Ohio State University or Virginia Tech

College Search & Selection
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<p>I am new to CC so I'm sorry for starting another post about my request for help. If I had known better, I would have posted the names of the schools under consideration in the title so that I would have better targeted people who could help. </p>

<p>Anyway, my daughter has narrowed it down to two schools--OSU and VT. She thinks she wants to study industrial and systems engineering. </p>

<p>Our list of pros and cons:</p>

<p>OSU is less than 30 minutes from home (a positive and a negative).
She was accepted into the honors program.
With in-state tuition and scholarships, OSU is half the cost of VT.</p>

<p>VT is five and a half hours from home (a positive and a negative).
She was accepted into the honors program.
She loved the feel of the campus and the spirit of the students.</p>

<p>PLEASE help if you have any experiences you could share about either school or if you have any kind of similar experiences with making a final decision about college. It would be so appreciated!!!</p>

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<p>Which is the better fit for her?</p>

<p>Can she say she loves the feel of the campus and the spirit of the students at OSU?</p>

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<p>Ohio State is better regarded nationally than Virginia Tech, and of course it is too soon to see what will result from the recent tragedy. I am a former resident of Blacksburg, where my father and grandfather were on the then-VPI faculty, and also of Shaker Heights, so I am aware of the local esteem for both schools. </p>

<p>They both offer a broad range of programs and a "big time" collegiate atmosphere. I would think the in-state tuition and the honors admission would tip matters very much in OSU's favor, but agree that there is virtue in going away to school.</p>

<p>If her interests are in the engineering arena, then I think VT has an edge irrespective of tuition/honors issues, but if she wants something else, Ohio State is likely to have more breadth and depth.</p>

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<p>Do you think OSU is perceived as a better overall school or as a better engineering school?</p>

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<p>OSU certainly better overall. Difference between major, Big 10 flagship university and smaller, definitely second place in its own state, primarily engineering school. That said, engineering, from perception, closer between two.</p>

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<p>Anyone have any info that will help us with a decision?</p>

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<p>columbus is great city with concerts, exciting environment and sports. OSU has HUGE school spirit which is very unique to the school. Loved the idea of being 100,000+ of your closest friends in the horseshoe. I turned down OSU for Rhodes..very tough decision </p>

<p>Anyways, I heard that OSU has many research opportunies and sciene is top-notch(not as good as MIT or even UCB for that matter). </p>

<p>I suggest your daugther get away from home alil bit and explores a new world like VA. College is for trying new things. Both schools are similar but OSU is obviously a better school. Sorta biased though </p>

<p>GL on your D's decision</p>

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<p>It's not worth paying twice as much money to go away for college, when you have a similar college closer to home.</p>

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<p>^^ agreed.</p>

<p>I vote OSU.</p>

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<p>Thanks for your input. </p>

<p>I have been wondering if it's worth twice the money to go away to school--but that's part of the reason I'd like to see her at VT--because she would be AWAY. I think she needs to gain some independence. She is the youngest of three children and the only girl, so her life hasn't been full of independence. (Yes, our fault, I know.) </p>

<p>Although both schools are big, OSU is MUCH bigger than VT and I guess it feels less personal to me. I think she wants to join a sorority and I don't think OSU is much into the Greek scene. I know VT is not like UVA, but I think there is a bigger Greek presencethan at OSU. Many people have told me that the college friends thay still have today are from a sorority or fraternity. </p>

<p>Both have great sports programs/school spirit and that was an important consideration when my daughter picked where to apply so I can't give the edge to either school. </p>

<p>Academically speaking, most people seem to think that OSU is a better school, although the engineering program at VT is 17th and OSU's program is 30th. I don't know if they are just looking at the overall picture. Who knows, she may even switch to business or math--but I think both schools have pretty good programs. </p>

<p>I wish I would have had more feedback from the VT people on here. With all of that Hokie spirit, you think they'd try to be recruiting new Hokies. Hokies, where are you??? </p>

<p>UcMichigan, you said: I turned down OSU for Rhodes..very tough decision. Why did you make your decision to go to Rhodes? Was it a good decision for you? </p>

<p>When I read back over this, it sounds like I am pushing VT. I'm really not. I just want her to make a choice that will be a good fit for her. She is a very smart girl, but I think college should be a complete experience--not just an academic one. I certainly don't want to spend more money than I have to, but I want her to be happy more than anything else. </p>

