They’ve Been Accepted, Woo Hoo a Cane!
Michelle Balaun2020-06-23T18:27:09-04:00Here we go, they are a Cane! Accepted? So your son or daughter is going to be a Miami Hurricane! Congratulations! It is great to be a ‘Cane for so many [...]
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 [...]
Get on the Bus
Michelle Balaun2019-12-19T17:09:17-05:00A Guide to UM’s Bus System The University of Miami’s Hurry ‘Canes shuttle bus system can be a huge help to UM students that live on and around campus. A [...]
Having a Car at College
Michelle Balaun2019-12-19T17:12:53-05:00Can You Get by Without a Car? Whether to let your students bring a car to campus will probably lead to many conversations. In order to try to have a stu [...]
Tax Time
Michelle Balaun2019-12-19T17:14:33-05:00Seems like it's almost always tax time... April 15th is always right around the corner. As you are preparing your return or having a CPA prepare your re [...]
The ABC’s of 529 Savings Plans UM
Michelle Balaun2020-11-02T12:29:50-05:00What 529 Pays When you decide to have kids, your first thought is not how am I going to pay for college, but it might be your second. I made a decision [...]
Finding an Internship to Start a Career
Michelle Balaun2020-09-09T14:38:15-04:00The Most Effective Way To A Starter Job. I am a big believer in internships. I received my first internship while an art student at school, working in t [...]
Career Showcase – A Student’s Perspective
Michelle Balaun2020-09-04T23:13:05-04:00Get Ready For The Job Market! Every semester as students at the University of Miami, we have the opportunity to attend various career fairs that showcas [...]
Banks & Credit Unions
Michelle Balaun2019-12-19T17:27:59-05:00Places that Handle Money Leaving for college comes with so many new things, but handling their own money can be one of the scariest. We have all kinds o [...]
More Study Abroad Details
Michelle Balaun2020-08-18T14:22:02-04:00Deciding whether or not to study abroad, there are even more details to consider. There are specific recommendations that UM makes to the Parents & Guardians, as a parent you need to do what works for you and your student. Make a checklist of all the details before you push ‘go’.
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.
Fix it, Fix it Good
Michelle Balaun2020-06-11T15:42:38-04:00Repair and Fix-It Shops Car, skateboard or bike, oh my! At UM, you will find all in large numbers. Talk to any student about which is the most useful a [...]
Hotels, A Nice Place To Stay in Miami
Michelle Balaun2020-06-10T15:36:15-04:00Keep in mind that Miami is not only a college town but also an exciting and vibrant, major tourist destination, so there is a vast selection of hotel options. There are different things to take into consideration when booking.
Retail Therapy, Lots of Shopping in Miami
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T09:58:56-05:00This Means Plenty of Retail Therapy! There is plenty of retail therapy in Miami – may be too much – and although your student is up there for school, th [...]
Computer and Phone Repair
Michelle Balaun2020-09-20T12:41:07-04:00When it breaks it is such an issue...Phone or Computer! My daughter has dropped her phone more times than I care to admit; so much so that even the insu [...]
Home Sweet Dorm This Is Home Now!
Michelle Balaun2020-09-24T16:10:46-04:00You may be surprised at how one can transition a mass-produced, industrial-looking dorm room into a warm and inviting room/suite. And there is plenty of help out there to spur ideas and help you organize.
Entertainment
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T10:14:00-05:00Fun stuff to do! It's entertaining and almost silly to write about things to do when visiting your student at UM. Based on the fact that our kids are li [...]
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 [...]
First Time Student Loan Borrower?
Michelle Balaun2020-07-09T12:15:58-04:00You'll Need to Do This. What is the Entrance Counseling? In July of 2016, the U.S. Department of Education made it a requirement that, in order to have [...]
Technology Needs for UM Students
Michelle Balaun2020-08-13T13:28:17-04:00Here Is What You Get Free! The vision of the University of Miami's Information Technology (UMIT) department is to be the best information technology org [...]
Bright Futures – Shining Bright
Michelle Balaun2020-06-01T20:03:41-04:00The Future Is So Bright You'll Need Shades! SEE END OF BLOG FOR CHANGES EFFECTIVE WITH THE 2020-2021 ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR Bright Futures has been a grea [...]
