Ohio Wesleyan University Top Questions

I can't say enough about the academics. The courses are challenging but they prepare you. No one leaves OWU unprepared for their next step - as long as they put the work in. The professors have an invested interest in their students and they really do care and want the best for each of them. They do expect a lot, but as a student you get a lot so its a tradeoff. It would be easier at other schools, but it would be hard to get the education that is provided at OWU at any other institution. The professors are always readily avaible. For example, I have some of my professors home numbers incase I would ever need them.

Academics at OWu are fantastic. Due to the size of the school, it is common for professors to know not only your name but who you are, too. A professor I had my first semester of my freshman year in a class of about 35 students (which by the way would be one of the larger classes at OWU!) still says hello to me around campus, addressing me by name. It is very nice, because this makes it a lot easier for a student to approach their professor(s) for help in any way. Some students study all of the time. They go to Slocum or the library and just crank away at their books until it's time to eat and/or sleep. And there are students that simply never spend time studying. But the vast majority of students seem to find the right balance between work and play. Some students are very competitive, but I think that comes with the territory of certain majors more than it comes with OWU as a whole. My favorite class, so far, was a history class about Latin America in Revolution. True the subject matter really interested me, but the way that the class was set up was really great. There were only 10 students and the professor and we discussed the readings for that week. It was entirely discussion. And never did I feel that I had to say what the professor wanted. The floor was open for any student to say what they thought about the subject in question. An open mind is probably the first thing that an OWU student obtains at OWU and they are free to use it as often as they can. The academic requirements are rigorous but not so hard that you can't think about anything else except your studies. It's "just right" if you may. I would have to say that the education that one gets at OWU is designed for whatever the student designs it to be. It is so easy for a student to take the classes they want, when they want. Learning is very important for both the students and the professors. I think that learning for its own sake is how OWU has generally geared itself, even though what you learn is great for later careers.

The professors are awesome and remember your name especially if you have more than one class with them. My least favorite classes were English 105 (cause I hate writing) and Parasites and Immunity because the teacher is dreadfully boring. Intellectual conversations rarely take place outside of class.

Professors almost always take the time to know each student's name and personally call them by their names in class during discussions. My favorite class was with Dr. Radebaugh who is retiring this year. He is the head of the Zoology department, and he was a factor in choosing Zoology as a major for me. The class was Animals and Their Environments which was a great class with a hands on lab. OWU has been known to have challenging academics, especially in the Science departments.

I think that it is easy to forget that we are here in college to study. We are blinded by how much freedom we have and all the things that we get to do. OWU is a pretty diligent campus and studying plays a big role in the lives of every student, so is the possibility of class participation, it is sometimes mandatory for classes.

Find out which teachers are wonderful and which are terrible before you enroll for classes. There are some amazingly great ones, and if you find them early, then you'll have a wonderful four years. Some of them might become friends. Do independent studies, too... teachers will be flexible to work with you to create the class you want.

The academics here are quite rigorous and challenging, but managable too. Teachers will work with you to make sure you know the material and succeed. Class size is small, so you will get a chance to interact with your teachers and other students as well as get the individual attention you deserve. Class participation is common, so you will have plenty of opportunities to make your voice be heard. The students are quite competitive when it comes to their grades and sports, so they are often studying or participating in a sports related event. The psychology department is quite good here at OWU. The department is one of the top 20 in the country. Two aspects about the department that are unique are that the department offers neuroscience as a possible major, and that one of the staff members used to be a health psychologist before they started teaching at OWU, so the teachers come from a wide variety of backgrounds. My favorite course so far has been adolescent psychology because I like learning about children and want to work with them as a clinical psychologist in the future. You will have plenty of opportunities to do reasearch with faculty as well as get involved in department activities such as the Psychology student board.

small class size means that my professors know much more than my name, a lot more. if you are a seriously interested student, then you can develop full relationships with your professors (if you're a piece of shit and don't try in the class, then the prof will have much less interest in you) . . . . my favorite class over this most recent semester was probably organic chemistry, even though it was really hard, the two profs are both enthusiastic and helpful . . . . as for student's studying, it again depends on how much success that student wants, if a student wants an A in an upper-level chemistry course, then you will find them working their ass off, all day long. class participation is common, and greatly encouraged (if not even sometimes facilitated) . . . . i have run into competitive students before, but for the most part we are all interested in helping each other . . . there have been numerous times that classmates and even upperclassmen have sacrificed their own time to help someone else understand their material . . . . my majors are biochemistry and pre-medical studies . . . i am more focused on my biochemistry and love it . . . OWU has a notoriously strong chemistry department and will push each student as hard as it can . . . the department "covers the five food groups" in that it has a professors that specialize in each major discipline . . . there is a biochemistry prof, two organic profs, a physical chemistry prof, an analytical prof, and an inorganic prof . . . we have hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment that students are given full access to and become quite experienced with . . . every course has an attached lab with labs designed to emphasize things from the course, there are journal writing simulations, and many of the profs offer their own specialized upper level courses from time to time on unique topics, like advanced applications of stereochemistry

I will be a Junior at OWU. After finishing two full years, every one of my professors has known my name. I have enjoyed every class I have been in. Very informational but yet very difficult. One thing I don't care for too much is our mandatory curriculum. For example, I am a politics and government and pre-law double major and I still have to take 3 science classes. That isn't very enjoyable in my book. I think that to be successful at OWU you have to study a ton! Most students who strive to do their best study a lot. Every night there is work to be done and studying to do. In my department, I have gotten to know the PG professors very well. We know each other on a first name basis and it is really nice to know that there is always someone to help you. I have spent time with some professors outside of class. Many enjoy hanging out with us or grabbing dinner. Many professors will go out with students on the weekends to the bars and they come to parties a lot of the time. I think that the education at OWU is what you make it. It is a very had school. You can work very hard and be very successful both for your own sakes and for finding a job or going to a grad program when you graduate.

