Students choose Miami for different reasons, often citing the campus beauty and its reputation as deciding factors. But today we’ll take a look at two student stories — one last-minute decision and the other continuing a legacy: Jack Waldvogel and Meredith Pryor.
A Last-Minute Switch
Jack, a third-year Sport Communication and Media majorwith minors in Political Science and Journalism, said he had an interesting story when asked how he picked Miami during his school hunt.
“I was committed up until like early July to play baseball at a D3 school back home in Illinois, and I decided pretty late in the process to switch. I knew a few people coming to Miami, and I knew that it was an overall good school with the major that I really wanted to pursue, and good minors too. So I thought that Miami was just the perfect fit for me at that point.”
Miami provides students with over 200 different majors and minors to choose from, so it’s no surprise we attract a wide mix of students and interests. Jack was originally going to be an athlete, but he realized he wanted a different kind of college experience.
“I added the sports part of it just this semester because I took a sports class first semester and realized that was geared toward what I wanted to do instead of just a broad idea. I wanted to be more specific and specialized in it. There are a bunch of options in sports that I didn’t even know existed — like marketing and sales opportunities within communications. Those have started to interest me as I’ve been exposed to them in class.”
When asked what advice he’d give to a younger student deciding where to go for college, Jack highlighted the social and academic culture here at Miami.
“I don’t know anybody here that doesn’t have any friends. Everyone meets their group eventually, even if it takes a little while. The academics are really good here, and it’s a good degree to have. It prepares us in all different ways and lets the jobs we get later do the training.”
Continuing a Legacy
For first-year Meredith Pryor, it was family history that drew her in, though she ultimately chose Miami for herself.
Meredith explained, “I feel like it definitely was the reason that I started looking at Miami, but once I visited, I chose it for me. I appreciated that even though I knew my family wanted me to come here, they never pressured me to make the decision. Both my mom and my grandma were education majors, and ironically so am I.”
Like a lot of students, her choice was especially sealed during the visit. “The moment that I knew Miami was right for me was when I visited and saw the campus, and it just felt like home. I had toured several other schools and none of them gave me that feeling until I was here.”
And even though she explored other options, Miami stood out for its balance and academic flexibility: It’s a smaller school, yet it has numerous paths of coursework.
She continued, “There are all the options of a big school. It allows me to do things I’m interested in as well as pursue a degree that I’m passionate about. It’s also one of the most beautiful campuses I’ve ever been to in my entire life, and everyone is so welcoming and nice.
Most of her high school friends attended elsewhere, but that didn’t shake Meredith’s decision.
“Choosing Miami definitely made me reflect on some personal goals and values that I have for myself. I chose education over my friends and went to a school they didn’t go to, to pursue what I loved even though I would be far from them.”
For Those Still Making the Decision
“Don’t be scared to pick the college because of what other people think. Look at it and see what college would benefit you the most in the future and help your education the most,” Meredith concluded.
Both stories show that making your own choice isn’t always easy — one came from a late change of plans, the other from following a personal pull without familiar friends to lean on. But in the end, both Jack and Meredith realized Miami is where they belong. So as you’re deciding, trust your intuition too.
