Let's talk about the value and affordability of a private education...and its outcomes.

Let's talk.

No doubt, you're in the home stretch of your college application process. After all, UM's Regular Decision deadline is coming up soon on January 15.

But are there some lingering concerns from you or your family about making a private education an affordable choice? If so, you're not alone.

I've talked with some families recently who have expressed their concerns, so we talked to currents students and alumni about the value of a UM education and why it's important to at least apply.

Here's what they had to say about the value and affordability of a private education, along with its outcomes and benefits for graduates.











Feel free to weigh in and ask your questions. While I'm in the midst of early application review, I'll try my best to respond to your questions.

It's Facebook Official!

I have recently created my own profile on Facebook, so look me up! I will be posting notes with information regarding your concerns and have the ability to converse with you individually via wall posts.

I hope this will make it even easier for you to get in touch with me and for me to offer you advice and information throughout the application process!

Do you have a specific question?

If you have a question relating to the application process that you feel is specific to your situation, I recommend you email your concern to admission@miami.edu. A representative will be able to offer you answers and advice related to your individual scenario.

November 1st Deadline

Our first application deadline is no longer looming in the future – yes, it’s passed – but don’t stress! Many of you have asked if it is okay that one or two items will not be mailed by November 1st. Don’t worry, we will still consider you for Early Decision or Early Action if your test scores, recommendations, or transcripts arrive a few days late. Our only request is that you make sure everything has been submitted as soon as possible. Good luck to you all!

Car on Campus

It is true that UM no longer allows freshman to have cars on campus. However, Jeff A. posed a very intuitive question: “…if enough AP credits have been accumulated by a student, will [they] be allowed to possess a car[?]” For information on the parking situation, I recommend that all interested investigate the requirements at www.miami.edu/parking.

Are you concerned about the status of your application materials?

Christina Carlson asked if we had received all of her application materials, and I’m sure a large portion of you are wondering the same. To check on the status of your documents go to www.miami.edu/checkdocuments. I hope this keeps you all updated and less stressed during this time of waiting.

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Early Action vs. Regular Decision

A few students have expressed that they wish to apply Early Action but aren’t sure if that is the best option if they expect their academic standing will improve or want to improve their portfolio. My advice: apply Early Action if you are confident in all aspects of the application. Wait until Regular Decision if you are still improving your academic standing or portfolio; we want to see the best you have to offer, so don’t feel rushed!

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Teacher Recommendations

A question came from Brianna concerning teacher recommendations. She asked, “how should I send teacher recommendations?” Like all application materials, you should mail them to us. The address to send all application documents is…

Office of Admission
P.O. Box 249117
Coral Gables, FL 33124

Honors Program Applicants

Aside from the Early Decision and Early Action application deadlines of November 1st, all prospective Honors Program students must have their applications submitted by November 1st also. Thank you for drawing my attention to this matter, Sarabjot Makkar.

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Prospective Architecture Students

Three students specifically asked about the requirements for the Architecture portfolio – about what the department is looking for. A detailed description of the department’s expectations can be found at http://arc.miami.edu/academic-services/admission.

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International Students

The Office of Admission has a separate office that caters to prospective international students. A few of you have posted questions regarding specific forms that must be submitted. To receive the best answers on topics related to international applicants, I encourage you to email the Office of International Admission at intl.admission@miami.edu.

FAFSA

De’Shonte’ Broks asked, “What do we do if we can’t have our FAFSA estimate in by November 1st?” For De’Shonte’ and all others planning on applying early, we do not require a FAFSA report. We do, however, request that if you are applying Early Decision, you submit a Financial Aid Estimate. You can find that form here: http://www6.miami.edu/edestimate/.
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Application Fee & Fee Waivers

UM has two different application fees – one for online applications and one for paper applications. rachel wrote, “The common application online had an application fee of $55, but there was a University of Miami common application supplement that printed that had an application fee of $65. Is the application fee $55 if I submit online and $65 if I submit in paper form?” rachel, you are correct. The application fee is less for those who apply online.
For those applicants that are applying to waive the application fee, you must apply to outside sources. UM will grant other fee waivers but does not provide students fee waivers.

