Meet Miami U

I’m Natalie Pond, a current sophomore marketing and business analytics double major. I am originally from Liberty Township, Ohio, which is about 45 minutes away from Oxford. This is how I ended up at Miami, but more importantly, why I chose to stay at Miami. 

What was your college search process like? 

Going into the college search process, I had three things I wanted

• a small (around 3000 students) school
• A private school
• An out-of-state school

Miami was not even on my radar, my dad actually made me apply so that I could keep my options open throughout the process, but I was not seriously considering attending. 

What was your first impression of Miami when touring? 

The first time I visited Miami was an unofficial visit. I drove around uptown on the Saturday night of welcome weekend. I was trying to get my night hours before my driving test. As a new driver, that was probably not the best way to first be introduced to Miami. 

I later came to Miami during a Make It Miami event and spent the majority of the time not paying attention since I was so set against it. Even at that event, I didn’t tour the campus or dorms, but my parents made me tour the Farmer School of Business. 

So, how did you end up at Miami?

About a month before college decision day, I was preparing a presentation to convince my parents where I wanted to go. While working on this presentation, I was talking to one of my friends (who later became my roommate) and she was telling me that she just decided to go to Miami. 

At that point, I was thinking it would be great to be roommates with her. We talked, and over 48 hours, every reason I had against Miami (too close, too big, not the environment I thought I wanted) became something I wanted.

I presented, and my parents and I decided that Miami made the most sense out of the universities that I was looking at, so I committed.

Were you confident in your decision? 

Not at all. I spent the entire summer after senior year convinced that I wasn’t going to like Miami and actually planned where I would eventually transfer to.

What was move-in like? 

I moved in early for a pre-semester program, U-Lead. This allowed me to move in about four days early.

Move-in day was hectic.  However, my parents made me promise that I would go knock on the door of another girl in my hall who was moving in and ask her if she wanted to go to dinner. Right after my parents left, that’s just what I did. 

I asked. We got dinner together, along with another person in the hall, and then went back to the hall and played some games together. This helped me to be more confident going into not only the pre-semester program, but the semester as a whole. 

What was your pre-semester program like? 

It was good. There was a lot of information. However, it allowed me to get familiar with campus and opportunities across campus. I felt confident because I was already moved in when everyone else was just arriving on campus. 

What was Welcome Weekend for you? 

My roommate and I tried to participate in everything. We went to the block party, fireworks, welcome home events, and others. It was exhausting, but it was so much fun to be making friends.  It was a really good introduction to Miami and what my time would look like. 

When did you first think Miami is for you? 

The first few weeks of the semester were so hectic. There were a few events I went to, mainly with one of my main organizations, Cru. It was then that I officially felt at home.

In September, Cru had Freshman Retreat, where there were about 20 freshmen who went off campus for an overnight and just had a great time. We spent hours playing games and stayed up till 2 a.m., just getting to know each other. After that retreat, I knew I had found my second family, and was genuinely excited to be attending Miami. 

What else have you been involved in at Miami? 

Throughout freshman year, I made so many more friends, joined clubs and organizations, went on trips, and found leadership opportunities. 

Within Cru, we traveled to Rome, Italy, and Zagreb, Croatia over spring break. I grew close to so many of them. We now live in a Student Created Community with my friends that I made through Cru. 

I also found a passion for something that I never thought I would love. I joined the Aerial Arts Club, which is performing aerial dance and acrobatics while hanging from a fabric. Even though I was a beginner at the start of my freshman year, and may not be the best in the club, I genuinely enjoy and have a passion for practicing aerial. 

At Make it Miami, I only toured the Farmer School of Business, so it is only fitting that I went on to become a Farmer School of Business Ambassador. I lead tours of the business school and get to share my experiences and stories with prospective students. I love the discussions that I have with students and their families.

My freshman year, I made relationships with people at my pre-semester program, U-Lead, and I kept going into my sophomore year. I led a group of first-year students, helping them start their transition to college. 

Overall, I have joined many clubs and organizations that have helped me find my place at Miami. 

Even though I came into my freshman year planning to transfer, I left freshman year counting down the days until I would come back to Miami. 

I have truly found my second home here at college, and cannot wait for the next adventure every day.