Ohio University--Athens

Statistics

Rankings & Lists

Students Say - Academics
Academically, Ohio University has something for everyone, from astrophysics to the history of rock and roll, students at this large state-run university boast. And students have an equally wide range of choices when it comes to committing themselves to academics; "You can take advantage of the vast amount of knowledge and resources directly available, or you can forget studies and party," students tell us. Those seeking a challenge will have no trouble finding it here, however; OU boasts "a strong engineering faculty," a noteworthy aviation program offered within the university's demanding school of engineering and technology, an "excellent and very selective early childhood education program," and "one of the best journalism schools in the country"-the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism-which offers "frequent opportunities to learn and grow outside the classroom with guest speakers and special events." Scripps houses "a great communications school" offering great hands-on experience; one student informs us that "Southeast Ohio depends on our college television and radio station for their news, weather, and high school sports." As at any large university, unassertive students are in danger of getting lost in the crowd, but those who make the effort to seek out faculty and administrators assure us that "The school is very supportive of the students. I have close relationships with multiple professors, and I think that they generally take a strong interest in the students."

Students Say - Campus Life
Ohio University has a beautiful campus with lots of character, both in academia and nightlife, students here report. Greek organizations play a major role in the life of the campus, providing service to the community and serving as a social catalyst. Undergraduates assure us that the school "truly lives up to its reputation as a party school. It is never hard to find a party on any given night, whether in the dorms or off campus." One undergrad writes "a nationwide reputation as a party school is not something I'm proud of," but most accept things as they are, noting that "Ohio University is a school where everyone can find a group of people doing whatever they're particularly interested in," which is to say that partying is hardly the only option here. College athletics are a big draw (especially football, men's basketball, and women's volleyball), as are such annual events as Homecoming and Halloween celebrations, and the school is host to literally hundreds of student clubs and organizations serving interests of every variety. Hometown Athens is a typical small college town with access to a wide variety of outdoor activities. The closest cities of note-Columbus; Ohio and Charleston, West Virginia-are each about a 90-minute drive from the OU campus.

Students Say - Student Body
The OU student body "is pretty homogenous," with a large contingent of undergrads who are "white, middle- to upper-class, and from Ohio." "We have a small minority population, especially in the undergraduate programs," one student concedes, "but it's easy to interact with other cultures if you seek them out." Students here "try to get involved in community service, especially those involved in Greek life," and they are "generally friendly." Most work hard enough to get by but rarely harder; one student observes that "students totally devoted to their schoolwork are atypical here."

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