Are You Ready for Some Football
Michelle Balaun2020-10-22T11:18:30-04:00We love this sport! With football season already three games in, if you are planning on coming down to Miami for a game, you should be looking at hotel [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Books, books, books
Michelle Balaun2020-08-27T12:59:38-04:00Books, they STILL use them! A lot has changed since I was a student in college, but the one thing that has not is that textbooks are expensive. Sure the [...]
The Next Four Years
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T10:20:29-05:00Your Next Steps. So you have a student ready to spend the next four years at The University of Miami? That means you will undoubtedly be visiting once o [...]
How to Transition as A Transfer Student
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T10:18:46-05:00There is a Place For Everyone The first thing to know about transferring schools is that there is a place for everyone. When we are in our senior year o [...]
Graduation Photography for UM Seniors
Michelle Balaun2020-06-30T18:10:09-04:00You’ll Want to Memorialize the Day with Photography The last four years (or so) probably flew by and commencement is around the corner. There is no doub [...]
Sorority Recruitment: What to Expect & What to Wear
Michelle Balaun2020-07-22T12:58:17-04:00UM Sorority Recruitment: What to Expect & What to Wear Tips & Tricks You are going to want to know what to wear for recruitment, University of M [...]
Working While in College
Michelle Balaun2020-11-10T13:34:04-05:00Gotta Earn Some Cash? Some students have to work to pay for college, some consider their school-work their only job and others choose to work while at s [...]
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' [...]
Off-Campus Living Economical to Extravagant
Michelle Balaun2020-07-06T11:59:56-04:00It is a lot different than being in a dorm! Living off-campus has its own challenges, here are some suggestions. Just a few months in from your freshman [...]
Grocery Stores
Michelle Balaun2020-07-20T13:13:58-04:00Easy-peasy get your pantry staples! Whether your student lives on campus or off, they will need groceries. Miami has plenty of places to shop right near [...]
Favorite Apartment Rentals for Students
Michelle Balaun2020-05-12T15:17:21-04:00We've Got The Scoop On The Best Rentals! Everything you need to know about our favorite rentals, right here. My daughter lived on campus her freshman an [...]
Money, Money, Money
Michelle Balaun2020-05-06T16:35:43-04:00When Will My Financial Aid Money Disburse? The time has come to pay for your college costs and money panic may set in. I remember that first tuition bi [...]
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.
Being Thrifty
Michelle Balaun2020-08-16T14:18:13-04:00Need to Stay on a Budget? Be Thrifty! Are you thrifty? Being a college student, it can be stressful to be thrifty and stay on budget throughout the seme [...]
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 [...]
Breakfast, here’s the list!
Michelle Balaun2020-07-30T14:19:14-04:00Let's do breakfast? Who doesn't love breakfast? It is the most fun you can have at the weekend! There are plenty of options and here are our favorites. [...]
Parking at The U Best Case Scenarios!
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T10:39:00-05:00Getting That Last Spot! You sent them to college with a car and they are grateful. However, although it will make a weekly Publix run easier, no one rea [...]
Dropping a Class – When Is It Time?
Michelle Balaun2020-09-20T15:00:38-04:00Here Are The Guidelines You Should Consider... It is inevitable. Sometimes your student will register for a class and, for a myriad of reasons, will nee [...]
Roommates and Residential Life
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T10:35:10-05:00Learning To Live With Others... For many students entering college, this may be their first time away from home for an extended period of time. While do [...]
Eating on a Budget
Michelle Balaun2020-10-17T21:01:25-04:00It Is Possible To Save Money! I have experimented with various approaches to teaching my daughter to live on a budget. She needed to be eating on a budg [...]
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 [...]
Move-In Day
Michelle Balaun2020-06-12T12:50:45-04:00Getting Settled UM’s move-in day has come a long way since my daughter moved in freshman year. Gone are the days of endless trips back and forth to the [...]
Supervise an Easy Budget for Your College Student
Michelle Balaun2020-10-19T10:42:12-04:00This is a budget lesson that will serve you in the future! I have experimented with various approaches to teaching my daughter to live on a budget. When [...]
Orient Yourself – Find Your Own Way
Michelle Balaun2020-02-27T13:30:37-05:00If two nights and two days can make your head spin, these might be the two. It’s not a bad thing, of course; it is just the amount of information can get a bit overwhelming. They need to orient themselves to their new life.