Mom thinks it's a "no-name" school...

College Search & Selection
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<p>I know I'm supposed to choose my schools based on what I want and not what my parents want, but my mom has been lurking over my list since the beginning. It's never been about money, only about location. Now it's not location, but how well known it is. </p>

<p>So, I guess my question is...how well known is Ohio University? My mom feels like I'd be throwing away my opportunities at Loyola Maryland or Quinnipiac if I choose to attend OU.</p>

<p>Any insight, would be appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

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<p>Money a factor in this?</p>

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<p>Coming from Wisconsin (I'm a small public school senior), most kids/adults here haven't heard of Quinnipiac or Loyola Maryland. They do know Ohio University though, but it generally gets overshadowed by Ohio State. It shouldn't really about the school's name (even though we know more about Ohio U here), but what about you want in a school.<br>
Sorry to sound like a parent or an adult, lol, but that's what I have come to figure out to be best.</p>

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<p>No, money isn't a factor at all. My sister's at Georgetown so they don't really have a say for binding me with the cost of tuition. Any one now if History is a good major at Ohio U? Or is that just a "nothing" major there, where it would behoove me to look into the other schools?</p>

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<p>Many parents of high school students get really wrapped up in the "name" thing because they feel like they are in a competition with other parents. The truth is that you are always going to run into people who don't know your school. I have a friend from California who went to Middlebury and has spent the last decade trying to explain where she went to college. You need to find the school that is right for you since you're the one going there, not your parents.</p>

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<p>Thank you. I guess the extra bit of assurance is necessary, I keep second guessing myself because I'm keeping everyone elses wants and needs ahead of mine. Creates quite the problem.</p>

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<p>Look at LACs, they have godawful name recognition, but a lot of them are really really good. So the point is: name doesn't matter!</p>

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<p>OU is very well known for sports management and journalism</p>

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<p>bummppp...any other opinions on OU/ it's comparison to Loyola Maryland or Quinnipiac?</p>

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<p>I dont think either of those are more well known than OU, if at all...</p>

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<p>Why history?</p>

<p>History so I can teach school: Cheapest place that will give me a preliminary teaching certificate in the state where I want to work because a starting teaching salary won't pay off a lot of college debt.</p>

<p>History so I can go to Law School: Cheapest place where I can get really good grades, good letters of recommendation, and be ready for the LSAT, because I want to save my college debt to pay for law school.</p>

<p>History so I can go to Grad School in History: Cheapest place where I can get really good grades, work with professors who have decent contacts with their old grad school professors, and have access to a good library, because I want to save my college debt for grad school in case I don't get a full TA-ship or fellowship.</p>

<p>History just because I like it, and I want to have a decent football team: The big state university with the best football team score/out-of-state tuition ratio that I can find.</p>

<p>And I'd say that OU, Loyola MD and Quinnipiac are all about equally un-famous in most parts of the world.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>

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<p>I live on the east coast, and Loyola Maryland and Quinnipiac are no more famous than Ohio University here.</p>

<p>If your mom is paying for college then you're out of luck, but just try to explain to her exactly why you want to attend Ohio and maybe she'll come around.</p>

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<p>I have never heard of Loyala Maryland, but Quinnipiac and Ohio U are pretty well know here in New York (Long Island)</p>

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<p>buuumpppp...any thing else?</p>

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<p>I have heard of all three of these schools. For these schools, I don't think that Ohio University stands out as being less well known.</p>

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<p>belevitt, for history, do you know which would be the best choice?</p>

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<p>Modo, I think that the "best choice" would require me to know a little more about your interests. If a school is trying to sell you a 'one size fits all' story, run.</p>

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<p>hmm well, education wise. I'm really into history, united states and european primarily between 1930-1980. Really big on the Holocaust/WW2. Pretty into english, writing, reading, that kind of stuff. May pursue secondary education as a minor or something along the lines of that. Personality wise, I'm really laid-back, good at adapting (moved from ultra suburbia NJ to middle of nowhere VA in middle of junior year), i like the occasional party. Really into athletics, used to play but got injured, lots of school spirit is really really important. I overall, just want the college experience, the real one, not just going to classes and being on your own.</p>

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<p>Hi Modo, I would like to applaud your maturity and insight to already know what kinds of things you would like to study. </p>

<p>I am surprised that you are considering small private colleges. They can't offer the depth of instruction or research opportunities that a large university can eg. Quinnipiac has 7 full time faculty in their history dept (none of which focus on your area of interest whereas Ohio University has some 40 full time faculty members in their history dept with one studying US foreign relations, US military history, modern european history, 20th century german history. Based on course offerings and research opportunities alone, Ohio University seems like one of the better choices for you. Also, a larger university will generate more opportunities for engaging in other fields, for instance, you mentioned perhaps getting a teaching certification, Ohio has numerous tracks, concentrations and specialties
Teacher</a> Education</p>

<p>As far as your ability to adapt, that could only serve you well no matter what school you attend. I can understand the desire to experiment with parties, and make no mistake, any college you look at, even Brigham Young, will have parties, drugs, alcohol and other new experiences. </p>

<p>Another positive for a larger university will be the presence of intramural sports. I don't know anything about the intramural sports that take place at any university that you mentioned, but a larger university will have more people involved, maybe more sports. Google it and find out for yourself.</p>

<p>I also can't address issues of school spirit or 'college experience'. I went to the University of Wisconsin where that was thoroughly abundant but I didn't think that it made a tangible difference for me. You may be different. If this kind of thing is important, check out the university bookstore to see how much paraphernalia they sell, or average attendance figures for athletic events, or alumni donations or something like that.</p>

<p>It sounds like you have a terrific head on your shoulders and will do well wherever you go. Best of luck (oh and by the way, strongly consider your local public university, UVA, its a really great school).</p>

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<p>I think Ohio University probably has the strongest history department in terms of size of faculty and range of course offerings. Of course, OU is a larger school than the other two. This is not to say you couldn't get a solid degree in history from Quinnipeac or Loyola College of Maryland. I would say that Ohio University is the most likely to give you a sense of school spirit, which is most often associated with Division I football. OU is a member of the Mid-American Conference. Quinnipeac and Loyola do not compete in football (although lacrosse is very big at the latter). Ohio University is known for one of the nation's legendary block parties, although I don't think it usually ranks among the major "party schools." If you can handle "the middle of nowhere" Virginia you can probably handle Athens, Ohio.</p>