Before Heading to UM Do This!
Michelle Balaun2020-09-10T12:29:07-04:00Read Our Tips Here First Before you send them to school! Before you leave to take your kid to college, there are a few items you will want to take care [...]
Who You Going to Call?
Michelle Balaun2020-05-05T16:39:49-04:00…When You Need Answers, You can Call! The important call contact info you need to have. Over the years there have been only a few times that I, as a par [...]
Sending A Package to Your Student?
Michelle Balaun2020-07-30T14:20:50-04:00Make Sure the Package Gets There There are many reasons that a student receives a package. It could just be their usual Amazon delivery or a care packag [...]
Need Advice? Get Some Advising
Michelle Balaun2019-12-19T17:33:25-05:00A Guide to Getting an Advising Appointment While in college, having a strong relationship with your academic advisor is important in being able to gradu [...]
Care Packages
Michelle Balaun2020-07-30T14:24:33-04:00When my first child left for UM, I wavered between giving her space to find her way and wanting to hear all about her life at college. I had such a wonderful college experience myself, I toggled between exuberant excitement for her and overwhelming sadness for me.
Pets in School, how to have four legged fun.
Michelle Balaun2020-11-10T13:33:30-05:00Take Your Pets (Dog or Cat) to College Every time I head down to UM to see my daughter, she asks that I bring our dog. Let’s face it; the pup is everyon [...]
How Will Students Stay Safe, Sane and Happy this Fall
Michelle Balaun2020-06-23T17:30:56-04:00Where is a Safe Spot at College? Safe, Sane, and happy, is that possible? As colleges are doing their best to come up with ideas as to how to keep our s [...]
Flu Season Ahead
Michelle Balaun2020-09-10T13:09:39-04:00The Flu ends with “U” It’s that season again – and I don’t mean hurricanes. Flu season is generally from October through May; peaking in December. Given [...]
Advice to My Freshman Self
Michelle Balaun2020-08-06T21:22:09-04:00What Every Freshman Should Know As a sophomore looking back at my freshman year, I can easily think of advice that I would give my freshman self. Freshm [...]
Raising Money For Camp Kesem
Michelle Balaun2020-04-20T17:36:46-04:00Students Share this Camp Kesem Volunteer Opportunity Kesem is a nationwide community, driven by passionate college student leaders, that supports childr [...]
More Veggies Please – Vegetarian/Vegan Dining
Michelle Balaun2020-11-05T12:09:58-05:00You Really Do Want To Eat More Veggies! Slowly, but surely, more and more young people are going vegan or vegetarian. I can’t blame them. Sometimes the [...]
Nature vs Nurture
Michelle Balaun2020-10-12T15:34:53-04:00Have fun in the sun, it's nature!!! If you have a child attending the U, start compiling that Miami bucket list as soon as they have accepted! Nature ab [...]
Food for Thought
Michelle Balaun2020-07-01T15:07:01-04:00No Student Hungry Much like the national campaign No Kid Hungry®, there are many students at colleges throughout the United States that are barely getti [...]
Volunteering Turns Your Compassion into Action
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T10:27:35-05:00Volunteering with passion is key. When you first go off to college, you will find that there is no shortage of opportunities to participate in social ac [...]
Namast’ ay at UM: A Guide to Yoga Classes
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T18:21:36-04:00Get your Ommmm On! All through high school, my daughter would accompany me to a Saturday morning restorative yoga class. Sometimes we stayed for another [...]
Sorting Out College Life – Laundry
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T10:25:40-05:00Making The Hardest Chore Easier! (Laundry!) I tried to teach my daughter how to do the laundry before she left for college. Really. I did. Yet, somehow [...]
An Insider’s Guide to Living on Campus
Michelle Balaun2020-01-29T13:33:11-05:00Here's How to Manage Your U-Miami Campus Living At the University of Miami, with on-campus housing, what you see is what you get. Students are only requ [...]
New Housing for UM Students
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T10:24:36-05:00Updated New Living Environments Coming To UM Have you seen the housing? Freshman housing is the one area that most students can agree on, needs improvem [...]
Safety Matters
Michelle Balaun2020-03-10T14:09:25-04:00The University of Miami takes safety very seriously. Technology has changed the landscape of how they impart information to students through texts and e [...]
Sick at School and What To Do
Michelle Balaun2020-09-25T16:08:38-04:00Mom...I'm sick... I’m sick…It’s bound to happen. At some point, the phone will buzz and your independent college student will cry “I don’t feel well, I' [...]
Relay for Life at UM
Michelle Balaun2020-04-20T17:28:17-04:00UM Relay for Life Supporting the American Cancer Society Even though things are not 'normal' many charities need help now more than ever. UM participate [...]
The First Few Weeks
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T11:18:35-05:00We completed the drop. We unloaded the car in the treacherous Florida heat and we set up their rooms. The bed was made, everything had been put away and [...]
The Best Apps for Students to Live Their Best Life
Michelle Balaun2020-11-10T13:35:57-05:00Yep, there's an App for that! Remember when you were in college and everything was easily accessible via an app on your phone? No? Well, me either. Our [...]
