Miami University vs. Ohio University?

Question

Miami University vs. Ohio University?

Answer 1

Listen. OU is pretty much the best thing to happen to planet Earth since the dinosaurs because, let's face it--dinosaurs were awesome. Here are some of the great things about OU!



History:

Ohio University opened its doors in 1804 and was the first university in the state of Ohio. Ohio State actually tried to sue OU for rights to the name "Ohio University" (*****!) but lost since OU was around way before them. OSWho?



Academics:

The psych program is a good one--I have several friends who got psych degrees at OU and they are all in successful careers or grad programs. They don't call it Harvard on the Hocking for nothing.



Camaraderie:

This is where OU really shines. Everyone loves everyone. Once I found a freshman face-down in the parking lot and I woke him up and walked him back to his dorm, the whole time with his arm across my shoulders mumbling "I fell asleep in a parking lot--this is the best place on Earth!" And he was right. OU boasts a student body of over 20,000 and you will see your friends every day walking down the three blocks that make up Court Street--even after you graduate.



Safety:

OU has an incredibly safe campus. No one drives so you don't have drunk drivers most other campuses have to contend with. There are very low rates of violent crime and hardly any break ins--most people leave their doors unlocked. A lot of the police are on horse-back and are pretty cool with the students. My friend had a few drinks and dropped her phone in front of an officer on his horse and looked up and him and shouted "Are you going to help me?!" And he just smiled and told her to get her phone and head on home. The one time someone I knew was arrested was because he was underage and drinking. He also rolled down Morton Hill and came to a stop at the feet of a police officer, so duh.



Food and Drink:

The thing I miss the most about Athens is the food. Seriously. Big Mamma's Burritos blow Chipotle out of the water and each time a friend posts they're at Casa Nueva I start salivating. O'Betty's has the best hot dogs and cheesy fries you could ever want and Goodfellas Pizza is a staple. It's so good, in fact, that one night when I was especially inebriated I dropped not one but TWO pieces--at separate times--face-down on the sidewalk and picked them up and kept eating them. No regrets. And the beer is insanely cheap. Most places have beer for $2. When I graduated and went to a bar they wanted $4 for a beer and I was like no I said I just wanted ONE beer...tragic.



Alumni:

Bobcat Alumni are not just my fellow college graduates--they are instant best friends. You will run into OU alumni everywhere--and they will know people you knew and have the weirdest connections to your time there. My friend had a coworker also from OU, but they didn't know each other in college. While reminiscing about Athens she told a story about how her birthday cake mysteriously disappeared from her yard. Her coworker gulped and said did you live at 18 Franklin? And she said yeah, why? And he said one day my buddy and I were pretty drunk and hungry and we found this birthday cake in someone's backyard...My friend yelled YOU ATE MY BIRTHDAY CAKE?!! And he said well, only a little bit...we mostly just threw it at each other. Yay Athens!



Summary:

When I was a wee sophomore I heard a visiting graduate refer to OU as Never Never Land, because every time you go back it's the same. There is not a more accurate description. I am insanely jealous that you are beginning your college career and have the opportunity to go to OU--as are all alumni reading this post. So get your butt to Athens, learn lots, make friends for life, eat amazing food, drink cheap beer, get yourself a diploma and an Athens Block brick and pat yourself on the back--you're a Bobcat! You have an amazing couple years ahead of you. Don't waste them at Miami.



OU Oh Yeah!

Answer 2

Pro; OU

Con; Miami

Answer 3

Answer the following questions:

1. Do you hold your pinky out when you drink tea at high noon?

2. Do you drive a BMW?

3. Do you wear your collar "popped?"

4. Do you take yourself very seriously?



If the answers to these questions are yes, please go directly to Miami and do not even look at OU. If the answers are no, please visit OU's campus and there will be no question where you should go.

Answer 4

I have had the unique experience of attending both of these fine Universities. I did my undergraduate degree at Miami University and my graduate degree at Ohio University. Both are great institutions that can set you up for success later in life IF you take advantage of the opportunities you are afforded there.



