Hey all,
I have narrowed my college decision down to either OSU (Biochemistry, Honors) or Vanderbilt (Neuroscience and Cognitive Studies). I have several questions that I am hoping current/former Honors students can address to help me get a better sense of the program and its benefits. I would also love to hear any input from recent alumni as to the OSU experience.
- How easy is it to get involved in research during freshman year?
- How did you like Honors housing and the Honors community?
- Does everyone work together or is there an individual, non-communal feel to the program?
- (As a Columbus resident...) Is it easy to get involved in extracurricular activities? I would think that with such a large undergraduate population many clubs would have large numbers of members... maybe making the club a little less personal.
I REALLY would love for you guys to give me a reason(s) for choosing OSU. I’m heavily leaning towards choosing VU, but the debt is definitely an obstacle, especially for a student planning on med school. ALSO PLEASE, if any of you are premed and are involved in the premed community, let me know how OSU does at placing students into MSTP (MD/PhD) programs. Vanderbilt has a great track record with MSTP placement, and acceptance would negate the concerns I have about undergrad debt; if OSU, however, has a great track record, then I’d have to seriously consider staying home in Ohio for the next four years.
Thanks in advance,
Cardinal
For me, I am choosing Ohio State over Vanderbilt for its engineering program. Ohio state’s program specifically is quite a bit stronger than Vanderbilt’s, so then came my other concern: class sizes. I think that Honors should primarily address the problem that is Ohio States’s massive population. Honors classes are confined to <25 students, so I think professor student interaction will be on par with that of Vanderbilt’s. I know this might not be of much help to you, but this is just my opinion and what my mind went through while I decided. Perhaps someone can comment on your specific situation.
I know you mentioned Biochemistry as a major at OSU, but here’s some info on Neuroscience (major) program placements, just fyi (https://neurosciencemajor.osu.edu/neuroscience-program-outcomes)
In terms of your #4 question: There are over 1000 clubs at OSU, it is very easy to get involved in EC activities. Club size varies a great deal, some larger, some quite small. You should be able to find activities and groups that suit you.
But that is a minor point, your main concern is placement into MSTP programs. Have you contacted OSU’s MSTP program, perhaps they can give you some data about placement prospects. They have a website, you might want to take a look, gives quite a bit of information.
http://medicine.osu.edu/mstp/welcome/pages/index.aspx
Good luck in what ever you decide!
Regarding your first question, my D is a freshman at OSU, her major is microbiology (genetics) and she is currently interviewing with professors at the OSU med school for research positions. She hopes to start over the summer.
When we were at orientation last summer, a number of the Biology Honors students talked about the research they were involved with as freshman. One gal talked about how she had been working on cloning research as a freshman at OSU.