Don't know what to do!

[DustinG]

<p>Okay so I had my mind set on Alabama from the start and I just came back from a visit. The campus itself is the most beautiful one I have ever seen. The dorms were incredible and so were the buildings but the surrounding areas seemed a little bland. The only other school I was considering was Ohio state. The decision deadline is coming up fast and I am getting a little stressed. I heard Ohio state has a better business program and I was admitted directly into it and I feel like it has more things to do off campus (I have not visited just an assumption) I love everything about Alabama but just can’t shake the feeling that Columbus is a more editing place and that If I graduate from fisher I will have a better chance finding a job. Someone talk me out of my doubts please!!</p>

[SpaceCoastMom]

<p>I will say that this is a stressful time, especially for those students still trying to make decisions. My son decided last night so I am familiar with how stressful it is as April approaches. My advice would be to take a very deep breath and try to visualize what you saw and experienced while in Tuscaloosa. I have lived in Dayton and have visited OSU and have also spent a good bit of time in Tuscaloosa. The campuses have a lot in common actually–both rich in tradition. Both business schools have excellent reputations, so with either choice you will do well. Take time to revisit how you felt on the Alabama campus. If you felt good, go with UA. If you felt a hesitancy, or feelings that something wasn’t right, investigate OSU further. I will close by adding that Tuscaloosa has a lot to offer and is not a boring place. Few campuses of this size are!</p>

[Class2012Mom]

<p>Dustin - </p>

<p>Do not make any decisions from assumptions. Or what you think other may think of your decision.</p>

<p>Can you visit Ohio before you decide?</p>

<p>What are the difference in costs?</p>

[westcoast11]

<p>Yes, we are all struggling with these impending decisions.</p>

<p>SpaceCoast good input, can you give us some more input on Tuscaloosa ? you mentioned there is lots to do there. thanks !</p>

[SpaceCoastMom]

<p>Tuscaloosa offers all the cultural benefits of a “large college” town–excellent concerts, theatre, speakers, etc programmed by the University. Downtown Tuscaloosa has several really great restaurants typically found in much larger cities. The River area near the University that has been developed for recreational activities is beautiful. I think it is safe to say all NCAA sports events are among the best in the country. Northport, Alabama (just over the river from Downtown Tuscaloosa) has become a destination for annual cultural events and has been featured in Southern Living magazine, for example.</p>

<p>Tuscaloosa also has excellent health care in DCH and the proximity to Birmingham for health, entertainment, airport, and cultural events is also a plus.</p>

<p>Tuscaloosa is not a major metropolitan city though. That being said, you avoid the downsides of that with less traffic and crime.</p>

[buzymom3]

<p>dustinG…my D is a freshman at UA and we are from Chicago. My D is a very urban kid who thinks nothing of going into the City for the day when she is home. That being said, she loves T-Town. She has NEVER complained about not finding anything to do or about the area around campus. She especially loves Northport for its artsy influance and cute places to eat. She has gone to concerts at the new concert venue downtown and has never regretted her choice of UA. Not to mention the attention that UA gives students. D has had so many opportunities that we know she would not have had at the other colleges she was considering. </p>

<p>I agree w/ Spacecoast mom that T-town is not a major metro city, but boy it sure does have more than enough to keep you occupied.</p>

<p>It’s a tough decision and I wish you the best of luck. You will end up where you are meant to be.</p>

[malanai]

<p>

Someone talk me out of my doubts please!!

</p>

<p>OK, but only because you asked. :)</p>

<p>

I have lived here for more than a month and it’s rapidly becoming the seventh level of Hades! I originate from Kansas City, have previously lived in Des Moines, Ann Arbor, and have traveled to more than 30 states in my lifetime and sadly Columbus, OH is the worst place I have lived or visited by a long shot even though it has a ton of potential. I’ve seen rotten and rude places, but this one took me by surprise on how bad a city can really be under its surface. It does have a few upsides though…</p>

<p>Residents
The worst problem I have with Columbus is the residents themselves. I have worked customer service for more than 20 years and have a good ability to read a personality and see past the public facades (you must get to know a person very quickly to be really good at customer service). It’s easy to spot the Columbus Lifers and those who have moved to Columbus recently: the Lifers are generally without any personality, drab, and have a serious tendency to look down on outsiders (even those from other areas of Ohio) or those who are excitable, open, and overly-friendly. The only dramatic emotion I have witnessed by Lifers here are their rabid loyalty to OSU. I say rabid because I’ve seen college rivalries before, but other college towns do not get vicious towards those with college preferences other than their own. It’s ridiculous and very closed-minded toward others. The best description I can offer without writing a 200-page thesis is that some mysterious force has sucked the life from most residents here. The only residents who have offered cheerful and open discussion are those who moved from other locations; I met a cashier at a store who relocated to Columbus and after discovering my wife and I did the same, offered the following question: What would possibly make you move to this crappy city?</p>

