Miscellaneous Questions for Current OSU Students &/or Families

Colleges and Universities A-Z Ohio State University
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<p>D has been accepted at both Ohio State and Penn State and it may very well come down to a decision between these two. I just had some rather miscellaneous questions about OSU for any current students–VelaenOscuridad was very helpful on some of the other threads. I know that there are a lot of q’s here and you guys have finals right now, but even if you can just answer one or two when you get a chance, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks, in advance, for your help and good luck on your finals. :)</p>

<p>1.) I understand (from a call to the Res. Life Dept.)that Ohio State guarantees housing for all four years, as long as you’re up-to-date on your payments and paperwork. How is the housing registration process for existing students and how much of a choice did you have getting the residence hall that you wanted? Is there much of a problem with, for Freshmen getting “tripled” into a “doubles” room, or having to be housed in a study lounge, for example?</p>

<p>2.) How safe is this campus, given that it’s in a city? Would you (particularly if you’re female) feel comfortable walking to the library at night?</p>

<p>3.) How is the on-campus food? Good, or merely edible? (Unfortunately, when D and I visited OSU, we only had a chance to eat lunch in the Ohio Union food court, but later on, the Caribou Coffee place was pretty good.:wink: )</p>

<p>4.) I heard that the Ohio Union is going to be torn down and a new student union won’t be completed until 2010. Are there other main “student gathering” venues?</p>

<p>5.) Also, I understand that the main library will be closed until 2009 for renovations. Which other libraries are more widely used, esp. those convenient to South Campus?</p>

<p>6.) After reading the “north campus” thread, I was wondering, how noisy are the south campus dorms? (The Scholars program that D is interested in is located there.)</p>

<p>7.) I know it’s absurd to generalize about an undergraduate population of 33,000 +, but in your own experiences, how approachable/inclusive/clique-y have you found the students at Ohio State?</p>

<p>8.) How approachable have your professors been, esp. in the larger lecture classes? What did you think of the T.A.'s who ran your “recitation” groups?</p>

<p>9.) How difficult has it been for you to register for the classes that you need each quarter? </p>

<p>10.) Cars on campus–helpful or an unecessary hassle? How easy or difficult is it to get around Columbus (and to the airport)?</p>

<p>Thanks again! :)</p>

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<p>Wonderful questions! I can't wait to find out the answers. If I may drop an additional question, how is the school of architecture? Anyone attend or know friends that attend? How is it received? Is it considered a "good" program? Thanks, when you get a chance...</p>

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<p>10.) Freshman living on campus their first year are not allowed to have cars on campus. Commuter students usually have to park in a far lot and take a CABS bus to campus. The reason for this is that parking/traffic is already congested. Link:
<a href="http://www.tp.ohio-state.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.tp.ohio-state.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>If you're unfamiliar with the CABS system, you (or your son/daughter) won't be when they attend OSU! Because the campus is so large, it is really a convenience to take one of the running routes CABS uses. During regular days they have Campus Loop South, North Express, Med Center, and Residential. They also run an overnight shuttle. No ID or buss pass is needed to ride CABS, you just hop on. Hope that helps.</p>

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<p>Are there places to park cars for undergrads? Private lots? Heh, I'll miss my car! If I have to leave it, so be it. That just makes things difficult. I would probably use it every weekend to travel to family, so would that qualify me as a commuter?</p>

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<p>Thanks saint_paul, does the CABS bus go around Columbus, or is it just for the campus?</p>

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<p>Zac: My D was accepted pre-arch. She originally visited primarily on the recommendation of a leading architect in Chicago who gave it a good review. After her visit, it went to the top of her list. Although it is not known as a "star" school, it does have a reputation for placing some of its best graduates into the top tier graduate design schools.</p>

<p>Cars: I think that OOS frosh are allowed cars if they come from a long distance, like Chicago.</p>

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<p>dad: Thanks for the reply. The facilities look top-notch and I'm excited about making a trip up this Spring. The recommendation is great. I live in Florida where the focus is on Southern schools, so I rarely hear even from architects I work with about the programs. If I may also ask, how did your daughter generally perform in HS? What was her ACT score? I have absolutely no grasp on the standards OSU has set specifically for pre-arch. Usually they are higher. I'm glad to hear she liked it - I hope I will be accepted and love it, too.</p>