Admission Decision Notification

A number of you have asked when we will begin to notify applicants of our admission decisions. For those who have applied Early Decision or Early Action, you will receive notification in December. For those who are waiting to apply Regular Decision, we will notify you in March.

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Highest Composite Score

Caroline Mosley asked a very important question to which many of you would also like to have the answer. She asked, “…if I took the test on two different dates, will you take the highest composite or the highest section of each test and create a new composite?” UM admission counselors reviewing the applications want to give you the best chance of being admitted and therefore calculate for you the highest scores to make you the most competitive. That being said, we take the highest scores of each section and combine them to give you the highest possible composite score, even if we are combining sections scores from different tests.

Taylor K. asked, “Is it required that SAT and ACT scores “officially” be sent to UM through College Board/the ACT program?” The answer is yes. Make sure that the agency has been notified to send us your scores by your application deadline.

Early Decision and Early Action deadline is November 1, and I'm here to help.

Can you believe how quickly time flies? UM's Early Decision/Early Action deadline is coming up next week on November 1.

Is your application ready for our committee? All of your application materials should be postmarked by Nov 1 in order to be considered for Early Decision or Early Action.

If you have some last minute questions before you hit the "submit" button, just let me know and I'll answer your questions this week through my blog.

Or add UnivofMiamiAdm to your AIM buddy list because admission counselors will be online more often this week in order to field your questions.

I look forward to seeing your application on my desk very soon.

Unique Academic Offerings!

A few students have inquired about specific courses and programs that we offer here at UM.
· UM offers courses on the language of Arabic
· UM does offer an Aerospace Engineering major (more information available here)
· UM does offer a Chemical Oceanography major (more information available here)

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Another unique academic opportunity offered at UM is the Dual-Degree Honors Program.

Through UM’s Honors Program’s dual-degree programs, select incoming freshmen have the extraordinary opportunity to complete undergraduate and graduate degrees in Biomedical Engineering, Law, Marine Geology, Medicine, Latin American Studies, and Physical Therapy.

For more information on the competitive program click here.

For information specific to the Medical Honors Program click here.

Questions on the application process?

WHEN SHOULD I APPLY?

Prospective students are encouraged to apply the fall of before their freshman year in college. For the majority of students this means they will be applying the fall of their senior year. If a high school student plans to graduate a year early, he or she should apply the fall of their ‘junior’ year.

If you’re one of those interested in applying, go to www.miami.edu/apply to get all of the details on submitting your application!

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UM APPLICATION ESSAY TOPICS

The UM Online Application offers four essay prompts:
1. Evaluate a significant experience or achievement that has special meaning to you.
2. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
3. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
4. Explain the role that academic integrity has played in your life.
If an applicant chooses the Common Application or the Universal College Application, he or she should write an essay based on the specific application’s prompt.

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APPLYING TO THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

Those students interested in applying for the School of Architecture must complete the UM application as well as submit a portfolio. For more information on applying to the School of Architecture, visit this website. For the portfolio requirements, click here.

More answers to your questions!

VISITING MIAMI

For those prospective students interested in visiting UM’s campus in Coral Gables, go to www.miami.edu/planyourvisit. There you can schedule a tour and information session as well as look for other activities going on in the area.

Is there a best time to visit? In order to really experience our campus, I’d encourage you to visit when students are out and about walking to and from classes and activities during the academic year. If you can’t make it down when school is in session, though, don’t worry! Tours are available nearly everyday of the year.

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INTERESTED IN BEING A ‘CANE ON THE FIELD AS WELL AS IN THE CLASSROOM?

For information on the athletic programs offered at UM, visit http://www.hurricanesports.com/. Contact information is available as well as other helpful resources under the ‘For Recruits’ tab.

