University of Miami or Harvard?

[Anonymous]

My DS has already got accepted to Harvard as a recruited athlete but takes a gap year to attend college in Fall '22 so that he can do sport training full time between Fall '21 and May '22. He is currently in Boca Raton for training and loving every minute of it, especially the weather.

He also got accepted to University of Miami but turned it down because he thought Harvard would be a better fit for him. Miami offered a 50% scholarship and none from Harvard.

He has been on the University of Miami campus at least five times since arriving in Boca Raton and he loves the campus and the weather there. He is now contemplating enrolling at University of Miami in Fall '22. Miami's coaching staff told him that he would be welcomed there and that they will honor the 50% scholarship.

He loves the weather and the atmosphere at the University of Miami. Havard offers a great education but it does not offer the weather climate of Miami. Right now, he is 51% Miami and 49% Havard.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Congratulations to your smart, hard-working kid.

Is his sport one that he will pursue post college? how ouwld this choice impact that? What is he interested in academically or career wise?

[Anonymous]

Can you tell us about how the sports program at each school? Coaching staff and philosophy, team camaraderie, skill level of teams, level of competition, training facilities, academic expectations (or neglection) from coaches.

Also, how about area of interest for majors?

[Anonymous]

Huh?

[Anonymous]

If he is dumb enough to prefer Miami for it's weather - I say go for it, make the change and open up a spot for some smarter and clearly more deserving kid to Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Harvard for 4 years and then move to Florida. I would not pick a school based on weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he is dumb enough to prefer Miami for it's weather - I say go for it, make the change and open up a spot for some smarter and clearly more deserving kid to Harvard.

+1

[Anonymous]

My kid loved U Miami and would certainly have been clinically depressed and most other colleges. Her peer group was super smart and motivated (despite several being uber wealthy). None of them stay in Florida after graduation. It's just a great place for college years.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if he could get some money from Harvard by letting them know he is reconsidering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if he could get some money from Harvard by letting them know he is reconsidering.

PP again. I know this is done (including at Harvard) at the graduate level. I understand that undergraduate may be different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he is dumb enough to prefer Miami for it's weather - I say go for it, make the change and open up a spot for some smarter and clearly more deserving kid to Harvard.

You are insufferable.

[Anonymous]

What is the sport and how good is your kid? Is there a pro future for your kid?

Is it baseball, by the way? I know people who played baseball at Miami and I know people who played at Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Has he compared the strength of academic programs? Miami has some incredible niche areas of study. Coral Gables is a fabulous place to attend undergrad. Everyone is friendly because they're happy, IMO!

[Anonymous]

If your son got injured and couldn't play his sport in Miami, would he wish he'd gone to Harvard? If your son decides after two years that he doesn't want to play his sport anymore, will he wish he'd gone to Harvard? I would think very carefully about the answer to these questions. Maybe in a stupid class second semester of his sophomore year he'd be like, why aren't I at Harvard? Please don't make a decision based on weather!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if he could get some money from Harvard by letting them know he is reconsidering.

no athletic scholarships in the Ivy League