The University of Miami

Date: Jan 18 2005
Major: Other (This Major's Salary over time)
Yes, the campus is beautiful; if you like Palm trees. Yes, there is a great social life on campus; if you have money. Yes, you can leave here with an acceptable education; if you’re willing to search for it.

Whenever I ask someone what the deciding factor was in making their decision to study at UM, I always hear some variation of: "Beautiful Campus" or "Great Location." To be honest, the campus doesn't look horrible; but that's only because it's had money thrown at it. Looking a little more critically, you can a lot of places where the planning was either haphazard or followed incorrectly. The buildings of the less funded programs look acceptable on the outside, but are as old as the buildings themselves on the inside. Also, if you’re not careful, you may be the next victim of a falling palm branch.

Regarding social life, if you're lucky you'll be able to find a group of like minded friends and be happy. If you're not, you may find yourself quickly jaded by the self-absorbed and sometimes arrogant student body. It isn't really a problem of upbringing or social status, but a constant aura of apathy regarding academics. Quite a few people aren't here for an education and it shows. Finding a group of intellectually minded people can be difficult and frustrating.

Speaking of frustrating, one of the more touted aspects of a UM education is the student to faculty ratio. That’s all well and good, but what use is it with apathetic or absent instructors? There are quite a few professors who are genuinely interested in their subject matter and students; but some aren’t and my advice is, try to find someone who cares and if you can’t, drop. You’ll suffer much more at the hands of someone who doesn’t care about what you learn, then someone who demands an acceptable level of work. This is especially true in General education courses. This was the largest disappointment for me, as I expected higher standards.

I’m not completely tearing down UM, but if you take a tour of the campus, look at everything with a critical eye and decide if you want to accept the negatives to receive what you may feel is positive about the school.