The Vibe
Energetic, Fast-paced, Alive
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsrzr-6mdPc
What it feels like to Go Here
At FIU, you’ll live a high energy life with a list of daily activities that reach all the way to the floor. What else could you expect from a school located in the city where the heat is on? “You just won’t find a university with so much culture and excitement going on all day long 24/7. Sometimes you just have to stop and take a second just to catch up with the rest of the world,” said FIU senior AJ Morales. At FIU, you’ll go to your 9 a.m. engineering class and hit the beach by noon. FIU’s football tailgates bring almost the entire population of South Florida (or so it seems) to party outside the stadium. Whether living comfortably somewhere in SoFlo or anywhere out of Florida, FIU alumni and students alike proudly proclaim to themselves Golden Panthers.
Awesome Alumni
T.Y. Hilton of the Indianapolis Colts helped bring FIU football glory during his time there, helping in the upset of Louisville in 2011, “The Hilton Heave,” and the 96 yard kickoff return against Alabama to start the game in 2009. He set seven school records before heading to his NFL Combine and going pro. Alumnus Andy García played the role of Terry Benedict in the Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen as well as many other acclaimed characters including Michael Green in When a Man Loves a Woman and Vincent Mancini in The Godfather Part III, where he was nominated for three awards for Best Supporting Actor. Have you ever seen Mystic River or Shutter Island? Well, you can thank alumnus Dennis Lehane, who wrote the original books that got adapted into films.
Where We Hang
Where else would you hang out besides the sprawling city of Miami? With endless beaches, bars, restaurants, sporting events and concerts, there’s never a dull day in the 305 (unless it’s pouring rain and you’re stuck at home). Right by campus you can munch out to delicious Columbian cuisine at Los Perros, perfect for either a midday lunch or to satisfy your drunchies. You’ll head into El Brazo Fuerte Bakery and enjoy a café con leche y una tostada before heading to class. On the weekends, head to LIV, Story and a monsoon of other clubs ready to let you dance the night (and your wallet) away.
Q&A
1. What are you most likely to get in trouble for?
“Parking is a huge hassle, so you’re bound to get a ticket eventually because you rush to your class after parking wherever,” said FIU sophomore Carlos Crespo.
2. How much are students partying?
“I mean, when you live in the heart of Miami, there’s always something to do, even if it’s a Wednesday. When you’re not at school you’re out enjoying yourself and relieving stress. I can’t even fathom how often there’s a new concert or some event going on down here,” said FIU senior Danny Rodriguez.
3. What would you tell incoming students?
“Be yourself, and the rest will come. FIU’s a big place, but it can become home if you find the right friends, the right clubs, and the right major. It might be scary at first, but it’ll all make sense sooner rather than later,” said Morales.
4. Where should I study on campus?
“You’re probably going to be spending most of your time at the library if you want to get some work or studying done. Campus is pretty loud with all the people going back and forth, so it’s better to go indoors or just do it at home,” said FIU senior Chris Regan.
5. Why did you decide on going to FIU?
“Not only is FIU close to home, but since my first day I’ve always felt like I belonged here. Every day you meet up with someone you’ve known forever and then meet a brand new person. Even though there’s people from every walk of life, you’ll never feel alone here,” said Rodriguez
Overall Experience
“Well, honestly to me what makes FIU special would have to be the friendships that I have made throughout the several years that I have been attending, Math is not my strong point, and I don’t think that it is the school’s strong point either. I have had to take pre-calculus three times and I have had to take business calculus three times as well, but I have made many friends throughout those six semesters worth of math,” said senior Nico Garcia.
“I’ve really enjoyed my experience at FIU. It’s a really big school so you see unfamiliar faces on a daily basis. That’s why I think it’s important to get involved so you really feel like you have a place in the university,” said senior Allison Vargas.
“Although it’s a big school, I feel like I know a lot of people. Sometimes big schools make it more difficult to meet people and make friends but that hasn’t been my experience. It’s a young school, but it’s a constantly growing. It never feels like it’s lacking academically. The vibe is good, and there’s a lot of diversity. It really is an international school with people from different backgrounds,” said senior Gabriela Ortega.
“My time at FIU was fantastic. I may have graduated a year early, but I still cherish the memories I made while at FIU. From the academic successes to the friends made, it was all worth it. If I could do it all again, I would,” said 2015 graduate Juan Lopez.
Top 3 Majors
1. Business
2. Psychology
3. Social Sciences
Popular Student Organizations
1.Greek Life
Despite Miami’s reputation for partying, FIU’s over 30 brotherhoods and sisterhoods bring forth more than just keg stands and John Belushi lookalikes. Even though FIU Greek life is very dedicated to the community, they still know how to throw Project X type parties. PiKapp, FIJI, AOPi and PhiSig name a few that know how to enjoy their weekends to the fullest. “Rushing and being a part of Greek life has really shaped my entire college experience. I’ve met and made lasting friendships with people I probably would have never gotten to know if it weren’t for my decision to join Greek life,” said FIU senior and Phi Mu sister Allison Vargas.
2. Student Government Association
SGA at FIU is kind of a big deal. SGA resides over all 300 clubs, organizations and honor societies with a budget of somewhere over $14 million. “SGA taught me a lot about advocacy, especially when you have to compete for limited funds with other schools from the state. One of the coolest experiences was when we went directly to the state capitol and basically served as lobbyists for FIU with respect to some key initiatives we were spearheading at the time,” said FIU senior Adrian Ulloa. Much like our actual government, FIU SGA is divided into the Executive, Legislative Student Senate and the Judicial Supreme Court. When voting for the new student body president rolls around, just know that FIU’s campus will be abuzz with the student parties vying for your vote.
This student-run newspaper goes out three times a week and covers anything from local news to sporting heroics, to current events on campus. “I’ve really enjoyed writing for The Beacon because it’s my passion. Also, being able to interact with the players and coaches has enhanced that experience and helped me become a better writer. FIU has been great the past two years. I have met a lot of new people and created great friendships with them,” said FIU junior Stefano Rivera. Budding journalists who write for The Beacon will feel well-prepared for the real world, especially considering Miami always offers tons of events to cover.
Getting In
FIU wants to see that you worked hard throughout your high school career right up until your senior year. They look at the rigor of academic course work, the strength of schedule for all four years and your critical thinking skills. Based on how high your GPA is, there’s a little bit of wiggle room for your SAT and ACT scores, and vice versa. Those applying will also have to write a 500-word essay based on a topic they give. This year, they asked, “We often ask our students to reflect back on their freshman year in college and write a letter to their freshman self. Please reflect back on your high school experience and write a letter to your high school self. What advice would you give yourself?” Admissions would like to see you show off your honors, awards and extracurricular activities while also showing humility and a willingness to continue to grow during enrollment at FIU. Pro Tip: If you apply by November 1, you automatically apply for all academic scholarships and awards.
Stats
Location: Miami, Florida
Tuition and Fees (In state): $6771
Tuition and Fees (Out of State): $19,583
Total Cost on Campus: $10,702
Undergrad Students Enrolled: 40,974
Graduate Students Enrolled: 8,729
Total Enrolled: 49,703
Acceptance Percentage: 47.6%
Percent Admitted Who Enroll: 36%
Percent of Male Students: 44.5%
Percent of Female Students: 55.5%
Percent Receiving Financial Aid: 60%
Percent Receiving Federal Grant: 21%
Percent Receiving Federal Loans: 49%