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FROST SCHOOL OF MUSIC

For those students who love to perform but don’t plan to make music a career, music opportunities are available for students majoring in a field of study not within the Frost School of Music (ie – biology, international relations, marketing, etc.). If you’re interested in more specific information on the opportunities available, I encourage you to contact Music Director Karen Kerr at kmkerr@miami.edu.

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AVERAGE SAT/ACT SCORES

Last year the middle 50% of incoming freshmen scored between 1250-1390 on the SAT and 28-32 on the ACT.

For more statistics on last year’s freshmen see the UM Fast Facts page.

You asked, so here goes...

Thank you to everyone who left me comments from my last update...I'm going to do my best to keep up!

I'm going to address some of your questions in general and if I need to clarify anything -- feel free to keep leaving me your comments.

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WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF GETTING IN?

Some students asked me what their chances are of being accepted, and the truth is that there is no way to predict if you're going to be admitted.

Since we're a private university, admission decisions are based on the competitiveness of a student applicant among all students who have applied for admission. The application process is very involved, and the only concrete thing I can share with you is that the committee takes great care in reviewing all applications.

If you're very interested in applying to UM, I would encourage you to apply. We won't know if you're admissible until you've applied and have been properly reviewed by the committee.

I would also encourage students who are very interested in UM to apply under an early option. We offer both Early Decision and Early Action (both have a November 1 deadline). Our website offers more details about these options.

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SPEAKING OF APPLYING EARLY - If I apply early, am I obligated to enroll?

If you apply under the Early DECISION option (as most college will offer this as an option) and you're accepted, then typically -- yes, you're obligated to withdraw all other applications and enroll in that college. You'll want to clarify that college's specific conditions, but generally, that is how Early DECISION works.

Early DECISION is not an option to take lightly. Wherever you apply, if you're applying Early Decision, I would strongly advise you speak with your school counselor about how this impacts your college application process.

Many colleges, UM included, offer an Early ACTION option -- where you apply early, receive a decision relatively early in the process, but you're still able to keep your options open. Typically, you're given until May 1 to make your final decision. You're not obligated (typically) to enroll under this option. Again, check with your college about their specific conditions.

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SCHOLARSHIPS and FINANCIAL AID

UM offers academic scholarships to incoming students. For more details about what academic credentials we look for, I advise that you visit our scholarships website.

David asked if we have a community service scholarship -- the answer is that our scholarships are only awarded based on your academic credentials, but that doesn't mean these scholarships can't be earned from outside (non-college specific) organizations. You might want to see if someplace like http://www.fastweb.com/ has some leads on scholarships you can apply for and use wherever you choose to go to college.

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TUITION RATES

Tuition is approximately $34,834 per academic year. Some of you asked about out-of-state rates, but since we're private, this is the tuition rate for all students.

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AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

While we offer a variety of language courses, American Sign Language is not one of them. For more information on the languages we do offer, please go to our Modern Languages and Literature department website.

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HOW DO YOU KNOW IF MY SCHOOL IS COMPETITIVE?

When you apply, we ask your counselor to send us your transcripts along with information about your high school. Your high school's profile will provide us with information about your curriculum and the classes you're taking.

Please be aware that when we review an applicant for admission, we do not compare you to other applicants from other schools. We look at you in the context of your high school. We look at what classes you chose to take among the classes offered by your respective high school. There is no need to worry about grading practices, systems and scales at other schools.

When we look at an applicant, we're looking for a student who has a strong academic performance in comparison to his/her classmates. In that light, I advise that you concentrate on performing to the best of your ability at your respective school.

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I'll tackle more of your questions later on this week.

I'd like to see your application on my desk by Nov. 1st

It's that time of the year! The University of Miami is now looking for the members of the Class of 2013.

To all of the students on our mailing list, I've put a copy of our newest viewbook in the mail for you, and our fall 2009 application is now available online.

