Ivy league or OSU

<p>Im fairly certain ill get into an Ivy or 2 but i really want to go to OSU. Anyone have a perspective as to how i can justify this to my parents. In other words… Is there any legitimate reason to go to OSU if u get into a much better school? Plz dont say the sports teams btw…</p>

<p>There are a gazillion possible responses to your thread - but I'll just cut to the chase.</p>

<p>Aside from the differences in tuition costs, perceived prestige, etc... COLLEGE IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT. You can go to OSU, be happy, find your niche, do amazing things and have a wonderful academic and social experience. Conversely, you can go to an ivy league school and do the same...but you can also go to either OSU or an ivy league school and simply "march in place."</p>

<p>Think of college as a glove, rather than a pancho. College is a fit to be made, not a "one size fits all" type of decision. </p>

<p>When I originally applied to Ohio State, I also got in to some of the "lower" Ivy Leagues. Yes, you'll get a fantastic education at an Ivy League school. But when I was deciding where to attend, I realized I wanted a big school, I wanted the big-time sports program (I know you said you didn't want to hear that one, but in all honesty, it's a BIG part of Ohio State), I wanted to live in a large city, I wanted a place where I didn't feel like I had to compete with my roommate, or my classmates...</p>

<p>Sure there are people that are perfectly happy that they went to Ivy League schools, because that was the fit for them. But you only get to choose your undergraduate college once, I have many friends that have gone on to their Ivy League schools for grad school/law school/med school who did their four years of undergrad here and wouldn't trade it for the world.</p>

<p>If you think your next four years will be best spent at an Ivy League school, then by all means go. Conversely, if you would rather be a part of a public environment, do it. Explain it to your parents, any counselor will say for you to GO TO THE PLACE THAT FITS.</p>

<p>Save your money for grad school--OSU is amazing for undergraduates with initiative.</p>

<p>And a friend explained it to me this way: There are all these brilliant professors and researchers at OSU who are just waiting for a bright undergraduate to come along for them to mentor. It's amazing how many opportunities I've had here in just a year and how accessible and helpful the professors are.</p>

<p>I applied to fifteen schools and never even thought seriously about OSU. I got in early to UChicago (originally my first choice school), came here instead because of my scholarship, and since then I have been so happy that I stumbled into this decision.</p>

<p>Another thing: Ivy League schools tout their diversity, but you can't beat the truer, less formulated diversity of a large public state school. The people here are like the people you'll meet in the real world: some smart, some coasting, some failing, many working to pay for school, some brilliant in less typical academic disciplines, some older, nontraditional students, etcetera.</p>

<p>Don't worry Dave, I don't think you will have to justify your choice to your parents, as it is usually the other way around. Unless money is no object for them, they will be glad to send you to a place that you want to go and won't break the bank. It is a win-win situation. </p>

<p>For what it is worth, my son just started TOSU and has said it is even better than he thought it would be. He knew that it was the place for him after 10 minutes on the tour.</p>

<p>Wherever you end up, go give your parents a hug, or at least a handshake :) for giving you these amazing options.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

<p>And OSU certainly does offer things that the Ivy's don't offer - because of its size and breadth. More majors and more extracurricular activites, for example. Or more people interested in your favorite niche subject, again, because of the size.</p>

<p>My daughter wasn't really considering Ohio State until she took a tour with her friend; mostly the girls were going to humor their mothers; but they both ended up liking it quite a bit. It is in my daughter's top 3 choices (which do change almost daily, but still...)</p>

<p>Here are some student organizations offered at OSU that you might be interested in and you might not have at an Ivy League school, just to give you some examples. And don't even get me started on the majors they offer.
3d Urban Dance Team<br>
Amateur Radio Club
Chinese Calligraphy Club<br>
Chinese Drama Club<br>
Come Home To Cleveland<br>
Crops and Soils Club<br>
Horsemen's Association
Jewish Women's Collective<br>
Manga Club<br>
Medieval and Renaissance Studies Society<br>
Motorcycle Stunt Riding Club<br>
Mountaineering Club at OSU<br>
Movie Watchers Anonymous<br>
Multicultural Cuisine Club<br>
Paranormal Research and Investigation Group<br>
Surface Navy Enthusiasts<br>
Swing Dance Club<br>
The Biotechnology Interest Group
The European Board Game Society<br>
The Juggling Club<br>
The Men's Glee Lunch Association<br>
The Naval Aviation Society</p>

<p>I was in the same kind of position you are in- National Merit Finalist and all the grades and extracurrics, so I probably could have gotten into some Ivies, atleast the smaller ones, but I decided to save a lot of money and go to OSU. I'd say that your decision has to be personal though, OSU is ranked really well in my major department, and I have been accepted (I'm an undergrad soph.) into the grad school as long as I keep my grades up, but if you were majoring in something that might not be one of OSU's strong points, then that should also affect your decision. There are just so many opportunities here that you can pretty much do whatever you set your mind to. People can still be pretty competitive in certain classes (like my organic chemistry class!) but overall they are much more laid back than ivy students. And you can't beat the football team! Haha sorry but its true! And most people at OSU that I've met are really nice. Moreso than in my highschool at least.</p>