<p>I am a currently going into my 3rd year at OSU and remember looking through this website the summer before I started my freshman year to get as much information as possible. I would love to help everyone out and give the student perspective by answering any questions you may have about OSU. Ask away!</p>
<p>I’ll take a shot.</p>
<p>I am transferring to Ohio State this fall from a smaller (albeit large) private university in a major northern city. I am both excited an nervous about the transition. No one in my family has ever gone to a school as large as Ohio State, and I don’t really know what to expect. The biggest concern I have is making the size work for me. My biggest fear is going to Ohio State and being completely overwhelmed by the size and starting down the destructive path I was on at my old school. </p>
<p>For some background, I mentioned I went to a private school in the heart of a major city on the I-95 corridor in the Northeast. I hated it. I hated being in a city because I found it to suffocate the college atmosphere and take away from the experience I was looking for and I certainly wasn’t “drinking the private school kool-aid” I ended up selecting on Ohio State because I wanted to go somewhere less expensive so I could spend as much time as I wanted, while also being somewhere I would enjoy the culture. Besides academics, I am very into the “fru fru” elements of college; walking through the quad, taking part in traditions, etc. As much as I am excited about Ohio State, I am always wondering if I wouldn’t be better off at a smaller school, public or private. I would really like to put my concern to bed before this fall.</p>
<p>Here are a couple more questions:</p>
<p>Should students purchase books from the campus book store, or can they save money buying them elsewhere? </p>
<p>Another poster said that students have had some problems with the Sprint cell phone network. Have you heard of problems with Sprint in greater Columbus?</p>
<p>What’s the system for dropping a course and adding a different one? My daughter already regrets signing up for a course during Orientation.</p>
<p>Any advice for move in day? Should students bring carpet remnants to warm up the room? </p>
<p>What are your thoughts on Michigan?</p>
<p>I’ve been on Sprint for close to 15 years. I’ve never had any problems around the Columbus area.</p>
<p>@jack992 I know it’s very cliche to say, and if you’ve been to orientation you’ve probably already heard it but OSU really can be as big or as small as you want it to be. From my personal experience, I was pretty nervous about meeting people when I first started because I’m an introvert but found my close group of friends through the dorms and by working on campus (highly recommend applying for an on-campus job btw). My best advice for adjusting to a large campus is for you to remember that you will get back what you give. You may be in a 600 person classroom but if you just go up to the professor and introduce yourself, most are excited to help you with any questions you may have. A large school also means unlimited opportunities and new things to try. There’s a student involvement fair on the Oval during the first week of classes for you to explore all of the student organizations. The great thing about there being so many people and things to do is that nobody will force you to do something you don’t enjoy. I hope this helped! I would be happy to answer more specific questions if you have them.</p>
<p>@baywood
- I’ve found that the campus bookstores are way overpriced. The only time I buy from them is if access code needed to go along with the book. The rest of the time I just rent my books from sites like Chegg which is much cheaper and I can just ship them back at the end of the semeter.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I actually have Sprint and I haven’t noticed any major problems. </p></li>
<li><p>I believe that as a freshman in her first semester she cannot change her schedule on her own, however, she can email her advisor and ask them to change it for her. </p></li>
<li><p>Move-In day at OSU is ridiculously efficient. There are hundreds of student volunteers called OWLs that work through campus to help you unload your car. All you’ll have to do to pick up your tags and keys at the Scott then drive to your dorm and the OWLs will swarm your car to get your stuff. I would try to get there as early as possible because the lines to get your cars unloaded will get longer as the day goes on. General advice for move-in day would be to just breathe and try to take it all in. It really is exciting to see all of the students moving into campus! If she is looking for a part time job during the school year, move-in day is also a good day to go to the front desk of her dorm and pick up an application to be an Office Assistant. I would recommend that you try to introduce yourselves to the hall director too. They’ll be walking around throughout the building and will be someone right in the building that you could contact later in the year if you have any questions.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks, tzelch. How do book rental sites like chegg work? How does one find out what books each OSU course needs, and whether an access code (??) is needed for the course? </p>
<p>And, what jobs are the more fun ones to get on campus?</p>
<p>Amazon rents books too, very cheap and efficient. At most schools, the required books for each class will be posted on the website or student portal. Just search for those books and order. At the end of the semester, print out a free shipping label and send them back. Tip: Amazon will ask for a shipping state. Try your home state and your school state if different. Sometimes there is a big price difference.</p>
<p>@baywood Your daughter can find out the books she need by logging onto buckeyelink and looking under her class schedule list. There should be a link to B&N that will have the books she’ll need for her course, though its early in the summer so some might not be posted yet. Usually it’ll say w/ access code next to the title if one is needed. Sites like chegg usually give you the option of renting or buying old/new books and will ship them right to her dorm. At the end of the semester she’ll just have to print out the shipping label and return them.</p>
<p>Other on campus jobs available would be at the library, rpac, and in dining. I know campus hires a lot of students, and I believe you can start applying now by going on their website. My friends who’ve worked in the dining halls loved all of their co-workers and staff! </p>
<p>Hello everyone. I recently had my OSU orientation, and have signed up for classes. When I went to sign up for a math class, they signed me up for the Math 4181h class. I expected to be placed in Calc III, haven took Calc BC in HS and doing fine. Is this a common occurrence for first semester schedules? And more importantly, how difficult will the class be? I would be very appreciative of any feedback regarding the class itself, and or the professors / TAs who teach it.</p>
<p>Its pretty common to be placed in calc 3 if you took BC in highschool and expect a 4 or 5 on the AP test. Normally if you think you just got a 3 they will put you in calc 2. I was in the same situation as you freshman year where they signed me up for a high level honors math class. When I asked the math department about it at orientation they said they try to put the BC students who did well on the AP test in this class. According to them it was a more in depth-theory based class that would be very demanding and time consuming. I’m not sure if it was the exact same number as yours but it was similar. At the time, I decided I didn’t want to do honors so I just switched it to 2173 (engineering calc 3) and it was overall a pretty easy class. If you think you can handle the time committment and like math then I don’t see any reason not to stay in it. Just be prepared to work hard so you don’t fall in the common freshman trap. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Hi I am wondering about PC purchase. Have gotten promo from the OSU bookstore about the deals etc and the support. Wondering if it’s a good idea to go with a laptop from them or purchase one someplace else.</p>
Chance me?
I’ve taken every ap and honors class my high school offered.
3.3-3.4 UW
Tons of volunteer
4 years worth of internships at big Columbus businesses.
Student council
Yearbook club
Newspaper club
Mock trial
Service club
Writing club
Power of the pen
Cultural club
30 ACT
African American female
Volleyball 3 years
I am going to apply early action (before deadline, does that help?) and plan on writing a phenomal essay on why I want to attend the school of my dreams, OSU Columbus campus.
But worried about my GPA.
I am also in state.