I did like the class sizes, they were small and intimate. I wouldn't recommend Intro to Psych to anyone who isn't a psych major, it's definitely one of the hardest classes offered. Take Philosophy with Calef, he's the man.

Yes, all of my professors have known my name. Overall, academics at OWU are very difficult. I have had to work the hardest and study the hardest than I ever have. Now that my freshman year is over, I have learned the effective ways to study and found the important things to notice. Compared to my GPA in highschool, I feel like I am not doing very well at all and that I am struggling. But, then I realize the courses I am taking and realize that OWU is just difficult.

OWU expects a lot out of its students academically. I have not had one class that I would consider "easy". Even intro classes require a lot of work, sometimes more than the higher level classes. Professors tend to be really helpful and willing to meet with students and take time to make sure they're keeping up in their classes.

The classes at Ohio Wesleyan are very personal and intimate. The professors are always willing to meet with you and help you out, and the atmosphere of many of the smaller classes is relaxed and enjoyable while still being well-structured. Although OWU is a small school, there can definitely be some healthy competition among classmates. I feel that the professors take an especial interest in the education of each student, and I know I have learned and improved because of it.

Classes, even introductory classes, are small enough that the professors know each students name after the first week or so. This is college, so you do have to take the initiative, but teachers are very approachable and more than willing to help you with a class or life decisions if you seek them out. You will have to study though, especially if you are a science/math/psych major. And that includes all of you A+ students who didn't have to study in high school. Trust me, it's much easier to learn and practice good study habits at the beginning of your college career and then drop them if you find you don't need them than to have a rude awakening part way through your freshman year that you have no idea how to study for the final that you need to ace in order to pass a class.

The academics at OWU are tough in some classes and easy in others. Depending on the major and what classes you are signed up for you changes how much you will have to study but no one coasts through classes easily. Many people fail out or transfer after freshman year due to academics. Professors know the names of the students and some classes are more rewarding than others. The academic advising program needs to be better though. I have a hard time talking to my academic advisor about classes.

Professors know their students. Class participation is common because class sizes are all under 30. I think OWU has a great academic program, both geared towards learning for learning's sake and towards getting a job or going to graduate school.

A majority of the teachers are great. If you are going to enter into the sciences, this is a great place. I love the politics and history department. I can not speak to the strength of any other areas.

I think that professors at OWU are great! They know you're name and remember stuff you tell them the first time you tell them. My favorite class is Latin; the professor is very funny and Latin is fascinating. Participation varies on the type of class. In the languages and English classes, class participation is mandatory. I don't know about the music, sciences, and math. Yes, intellectual conversations are common, whether the students are discussing a problem in a class or the latest issue from the news. Yes, students are competive, but most of the competitiveness is from the students who live in the honors dorm. I'm a English/Classics (Latin & ancient Greek) double major, and practically live in Sturges Hall, where the English & Humanties-Classics departments are located. I love both of my majors. Professors attend events around campus such as concerts and lectures by guest lecturers. They participants in fundraisers put on by the students. I beleive that OWU sets up students to further their education in graduate programs at leading schools across the country or to go straight into a career. However, I feel that OWU gears students to the graduate school path rather than going straight into a career.

professors definitely know my name. they know everyone's. even if it's someone who never speaks a word in class, they know people's names after a few days. i really like the professors because they are always willing to help, you just need to ask. they are open to giving extentions and helping you work through things, all you need to do is talk to them and show that you're working hard. many professors set up study sessions outside of class time where they will go over anything you want. Students study on a regular basis but you definitely see an increase around finals time of people in the library/study rooms. oh yeah, thats another good thing about owu, there are plenty of places to get work done. No matter what your study style is, there is somewhere that you can go. the library cafe is good for social/not quiet studying, slocum is good for quiet studying if you're into that. class participation is pretty common. there are those few people who try to answer every question, but the professors are good at including everyone and trying to get everyone's opinions (even if it's like pulling teeth to get it out of the shy ones) I am planning on majoring in spanish. the spanish department is a million times better than my high school. Spanish is the only language spoken in class and most of the professors are from different hispanic countries so it's nice to hear about their experiences and culture. Owu's academic requirements are spot on for what they want to achieve. liberal arts means that they want you to know a little bit about everything and i think the requirements do exactly that. they make you dabble in a little bit of everything. for example i never thought i would take philosophy, but i needed a humanities and i'm glad i took it because it made me view everything in a different light. Education at owu is geared toward getting a job and learning for the sake of learning. I learn a lot about what i need to know, but i also learn a lot of little factoids that stick with me (not because they matter in any way, but just because their interesting.) i think it's a nice balance. professors answer any question a student asks to the best of their abilities. they get excited when students are curious.

I would say that OWU prides it self on the academics. I would like to believe that this school is pretty tough and you need to put alot of work in to be successful. The Class sizes are nice, professors are normally open if you need help and are normally pretty nice. My favorite class so far has been marketing, and i would say that any science class would be my least favorite since it's not my specialty. The Academics are tough, especially when it comes to trying to fill requirements. When it comes to the amount of time it takes to study for class, it really depends on the student and there study habits. Alot of people are what we call ECON majors since it;s so broad. Overall i would say that the academics are tough but teachers are there to help along with a number of different resources on campus.