Eating Healthy
Michelle Balaun2020-06-12T12:02:07-04:00As with other college campuses, the amount of burger, pizza, and fast food restaurants at the University of Miami and the surrounding campus is a big reason for the Freshman 15. This is no surprise considering so many students live on a tight budget.
Health Insurance for Students
Michelle Balaun2020-10-15T11:33:15-04:00Health Insurance, Everyone needs it! Students at many colleges today must have a health insurance plan that meets their University’s minimum requirement [...]
We Really Do Care
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T10:35:34-05:00Transition Can Be A Challenge. At the University of Miami, once you’re a ‘Cane you’re a member of a special family that cares for its flock! In addition [...]
Diversity and Inclusion for LGBTQ College Students
Michelle Balaun2020-07-09T12:43:39-04:00LGBTQ Campus Support and Resources College can be challenging for all students, therefore finding ways to make connections with others who identify simi [...]
Meal Plans at UM
Michelle Balaun2020-07-19T15:14:11-04:00A guide to all the meal plans Note: Residential dining and retail locations are expected to resume regular schedules for the fall 2020 semester. Each fa [...]
Student Accessibility Services – We Can Help
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T11:36:18-05:00Consideration for Providing Accessibility for Everyone For students with a disability, the Students with Disability Services office can help. Whether i [...]
The Stress of College
Michelle Balaun2020-06-01T12:18:34-04:00Keep Yourself Stress-free. Stress. It happens to all of us, including our kids. As though balancing a full schedule, the welcome distraction of footbal [...]
Campus Resources for Students of Color
Michelle Balaun2020-07-27T09:57:24-04:00Campus Guide to Resources for Multicultural Students Campus diversity amongst students has grown considerably over the years and UM vies to maintain an [...]
Counseling Services
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T11:34:08-05:00Let's talk about it. Now you have your college student moved in and they are ready to embark on a new independent life. Counseling services are availabl [...]
Places of Worship for Students
Michelle Balaun2020-09-10T18:00:03-04:00Keep up the Tradition For many students, being able to continue to worship, pray, and adhere to their religious beliefs is extremely important. For thos [...]
Beauty and the Beast
Michelle Balaun2021-06-10T14:54:48-04:00Look Your Best! It’s not just for fairy tales, getting the beauty treatment makes her happy. As the mother of girls, I know all too well that not being [...]
Are Your Student’s Valuables Protected
Michelle Balaun2020-06-12T11:28:32-04:00One more thing to worry about, is their stuff safe? When they were at home you knew the valuables were safe, but now? Right up there with the call from my college daughter that she lost her phone, keys, student ID, (fill in the blank), is the call you get when they tell you someone took their cell phone, watch, or whatever valuable item your child has had stolen.
It’s All About the Delivery, let that food roll….
Michelle Balaun2020-09-15T12:52:25-04:00There's A Knock At The Door! Whether students just want to take a break from the dining hall or if parents want to send their students food or birthday [...]
Trouble in Paradise, Here’s What To Do.
Michelle Balaun2020-06-30T12:20:39-04:00Your Student got in trouble, now what? You send your student off to college with the best intentions. You’ve had the discussion about budgets, walking a [...]
Tutoring
Michelle Balaun2020-09-02T12:03:46-04:00Students who attend The University of Miami, no different than many other highly sought after colleges, will be faced with challenging classes taught by respected and renowned professors. This is not high school where a student can often coast by; succeeding at UM requires taking classes seriously.
Staying Fit and keep the “15” at bay!
Michelle Balaun2020-08-19T11:31:55-04:00We all know by now the advantages of staying fit, exercise, stress relief, healthy heart, maintaining weight (or losing if those freshman 15 do start to creep up) and so on. The question is will our students work out when they get to school.
Getting There – All the Transportation Options
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T11:45:15-05:00The First Time Getting There... Transportation to college is not as complicated as it used to be. That first time you drop your student off at a college [...]
Cultural Resources for Hispanic-Latino Students
Michelle Balaun2020-08-18T14:59:14-04:00Support, Empowerment, and Connection for Hispanic-Latino Students The University of Miami’s campus diversity amongst students has grown considerably ove [...]
Best Spots On Campus To Study
Michelle Balaun2020-08-14T11:59:33-04:00Just Need A Quiet Place, Right? If you’re a student that enjoys studying outdoors, there is no shortage of open green spaces and lush tropical corners to hide away and get to the books.
Away for the High Holidays
Michelle Balaun2020-10-02T16:23:01-04:00Celebrate with a New Community Generally, our kids get to come home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but for those who celebrate the upcoming Jewish High [...]
Care Packages for UM Students
Michelle Balaun2020-10-12T13:31:54-04:00Who doesn’t enjoy getting a package delivered? We know you really care, you care a lot about your student and want them to be happy. Whether it is for a [...]
Where the Wind Blows – Home of the Hurricane
Michelle Balaun2020-10-07T12:31:18-04:00Our Florida Hurricane Weather. Having moved to South Florida as a teen, I have gone through more than 35 Hurricane seasons. I prepared for my first majo [...]