Ohio University to Ottowa is just an 11 hour drive. No plane ticket needed.
@gearmom That’s a fair point. What kind of independent research are you talking about? I’m not sure what that entails but I’d like to look into it. I am currently looking at joining our PACE program to assist faculty with research in the biology department.
@CADREAMIN
Thank you! There actually is a really cool Honors Tutorial College here. I met with its Dean last year and talked extensively about transferring into it, but their program has a very limited capacity and it’s full in every department that I’m interested in. My grades are good enough, but they just don’t have the room, so that option is off the table. I’ve been talking with some faculty and advisers here, and they’re mostly agreeing that transfer is my best option.
I have talked to the head of the Bio department but I have not yet talked to the head of English. That sounds useful; thanks for the suggestion.
I’d like to emphasize that I don’t think I’m smarter or more inherently capable than anyone else. It’s just that the academic culture is very lax and the curricula lack depth. People don’t put much thought or effort into anything, even though they have the capacity.
My high school GPA was a 3.9 as well and my ACT was a 30. Math dragged me down… I don’t remember my SAT; I’d have to pay for them to send me my score again. I chose OU because it was affordable and I though the size would give me enough space to find good programs. And I’ve searched a lot here for good programs, but it’s just not there. As I mentioned in another reply, I cannot join the Honors college though I’m academically eligible. My public high school classes were more engaged.
@Snakecatcher I cannot choose an Independent Research Project for you. That is a personal choice. Start with something that you are interested in and work from there. Did you not have to do senior projects in high school? You’ve never developed a project before? My roomie was an animal science major. She had an independent project working with sheep reproduction. For the time I was in marine biology, I had a project with raising salmon and growth rates based on different feed. My husband had an independent project in engineering. Many times local companies will ask for solutions to problems. Talk to your professors. Freshman year is often easy. A high GPA from frosh is no indication that you will not be challenged junior and senior year.
Can you not just study abroad for a year? Will you have debt if you transfer?
Why don’t you choose a minor that will compliment your bio degree. Organic Chem should provide enough challenges.
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You have years as a PhD student to find the rigor you feel you are seeking.
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I’m afraid that since I’m doing a PhD in animal behavior, I won’t have the chance to study English, philosophy or any other humanities subjects in depth. Am I correct in thinking that, or will I have lots of chances to take diverse classes as a grad/PhD student?
Also, I already talked to the HTC Dean of students last year, and learned that it is impossible for me to join at this point.
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You have years as a PhD student to find the rigor you feel you are seeking.
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I’m afraid that since I’m doing a science-based PhD program, I won’t have a chance to add any humanities courses to my schedule. Do you think that’s a legitimate concern? I’m not sure how flexible postgrad academics are.
[quote]
You have years as a PhD student to find the rigor you feel you are seeking.
[quote/]
I’m afraid that since I’m doing a science-based PhD program, I won’t have a chance to add any humanities courses to my schedule. Do you think that’s a legitimate concern? I’m not sure how flexible postgrad academics are.
[quote]
You have years as a PhD student to find the rigor you feel you are seeking.
[quote/]
I’m afraid that since I’m doing a science-based PhD program, I won’t have a chance to add any humanities courses to my schedule. Do you think that’s a legitimate concern? I’m not sure how flexible postgrad academics are.
^Why do you need to add humanties? Technical writing would be helpful though.
@gearmom I just care very deeply about logic, debate, and rhetoric and I’d like to develop those skills as much as I can while I’m at university. You simply don’t find that in STEM classes, at least in my limited experience.
In reference to your other suggestion, OChem is just more applied math, memorization and empiricism. For me, that’s just academic grinding. It isn’t the intellectual stimulation I care about as it doesn’t involve analysis, discussion and debate.
@Snakecatcher Public Speaking will be important. Grant writing. Make sure that you determine if you will take on debt to transfer and what that means financially for a payment plan. You may need to take your $6500 sophomore Stafford before the end of December and bank it possibly. You then can get $7500 junior and senior years.
That’s correct. I didn’t even really know that was an option. It was never mentioned when I talked to academic advisers here. I’m open to the idea, but I don’t even know where I’d start, so I guess I’ll start asking around here.
What professional journals are you reading? Is there a topic in those that has sparked an interest for an independent project?
@Snakecatcher Do you think Animal biochemistry can affect behavior? Post #30 Why an understanding of organic chemistry could be useful to you.
@gearmom Applied Animal Behavior Science, Animal Behaviour, Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, are a few. I’m not sure what kind of research I could do here, but it’s worth looking into.
I am not exactly sure how many upper level seminars you are in as a first quarter/trimester/semester sophomore…
That aside, I do think, perhaps, a re-evaluation of attitude might be beneficial. It would certainly assist you in selecting an appropriate transfer option. It is of no surprise, to me, that your advisors and professors are encouraging you to transfer; as it appears that you have little desire to be open to the possibility that Ohio University is anything other than a prison for the intellectually curious. As others have pointed out, independent study options abound at Ohio University, as do study abroad options, if you are finding the classroom environment to have “no depth”. Ohio University has one of the most outstanding honors programs in the country. I find it hard to fathom that there is a profound lack of intellectualism to be found on campus. While most might agree that Ohio University is not the first university that pops to mind when considering pervasive intellectualism, your characterization of Ohio U as an intellectual desert is wildly inaccurate, or at the least myopic.
Does Ohio U participate in anything similar to the National Student Exchange? I did not see it listed for NSE, but I think that there might be other, comparable networks? They allow students to spend semesters at other universities at regular tuition, for full credit (assuming you take transferrable classes). My son’s best friend went from small college in FL to University of Minnesota for a semester. There is a broad range, in terms of sizes, locations, and cultures. Do you have a foreign study opportunity? Those are ways to break out of your rut, while remaining on track to receive your degree. (https://nse.org/ - your school doesn’t participate, but it gives you an idea).
Be the squeaky wheel, ask again about being in the honors college. Surely there is a way for a really promising student to get in later.
Def do Model UN or Debate.