<p>My son just got accepted to Ohio University! We haven't visited yet, but he seems very excited. One concern we have is that we are from Maryland and there seems to be such a large perentage of students from Ohio. Can any parent or student please comment on what it is like to attend Ohio University as an out of state student? Thanks!</p>
<p>I would like to know the same. My son was also just accepted and we are from NJ. We have a friend who attends, she is from Florida and loves it. We have not yet visited but I am told they call it “Little Harvard” because the buildings look like those at Harvard. My son chose it because it is supposed to be very much like James Madison where his sister is a student.</p>
<p>Daughter accepted also! We live in New York. She also got acceted to two other colleges in Ohio, and has received a scholarship for being-out-of-state; but has not heard anything about this from Ohio University…anyone else? Planning to visit when the snowy weather breaks!</p>
<p>My close friend’s son went there and had a great experience there. The only big issue is getting home. If you are not from a several hour radius of the school or not from Ohio, car pooling opportunities are more difficult to find and it is not a very accessible school. I believe they run buses to Columbus and Akron which is where one has to fly to get there. (or maybe Cleveland, don’t remember for sure). My friend was quite happy with her son’s experience and he has been very successful out of college, though a mediocre student through high school and college.</p>
<p>My daughter was accepted to the Scripps School of Journalism, we are from New York also. I know they have been making an effort to attract more out of state students, my daughter received a $6000 grant for OOS students. She actually went there for a weekend high school journalism program over the summer, and she LOVED it. The town of Athens is really a perfect college town, although it’s true that it is not easily accessible. Columbus is the nearest city and it’s something like 60 or 70 miles away. The campus is really beautiful though and it seemed like a welcoming environment. My daughter is seriously considering it.</p>
<p>Yes, it is an hour and a half drive from Columbus airport to campus … Route 33 almost the entire way.</p>
<p>It is not hard to get to from Maryland at all … only about six hour drive from Baltimore. PM me if you need directions.</p>
<p>As far as being like Harvard or James Madison … ? A lot closer to JMU.</p>
<p>I graduated from OU a long long time ago. There have always been alot of OOS students there. Many from the East Coast.</p>
<p>For OOS students travel can be a hassel. But now they have a GO bus that travels to Columbus and Cinncinnati twice a day. The bus stops at the Columbus airport, which is about an hour and forty minutes away. Cost is very reasonable.</p>
<p>The campus is beautiful. Just went down this fall. Visited the new Student Union and walked around Court Street!</p>
<p>Hey! Hope you are still considering Ohio U. My son is a freshmen there this year. We are from Virginia (DC Area). Transportation has been a real plus concerning this school. The university operates a service which gets students to/from the airport. You can book a group departure if available, or an individual departure. There are also private taxi-ride companies we have not used. Our son flies out of Columbus to BWI on Southwest. There would be connections thru BWI to other cities, and of course other choices. We have flown most times, driven it once- 5 hrs, a nice drive. We like the school. He likes the school. He is the only one from his high school there.</p>
<p>My son is also a freshman at Ohio. He is very happy and has adjusted well. He was a real homebody, so I was surprised at how infrequently we hear from him:(. </p>
<p>He also flies from Columbus and will be bringing three friends home with him for half of spring break and then they will go back to Ohio for the last half of break. He and I are both very tuned in to how people treat each other and he loves how friendly people are in Ohio.</p>
<p>OU has had pretty good teams for football and basketball this year, so those events add to the campus spirit. They also are free with a student ID. </p>
<p>It is an easy drive from Baltimore. I have driven it a couple of times. </p>
<p>My son is also involved in the ROTC program at OU, which is a very nice program. It is a military friendly school.</p>
<p>If you are going to visit, do not go the first weekend in April: Mom’s weekend and all of the hotels are full.</p>
<p>My daughter has narrowed down her choices to two, with Ohio University being one of them. Any other out-of-staters make a decision yet?</p>
<p>Mom here w/the OU Freshmen son ~ it is such an exciting time, isn’t it. Where else is she considering? Do you have any other OU questions?</p>
<p>She is also considering Ithaca College. She will be a journalism major, and both schools are known for their Schools of Communications (although Ohio might have the edge, Scripps School of Journalism is supposed to be top-notch). Ithaca is closer for us - we are on Long Island and OU is about a 9.5 hour drive, as opposed to the 5 hrs to Ithaca. But OU is a little cheaper, so…she’s still on the fence :)</p>
<p>Southwest has some service out of Islip, connect BWI - to Columbus in case you/she doesn’t want to drive to OU - each time. Both good schools.</p>
<p>Hi all, Just picked up on this thread. We are from NJ and considering taking a closer look at Ohio University for it’s Game Design program. Wondering how generous they are with OOS aid? Thanks!</p>
<p>Ohio University has a “Gateway Scholarship” for OOS students of $6000 to offset the out of state cost, plus there’s a merit based grant program based on a combination of gpa / SAT scores. My daughter received $7k, which almost covers the OOS differential.</p>
<p>tpcrd66 ~ welcome! I THINK this is a current link.
Ohio U can be a great deal for OOS ! and I think even if full pay.</p>
<p>[The</a> Gateway Award Program: Ohio University Admissions](<a href=“http://www.ohio.edu/admissions/gateway/]The”>http://www.ohio.edu/admissions/gateway/)</p>
<p>Gateway Trustee Award Four-year renewable discount of $6,000 applied to
the non-Ohio resident surcharge. To be eligible, students must earn a
minimum g.p.a. of 3.0 (4.0 scale), AND either a minimum ACT composite
score of 25 or a combined math and critical reading SAT score of at
least 1130.</p>
<p>About transportation…Southwest does fly to Columbus and OU has shuttles. My son has a new friend, who will be his roommate next year, who lives in Columbus. We are hoping he will also help out some with transportation. 
</p>
<p>Tis year has flown by.</p>
<p>My daughter is considering a transfer to OU for fall quarter. We are from NJ, and her biggest problem is the distance from home. Luckily, Frontier Airlines has a service from a local airport into Columbus starting this spring, and from what I hear, buses to Columbus are frequent. My husband and I are both graduates of Ohio University, and while we never pushed for her to go there initially, (she wanted a smaller school and to be closer to home) we both think OU is a perfect choice for her. Anyone who has a child who is on the fence about the school-in my mind, you couldn’t be making a better choice! 33 years later, I still get excited about coming back to Athens! Wonderful school, beautiful campus, great experience.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input on OU! what does your daughter plan to study and where is she transfering from? Please keep us posted on then you see that airline service start…may want to go for a visit come fall!</p>
<p>smithmkt…did your daughter make her decision? I really hope we can make a trip to Ohio this Fall!</p>