<p>Cars - Since I'm from Florida, I won't be driving to <em>this</em> home more than a few times a year, but I will be visiting the majority of my family that lives in SW Michigan - my second home. I hope I can qualify to keep a car in the lot near campus so I can visit them. Without weekend trips, Columbus would be a bit lonely.</p>

<p>Great response! Thanks. :-)</p>

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<p>I'm too tired to answer all, but I will eventually.</p>

<p>As for 7), there are basically no cliques. We're just too large a student body. You develop groups of friends, and some large Greek organizations or student groups or dorm buildings might have cliques, but overall, everyone (generalization) is always up to meeting new people. I haven't had a problem making friends. Sometimes people just wander around other dorms to see what's going on. That's how one of my good friends found us - I think we met him outside at a dining area, invited him to our suite (there is a common room, it's not like he was in our bedrooms or anything!) and we had so much fun that he comes over all the time now.</p>

<p>More answer later - good night!</p>

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<p>momonthehill,
1) I don't think that there will be a problem with housing after Freshman year. I do want to say that of all of the people I know who went to OSU, they almost all go off campus after Freshman year. You can stay but be forwarned that many students do move off campus.</p>

<p>The food that we tried has always been very good. I know that the system is on swipes per quarter instead of meals per week and the swipes are very flexible. I know that you can have pizza delived to your dorm room and pay with swipes, also if you have left over swipes, you can go to an upscale sit down restaurant. <a href="http://food.osu.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://food.osu.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Unfortunately the Ohio Union and the Library will be under construction during your D's tenure. From my observations from campus visits, I did not think that Ohio Union was a big meeting place for the students. It seemed pretty dead every time we were there. Hopefully a student will talk more about where students congregate.</p>

<p>I don't know about scheduling but if you D is accepted into Honors (it seems that she was on the border for Honors and should be in the running for Scholars), she will schedule right after the athletes. If she is in Scholars she will schedule ahead of her class. I was told that scheduling is not a problem for Scholars. I would think that she might have more problems if she has a lot of AP credit and is trying to schedule Junior classes as a Freshman.</p>

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<p>Here's some answers to the car questions.</p>

<p>Private lots can get pretty expensive to store your car. Parking garages run up to 6 bucks a day, and some have restricted hours -- so it's typically not worth it. Although the CABS buses only run through OSU's campus, you can take a COTA bus from the main campus to Port Columbus Airport for travelling (if you show your Buck ID, it's free). If you've ever been in or around campus, you know how congested it gets. Unfortunately it can be pretty difficult to get a parking spot near the main campus -- they're usually reserved for faculty, staff, graduates, upperclassmen and so on. Here's what OSU'S transportation website says:
"First Year Students - First year students living in the residence halls are prohibited from purchasing parking permits for campus parking. The policy is necessary due to a continued increase in residence hall overnight parking requirements concurrent with reduced parking availability on campus."</p>

<p>Sophomores are eligible to get a parking pass for overnight storing and certain lots and Juniors and Seniors get the lots closer to main campus. Here's a link to a parking map:
<a href="http://tp.osu.edu/students/parking/parkingmap.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://tp.osu.edu/students/parking/parkingmap.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Thanks to all of you who replied so far!</p>

<p>VelaenOscuridad, I'm glad that you've confirmed what we've suspected-- that it shouldn't be too hard for a incoming student to develop a network of new friendships there. Based on some brief random encounters with students when we visited the campus, they seemed very friendly. How is the first year students' orientation?</p>

<p>deb922: Yes, I have to admit that when we were in the Ohio Union, it looked like it had seen better days. It is a shame about the main library being closed down, although we were impressed with the number of alternative libraries around campus. Your food endorsement will be appreciated. ;) I think that D read in an Ohio State-related college guidebook that Ohio State only received a grade of D+ for "on-campus dining" so she was a bit concerned. I don't think D qualifies for the Honors Program, because she's not in the top 10% of her class, although she definitely qualifies for the Scholars program, which she honestly is more interested in.(Since she can still take honors courses if she wants, I think...?) Also, it seems that students who qualify for the Honors program are getting phone calls along with their repsonses. Hopefully, she'll get some info about the Scholars Program soon. </p>

<p>saint_paul: Thanks for passing on the info about the CABS and COTA buses. That's great to know that they provide access around Columbus for no addtl. charge and esp. to the airport. While D's needing to fly was somewhat of a drawback for OSU in my mind, she sees the Columbus location of the campus as a huge plus. (Penn State has a gorgeous campus, and its a pleasant drive there, but D thinks it's location is too remote and would prefer to be in and around a city.)</p>

