Ohio State University-Main Campus Top Questions

Because many entry-level classes are large lectures followed by small recitations, students must make an effort to get to know their professors. They all have office hours, and many stay after class to answer questions. Recitations are helpful because they are much smaller, so you get one-on-one time with a TA. Students are helpful, but still competitive. If you miss class one day, it isn't hard to find someone to give you the notes. It definitely has the "we're all in this together" atmosphere, rather than "every person for themselves." I am in the honors program, which gives me the opportunity to have smaller classes with very desirable, expert professors. I am a Psychology major, and now that I have started taking my major classes, the size of my classes has decreased, which is nice. Professors are usually very willing to help students outside of class either in office hours or special meetings.

Diverse in all ways

Academics are fairly serious depending on what you're majoring in. An English major has a much easier time than someone majoring in Engineering

Some courses are of course easier than others and people take them for that reason. Some courses are also tough because they should be. Organic chemistry is not an easy class and most people shouldn't get a good grade in it.

There is a major for everyone here and there are graduate level opportunities for all the undergrads to try out. Academically, Ohio State has strong admissions so that helps with the general quality of your education. I was in the Fisher College of Business which has some really great programs that are nationally ranked. People are ambitious (but in very normal and nice way) here, so that translates into strong job opportunities with a very large alumni network. We push each other to be better because believe it or not, it is fun to talk in class. Our professors care about whats going on in the world and with our generation so once you get into your major classes it becomes a lot more lively. There is a lot of research that is done at Ohio State so in the sciences and in the general education your professors can be kind of distant but you dont want them to pay close attention because then the class gets harder. and there is nothing worse than a modern art professor trying to take over your life when you have your real major homework to get through.

If you can get into the honors college at Ohio State you can expect to have an Ivy League caliber education. Class sizes are typically under 30 with the most packed only going as high as 40 and all of my Professors have been amazingly accesible and always remember my name. It definitely isn't to hard to build relationships with professors if you make a point of talking with them. My experience has been fantastic. The students here are all pretty well rounded so not very many are found buried in their books all day. Most are athletic in some way and intramurals are great. The Fisher College of Business is definitely one of the most competitive colleges on campus. No one is cut throat - we definitely are more of team players - but frequent case competitions for students as young as freshman keep everyone on their game. I was able to secure an internship with Sony Music Entertainment after my Freshman year thanks to a great staff in the Career offices and most of my friends had similar experiences.

A lot of professors won't take the time to know your name. Some will take pictures of you at the start of a class and use them as flashcards to know your name. I've had both types and I don't really care either way. I find that the large classes with professors that don't think well warrant a lot of learning things on your own. Depending on who you're around (I'm in the Honors program), people can study A LOT or none at all. Students aren't really competitive, we all just do our thing. I know in the Business college at least, that they try to teach a lot to help with getting a job in the real world. In fact, there is a program to help you get a job before you graduate. OSU students can have intellectual conversations if in the right settings. Last year, a preacher came to the Oval and sparked a lot of debate about religion and there were many conversations about politics around election time.

Academics is sorta secondary at OSU after sports. Some professors will know your name, most probably won't. Unless you go into office hours, they don't really care what you do or how you do. Your favorite classes are probably going to be the upper level classes because the general classes are big and probably not harder than high school. Certain crowds at OSU are great but don't look forward to stimulating intellectual conversations with the average student outside class. Competitiveness does not really exist. I'm a history major, you have to take a few hours in

Classes are kind of huge, but people here are really smart. It's definitely not a place where if you're lost in a class, you can coast along and still get a C. The psychology department is huge, but we have a lot of awesome classes we can take and the classes you can take for the major are really open.

Most professors are not very personable. I had my first one this spring that tried to get to know our names. In large lectures you are just another student, however in the smaller recitation classes there are only 20-30 students. You have to make it a point to talk to your professor, just for the sake that they get to know your name and can recognize your face. This will make a great difference.