<p>In particular, many different groups of people would find a hard time fitting in or enjoying a visit to Columbus:
New Yorkers would have difficulty with the culture clash of the residents in Columbus.
Bikers from California or the Dakotas would feel out of place with the near non-existence of hogs and choppers here.
Kansas Citians would be offended by the definition of “barbeque” in Columbus: (Boiled white meat with a side of spicy ketchup is NOT BBQ in anyone’s right-mind)
Texans and Southerners would feel like circus freaks when their down-home heartiness is met with an odd look or blank stare.
Anyone with a “twang” in their accent are generally looked at with disgust.
Those from Ann Arbor MI are pretty much unwelcome.</p>

<p>Those who will fit in rather easily:
Dog-lovers are most welcome here. Folks love to walk or jog with their canine friends and you will see a lot of specialized breeds.
Exercise buffs will love the biking here. Unlike other municipalities where cyclists are viewed as an inconvenience or hood-ornaments, Columbus welcomes those who choose to take their fitness outside of the gym.</p>

<p>General Locale
I find Columbus’s greatest asset to be in it’s size and architecture. I find Upper Arlington and Grandview Heights to be a very lovely part of the city. Old buildings that are kept up, mixed with new buildings that preserve the charm of the old neighborhood. This particular section of the city is dotted with small shops, unique restaurants and taverns that have a special coziness about them (if only the human addition were as cozy). I love to drive and stroll in this area and has become one of my favorite neighborhoods in the nation next to the Civil-War housing of Lexington, MO for it’s old charm.</p>

<p>You can get nearly anywhere in Columbus in a short time. Traveling from the west side on I-70 to downtown, it is only 7 1/2 miles from farm fields to high-rises. However, do be careful about rush hour as explained in the next section.</p>

<p>The East side of Columbus is a particular no-go: honestly… don’t go there. The daily newscasts of robberies, murders, and the like are telling enough. Sadly, this is where the airport is located so you might want to rethink that red-eye flight unless you have planned ahead for proper and safe transportation to/from the airport.</p>

<p>Regardless of Columbus’ lack of acclaimed tourist attractions, one bright positive is its central location to the areas of the Northeast that do have the attractions: Indianapolis 500, Rock and Roll hall of Fame, Niagara Falls, Appalachian Mountains, the Great Lakes, Nashville, etc… they’re only a few hour’s drive from here. As a resident, you can make several, cheap, weekend and day-trips to places that will help you forget you live in Columbus.</p>

<p>Traffic and Transportation
Whether you are moving to Columbus or just passing through, be mindful of the infrastructure (roads, traffic signals, etc.). Many roads are in dire need of repair and the many railroad crossings are murder to a vehicle’s suspension. Many traffic signals are still the classic, circa-1975 yellow ones that are suspended by wires. Coming from the West side of Ohio where the infrastructure is modern in places like Dayton, you feel like you have stepped back in time once you exit the Interstates in Columbus. Drivers tend to be very heavy-footed and love to tailgate. While not particularly rude, they do seem to get a little self-deserving in their attitude about you being between them and their destination.</p>

<p>The size of Columbus is rather small for its population. Rush hour is brief, but insane: too many drivers for too little pavement. However, the smaller footprint allows for a better public transportation system. The COTA bus service is quite adequate for such a population and compared to other cities, COTA shines brightly above them. You will find bus service nearly everywhere and you’re only a few blocks away from a bus stop. Bus fares are a little steep in my book ($2.00 for basic, non-express service as of January 2012) and it seems the fares keep going up every year.</p>

<p>Weather and Environment
Most anyone who visits Columbus has experienced weather extremes beyond what Columbus has: this is a good thing. Autumn of 2011 was an exceptionally rainy time (record-breaking in fact), but the locals here do admit that the sun does not shine eight months out of the year. So far, I’d have to agree with that statement.

</p>

<p>Source: [Columbus</a>, OH City Reviews](<a href=“http://www.areavibes.com/columbus-oh/reviews/]Columbus”>Living In Columbus, OH)</p>

[NYBama]

<p>Lol…wow…otherwise it’s a nice place.</p>