<p>zacsrequiem: Were you able to get an update your status online? Wishing you good luck and I hope you hear soon! :)</p>

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<p>Good news- I'm finally filed, thought they still haven't gotten my transcript (it says higher up that ACT was received, and I'm not sending SAT...)</p>

<p>Status: The following materials are still needed by the Admissions Office in order to complete the application. Please note: Items received within the last 10 days may not be reflected on this page.
- OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT FROM T B T HIGH S
- OFFICIAL SCORES FROM AMERICAN COLLEGE TEST or OFFICIAL SCORES FROM SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST</p>

<p>That is good - at least things are moving. I sent everything in, so it makes sense that some things aren't in. It has been 8 days. I won't worry until Monday. I'm pleased to see it progressing... whew.</p>

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<p>If anyone else is interested, this is the offer posted at OSU for alternatives for first years regarding parking: The South Gateway Garage. Obviously, I won't be signing up until/if I am accepted and financial aid works out, but I'm definitely saving the link. It isn't a bad price at all, compared to the amounts I have to pay to park in the garage at work...</p>

<p><a href="http://tp.osu.edu/students/images/Gatewayparking05-06.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://tp.osu.edu/students/images/Gatewayparking05-06.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>$60/month.</p>

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<p>Another question - Can honors students live in scholar-designated dorms? I'm going for pre-arch and want to stay with other students. Would it be smarter to just enter the Scholars program should I be accepted?</p>

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<p>8.) I can answer this question based on what I know from an older sibling who currently attends OSU. He STRONGLY recommends getting in contact with the professors and TAs, regardless of the class size (so from a small class of 30 to a large class of 300). There's a couple ways you can go about doing this, the first and most informal being through email. Most profs keep up with their email accounts because they use it professionally as well as academically. Shooting off a quick question about a lecture is the easiest way to start communication. The profs my brother has had have been very friendly and quick to help him out with any questions he has on the subject. In fact, they often provide more thorough responses than he expects, or is necessary! I remember just a quarter or so ago my brother stayed up extremely late working on a paper. The paper (fortunately) was not due until a while later, but he still had a ? so he sent the prof an email, expecting him to get it the next morning or in a couple of days. He was very surprised to get a response back from the email within 10 or so minutes. It was 3-4 am.</p>

<p>Another option typically available is office hours. Because students usually flock to a prof or TA immediately before/after class, it's usually easier and quicker to get a question answered or some help during these hours. My brother tells me a lot of the time the professors get no one visiting during these hours, and are quite surprised/enthused to help when someone does show up. Plus he says talking to his profs/TAs provide the BEST insight as to what will show up on future quizzes or tests. They literally will spell it out because you took the time to care.</p>

<p>Some people criticize OSU because a lot of TAs end up teaching classes. While this is true in some cases, many times TAs are like "life lines" for understanding the material and passing the class. To a lot of students, TAs are more approachable because they tend to be a lot younger (and therefore more up to date) and sympatric than older profs. I know this has been the case for a lot of the TAs my brother has come in contact with.</p>

<p>edit:
Side note about classes in general: My brother took me on an unofficial "tour" of a history lecture class not too long ago. What sounds to be a typical, fairly boring forty five minutes or so actually ended up being a very entertaining class. The prof (who had a British accent -- it was a fresh change) was completely frazzled because the projector he was used to using wasn't working at all. Amidst major technical difficulties and needing desperately to cram in a lesson on European wars, he did a really good job of throwing in an impromptu corny joke or two.</p>

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<p>Zacsrequiem: You have a lot of enthusiasm and will make a great addition to any campus.</p>

<p>You are looking for the following line: Status: Your application was COMPLETED on ____________ and is in the process of evaluation. That happens when they post that they have recieved the transcript and college prep form from your school, along with all scores and the application itself. </p>

<p>Once it says "evaluation" in the status section, the clock for a decision starts ticking.</p>

<p>My son is hoping that it changes from evaluation to accepted, fingers crossed, sometime in December, as his "completed" date was 11/28/06.</p>

