OU Spring 2022 or OSU Fall 2022

Applying to College
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My name is Andy, and I am a first semester sophomore studying Marketing and Emerging Technology in Business and Design (ETBD) at Miami University. ETBD is a major focused on collaboration, business, web design and development, game design, and graphic design.

At Miami, I am really interested in majoring in Entrepreneurship and Graphic Design. Other than communication design, Miami does not have a Graphic Design-like program. My only option is to take ETBD and the classes that come along with it. I am really struggling with and do not like web development, and have zero interest in game development. In addition, I am unable to major in Entrepreneurship.

One of the reasons I chose Miami over Ohio State freshman year was for Farmer. I barely toured any schools due to COVID, and honestly kind of regret choosing Miami over OSU (details below). Entrepreneurship is a co-major. This means if I did just Entrepreneurship and ETBD, I’d technically not be a business student. I’d lose Farmer’s support. As a result, I have to choose Marketing over ETBD.

This brings me to my next point. I have changed my major in a linear fashion from more math based (engineering was my beginning major) to creative/arts based often throughout freshman year. I have not changed my majors since mid last semester, and really like the aforementioned aspects of them. I just wish I could do Entrepreneurship and straight Graphic Design.

Enter the other two big Ohio Schools - OU and OSU. Both schools offer the programs that I am looking for. Entrepreneurship is a full fledged major, and Graphic Design is an option. Here are my pros and cons for each.

OU Pros:

More personalized classes
-Easier to get help when needed
-Can attend Spring 2022 (met the deadline to apply)
-Direct admit to my program nearly guaranteed

OU Cons:
-I don’t really like Miami’s rural vibes as much as I thought I would.
-While they’re not fratty as much as Miami, people say it’s a party school. I try and avoid it at Miami but it’s pretty much impossible (Hope OU this isn’t the case).
-Far from home (I’d rather be closer to Cleveland)
-Ranked considerably lower than OSU

OSU Pros:
-Really nice campus (everything is accessible)
-Closer to home (Cleveland)
-Ranked really highly in both programs
-No doubt I’d feel good attending there (I’ve been to OSU and I like it a lot)

OSU Cons:
-Concerned about personalized attention (will I feel like a number)
-Admission into major is NOT guaranteed
(BIG ONE) - Will have to take a gap semester next year, because I don’t want to transfer as a junior, and OSU is no longer accepting applications for Spring 2024
-Worried about classes transferring (don’t wanna take extra time in school)
-A bit of a party school (like OU, not really a negative, as long as it’s not absolutely dominating the school’s culture like at Miami)

I also do not fit in super well at Miami, which is about 10% of the reason why I am considering transferring. I do not fit in with frat culture, and Miami is absolutely dominated by it. The business school is also not the vibe that I fit in well with.

Basically I’d be graduating Spring 2024 at OU and Fall 2024 at OSU. I’d really value and appreciate any insights that might make my decision easier to make. Thanks in advance for your time!

I am liking the idea of attending OSU and taking a gap semester. I could work full time next semester and hopefully eliminate a large portion of college by doing so. I am also not worried about graduating later time-wise, as I don’t wanna grow up too fast :). I am worried about being alone at home, however, and don’t want to get burnt out or lonely.

This decision is incredibly hard to make. I am leaning a little more towards OSU, but I’

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…'d love any advice you could give. Thanks so much in advance!!!

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And just a correction, I had to choose Marketing over Entrepreneurship, because I am most passionate about design.

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I think tOSU sounds like the best fit for you.

Thzt being said, nowadays, Marketing is best with a stats minor.
Can you do Marketing+ ETDB and stats minors?
Entrepreneurship isn’t very valuable professionally speaking and it’s not typically a field people pick due to interest in broadening intellectual pursuits. Take a few courses but it’s not worth majoring in, regardless of college.

@tsbna44 majored in marketing and may be able to give you tips.
@blossom hires for big companies and may have advice, too.

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You would think OU would feel a lot like Miami. They are a similar age, have similar architecture, and are both fairly rural. Once there they have very different vibes. OU is less, well, tense. You are right that Miami is very greek centric. OU has many of the same fraternities but they don’t really dominate the campus. The campus is more compact and the main entertainment district is closer to campus. The “party” atmosphere is either more personal ie. getting together with friends and going uptown or huge ie Halloween (smaller recently with Covid) and the fests that they have a couple of each year. It’s less the frat party kind of partying though there is that as well. OSU is better ranked. OU may give you more of an opportunity to shine and open doors for yourself. If you haven’t done so you might want to speak with a Professor about their program and what opportunities are available beyond just classwork. Good luck.

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Thank you guys for your responses. I am actually liking OU’s campus a lot. I took an extensive visit yesterday again and I really like it. I just feel like I’ll miss out on some opportunities at OSU such as higher-ranked connections, more name-recognition, and more things to do. But at OU, I like the small town vibe a lot. Such a hard decision!!! I think ill choose OU though.

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Just an update, I ended up choosing OSU for its campus culture, strengths of academic programs, and advice from my mentors. I will try and get an internship during the gap semester this spring.

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