most nervous about time management. I have heard from others how it is the key to success in college and I hope can learn to manage my time well.
4) What was the hardest part of the college application process?
Personally, the hardest part of the college application process was making sure I had all the requirements (recommendations, SAT/ ACT scores, etc.) all in order and all present to ship out to each college.
5) Do you have any advice for students that are preparing to apply to college this fall?
Don't let anyone tell you there's somewhere you can't go. If you want to get away, do it. Take the time to go visit and apply to the school. If you don’t get in, so what. At least you made them say no whereas you never know what would happen if you didn’t even apply. Also, don't stress!
1) Why did you choose Miami?
I chose Miami because I felt very comfortable as I came on my visits. Being a baseball player, that had some say in my decision as well. The major factor was how I felt when I arrived on campus; it felt like somewhere I wanted to be.
2) What are you most looking forward to?
I am most looking forward to meeting new friends during my first year. I'm curious to see how well I'll make the transition from high school to college as well.
3) What are you most nervous about?
I am most nervous about time management. I have heard from others how it is the key to success in college and I hope can learn to manage my time well.
4) What was the hardest part of the college application process?
Personally, the hardest part of the college application process was making sure I had all the requirements (recommendations, SAT/ ACT scores, etc.) all in order and all present to ship out to each college.
5) Do you have any advice for students that are preparing to apply to college this fall?
Don't let anyone tell you there's somewhere you can't go. If you want to get away, do it. Take the time to go visit and apply to the school. If you don’t get in, so what. At least you made them say no whereas you never know what would happen if you didn’t even apply. Also, don't stress!
Monday, June 27, 2011
I Choose Option Number 2: Making the Case for Deferment
One of the most beautiful aspects of being a student is that at this stage of the game, your life is full of choices. Some big, some small. One of the biggest decisions an accepted student to college weighs is whether or not to defer his/her admission. I recently sat down with a student here in the Office of Admission who wanted advice on the issue. She also wanted me to weigh in on the “stigma” associated with students who opt to defer. Here’s my two (or three) cents:
Go for it. You only live once. If you’ve discussed it with your family and the pendulum seems to be leaning more on the side of deferment, trust your instinct. The decision to defer is a personal one and is often made for a variety of reasons. The student I mentioned above is spending a year doing mission work in the United States. Some students will travel abroad with different service-based organizations. Maybe you’ll spend a year on a farm in Vermont discovering with your hands what sustainable agriculture really is. Some students will spend a year at a golf academy or playing hockey while others will volunteer for a community based organization they are passionate about. Whatever the case, students who defer are in no way disadvantaged. Once you arrive here, you will assimilate like every other college student…just with a little more life experience under your belt. If anything, deferred students report back to us that they feel more grounded after a year of intense focus on one thing and that they feel well rounded and better prepared for the journey of college.
There’s also the indelible imprint on your life. Spending an entire year doing something you love helps more clearly define some of your long-term goals. It might also influence what you major/minor in at Miami. You might spend that year volunteering at a Spanish-speaking school and that prompts your interest in the teacher education program here at Miami with an emphasis on foreign languages.
In terms of the process, you will need to email Ann Larson in our office to request a deferral. In this email request, you also need to explain what you plan to do during your deferment. The request needs to come from you, not your parents. If you received scholarship money, more likely than not it would still be applied the following year. The only difference is if you filled out the FAFSA and received aid, you will have to fill it out again the following year. Also—you are not allowed to take any college courses during the year you defer.
Deferring is not for everyone, but for some of you—it will indeed make all the difference.
Go for it. You only live once. If you’ve discussed it with your family and the pendulum seems to be leaning more on the side of deferment, trust your instinct. The decision to defer is a personal one and is often made for a variety of reasons. The student I mentioned above is spending a year doing mission work in the United States. Some students will travel abroad with different service-based organizations. Maybe you’ll spend a year on a farm in Vermont discovering with your hands what sustainable agriculture really is. Some students will spend a year at a golf academy or playing hockey while others will volunteer for a community based organization they are passionate about. Whatever the case, students who defer are in no way disadvantaged. Once you arrive here, you will assimilate like every other college student…just with a little more life experience under your belt. If anything, deferred students report back to us that they feel more grounded after a year of intense focus on one thing and that they feel well rounded and better prepared for the journey of college.
There’s also the indelible imprint on your life. Spending an entire year doing something you love helps more clearly define some of your long-term goals. It might also influence what you major/minor in at Miami. You might spend that year volunteering at a Spanish-speaking school and that prompts your interest in the teacher education program here at Miami with an emphasis on foreign languages.