<p>Hope this helped.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

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<p>Barno, I hope I get an answer around/by Christmas, too. I sent the transcripts (sealed) myself and doubled checked postage. It still isn't complete, but I think it should be by Monday or Tuesday!! It says "Received: ACT Scores (06/06)", but at the bottom that it is missing transcript and Test scores. I'm sure it is referring/reminding me that SAT hasn't come and I need to send it if I want them to get it. Hopefully they will consider it as soon as the transcript comes, because I don't plan on sending SAT scores (ACT is simply better, and I can't afford to keep rushing out SAT reports). </p>

<p>So, basically I'm on the edge of my seat still. ;-) </p>

<p>Good luck to everyone!</p>

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<p>Hang in there ZR!</p>

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<p>1.) I got my first choice for housing, but one of my roommates was placed in her second choice. Everyone that I know seems happy with their housing assignment, and I don't know anyone housed in a study lounge or in a room filled beyond regular capacity. </p>

<p>2.) The current "library" is several miles away (the main library is being temporarily housed with the current one is redone), so I wouldn't walk there alone at night! That being said, I am a girl, and I have walked alone after dark. Most main areas are well lit, and I've never felt endangered. However, I do usually go with other people when I'm out after dark. </p>

<p>3.) I have been very happy with OSU's food so far. There are so many options that there's always a variety from which to choose. I don’t even eat in the dining commons very often anymore. My favorites are MarketPlace, which has stir-fry and panini, Oxleys, which has sandwiches and soup, and the RPAC, which even serves salmon.</p>

<p>4.) I know that students gather in the Oval when the weather is nice. Students mostly seem to hang out in dorms. The RPAC is another gathering place. It has chairs and couches for studying as well in addition to the exercise facilities.</p>

<p>5.) Sullivant (the dance and social sciences library) is my favorite. It's about equidistant between north and south campus. Orton Hall, which houses the Geology library, is also on South Campus. I also know many people who study at the Science and Engineering Library, which is just north of the north oval. </p>

<p>6.) I live on north campus, and it's very quiet, and I've heard that South Campus is more noisy than north. </p>

<p>7.) There are so many people at Ohio State that there are always new people to meet. By this point of the school year, many people seem to have settled in with a group of friends, but everyone is generally friendly and open to meeting others. Most of the kids here are from Ohio and the Midwest, and "Midwestern friendliness" is definitely evident here more so than anything else less desirable.</p>

<p>8.) Even though I'm a freshman, my largest class this quarter (a 500 level history class) had 27 students. My Latin class had 6 students, my Creative Writing class had about 14, and my English Lit class had 20. I got to know two of my professors well enough that I'd be comfortable asking them for a letter of recommendation, and the other two knew me by name and were friendly. I have never had a "TA," and since I'm an honors humanities student, I don't know how many, if any, large lecture courses I'll have to take. The biggest myth I've encountered about Ohio State is that all classes are huge. People are shocked when they hear my class sizes. My largest class for next quarter has, I believe, 25 students in it.</p>

<p>9.) When I registered for Autumn '06 (my first quarter), I registered after everyone (all incoming freshman do this regardless of honors, etc), and I still had many options. Everyone that I talked to was able to schedule without difficulty. This autumn, when I scheduled for Winter quarter, it was incredibly easy. Everything was open. Honors scheduling is really nice, and AP credits have allowed me to schedule as an honors sophomore. By Spring, I'll be "Rank 3" and have junior standing for scheduling.</p>

<p>10.) This question has been answered thoroughly by others, and I have nothing to add.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the additional responses, guys! saint_paul, congrats again on getting into the honors program, and thank you so much for your brother's suggestions on handling the large lecture classes--really important to know since D comes from a large school, but nothing like what she will probably encounter in some of those large popular intro classes. Ambidextrous, thank you for taking the time to pass on all those tips and info--it is good to know that there are other library options in proximity to south campus. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that it is possible to have smaller Freshman "Intro" classes. And it's also good to see another vote of confidence for the on-campus dining. ;) </p>

<p>Barno & Zacsrequiem: Good luck to your son(for Barno) and you(ZR)--I hope that you both hear soon.</p>

<p>One tip for those who are interested in getting a feel for OSU student life: Check out "The Lantern", Ohio State's weekday student newspaper: <a href="http://www.thelantern.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.thelantern.com&lt;/a> While it appears that they're currently on hiatus (probably due to finals and the quarter ending) there is an "archives" link on the left side of the Lantern homepage, so that you can browse back issues of the newspaper.</p>