The Ohio State University--Columbus

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Students Say - Academics
The Ohio State University in Columbus is "a great blend of academics, opportunity, and fun." This is one of the largest universities in the country, and as such, you'll find "every resource you could possibly need" and "unlimited" academic opportunities. "Everything from music to biochemical engineering and anything and everything in between" is available. "You name it and we've got it," guarantees an English major. "The size of campus can be in some ways intimidating," though. It's a "cattle call" here. Classes are often enormous, and it can be hard to get the ones you want. Also, while "the administration seems to run the school fairly smoothly," "red tape" is a problem. "If you want to do anything out of the ordinary, such as apply a scholarship to the summer quarter, or take a leave of absence, it is very difficult." "You have to kind of fend for yourself to figure out how the school works." "OSU is not a school which holds your hand though planning and logistical matters," cautions a business major. The general education curriculum is unpopular with many students, but Ohio State is on a quarter system and coursework moves pretty fast. Any class you don't like will be over relatively quickly. Some professors are "incredibly eager to work with students" and are "as interesting and entertaining as they can be when lecturing." "There are a lot of mediocre professors," too. Still other faculty members are "too wrapped up in their research" and "don't pay attention to whether the students are learning or not." Also, just like at any big state school, there are plenty of teaching assistants here, and they are "sometimes sub par."

Students Say - Campus Life
For many students, life at Ohio State comes down to "drinking and sports." The entire campus is fulled up with "a ton of Buckeye spirit." "Attending the varsity sports events is popular." "Everyone is obsessed with Buckeye football." It's a little bit "like a religion," and the team is "idolized." Students also "party a lot in general." "It's hard to tell exactly how many people really are partying," explains a senior. "It just seems like a lot." For many students, "awesome" house parties "are the preferred medium" for social activity, but there is "always a party, always a bar" "Thursday through Saturday." "There are other scenes than just the party scene," of course. The "great" recreation center here is absolutely gargantuan. "There is always an interesting event, conference, or performance," and OSU brings in plenty of "big entertainment acts." There are more than 900 student organizations as well. "Greek life here isn't dominant" but it's noticeable, and a few thousand students are involved. "It's impossible to not find something that fits you," promises a senior. "You're never bored." Off campus, Columbus boasts a population of more than one million souls." Many students "gallery hop in the art district" or regularly take advantage of the area's "great shopping."

Students Say - Student Body
It's hard to categorize students here, says a sophomore. The vibe is "middle class" and "very Midwestern," and just about everyone is either "from small Ohio towns" or from "from a suburban-type setting" around Columbus, Toledo, Cincinnati, or Cleveland. Otherwise, "Ohio State is a melting pot," and "it easy to blend into the crowd." "There is no real homogenous, average student." Several ethnic minorities are solidly represented. Many students dress "like they shopped in a department store, albeit a nice department store," observes a senior. "There is a lot of style and fashion walking around campus," too. There are also hordes of students clad in "OSU clothing." A huge contingent of students is "smart, outgoing, athletic, and involved," but "the stereotypical weird kids at other universities have several hundred like-minded classmates at OSU." There are "drunks, nerds, overachievers, underachievers," "artists," outcasts, and hippies. Many students are "working a job or two." "The large community provides diversity," relates a senior. "However, we have our own smaller communities to help campus feel like home."

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