<p>SnowflakeVT,</p>
<p>I was there from 86-91. You picked an awesome weekend to come, it is supposed to be 68 and sunny in NW Ohio so I imagine Columbus will be in the 70’s and beautious. Nothing like Spring on Campus. </p>
<p>I was down there two weeks ago because we were at a horse event at the fairgrounds and I wanted to drive my rising senior around and show her where I used to live on and around campus. We didn’t get out because we had a carful but we did drive everywhere as the gates were open on the heart of main campus. (yes, those traffic gates are still there behind University Hall, etc.) My mom and dad live in Gahanna so we get down to Columbus but usually not near campus.</p>
<p>If you haven’t been to there in awhile, you are in for a shock. We were at the Spring game last year but just parked out by Schottenstein Center and walked across the bridge and really didn’t go to main campus. This time, I actually got to look at stuff and compare then and now.</p>
<p>There’s absolutely no question what they’ve been spending money on over the years…construction projects. The New Union is the standout along High Street, seriously it’s a beast. Almost embarrassingly huge. Compared the our union, it’s going to be like the Taj Mahal. High Street itself is so different, too. In a sad way. There are entire Facebook pages dedicated to missing practically every single establishment that used to line it. The new Architecture School is a work of art as compared to the old 1940’s fallout building. Larkins Gym? Come on, it’s unrecognizable. Again, a work of art. It was like a bigger high school gym went we were there. Driving around campus was familiar yet disorienting, I knew which way to turn by rote, but familiar landmarks are sometimes blocked with new buildings. I felt a little claustrophobic at times. It seems a bit “crowded” to me because of the scale of some of the buildings. </p>
<p>I’d say the biggest changes in dorm appearances from what we remember are in the Medical/South area. There’s a brand new dorm along Neil Ave. that was never there that Dr. Holbrook steerheaded, I guess she was big into the dorm upgrades. There’s apparently a dorm now for post-grads like Med School, dentists, etc.</p>
<p>I lived in Taylor for Honors but I guess there are now two other Honors locations as well (maybe Lincoln is one?). They did a huge upgrade of the Towers around the time I graduated and for a long time after, the Towers were the choice place to live on campus because they were from 8-12 to like 4 people in those huge suites. We haven’t done a formal visit yet but plan to this summer so I don’t know where the “nicest” dorms are but compared to the Motel 6 type environment we lived in, I suspect everything at a minimum is in the Holiday Inn Express range with some Courtyard by Marriott looking places, too, judging by face value. Everything just seems fancier everywhere you go on campus not just the parts seen by the public. Be careful with the air conditioned vs. no air conditioned dorms thing if that’s an issue. I don’t know specifically about organic dishes in the Commons but if the rest of the campus upgrades are an sign of the dining services upgrades, you probably stand a good chance.</p>
<p>We have been to a couple of college fairs recently and from the descriptions of what they do to retain freshman nowadays, I think your daughter will love Honors. They quoted an 85% return to school rate for 2nd years across the board so the Freshmen year is the big push. I heard they roll out the red carpet for Honors. The Living Learning Communities, scheduled advisory forums, on and on and on. I would say there is 500% more handholding of students then there was when we went there when your parents dropped you off, you met with your advisor once a year and everything else you just figured out by trial and error. I never saw our RA unless there was a fire drill, suicide attempt (Taylor Tower drama), or a fight broke out. Frankly it would annoy me how much attention they lavish on kids now, there’s no fear of being just a number I don’t think (at least at as a freshman). My impression is your bigger fear would be not being left alone. (LOL)</p>
<p>I’ll be curious to see what you think after your visit this weekend, I didn’t even get out of the car and I was astonished. I don’t think I could have done the behind the scenes on the same day, it might have been too much for my ticker. Have fun and PM or post when you get back if you have a chance.</p>
<p>Sorry to have hijacked this thread, now back to your regularly scheduled discussion.</p>