There is a HUGE drinking culture at OU. If you are worried that you might lose sight of your purpose in college (i.e. to get an education, degree, and a job when you graduate) this will be a problem. If you have a good head on your shoulders, you'll be fine. I can't tell you how many students I worked with there that got to the end of their degree program and had a stark realization of how unprepared they were to enter the 'real-world' compared to their peers who went to other institutions. Have fun, drink if you want to, but remember to take advantage of internships, research assistantships, and career-related opportunities at the same time.



Miami can be a challenging environment if you are not a very secure and confident person. There is a lot of pressure there to look and act a certain way. If you love yourself the way you are or if you find after a campus visit that you want to look, act, and speak the way Miami-ans do, Miami may be a good choice for you. If you are insecure or uncomfortable with your body Miami could be detrimental to your psychological health.



My real advice? You could probably be happy at either institution. Visit both campus and see which feels right. Choose a different major. Psychology is worthless unless you go to graduate or medical school. And, wherever you go, GET INVOLVED! Find a student organization, sport club, or student-employment opportunity that fits and jump right in!



Most of all... have fun!

Answer 5

Please tell us what you decide! As a senior Bobcat, I both laughed and cried at the responses my fellow OU students and alum have given you. I am in love with this university and I believe you will be too (because how could you NOT love Athens, OH?)

Answer 6

I was in a similar situation as you, but after visiting OU as a senior in High School, I told my parents as we were pulling out of Athens for the 5 1/2 hour trip back home that I was going to Ohio for college. Quite simply, I loved it there - it was the best decision of my life! Most of my best friends are from my years at OU and any time you meet a fellow alum, there's an unparalleled instant connection.



Two years after I graduated, my brother graduated from OU as well. He was a transfer student, went there specifically for the academic program and wasn't really sure if he even liked it there. The night before he graduated, we were having a drink in one of the fine establishments on Court Street when he turned to me and said "I get it now...I get why you love this place so much. Thank you for encouraging me to finish my degree here. The past two years have been the best of my life." I couldn't have been more proud!



My best friends from OU and I meet up once a year in Athens - it's almost like an annual trek to Mecca...wait a minute, it IS an annual trek to Mecca, because that's what OU is: Mecca. How many Miami alums say that about their school?!? I haven't met any and I know a lot of Miami grads.



So, let's sum it up: If you want to simply attend college, then choose Miami. If you want to EXPERIENCE college, then choose OU! GO BOBCATS!!!

Answer 7

Clearly Miami alumni don't care enough about their alma mater to seek out random mentions of their school and exploit it. Hopefully that helps.

OU runs in my family, my grandfather raised my mom and aunts and uncles in Athens after he took a job as a professor and stayed there his whole career. Almost everyone in the family went there. I didn't even apply anywhere else, that's how sure I was that I wanted to continue the strong tradition - a tradition I am sure is also strong in many other families. While my bias is strong for OU, I came out of the womb with a bobcat tattoo (kidding), I still didn't know what Athens and the university really was all about until I went there and experienced it myself. Bobcat nation gets under your skin and stays there for life. There will never be a day after you graduate that you aren't immensely proud to have been (and still are) part of the bobcat and Athens community.

It's a special place as you can tell from all the other posts.

Happy deciding and Go Bobcats!

O (clap clap clap) H (clap clap clap) I (clap clap clap) O (clap clap clap) <-- You'll learn those awesome traditions when you go there

Answer 8

Hey Buddy!



Let's break this down. Unless you are planning on getting into OU's Honor's Tutorial College or Miami's Honor's or Department Honor's Program there's no real difference in the academics between the two. It's flippin' Psychology. So you have to ask yourself what kind of campus life you want for the next 4.5 years (b/c no one finishes in a flat 4 yrs anymore).



Ohio University Pro's

- OU's party reputation isn't based on a few groups or sects of the student population. The entire campus has a great social aspect. I was involved in club sports, Student Senate, a degree related org, a dorm council and theater (one quarter....don't judge me). Every single group had "socials" or parties. And while drinking was present it was never the sole reason to get together. OU is just way fun.



-Sports: When I was at OU the Marching 110 was the highlight of the football game. As an alum I am super stoked to even have a winning season, but the best part is the fact that OU's Marching Band got into an all out brawl with Miami's football team. Yes. Miami's Football team.



