University of Miami sets application record

The University of Miami has broken its record for number of first-year applicants, soaring 16% from 2021 at 42,000 to 49,000 for the fall of 2022, university officials say.

Programs to guide students’ decisions on majors and careers, they say, have been growing along with the mushrooming of fall applications.
“We are launching a new career mentor program,” said John Haller, vice president of enrollment management. “Current and new students have a career mentor to help them see if they have chosen a major that they’re interested in. The earlier you can engage in those conversations, the better. It’s not saying yes to a field, but saying no to things you aren’t interested in.”

Ninety percent of students come to the University of Miami with a declared major and 40% later change majors, Mr. Haller said. “We provide flexibility in the curriculum and work hard to send a message about students’ ability to choose and find a match with curriculum we offer.”

A money management program has also been launched to help students with financial literacy.

“They learn how to afford the cost of school, manage money and things such as credit card debt that they could run into after graduation,” he said. The program shows students their projected income, different taxes and an example of a possible rent with utilities.

“It’s generally eye-popping for students, because you think you’re going to graduate and it will be simple, but you have to be careful,” Mr. Haller said.
The university also offers a first-year direction course to help students find the right path and what they want to explore.

“In fall of 2019 we had two sections for that course. This fall we are offering 57,” he said. “We’re trying to enroll as many first years as possible in the class to help the transition to the university.”