Here are some things that I think will make the application process smooth and easy for you:

1. Create your Cane ID account so that you can apply online. Applying online is fast, secure, and you save $10 on your application fee.
2. Applying early gives you an advantage in admission and scholarship consideration.
3. It's never too early to start gathering your supporting documents for your admission file.

So...when is the application due? NOVEMBER 1 for Early Decision and Early Action; and JANUARY 15 for Regular Decision.

And if you're planning to apply to the Frost School of Music or the BFA Theatre program, you must apply through Regular Decision (Jan. 15 deadline) and schedule an audition.

What else would you like to know before you apply? Tell me and I'll blog about it next.

>>TAKE OUR POLL: How did you FIRST HEAR about the University of Miami? Vote now.

Here are two more of my cents regarding test scores and the admission process...

ABOUT ACCEPTABLE/AVERAGE TEST SCORES...

kbxheartsxyou and welsey asked about acceptable test scores and averages:
What is the average test score that gets you accepted to your university?
Great question. My advice: Our average SAT among admitted freshmen is a 1320 (Critical Reading and Math sections only). Our average ACT among admitted freshmen is 30. This is our most updated information for this most recent admitted student class.

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TYPOS...oops

Jake Rock pointed out a typo in my original message. Oops. Thanks, Jake, and I hope that you still keep posted on my blogs and e-mails even with my typos!

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ABOUT COMPOSITE SCORES...

Mike S. and caroline mosley said...
Does Miami take the single best composite score, or do they combine sub-scores from multiple tests and create a better composite?

My advice: UM will combine sub-scores from multiple tests and create your best composite for your application review. In other words, it's best to send us all of your test scores!

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CONCERNS ABOUT TEST SCORES and SCHOLARHIPS...

cryptic said...

I'm really kind of bothered that the 1600 scale is used to filter out scholarship funds. My personal scores are much higher in reading and writing (720 apiece) and lower in math (620). I feel that one of the subject areas that I excel in is being ignored. I think that students would feel better about losing possible funding if you took into consideration their entire performance on the test, rather than 2/3 of it.

Oh, and for whatever it's worth, I also feel that standardized test scores are too large a factor in your scholarship designations. While I'm a valedictorian, I could only receive $11, 000 from your scholarship program, making the University of Miami as expensive as any ivy league and financially unattainable. I would guess that a lot of talented students don't even apply as a result, and I could not even imagine trying to apply without some hope of someday paying off the costs of college. It might be something to consider, as I am sure that I am not the only student who will likely not be applying because of their weakest test score.

My advice and response:
I respect where you're coming from, cryptic. The reason we only use critical reading and math is because we do not know enough about the essay portion and our students' performance levels on that section to use it for the admission decision itself. We have a long history with the critical reading and math portions, and when the SAT added the essay portion, we decided that at this time, we would not use the essay portion.

Your essay portion still matters, though. We would expect that if you performed well on this section, that this performance is reflected in your competitive English courses and grades.

Regarding your concerns about the role of test scores in our scholarship awards -- if you're a class valedictorian, I would still encourage you to apply. Keep in mind that the scholarship guidelines we publish are merely guidelines, and the decisions we make are based on the whole of the information you present in your application. You're not locked in to any particular level -- but we are often asked about where a student should be academically if he/she would like to be competitive for a scholarship.

Try not to rule us out just yet, cryptic. I hope you still considering applying and allow our committee to look at all of your accomplishments for your application review. Best of luck.

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SHOULD I REALLY SEND EVERYTHING...

anonymous said...
Hi,

I took the ACT with writing in June and received a composite score. I took the ACT for the state in April and I scored one point higher on Math than I did in June, but I had a lower total ACT composite score (by 1 point). My English and Reading were the same but my Science was lower on the April test.

Do you want me to send both the April and June ACT scores to you? Or would you prefer just the highest composite score?Thanks

My advice: Send us everything and let us sort out for your best score. We may come out with something different and you won't know that unless you send us everything!

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WHAT ABOUT FULL SCHOLARHIPS...

Anonymous said...
How high would our Sat and Act scores have to be to recieve a full scholarship from UM?