- Campus: OU's campus is superior. Yes, Miami's campus is beautiful and almost comparable to OU's. But the entire Athens area is breathtaking. There is nothing better than riding through the hills to see the beautiful OU campus opening up to you. Nothing. And plus OU has a creepy ol' insane asylum to call it's own. What's that? Yeah that's right Miami, you got nothing.



- Commuting/ Dorms: Parking is terrible on campus and unless you have an older sibling at OU you will definitely be living in the dorms. Don't even bother to bring your car because you probably won't get a parking spot. If you do be prepared to spend a crap ton of money. But who cares? Almost everyone walks or rides a bike. Why be late to class trying to find a parking space just to a get a parking ticket?!!



- Uptown: Athens has the superior town situation. In Oxford you'll be tempted to drive to get to restaurants, movies, bars :), or shopping. In Athens, Court Street has everything. And you'll be happy to walk off all the Burrito Buggy you will certainly eat on those late nights at OU. Try to find anything close to Burrito Buggy, Casa Nueva, O'Betty's or Soulvaki's at Miami, or better, THE WORLD. You won't. EVER.



- Social scene: While both OU and Miami lack true diversity ( aka minority students), and don't be fooled by both school's websites, the variety of social groups at OU almost makes you forget that OU is 90% white. Serious like hackey sack and not showering? Check out Ultimate Frisbee! Like playing getting tackled by a bunch a sweaty jerks and then spending Thursdays and Saturdays with said jerks? Check out Rugby. Super Feminist? Check. Hate Government? Check out the libertarians. Super conservative and like guns? Check out the Second Amendment Club. They are fun to party with.Like hiking and outdoorsy stuff? There is an entire major for that. A MAJOR! Like live music? Punk? Hard Core? Even....Jam Band? Music Festivals?! Check out O'hooley's, The Union and 8 Fest Or is it 9 Fest? An Artsy Fartsy International Film Festival?!!! Check! LARGEST HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION IN THE NATION?!?? CHECK! BAAAM!





Miami of Ohio

- Mascot: Red Hawk. Indisputably lame. Why? Because OU has Rufus the MotherFlippin' Bobcat.

- Question: What does a Bobcat eat? Red Hawks. Because they suck.



-Yea Miami has reputable academics with some impressive programs, but everything Miami does. OU does it better.



OU O-Yeah! I had the best seven years of my life at OU. I admit that I have an obvious bias but in all honesty you don't want to have to tell people you went to Miami of Ohio. So save yourself the grief and make the right choice my young friend and go to frickin' OU.

Answer 9

Ohio Bobcats are family forever and they alwaysreturn to visit Athens Ohio. Once your part of that community your life changes. I did my undergrad at Miami and let me tell you it was average. Once I stepped on OU campus for grad studies it was like the sun rise to a formerly blind man. If your a super frat spoiled limited social skills type go to Miami,I never sprouted my wings until I got to Ohio U.

Answer 10

Glad to help!



Ohio University Pro: It's a beautiful campus

Ohio University Con: You will want to live there forever, but it is impractical to live there forever



Miami Pro: ???

Miami Con: Student population appears to be rife with preppies and rich kids



Ohio University Pro: The football team just won its second straight bowl game

Ohio University Con: Most of the best positions on the football team are already filled, so you will have to find some other student organization to join



Miami Pro: It has a football team

Miami Con: Sometimes the members of its football team punch innocent trumpet players



Ohio University Pro: Proud to count Matt Lauer, Mike Schmidt and Nancy Cartwright among its former students

Ohio University Con: Paul Newman went to school there, too, but stories of him rolling a keg into the dean's car appear to be greatly exaggerated



Miami Pro: Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan went there

Miami Con: Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan went there



Ohio University Pro: Students care about things like sports teams, music festivals and the school band, The Marching 110

Ohio University Con: The Marching 110 has so many viral videos it can be hard to keep them all straight



Miami Pro: Students never disappointed by the sports teams they don't care about

Miami Con: Student paper runs international regatta results



Ohio University Pro: Ben Roethlisberger did not go there



So, yeah, pros and cons with both.



Good luck with your decision!