<p>Hi, so I have like a week to decide whether I want to go to OSU or MSU. I’m very aware of the rivalry between the schools so no matter which school I end up in, I’m also going to have to learn to hate the other one. Anyway, my problem is I don’t think I know enough about either schools since it’s so far away from me. So it’ll be great help if you guys can tell me pros and cons about OSU and why you would want to go there. </p>
<p>From my research, OSU is ranked higher than MSU in both US Weekly and Business Week. Being that I’m going to major in business, I’m just mainly concerned about the business school. On the other hand, students from MSU ranks the academics in their school higher than the buckeyes do for OSU. So, do I listen to the rankings or what the students say? </p>
<p>I know it’ll be better if I just visit the schools myself but I’m all the way in NYC and it’s not like I can just hop on the next plane to Ohio in the middle of the school year.</p>
<p>So any comments about the academics, teachers, students, campus… etc would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>^bonnychan, that's very perceptive of you... Although not scientific, the college guides/websites give you a snapshot into what students on-site FEEL about the academic atmosphere at their respective schools... I'm not surprised that MSU students feel their school is more academic than OSU feel about theirs; OSU has improved a lot in the last decade or so, but it still tends to be a bit more of a sports (esp football) and party atmosphere than MSU. While MSU, to be sure, has its drinking/partying scene, esp during football season, OSU can get downright violent and scary, esp during Michigan games -- even moreso when U-M visits OSU (U-M alums & fans are often in fear of their physical safety when the Wolverines play in Columbus, and for good reason). MSU has a healthy, longstanding heated rivalry with U-M, but NOTHING like what goes on in Columbus; Buckeyes often get violent and out of control... </p>
<p>In addition, I get the sense that the arts are less appreciated at OSU than MSU -- not saying OSU doesn't have arts, b/c it does, they're just not as appreciated; OSU's U-District neighborhood isn't as arts conscious as East Lansing, which in fact bills itself as the "City of the Arts." </p>
<p>I'm from Ohio and attended MSU, so those are my points of reference.</p>
<p>Business school-wise, I'd say it's 6 in one hand, half-dozen in the other. Their about the same, although MSU has a few more aspects: like the hotel/hospitality school, within and the Troy exec development center (in Troy, of course, an upscale burb outside Detroit). MSU has a smaller FT MBA program which to some (wrongly, I think) knocks it down a peg or 2 in ratings.</p>
<p>^^^If he/she really knew OSU the way they think they do, then they would understand a few things:
1) There were NO major problems following the OSU-M<em>ch</em>g<em>n game this year...and it was a 3:30 kickoff! In fact, if you read the OSU Alumni Magazine (which you obviously don't), there were actually a number of letters from M</em>ch<em>g</em>n fans saying they appreciated the way they were treated by OSU fans. There's still a lot of bad feelings from those outside the university community because of what happened in 2002. But M<em>ch</em>g*n has been to Columbus TWICE since then, in 2004 and 2006...and like I said, there were no violent riots or anything like that...and don't let anyone else (especially someone outside OSU) to tell you otherwise.
2) The reason why Ohio State students don't rank academics as highly here than students at MSU is, yes, primarily because of the sports environment, but I say that that contributes a LOT to school spirit. Ohio State students are absolutely crazy about Ohio State. I guarantee that OSU will offer you a community and fellowship of school spirit that you WILL NOT FIND at any other school in the nation. Come on, we're Buckeye Nation, just read the Sports Illustrated article that came out earlier this year. But don't think that Ohio State doesn't find their academics important. The entire focus we place on our first-year students (through the nationally-acclaimed First Year Experience program) is so that they graduate with a high quality degree from a high quality university. Check it out : fye.osu.edu
3) The Fisher College of Business also has a hotel/hospitality school, the four-star Blackwell Hotel, located actually ON our business campus, not in a suburb.
4) Columbus is the 15th largest city in the United States and there is no shortage of ANYTHING that you could want. Ohio State has it's own contemporary arts museum in the Wexner Center for the Arts, not to mention that the Short North (starting just a couple blocks south of campus on High Street is the hoppin' place to be for the arts scene (just check out the gallery hops hosted the beginning of every month)</p>
<p>Come visit Columbus and experience it for yourself.</p>
<p>Columbus Ohio is a Jetblue city, as is NYC, and OSU is about 10 minutes from the airport. Flights are very inexpensive, sometimes as little as $39 each way. I would highly recommend a visit, even with your busy schedule. </p>
<p>My son was infected with OSU spirit when we visited last October, and is now part of the class of 2011.</p>
<p>You will enjoy either school, but keep in mind that the academic rating of the freshmen class at OSU has risen almost every year for the last 10. The goal of the school is to be one of the nations' top academic public universities, similar to the University of Michigan.</p>