<p>Hi.
I need opinions and some convincing. I am an accepted freshman to Ohio State, in the Pre-med program. I know Ohio State has one of the top medical programs in the nation, and I completely adore the school for their advocation of diversity and togetherness.
However, I am torn to make a decision between this school and UCSB. It’s really eating me up inside, and I’m scared I’ll make the wrong decision. If someone, ANYONE, could help me please. Don’t be afraid to write what you feel, I need all the comments I can get. So please please please help.</p>
<p>Thank you so much in advance.</p>
<p>What state are you from?</p>
<p>How much does each cost?</p>
<p>Going to OSU undergrad does not mean that you’ll necessarily go there for med school although you might have more opportunities to find out about the program and work/volunteer around the medical center. </p>
<p>I don’t know much about UCSB but I have been to Santa Barbara a few times and found it to be a much more beautiful city than Columbus.</p>
<p>@alwaysleah- I’m from California. Both cost relatively the same, 32000-ish, and I basically received the same amount of financial aid from each.</p>
<p>RMGsmom- But I’ve researched and generally most people who attend the school have a pretty smooth process getting into the medical school. And wouldn’t it be smarter to go there considering that UCSB doesn’t even have a pre-med program? :/</p>
<p>If they cost the same, just pick the vibe you want. </p>
<p>They will both serve your purpose, are pretty much equally competitive, and both awesome.</p>
<p>Edit: no, it doesn’t matter that UCSB doesn’t have a premed program. You just take the premed classes, do research/hospital volunteering/other ECs and you’re golden.</p>
<p>alwaysleah- I know… I’m just afraid I’ll make the wrong decision. And I’ve never actually been to Ohio State, let alone the east coast…</p>
<p>There is no wrong decision!</p>
<p>Oh… I’ve never been to Ohio but I have been to the easy coast. It’s definitely a different vibe from California.</p>
<p>Is it too much to ask in what ways are they different? Like east and west coast?</p>
<p>I’ve been to Boston, NYC, Providence, etc. </p>
<p>People are more…serious? But not in a bad way, they just don’t have that laid back Cali thing where we pretend everything is chill all the time. Everything is a little more fast paced. But these were big cities, so idk. Not sure if Ohio counts as “east coast”</p>
<p>Try going on the Ohio thread and asking for Californians who went there</p>
<p>Okay. Thank you for all of your help, ma’am! I appreciate it :)</p>
<p>Hey laurencanfly, i’m from California (the Bay Area), going to Ohio St. A bunch of people from my school are going to ucsb. I’ve heard great things about both ucsb and Ohio state, but in the end chose osu because I wanted to go somewhere new and different. There’s only so much beachy laidbackness I can take haha. Anyway, in the end it all comes down to what makes you happy. Both are excellent schools and in the end I’m sure you’ll pick the right one for you. Good luck!! :)</p>
<p>As an Ohioan, I don’t consider us to be the ‘east coast’ at all. We don’t have those silly accents.</p>
<p>Just sayin’</p>
<p>Ohio State will be colder!! Seriously, it gets cold here in Ohio…not 30 below but cold and you’ll do a lot of walking at OSU. It’s a huge campus. I graduated from there and loved it, I think most people who go there love it. It’s also extrememly diverse–people from all walks of life. There are clubs for everything–even a bacon club! And I think Ohioans are generally friendly. Columbus is a pretty big city with lots to do and places to go. If you go to OSU, you will have everything you could want at your fingertips. I’ve not been to UCSB. Personally, I’d pick the one with the least cost–you’ll get a solid undergrad almost anywhere that’s accredited. Why incur more debt than necessary? Columbus loves their Bucks! I’d tried to picture yourself at each place and wherever you’re more comfortable, go there! good luck!</p>
<p>OSU does not have a “pre-med” program. You have a lot of choices for majors but “pre-med” is not a major. My son will be applying to med school at some point and he is an engineering major at OSU. He had to actively solicit most of the pre-med advsing that he has received.</p>
<p>When I went to college, you went up the highway to the major university if you were a good student. Now you have a chance to go somewhere different. If I were in your spot I’d go to Ohio State to experience a different culture. Then go off to medical school or wherever you choose. I’ve lived in the south and the north and am glad for those diverse experiences. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t call Columbus a pretty city, but I love it because of OSU, the fantastic restaurants, laid back unsnobby atmosphere, the low unemployment rate, the sports, the diversity, etc. I like being a redneck one day and going to the symphony the next day, and I can do both in Columbus and no one judges. There’s a lot of other things I like; one of the most bike friendly states, great state parks, the #1 zoo in the country (although college students may not care about that). I like that OSU sponsors Pelotonia that raises millions of dollars for cancer research ([Pelotonia</a> | One Goal](<a href=“http://www.pelotonia.org%5DPelotonia”>http://www.pelotonia.org)) and pays a lot of the administrative costs. And Columbus has the best ice cream you’ve ever had. Jeni’s. Salty Caramel. MMMMMMM</p>
<p>@RMGsmom Mm. Maybe I misread my acceptance letter. I’m pretty sure it said I was accepted into their Pre-med program and that it was my major, because I didn’t apply for anything else. Hopefully though! Otherwise that would suck :/</p>
<p>@readermom99, I absolutely LOVE the cold. I love in the desert where the temperature fluctuates from 100 degrees to 25 degrees within a day so I’m cool with below anything really. I think it’s be cool to see four season too, something we don’t experience in the desert.</p>
<p>And actually, I did send in my acceptance fee to OSU so that’s where I’m going 
the entire reason I wanted to attend because I felt like I would fit in with the diverse, cultured and accepting environment. Unless I’ve been misled, but otherwise I’m sure I’ll love it. I’m just scared because I’ll be literally on my own.</p>
<p>It’ll be a fun learning experience though. Thank you for all your help by the way! :)</p>
<p>Premed is not a major, it’s a set of classes. And you don’t need to be in any kind of program to be premed</p>
<p>@susan, Exactly! I love traveling, even though I haven’t been all over the world or anything, but I know it’s something I love. So I’m really excited to experience something new, like you have suggested :)</p>