My advice: We're looking for students with a 1500 SAT or a 34 ACT in order to be considered for a full tuition scholarship.

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WHAT IF MY TEST SCORES AREN'T "THERE"...
Anonymous said...
If i have a good GPA of, let's say 3.8 but my SAT scores are not there, can i still go to college?

My advice: Of course you should still consider college even if you're not that confident about your scores. You should consider a wide range of options based on your academic achievements.

If you're concerned about the strength of your test scores, you should discuss your concerns with your guidance counselor. He/she will have some great advice about your options, especially if you have strong grades.

Don't be discouraged! I'm sure you will have some great options, and if you're very interested in UM, you should still apply and allow the committee to review your entire application.

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SAT SUBJECT TESTS...

Anonymous said...
How much of a help will SAT subject tests be?
My advice: We don't use SAT subject test scores for general admission, so you can hold on to your subject test scores for your UM application. However, if you're applying for the Dual Degree program in Medicine (www.miami.edu/dualdegree) then you will need to submit SAT subject test scores for that supplemental application process.

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And my favorite comment from anonymous was "u guys rock". So simple but so encouraging. Keep your questions coming!

How much do test scores influence the admission decision?

SAT/ACT test scores are just one of the many factors that are taken into consideration when applications are reviewed for admission.

In all, we look at:

• Grades and level of difficulty of courses
• SAT/ACT test score(s)
• Counselor evaluation form
• Essay
• List of activities and honors achieved

If you're looking at test scores and wondering how to maximize your strength as an applicant, my advice is to be sure that all of your test scores (if taken multiple times) are sent to UM. UM uses the best/highest composite score among all your tests taken when we review applications for admission.

Another helpful piece of advice is to ask other colleges you're considering whether or not they look at your best composite score. This will help you decide what scores to send to what college when you apply.

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More advice about letters of recommendation...

From someone who is on our mailing list, they offered this advice:

Give the to the teacher's of your favorite(best grade) subjects...they are probably the most likely to give you a positive letter!

I agree. You want to be sure to ask for letters from people who you know will say great things about you!

QUESTIONS I'VE COLLECTED:

WHAT IF I'M HOMESCHOOLED and my mom wants to write me a letter?

My advice: As a homeschooled applicant, your parent is welcome to write a letter of recommendation since they also serve as your counselor.

We will accept a letter from her, even if she's your mom!We would also recommend that you ask another non-relative to write you a letter of recommendation -- maybe someone you've worked with, an employer, or someone in your community that you've had some positive experiences with.

CAN OTHER PEOPLE WRITE A LETTER FOR ME?

Question: im 100 percent to attend to UM I have a question, every saturday I attend to a programn that is call the open bound programm in florida national college so i want to know if they also can write me a recommendation letter

My advice: You're welcome to have someone from the program(s) you're involved in to write you a letter of recommendation. Just be sure to send in the required letter from your guidance counselor.

WHO SHOULD I ASK FOR A LETTER AND HOW MANY SHOULD I HAVE?

Question from morgan: I have been considering who to ask for letters of recommendation, but I am not sure who to ask. There are many people who could give me great recommendations, but I am not sure who to ask. Is it bad to have too many letters of recommendation, even if they are all good? How many letters of recommendation should I have? Thank you for your suggestions and help.

My advice: You should aim for quality letters over quantity. I think that having 2-3 handy for various applications is a good idea -- but you may need more depending on the application. You should try to get your list down to 2-3 people who know you very well and ask if they wouldn't mind writing a letter on your behalf.

SHOULD I WAIT UNTIL I APPLY TO SEND THE LETTER?

Question from Larry: Yes, I was wondering if you have to have a letter yet if you have not filled out an application form yet? I am planning on attending Miami. Do I have them send it in now or wait until i send in my application, and if so how many days do I wait until i send the letters behind that. Thankyou, Larry

My advice: You might want to hold on sending your letter(s) until your application file is open. That way, we'll easily be able to identify the letters and file them to your application. You don't have to wait long after applying. It is a good idea to at least be sure the application is filed before you send more materials.

