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 [...]
Mother-Daughter Time
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T11:32:25-05:00Our first mother-daughter weekend in Miami was such a wonderful, memorable experience. We took a long walk around the campus, strolling around Lake Osceola, through the Arboretum and had a picnic lunch out on the green.
Where Will They Live- Managing the Gap
Michelle Balaun2020-07-16T12:05:32-04:00Manage That Weird In-Between Gap Time. Although it feels like you just moved your students into their dorms, you now have to move them out. The worst pa [...]
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.
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 [...]
Moving Out, It’s Time!
Michelle Balaun2020-11-11T10:13:01-05:00A lot going on at once. Moving out can be almost as hectic as moving into the dorms and apartments. You are typically assigned a move out time to keep t [...]
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 [...]
Just Desserts! In a good way…
Michelle Balaun2020-07-30T14:27:57-04:00Our favorite meal! We love desserts! Sometimes, we think the best part of the dinner is the dessert, here are some of our favorites! (Note, several neig [...]
Just Dinner?
Michelle Balaun2020-07-30T14:15:45-04:00Our favorite places for dinner. Yes, there are tons of restaurants where you can eat your dinner...here are just a few of our favorites! Gables / South [...]
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 [...]
Lost and Found This may help.
Michelle Balaun2020-01-29T13:49:29-05:00OH NO…It Happened! It’s Lost. We have all had the misfortune of losing something really important. My daughter’s roommate was doing study abroad in Lond [...]
Go Ahead, Make the Call to Admissions
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T11:04:04-05:00If You're Worried, Just Call Admissions. My niece recently called me wondering why she had not yet heard from the University of Miami although she had s [...]
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 [...]
Transfer Students
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T11:40:48-05:00Everyone wants to be a Miami Hurricane! Students transfer schools for a myriad of reasons. Hopefully, your student will finally feel at home once they b [...]
Rushing Her Way…
Michelle Balaun2020-05-12T15:22:10-04:00Rushing Sorority or Not? Is Recruitment The Way? For parents of incoming freshmen, you are probably starting to hear whispers about the sorority rush. T [...]
Sorority Girl
Michelle Balaun2020-10-02T17:00:34-04:00Congratulations if your daughter has found a place to call home. Being in a sorority opens the door to so many wonderful experiences. My daughter made some of her greatest friends when she was in a sorority at The University of Miami.
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.
Rushing His Way… The Fraternity Truth
Michelle Balaun2020-05-12T15:49:43-04:00Fraternity Truth, Is It Really like The Animal House? Going back to 1978 with the release of “Animal House”, which became one of the most successful fra [...]
UM Sports
Michelle Balaun2020-05-25T14:54:54-04:00Everything you'll need to know about UM football and sports! Way back, when your student was deciding on where to go to college, attending Miami Hurrica [...]
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 [...]
I’m Not Your Maid: Cleaning Services
Michelle Balaun2020-09-04T15:07:39-04:00Maid, It Might Be The Best Solution... I never thought I would be saying this, but sometimes it is a good idea to hire a maid for your students’ apartme [...]
What is – FAFSA?
Michelle Balaun2020-10-02T10:20:25-04:00First Applicants Find Substantial Assets, FAFSA of course! First Applicants Find Substantial Assets, of course! FAFSA is the national Free Application f [...]
CanesTHON Means Dance All Night!
Michelle Balaun2020-10-23T13:52:07-04:00You Can Dance If You Want To Perhaps you have seen the Facebook posts from your student or friends’ kids that say #FTK or #ForTheKids. Maybe even fundra [...]
Birthright Israel – Hillel has an Adventure for you!
Michelle Balaun2021-01-14T16:21:02-05:00Young Jewish Students Trip. What is Birthright Israel? It is the gift of a free, 10-day trip to Israel designed for young adults of Jewish heritage, age [...]
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 [...]
Honor Roll
Michelle Balaun2020-06-10T16:13:31-04:00UM Honor Societies What are the Honor Societies and how do they work? When it came time for my daughter to make the final decision and choose her school [...]
What Not to Bring, Nope You Don’t Need That!
Michelle Balaun2020-04-28T11:07:00-04:00Read This Before You Shop! If you haven’t started shopping for what to bring for your incoming freshman yet, whether for things for their dorm or clothe [...]
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.
So your student wants to be a Cane?
Michelle Balaun2020-10-28T12:25:36-04:00Good School, Great School. That is understandable; U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Miami #57 on their 2018 “Best College List”. The [...]
Searching for Scholarships Look Here!
Michelle Balaun2020-09-08T14:34:09-04:00Now It's Time To Find The Right One! When our kids were small, we always knew to pay for college was something we envisioned, and were fortunate enough [...]
Dress for Success
Michelle Balaun2020-08-18T14:52:16-04:00Taking Success To The Next Level! As they get closer to graduation, one of the greatest changes our students are about to experience is abandoning their [...]
Budget 101
Michelle Balaun2020-10-17T21:02:54-04:00Learn this now! I can vividly remember being in college and having to make the dreaded call home to ask my mom for money. I was the last of 3 kids she p [...]
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 [...]
Choosing a Major and Feeling OK About It
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T11:57:25-05:00Feels Like A Really Big Decision! Choosing a major is not only a big decision, but it can also be a difficult one for some students. For assistance in s [...]
Choosing or Changing Your Major
Michelle Balaun2020-01-09T11:57:51-05:00You Can Change Your Mind! The University of Miami boasts 11 Schools and Colleges and offers more than 180 academic programs and majors. Many students be [...]
Best Coffee Shops at UM
Michelle Balaun2020-10-21T16:01:10-04:00Coffee, Cup of Joe, a Cuppa, Java Caffeine is king for most college students and, while generally the most economically savvy way of getting it is makin [...]
Trick or Treat The College Version
Michelle Balaun2020-10-01T13:26:30-04:00Going to UM, students have plenty of Halloween events to choose from. Halloween also coincides with Homecoming this year – students can check out Homecoming Spirit Day at Lakeside Patio.