Ohio State University-Main Campus Top Questions

You have to make your OSU experience. It is a LARGE campus, and most faculty and administration care more about RESEARCH than the education aspect, which is very annoying. I wonder how it might have differed at a smaller school. Also, athletics tend to place a shadow on academics. The most important warning is that speaking English well is not a requirement for professors. I wish I'd known how many professors I would not be able to understand before I came. I had an English class professor that had just moved to the U.S. and was trying to learn to speak English still! (These professors have a research agenda, but they are giving a light academic class to keep them on staff= ANNOYING for students.)

The best thing at OSU is all the opportunities. You can do so much here. All you have to do is go to an office of research, study abroad, career advice, whatever, and they will set you up. Just showing a little interest in any of these things can get you a long way. Basically, what I am trying to say is that there are so many resources at OSU to serve the student. Its ridiculous.

I love the fact that OSU is huge. There are literally thousands of people to meet. You never run out of new things to do. It never gets boring. The Oval in the spring is incredible. Whether you like to play frisbee, get a tan, smoke hookah, play guitar, walk tightrope, or just take advantage of the free foods that are given out from the various student organizations, the oval is the place to get it all.

OSU is one of the biggest colleges in the United States. Don't let that bother you! I have all my major classes in about three buildings that are close together. You won't have to trek all over campus (unless you want to). OSU is also very personable...maybe this depends on your department, but my department faculty and staff for the most part know me by name. I wouldn't change the size of OSU for anything.

The best thing about OSU is its resources. Being the largest University in the Country provides unlimited resources and opportunities. Another perk is that OSU is very good at athletics. From football, to basketball, even soccer, OSU has top notch athletic programs. The major drawbacks also come from its size. Whether you like it or not, you are a number. I probably only see a handful of people I know walking around campus on any given day. This provides the opportunity to meet a lot of new people, but also makes you feel less connected. There are some amazing professors, but there are also many professors who are concerned more with their research than teacher, so be selective in what classes you sign up for. There e-mail system sucks! (make sure you forward your e-mail to another account). For the most part I have enjoyed my time at OSU thoroughly, and think highly enough of it to come back for 4+ years of medical school.

OSU is huge, but it's as big or small as you want to make it. I think everyone here can find their own niche, whether that be through athletics, music, the arts, partying, etc. Living in the dorms really helps you find a core group of friends, especially if you live in themed-living-learning dorm, where you live with students who have similar interests. I like going to a school that is so large....we have so many opportunities here and, in the rare case OSU or Columbus doesn't offer what you want, you can start your own club!

Ohio State is the biggest campus in the world. So many of my friends from high school go here and both my parents went here. I found the transition to college akward and weird here because the campus is so big and it is very very hard to establish close friends. There is a ton of pride with people yelling the O-H-I-O chant. I loved the experience of having football tickets and being in the crazy atmosphere of the crowd.

Some professors suck, others are amazing, just like everyone else on this campus of 56k. It can be great, or suck, but once you are a Buckeye...it's for life.

Here's what I'm going to talk about: why I love Ohio State. Admittedly, it was not the only college I applied to. I also applied to Baldwin-Wallace College and Marietta College. However, for as long as I can remember, I've wanted to go to college here. Ultimately, that is what drove my decision. And on a side note, the day I found out I was accepted here was one of the best days of my life! Before I actually got here, my family, friends, and others worried about safety, about me moving from our small, rural community to Ohio's capital. I have never felt in danger while on campus, but I know what I have to do if that situation should arise. I'll admit, too, that I was worried about my adjustment to the city; growing up on the farm doesn't exactly compare to walking down High Street, passing a variety of people, restaurants, and shops that I know would never be seen in my hometown. But once I moved in here, and after a couple days of adjusting, I knew I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else. I love walking across the Oval and seeing hundreds of other students laying out, doing homework, throwing a baseball around, or playing frisbee. I love walking past Orton Hall and admiring its beautiful bell tower. Mirror Lake is another great aspect of campus, too, and not only for the Mirror Lake Jump tradition the Thursday before the Ohio State vs. Michigan game! The RPAC is a great place to work out, too; I've never seen as many different machines that worked so many muscles I never knew I had! Aside from all these "exterior" reasons, I have plenty of "interior" reasons. I've made some great friends, and I don't have the roommate horror stories you sometimes hear. Ohio State does a fabulous job of matching people with compatible roommates. I've been able to re-connect with a friend of mine who I hadn't seen or talked to very often before now. I've been exposed to a variety of cultures, races, and traditions that have only made my experience here that much better. This university is the place for me, and it can be the place for thousands of other students, too. It's great to be a Buckeye; we love our toxic nuts!

Ohio State is known for its school pride. Football games are one of the most spectacular college experiences you will ever have. There are over 100,000 people rooting for the buckeyes. Students and staff boast about the academics. Ohio State is a very reputable research university and has challenging classes. It is common said that there is a Buckeye everywhere you go. It's true. I studied abroad in Dijon, France and met a woman who had graduated for Ohio State.