In terms of the process, you will need to email Ann Larson in our office to request a deferral. In this email request, you also need to explain what you plan to do during your deferment. The request needs to come from you, not your parents. If you received scholarship money, more likely than not it would still be applied the following year. The only difference is if you filled out the FAFSA and received aid, you will have to fill it out again the following year. Also—you are not allowed to take any college courses during the year you defer.
Deferring is not for everyone, but for some of you—it will indeed make all the difference.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Summer College Visits
Greetings All! I hope you are enjoying the beginnings of your summer. For most of you, the school year has ended which means it’s time to start college visits! I always get the question, “Is it worth making a visit to a college if the students aren’t there?” My answer is always, “Absolutely!”
First, even though the semester is not in session, there are many Miami students currently on campus taking summer classes. As a result, you will see Miami students walking through the quad as you explore our campus. In addition, first-year orientation is occurring, which means that the students that were in your shoes just one year ago are now visiting their university for the first time as official Miami students. You will certainly have the chance to see students on-campus and uptown, and they are always more than happy to help you find your way around or answer a question.
Second, being on a college campus without much of the student population allows you to really see if you feel at home. If you love the university by just stepping foot on the campus and imagining all the opportunities available to you, then just imagine how you are going to feel about it when all your future friends and classmates return to campus! Can you see yourself playing Frisbee in our quad, using the Rec, sitting in class in an academic building, or meeting friends at the seal?
Finally, it’s understandable that you may feel a little overwhelmed when you first step foot on a college campus. Add a college student population and you may feel a little uncomfortable. If that is the case, it’s perfectly normal. But, by visiting a college campus the first time when the general student population is not there, you are able to get comfortable with a place so when you return for your second visit, instead of worrying about how you will make at that school for the next for years, you will be planning what you will be doing for the next four years.
So as you make your college visit plans for this summer, stop by Oxford, Ohio. Miami University will welcome you with open arms! Just make your plans at www.muohio.edu/visit!
First, even though the semester is not in session, there are many Miami students currently on campus taking summer classes. As a result, you will see Miami students walking through the quad as you explore our campus. In addition, first-year orientation is occurring, which means that the students that were in your shoes just one year ago are now visiting their university for the first time as official Miami students. You will certainly have the chance to see students on-campus and uptown, and they are always more than happy to help you find your way around or answer a question.
Second, being on a college campus without much of the student population allows you to really see if you feel at home. If you love the university by just stepping foot on the campus and imagining all the opportunities available to you, then just imagine how you are going to feel about it when all your future friends and classmates return to campus! Can you see yourself playing Frisbee in our quad, using the Rec, sitting in class in an academic building, or meeting friends at the seal?
Finally, it’s understandable that you may feel a little overwhelmed when you first step foot on a college campus. Add a college student population and you may feel a little uncomfortable. If that is the case, it’s perfectly normal. But, by visiting a college campus the first time when the general student population is not there, you are able to get comfortable with a place so when you return for your second visit, instead of worrying about how you will make at that school for the next for years, you will be planning what you will be doing for the next four years.
So as you make your college visit plans for this summer, stop by Oxford, Ohio. Miami University will welcome you with open arms! Just make your plans at www.muohio.edu/visit!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Commencement: the end, or the beginning?
Well, it’s June! Congratulations to all you seniors have just graduated or are getting ready to walk across the stage and receive your hard-earned high school diploma. When you reach the end of a chapter in your life, you might be so excited to start the new chapter that you forget to relish the old! As one student wrote in our Admitted Student Facebook group: “Get me to Miami NOW!... Please? (:”
I don’t blame you. Miami is great. You will have four fantastic years here. This place will become a part of you and help to guide the rest of your life. But before you pack up and move on, take a moment to reflect on where you are, who you are, and the things you’ve done. Think about all the things you will miss: the people, the spots you love, the leadership roles you worked hard for, the familiarity of it all. Enjoy them one last time before you close that chapter.
I am also looking forward to a new chapter. Tomorrow is my last day as an Admission Counselor, and soon I will start a new role as Assistant Director of the Honors Program here at Miami. And while I am so excited to get started and dive right in working with all of you in the Honors Program, I have to take a moment to look around and reflect on the last three years I’ve spent in this office recruiting great students like you.
I will miss reading your inspiring application essays. I will miss walking into your high schools and picturing what your life must be like there. I will miss driving around your cities on your roads, stopping in your Starbucks or grabbing lunch at your Panera. I will miss answering the phone and hearing “Hi Mandy, it’s me again.” I will miss welcoming visitors to our campus and showing them how great life Miami can be. I will miss getting to know you and walking you through the stressful process that is college admission.
