Telling me about ... Miami U/Oxford (Hamilton, Brookside: apartment complex, rental, house)

[stasia]

Hi everyone,

I am considering Miami University for graduate study beginning this fall. I have never been to the area, don't know anything about it, and know only a couple of people that have attended as undergrads to ask questions of.

Yes, I do have a campus/area visit scheduled for early April, but I'm interested in anything and everything you can offer before then. Whatever you have to say about the school and/or the surrounding area, I'm happy to hear!

Additionally, if anyone can offer recommendations for area apartments or veterinarians, throw 'em at me!

Thanks in advance.

[hillside]

I went there for undergrad. Oxford is a true college town. Out in the middle of the cornfields, but it does have over 40 bars in town, including about 30 in a 4 block stretch called "uptown". The campus is beautiful. It has Georgian architecture, and is walkable. Once you visit, you'll understand why they call it "the Harvard of the Midwest". The university attracts an upper crust crowd, almost a private school student body, but the school is liberal and student groups are very active on campus and in Oxford. Jobs clamor for Miami students because of the methods of liberal education they use. Miami hosts one of the biggest job fairs in the country hands down. It's an excellent school and has done me well, so I'd recommend it.

[MiamiU08]

Robert Frost, upon seeing the Miami University campus, famously remarked it was "the most beautiful campus that ever there was." The lush green lawns, the homogenous brick architecture, the isolated nature of the campus - these are just a few of the many positive traits of Miami's campus.
The University itself is an academic gem. The business school is ranked in the top 25 in the nation (top 10 public). Recruiters go crazy over graduates - I ended up with 8 job offers last semester! The faculty is top notch, and the students appreciate them by participating and becoming engaged in their learning.

The city of Oxford is very small (just over a mile square) and the campus is located in a very small corner of the city. Uptown (as the last poster alluded to) is the social epicenter. There are not quite 40 bars (I believe it is 19 at current count), but there is way more than enough to do for the 15,000 students. One thing to look for are the house names. A tradition in Oxford is to name your off-campus house and put a sign on the facade displaying the name. Take a walk down N/S Campus Ave, S Main St or up and down E/W Church St to see some of the more notable ones.

I think you will be very pleased with your visit. For apartments, there are plenty, you'll have no trouble finding one - try Home Page. For a vet, there is one near Kroger, and another on Morning Sun Road, just leaving town.

[hillside]

It has to be more than 19 places that serve alcohol in Oxford. And it's a little bigger than a square mile, probably 6 or 7. I wouldn't say there is more than enough to do, but more than enough college life, per se.

[MiamiU08]

There are more places that serve alcohol (El Burrito Loco, Pizza Hut, etc), but there are only 19 bars. Temporarily 18, since Lottie Moon's is between owners and not open to the public yet. Also, the city of Oxford is 5.9 square miles, but that includes many fields and farms, plus Hueston Woods state park. The area that comprises campus, off-campus housing, and uptown is a little over a square mile.

[stasia]

MiamiU08, thanks for the Web site. It looks like it will be useful.

I am making a campus visit this week, and while a lot of details have been ironed out, the one that makes me most anxious has not yet: an apartment!

I've really only been able to identify one solid recommendation for a dog- and graduate student-friendly complex: Brookside Terrace. I'll keep looking!

[Heaveno]

What will be your major? Are you getting an assistantship? Miami is gorgeous and I throughly enjoyed my educational experience. I went there for two years and got my Master's Degree in May of 2007. I stayed on the end of the westside of Hamilton, Ohio right before you head up the hill to Oxford and caught the bus to campus most times. I also drove when I needed to-mainly during the Summer months. The bus came right in front of Meijers in front of my Apartment Complex, so moving there was really convenient for me-plus I did not want to be around the younglings. I guess I just told my age (lol)!!

Uptown was great and had a good variety of restaurants to choose from. The faculty was excellent and I must say it was the best educational experience I have had through all my years of higher education. I have a daughter graduating this year from Miami and she has been quite active while attending and has enjoyed her experience. She too was the reason I opted not to stay on campus or close to the environment of the younglings.

Hope this has helped you or assisted you with your decision.

[Traveler87]

Miami University

[stasia]

I'm sorry, but I had to laugh at this; did you really think I hadn't visited the Miami Web site?

My decision has been made, and I will be attending Miami for a Masters in Scientific and Technical Communication. I will also be holding a teaching assistantship with the department.

(As a side note, I was expecting a take-my-breath-away campus. But having attended Virginia Tech and spending time at other Virginian campuses such as Sweet Briar, UVA, William and Mary, and JMU, I was left a little wanting. But it is still quite pretty.)

I would still LOVE rental recommendations. The immediate area in Oxford surrounding the campus looked a bit like student slums to me. I'm worried about finding the right apartment, and I have no idea where Hamilton is or how far a drive it is from Miami. Help?

[QCP]

Originally Posted by stasia

I would still LOVE rental recommendations. The immediate area in Oxford surrounding the campus looked a bit like student slums to me. I'm worried about finding the right apartment, and I have no idea where Hamilton is or how far a drive it is from Miami. Help?

If you think that this is the case, I don't think that Hamilton is your answer. Being from the area, I'd much rather rent in Oxford.