WILL I NEED MORE THAN ONE LETTER?

Question: Will more than one letter of recommendation be needed when applying?

My advice: As far as the University of Miami is concerned, we only require one letter from your guidance counselor. You're welcome to send up to 2-3, but please be sure to at least send one for your UM file.

KEEP 'EM COMING! All great questions. Your advice is welcome too!

Letters of Recommendation: Make sure they recommend you!

(It's true. In my years of admission counseling, I've actually come across letters of recommendation that did not recommend the student for admission.)

All joking aside, a great letter of recommendation gives the admission committee an idea of your character beyond the basic information you provide in your application.

Here are some tips for letters of recommendation that I've found myself passing on to college applicants:

• Choose wisely! Ask for letter(s) from teachers, counselors and/or employers who have had positive experiences in working with you


• Letters from famous people should only be used if that person has worked directly with you. We're more impressed by a sincere, well-written letter from a teacher who has known you and worked with you than a letter from a famous person or public figure who is only an acquaintance.


• Talk to the teacher, counselor and/or employer that you're asking to write a letter on your behalf, and provide them with a resume or list of activities. They'll feel more comfortable talking both about their direct experiences with you and supplement the letter with other information about your accomplishments.


• Give the person plenty of time to think about the letter, write it and send it to the college you're applying to


• Provide a stamped and addressed envelope for the letter(s), or instructions on what you'd like the person to do with the completed letter


• Tell the person your application deadline, or else, a date by which you'd like the letter to be completed.


• Quality over quantity -- don't overdo it! Two or three letters are sufficient to have for your applications, unless a college has otherwise requested. You'd rather have 2-3 quality letters submitted by people who know you well than submit 10 letters written by people who "sort of" know you.

Above all, be sure to thank the person for taking the time to help you with your college application process.

...And hey, when you get into the college of your choice, you should make it a point to tell the people who wrote you letters of recommendation -- because they played an important part of you getting admitted!

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They Hugged the Lake!

[First of all, I'm sorry for not posting more often this month. We've had a busy month as the Class of 2012 has made their decisions about where they'd like to be this fall -- and we're thrilled to finally have our class in place!]

On Earth Day, April 22, 2008 -- I got to witness a few hundred UM students show their love to our Lake Osceola and participate in our "Hug the Lake" event. This event was started by our students two years ago, by a student organization called Random Acts of Kindness (RAK). RAK works to do just that -- promote random acts of kindness around campus, and to organize this giant hugging of the lake.

One of my staff members got brave enough to go to the top of one of our dorm towers to take photos, and she's shared them with me. I thought it was also a great way for you to see a truly panoramic view of our campus!

(You can see the chain forming along the lake.)

(This student leader was riding around the lake encouraging more students to join the hug. She got on the campus PA system to get all of the huggers to sing our Alma Mater -- and then the fountain in the middle of the lake came on to celebrate the hug!)

And the huggers got pizza, compliments of RAK and the event sponsors.

These are the kinds of events that I really look forward to around campus -- and I can only hope that our future classes ensure that such simple acts of kindness towards each other and the campus will continue.

Congratulations to RAK for a successful hug!

Question: What kind of school events have you done in high school that you think you'd like to add to our traditions?

Advice about Financial aid

Renee asked me a great question about how parents can feasibly consider having their child attend a private university, especially when you consider the costs associated with a private university like ours.

My advice for those parents and students who are in the "beginning" stages of their college search is not to rule out applying for or considering a university because of the cost. You should conduct your search with some attention paid to cost, but don't cross a school off your list just because it's expensive.

The truth is that you cannot predict how costs, financial aid and scholarships will work out until you're at the crossroads of "okay, I've been accepted to schools A, B, and C, and here are my financial aid packages..." -- only then can you truly say whether or not a school is affordable. You also can't rely on other students' experiences and financial aid packages to gauge how you'll fare in the process because every family's situation is different and applied to several colleges, each scenario will play out in a different way.