But, as you know, it is not the end. It is time for us to find out what new things we will love, what new things we will someday miss. And it’s time to dive in J
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Summer in Oxford
Hi everyone! While the year has ended for current students, we are here all summer to welcome the Classes of 2015 and beyond! We will be hosting summer tours and information sessions for prospective students and families Monday through Friday and select Saturdays. You are more than welcome to register for these events at www.muohio.edu/visit. In addition, the office is now on Summer Hours, so our new schedule is 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
A question we are always asked when it comes touring colleges in the summer is, “Is it worth coming to campus when the students are not is session?” The answer is Absolutely!
While there aren’t 17,000 students roaming our campus, there are still about 3,000 students taking summer courses in Oxford. In addition, with the beauty of Miami in the summer, you won’t want to stop wandering around, providing you will the full sense of what our campus has to offer. Don’t be surprised when you see people walking through the Formal Gardens or playing volleyball on Western campus. The summer showcases the outdoor activities students have available. If you see me running in the Western Woods with my dog, please be sure to say hello!
Summer is Oxford is fantastic. People are always out and about, eating outside at restaurants or benches, listening to live music at the uptown park, or walking around town with ice cream. While many restaurants and stores do adjust to summer hours, getting a bite to eat, finding an activity or looking for a place to shop is not an issue. I feel extremely fortunate to have spent the better part of the last few summers in Oxford, and I hope when you visit Miami, you will get a small piece of that satisfaction.
As you make your visit this summer here are the top 5 things to do while you are at Miami.
Take a longer tour of campus: You will have the opportunity to have a normal campus tour, but take advantage of the nice weather and see parts of campus that the tour didn’t cover.
Explore an Academic Building: There are classes in session, so the academic buildings will be open. If you are a prospective engineering major, walk through the Engineering Building. If you a prospective business major, walk through the Farmer School of Business Building.
Talk to a Student: Even in the summer students choose to stay in Oxford. Find out why and what their Miami experience means to them. Students are always happy to talk to prospective families.
Visit the Uptown Park: There are a lot of activities happening at the Uptown Park in the summer. Be a part of it!
Eat at a restaurant Uptown: Many uptown restaurants have outdoor seating so you can enjoy the weather while you talk about your visit to Miami.
As always, if you have any questions about a summer visit, you are always welcome to contact your counselor which you can find at www.muohio.edu/askacounselor or call the Office of Admission at 513-529-2531.
A question we are always asked when it comes touring colleges in the summer is, “Is it worth coming to campus when the students are not is session?” The answer is Absolutely!
While there aren’t 17,000 students roaming our campus, there are still about 3,000 students taking summer courses in Oxford. In addition, with the beauty of Miami in the summer, you won’t want to stop wandering around, providing you will the full sense of what our campus has to offer. Don’t be surprised when you see people walking through the Formal Gardens or playing volleyball on Western campus. The summer showcases the outdoor activities students have available. If you see me running in the Western Woods with my dog, please be sure to say hello!
Summer is Oxford is fantastic. People are always out and about, eating outside at restaurants or benches, listening to live music at the uptown park, or walking around town with ice cream. While many restaurants and stores do adjust to summer hours, getting a bite to eat, finding an activity or looking for a place to shop is not an issue. I feel extremely fortunate to have spent the better part of the last few summers in Oxford, and I hope when you visit Miami, you will get a small piece of that satisfaction.
As you make your visit this summer here are the top 5 things to do while you are at Miami.
Take a longer tour of campus: You will have the opportunity to have a normal campus tour, but take advantage of the nice weather and see parts of campus that the tour didn’t cover.
Explore an Academic Building: There are classes in session, so the academic buildings will be open. If you are a prospective engineering major, walk through the Engineering Building. If you a prospective business major, walk through the Farmer School of Business Building.
Talk to a Student: Even in the summer students choose to stay in Oxford. Find out why and what their Miami experience means to them. Students are always happy to talk to prospective families.
Visit the Uptown Park: There are a lot of activities happening at the Uptown Park in the summer. Be a part of it!
Eat at a restaurant Uptown: Many uptown restaurants have outdoor seating so you can enjoy the weather while you talk about your visit to Miami.
As always, if you have any questions about a summer visit, you are always welcome to contact your counselor which you can find at www.muohio.edu/askacounselor or call the Office of Admission at 513-529-2531.
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