<p>Anyone else with some insight?</p>

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<p>I would chose VT. Both are about equal in terms of reputation, but I'm not a huge fan of OSU social scene. I think VT might be a better college experience and if you can afford the price tag it might be a more defining experienc.</p>

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<p>Hey, I have a technical question here. How do I edit my post? I noticed I spelled "they" as "thay" and I do know how to spell. It's my typing that stinks. Thanks!</p>

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<p>^^
You can only edit after you post...It only gives a certain time period to do it then you cant anymore.</p>

<p>the reason I choose Rhodes over OSU is that I feel I can succeed more there. Even though I love the buckeyes, football, school spirit, and parties for that matter, I felt that Rhodes offered more opportunities. At Rhodes, the faculty are top-notched and actually try to connect with their students. The Campus is gorgeous...if you have a chance look at the pictures on their webpage. Like 80% of student pop do communtiy service and 50% are in a frat/sorot. The small student body was kinda intimating for me at first but I sorta like the idea of knowing everybody in my college class.. feels like HS sorta. Oh yeah, the environment is full of smart ppl, and Rhodes offered me an internship during my junior yr. There is a high admin rate for law/med schools, which is a good thing. Rhodes does have football team but the school spirit is focus on the school itself not football... Dont like the idea of no "ra-ra" football and no 100000+ students screaming for thier home team. But I willing to sacrifice that for a better college experience. The bad thing about Rhodes is that its kinda close to my house..yeah that pretty much it</p>

<p>Rhodes and OSU are very different from each other. OSU is a GREAT school especially with in-sate tutition. Honors College is very cool as well, and academics there are very good, and I heard you get alot research opportunites. LOTs of school spirit :p and its in a fun/focus environment. </p>

<p>Sounds like to me, you are voting for VT which is a great school as well. It has very good engineering prog, and plus there is football :P. Even though it costs twice as much, you said that you D loves the feel of the campus and the student body, which is a very good thing. Being away from home will absolutely guarantee you more independence. Sorry I cant say anymore about VT cuz I never consider it for my colleges choices..Doesnt it mean its a good school, just that I didnt know much about it.</p>

<p>Hope I helped. And GL on your D's decision and Congrats on the acceptances from these great school. Wish you the best :P</p>

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<p>UcMichigan, thanks for your post. My husband talked to my daughter a few hours ago and he said she suddenly does not want to be far from home. She talked for years about how she couldn't wait to be away from here, and now that it's reality . . . </p>

<p>Well, anyway, I wanted to ask how far away you are from home. (You said you were close.) We are about 20 minutes from OSU. She would live on campus, but I feel she would be missing out on spreading her wings. What has it been like for you?</p>

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<p>Size isn't a major concern for choosing VT over OSU. Both are big public schools. There is little difference between a freshman class of 3000 and one of 9000. You still won't know the majority of people, and the environment will be the same (lectures, sports, parties, etc.)</p>

<p>While she isn't really far away, she's not at home, and she won't be coming home unless it's for weekends. It's great to have a good school close to home, because if something comes up, it's easy to get home and in contact. It doesn't really make a difference if it's cross country or a few minutes, every night she isn't going to be at home, she'll be in her dorm.</p>

<p>They are the same experience. You don't pay twice as much money for the same experience, it would be a monumental mistake financially. OSU is by far the correct choice here.</p>

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<p>Oh Sportmama, I am just an entering freshman coming to Rhodes. Sorry for the misunderstanding. </p>

<p>Anyways, my relationship with parents is a little rocky. Distance from Rhodes is like 25 minutes but Im OOS. The compromise is that my parents wont visit me that much in college while I can come home anytime I want. Also, my parents cant force me to come home. I think there is alot of freedom which is a good thing.</p>

<p>Hope I answered your question</p>

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<p>Well, tonight is the night! We sat down last night for about an hour and a half. My d decided to assign mathematical values to 14 different categories. She did it three different ways--twice including only OSU and VT and once including all four schools she was accepted to. OSU won twice and VT won once but it was very close all three times. I told her I read something (not sure if it was on CC or not) about drawing a name out of the hat. If you feel a sense of disappointment with the one you draw, then you know your heart's desire. We'll see. . . I'm thinking it's OSU.</p>

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<p>She chose OSU. I think VT would have made for a better college experience, but she decided to stay close to home.</p>