I've worked with a number of private universities in my career -- both directly and as a colleague -- and for the students and parents I've met -- I've nearly always given this advice. I don't give this advice because it's "a part of my job" -- I give this advice sincerely because I've seen the opposite effect happen -- that students don't even apply due to costs...and then they are left wondering what would have happened if they had just given the application process a try.

I don't think there's any reason to fear the process. There is no crystal ball for this process -- if this was all that simple -- I'd be out of a job -- or else I'd have to learn how to read palms.

Narrow your schools down because of "fit" or because it doesn't have the types of academics you're looking for. Let the financial aid questions be answered truthfully through the admission and financial aid application processes.

Renee, I hope your son applies next year...

And Medini -- we look forward to your daughter making this place home too.

If you're considering applying in the future...

I've been an admission counselor for...a long time...no need for me to be specific. You'll just have to take my word for it!

Why have I stayed in admission all this time? This line of work never gets boring. Every year, I learn something new from the students I meet.

I'd love for you to tell me how my keeping this blog might help you as you start or continue your college search. As a student (or a parent of a student) interested in the University of Miami, it's become important to me that you have the answers you need. Who knows how things will turn out in the end? There's no way I can predict any outcomes -- but at least I know that I did my best to help you along the way.

What do you want to know? What do you think I should know about you?

Leave your comments, and keep your eyes on my next posts...

Our first virtual college fair - March 25 & 26

I would like to invite our prospective students, accepted students, parents and guidance counselors to meet us at our first online college fair. We're excited to be participating in...

COLLEGE WEEK LIVE - an online college fair
Dates: March 25th and March 26th
Times: 12noon - 11pm EST (you can log in at any time to chat with us)

Through this virtual college fair, you'll be able to chat online with a number of UM representatives, including current students, parents of current students, alumni, admission counselors, and other UM administrators/faculty.

Explore more of what College Week Live can offer you:

• About College Week Live (CWL)
• Participating colleges
• Take a Virtual Tour
• Information for Parents
• Information for Counselors
  

I hope you stop by our booth to meet us!

Congratulations, UM's Class of 2012!

Alright, I'll admit it. I caught the blogging bug. The other day, I overheard a family talking in our lobby about how they appreciated a blog being kept by another university Director of Admission -- and my staff has been trying to get me to set one up and keep one for communicating with our students -- so I thought, maybe it's a sign that I should just set this up.

So here we are...and the first thing I'd like to say is congratulations to the incoming University of Miami Class of 2012!

This truly is the most competitive class I've seen in the history of this university. I've been working at UM since 1992 -- and I've been here as the university has gone through an amazing transformation even just in the time that I've been here.

This class' averages (such as GPA, SAT/ACT and average class rank) are likely to pass last year's but we won't know for sure until later in the summer. I can tell you though, that what I've seen so far is very impressive, and the members of the Class of 2012 have much to be proud of.

I've received quite a few questions from this incoming class about what happens next, so I thought I'd help answer some of these questions through this blog:

What if I'd like to VISIT CAMPUS?

So, who's planning to visit before they make any final decisions? Check out our campus tour schedule at www.miami.edu/admission/tourschedule. My staff and I would love to be able to personally congratulate the newest members of this class. You can also go to www.miami.edu/acceptedrsvp for information about our Accepted Student Open House on April 6.

I can't make it to campus, so are there REGIONAL RECEPTIONS?

If you can't make it to campus, you should try to meet us at a regional accepted student reception near you. Click here to find a reception near you.

When are FINANCIAL AID packages being sent out?

Financial aid packages/information will be sent out later this month -- to give all of our accepted students time to weigh their options before making a final decision on (or before) May 1.

Those are just a couple of the questions I'm asked frequently at this time of the year. What else is on your mind? Feel free to leave me comments/questions that I can answer in my next post. Go 'Canes!