A Typical Day in the Life of a University of Miami Student

Waking Up in My Dorm at the U

The shrill beep of my alarm clock jolts me awake at 7:30 AM. As I rub the sleep from my eyes, the sunlight is already streaming into my small dorm room. I share the cramped space with my roommate Jenny, who is still fast asleep on the top bunk. We live in Eaton Residential College, one of the freshman dorms at the University of Miami.

I stumble out of bed and make my way over to the mini fridge to start my morning routine. Just as I'm pouring some coffee into my reusable tumbler, Jenny's alarm goes off, and she groggily climbs down from her bunk. "Morning," I say over my shoulder. "Ready for another day at the U?"

Walking Across Campus for Class

An hour later with coffee and breakfast in hand, I step out into the thick Miami heat. It's only a short walk from the dorms to the campus center, but with the humidity, I'm already breaking a sweat. The tropical palm trees and blooming flowers that surround the brick buildings provide little reprieve from the blazing sun.

As I make my way past the famous Sebastian the Ibis statue and through the breezeway by the student center, throngs of students are out enjoying the weather. I spot a group of friends playing a pickup game of volleyball on the intramural fields and make a mental note to join them someday.

Sitting Through My Marketing Lecture

By mid-morning, I'm situated in myusual seat in the back of my Intro to Marketing lecture hall. Our professor is passionate about the material but has a fairly monotonous tone of voice. I try to focus as he clicks through the seemingly endless PowerPoint presentation, but after an hour, I feel my attention waning.

A welcome distraction comes when we break into small groups to work on a case study. As my group analyzes a real-world marketing campaign, we chat and joke around. It helps the two hour lecture speed by, and before I know it, the class is coming to an end. I file out with the other 300 students, blinking into the sun.

Lunch and Campus Involvement

After two more classes in the morning, I'm ready for a break so I head over to the food court at the University Center. Today is all-you-can-eat pizza day at the cafeteria, so I grab a couple slices and look for a place to sit down.

I notice my friend Luis waving at me from a table by the Student Activities Center office. He's chatting with a couple members of the school radio station, which he recently started DJ'ing for. I've been thinking about getting more involved on campus too since classes and studying alone can be draining. Maybe I'll ask Luis about the radio station later.

Spending the Afternoon Studying at the Library

With my classes done for the day, I walk over to Richter Library to get some studying done. I pass through the ornate gateway, say hi to the student working the front desk, and find a quiet spot by the windows on the second floor.

I spend a few hours here alternating between working on problem sets for my math class and researching for my upcoming term paper. Around me students are furiously typing away on laptops or scribbling notes. Others are tucked into beanbag chairs or napping on couches nearby.

Working My On-Campus Job

At 4 PM, I pack up my things and rush across campus to start my work-study job. I'm a campus tour guide, so a couple times a week I meet with prospective students and families to show them around the U and share what it's like to be a student here.

Today I'm leading a group of high school juniors from California who are eager to check out the school. As we stroll through the brick walkways, I point out Miami landmarks like the Rock and Sebastian the Ibis statue. I also make sure to highlight some of my favorite spots on campus like the tropical arboretum gardens.

Dinner and Nightlife on South Beach

My last tour wraps up around 6 PM. I head back to my dorm to drop off my things and get cleaned up. Tonight is Thursday, and a big group of friends and I have plans to grab dinner together and hit some popular bars and clubs over on South Beach.

We meet outside Eaton Residence College to carpool and soon arrive at a Cuban restaurant on Española Way. Over plates loaded with rice, beans, and roasted pork, we chat and laugh. Luis tells stories from his radio DJ booth and my friend Amy gives us the latest gossip. The food is amazing and it's fun to unwind from our busy school week.

Dancing and Drinks on Miami Beach

After dinner we make our way over to South Beach for some fun. Our first stop is a lounge with a young crowd and a DJ playing electronic music. The energy is high as we join the other UM students on the dance floor under neon lights. I can feel myself finally letting loose after a long week.

We pop into a few more places, laughing louder with each round of funky cocktails we order. By 2 AM, exhausted from dancing and already dreading the 8 AM class I have tomorrow, I call an Uber ride back home with Jenny.

As I rest my head against the car window watching the bright lights of Miami Beach fade behind us, I smile thinking about just another day in the life here at the University of Miami.

FAQs

What is dorm life like at the University of Miami?

Most freshmen at UM live in dorms like Eaton Residential College which house 2 students per room. The rooms are small and cramped but being close to campus and other freshman makes it easy to meet people and get involved.

Do University of Miami students party a lot?

Miami is famous for its nightlife and UM students definitely take advantage! South Beach and Coconut Grove are popular spots for students. Some students schedule partying on light school nights but most still prioritize academics.

What is the typical weather like at UM?

South Florida stays hot and humid year-round with average high temperatures in the 80s and sunny skies nearly every day. January and February are the mildest months while summer heat can be intense with feels-like temps over 100°F.

How big are classes at the University of Miami?

Introductory classes tend to have 100+ students and large lecture halls. Upper level courses have gradual smaller sizes around 20-30. Students have more opportunities to interact with professors and make connections in smaller departments.