Sitting on 260 acres in Coral Gables, Florida is the University of Miami. This university offers a top rated undergraduate program, award winning athletics, and a beautiful campus! The school enrolls over 15,000 students, including undergrad, post grad, and law students and has over 13,000 staff members. The University of Miami is also known as ,"The U," "U of M," "Miami." "UM," or "U Miami," with the most popular being "The U."

The college was founded in 1925 by a group of citizens and started as a white, coed college. The first students enrolled in 1926 but these 372 students' dreams of a real college experience were smashed by a hurricane. Miami remained unfinished for ever two decades and the classes were held in a hotel nearby. The walls of each class were partition walls and the university was given the nickname, "Cardboard College." After some time, funds were raised, and the University of Miami campus was formed. As the years went by, colleges were added on to the original few. The twelve colleges today are: School of Architecture, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Administration, School of Communication, School of Education, College of Engineering, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music, School of Nursing and Health Studies, The Graduate School, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, and the School of Law. Within these colleges, there are 155 Undergraduate degrees, 114 Master's degrees, 51 doctoral degrees, and 2 professional degrees.

The main campus is located in Coral Gables, Florida. Nine of the above listed schools are included on the main campus. Close to six million square feet of academic space, the Jerry herman Ring theatre, The John c. Gifford Arboretum, and The Jorge M. Perez Architecture Center are all located on the Coral Gables campus. Other campuses are: The Medical Campus, The Virginia Key Campus, and The South Campus. Student Housing is located on the main campus and most of it is used for incoming freshman students. No housing is available for graduate students, married students, or students with children. Also, Miami does not give athletes separate dorms. Around 4,500 students or 29% of all undergrad students live on campus in the seven residence halls.

As popularity of Miami has grown over the years, more and more students are having to be turned down from enrolling. In a normal year, the U of M will receive close to 30,000 applications for freshman where only around 2,500 spots are available! The freshman who are picked to attend are mostly all students with high GPA's, high SAT scores, and graduated in the top of their class. With most of the faculty having doctorate degrees in their area of study, the incoming freshman are held to a high standard and need to be able to handle the pressure of hard work given by their well educated professors. The ratio of student to professor is 11:1 which gives way to a lot of one on one time. Miami is focused on giving each student the very best in collegiate education to provide this nation with self sustaining individuals.

There are many groups and organizations that a student can get involved in. You could join in one of 31 sororities and fraternities, Habitat for Humanity, Ibis Yearbook, the school's television station UMTV, the school newspaper "The Miami Hurricane," Iron Arrow Honor Society, Mortar Board, Order of Omega, or the school radio station WVUM. These are just a few of the extracurricular activities offered.

If Athletics is your thing, the Miami Hurricanes has plenty to offer with 15 athletic teams. The athletic teams are: women's and men's basketball, women's and men's cross country, women's and men's tennis, women's and men's diving, women's and men's track and field, baseball, football, women's golf, women's rowing, women's soccer, and volleyball. The Hurricanes football team has been national champions five times, and the baseball team has won national champions four times. The football team was the first in the South to offer a scholarship to an African American football player, Ray Bellamy. Currently the coach of the football team is Al Golden. The coach of the baseball team is Jim Morris.

The Mascot, for most of the sports, is Sebastian the Ibis. An Ibis is a white marsh bird that supposedly does not fret when hurricanes are coming because it can sense danger. Only if danger is close by does it take shelter. You can find Sebastian on the sidelines of the football games making the popular "U" symbol with his hands. Although Sebastian the Ibis is the mascot, they are called the Miami Hurricanes. The Miami Maniac, a crazy looking orange and green creature, is the mascot for the baseball games. The colors are orange, green, and white. Sports fans will not be caught at a game day event without sporting the colors of "THE U." Going to football games tailgating is amongst the major traditions of the school. When attending the tailgate on a lovely Saturday morning or afternoon, ladies will be in cute day dresses and outfits in the colors of orange, white, or green or a combination of the three.

When watching the football team, you are more than likely watching some football stars in the making! Lots of the football players go on to play for National Football League teams. Ray Lewis, now plays linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens with his former Miami teammate, Ed Reed who plays Safety. Michael Irving, who played receiver at "The U," went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys and now is in the NFL Hall of Fame. Warren Sapp who works at the NFL Network, played defensive line for the Hurricanes and went on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders. These are just a few of the famous NFL players that attended "The U." The University of Miami Hurricanes have weathered the storms and has come out on top!