I’m looking to be a secondary education teacher in social studies. The choice is between KSU and the Ohio State University. I can’t seem to make up my mind between the two. Some help would be greatly appreciated!
For the career you’ve specified, it will not matter in the least. Both Kent State and Ohio State will be entirely satisfactory. This does not suggest the two universities are equal in stature, or in resources, or in undergraduate selectivity, or in MANY other germane areas. However, you’re focusing on becoming a secondary school social studies teacher – good for you, we require great many more GOOD ones – and that’s not quite like aspiring to become a U S Supreme Court Associate Justice.
If you got admitted to both, I’d suggest tOSU.
Kent State is very commuter and has a very low graduation rate, indicating students whose priority isn’t college (either by choice or by constraint). tOSU is your state’s flagship. Its resources, connections, and peer group are going to be among the highest caliber.
I also disagree with TopTier on this: secondary school students need the most broadly-educated social studies teachers as possible - major in history, economics, geography, or sociology, and have a minor in one of the others, and/or a foreign language (for the cultural broadening horizons that language would provide - plus adding a bit of professional versatility - social studies teachers are a dime a dozen, but social studies teachers who can teach in Spanish are in HIGH demand, or social studies teachers who can also teach a couple beginning French or beginning Chinese or beginning Arabic classes, have a better shot at a job.) From tOSu, you can also try to get into TFA (not possible from Kent State) and gain another type of experience, not to mention a very prestigious post-graduation position that can be leveraged into lots of careers, or speed up your teaching career.
@MYOS1634 (re post #2): I agree with everything you’ve written in post #2. My focus (in post #1) was purposefully limited to the OP’s certification and hiring as a secondary school social studies teacher (probably in Ohio), because that’s what I thought was the OP’s focus. I based my statements in post #1 on my brother’s (an OSU PhD in Educational Administration) experiences as the Superintendent of several (probably near 10) Ohio school districts, and their hiring practices. With this said, I fully agree that OSU is the clearly preferable, if one looks beyond the intentionally limited scope of my response.
Can you visit both of these to see how you feel about the campus? Is there a difference in the cost?
I’d suggest that you talk with teachers and school administrators you know, and ask if they see any evidence that one or the other of these universities is more successful at placing their graduates. I don’t know anyone at OSU, but I do know a young person who is graduating this spring from Kent State with an education degree. That student transferred in from a community college, has been living on campus, did a semester abroad, has been extremely happy, has had multiple interviews, and is currently considering job offers. Feel free to send me a PM, and I can put the two of you in touch.
MYOS1634 has made an interesting suggestion of collecting an additional endorsement in a foreign language. I wouldn’t have thought of that. The teachers I know recommend endorsements in Special Education, Teaching English as a Second Language, and Reading. Any of those are likely to prove of immediate use in the classroom. Depending on where you will look for work, endorsement in Special Ed and/or TESOL may even be required within a certain period of time.
Special Ed and TESOL can also be very useful.
I do know Bilingual Social Studies is in high demand compared to “pure” Social Studies, and not everybody can get to the level required for Bilingual certification, whereas with a bit of effort anyone can reach the level of a minor in a foreign language (many high schools had to cut budget so there’s one or two full time Spanish teachers, and then they cobble up something. Being able to offer Foreign Language 1 and 2 in another language, ie., // minor, is thus another way to dstinguish yourself from the many Social Studies job applicants…)
Actually, I’m currently thinking about minoring (not sure if that’s a word, haha!) in German as a second language. I love the idea of learning different languages and teaching different languages, so I’ll definitely be going for an ESL certification. The high school that I go to, and along with many other high schools in my area, offered German as a language choice along with Latin, Spanish, and French. I know that Spanish and French might be more preferable, but I never did like the languages for some reason. They never clicked with me, and there’s nothing worse than learning or teaching something that your heart isn’t in, you know? So although German might be a little harder to find a school for, I definitely think that it will make me more marketable for a position.
I was thinking about leaning more towards tOSU for a teaching degree because I’ve found multiple websites that say this:
http://recordpub.com/news%20local/2013/06/19/national-survey-ranks-ksu-low-in-teacher-training
Also, while researching tOSU, many websites stated: “The Ohio State University, located in Columbus, Ohio is the flagship institution of the state and home to what many consider as the top College of Education and Human Ecology in the United States.”
Along with other high honors such as: “The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) evaluated 1,100 college programs within the US that prepare teachers for the classroom (Teacher Prep Review 2013 Report). According to the organization’s rigorous standards, only four teacher programs in Ohio earned the “honor roll” ranking of 3 stars or higher. For more information, read more about the NCTQ Teacher Prep Review 2013 Report.” And in that report, tOSU received a 4/4 star rating.
My main question is this: does it really matter what college I go to? Will school districts in and outside of Ohio know of the quality difference between KSU and tOSU? Obviously people who have a Harvard or Yale degree are going to be looked at more favorably than someone who has a degree from a public school, but most people who go to the Ivy League aren’t trying to become school teachers. I’ve heard some people say tOSU is a “public Ivy” but I’m not sure how well known that nickname is among school systems. I realize that teaching secondary social studies is an oversaturated field, but it’s where my heart is. If going to tOSU is going to get me a better chance of getting my foot in the door and get offered a job or an interview, then that’s definitely where I’m going to go. I’m just curious on your opinions.
Yes, districts outside of OH will know the difference between tOSu and Kent State. Everyone knows tOSu is the state’s flagship. BUT ultimately what matters is what you do with the resources provided. They’re simply better at tOSU because, as the state’s flagship, they get the better budget, have the better connections, and select the best students.
It doesn’t mean Kent State is bad or that you’ll fail there, just that considering your ambitions tOSU would be a better pick. Kent State also has good students (but fewer, so fewer graduate on time, or at all).
TESOL certification and a German minor will definitely help you find a job.
What are your parents saying about paying the costs at either school?
If one school will mean no debt, then go there. Schools will NOT care which one you went to. Education degrees are a staple, any good school will have a good program. No need AT ALL to pay more at one school or the other.
When applying for jobs, your interview is what will get you hired…or not. Not the name of your undergrad.
Teachers don’t make a lot of money so not having debt is very important.
What is the financial situation?
Sorry… I assumed they were both within budget… are thy?
For a teaching degree, you’re goal should be to keep your debt down. Go with the less expensive option.
Well you for sure should’ve done Miami of Ohio if you’re looking for teaching. Bummer. Ranked nationally and as someone going through it right now, I can say that the program is phenomenal. Words cannot even begin to describe it.
Miami of Ohio is a great university too, but OP got into tOSU. 
I never applied to Miami of Ohio. I looked at it for a little bit, and I know some people who got in. However, for some reason, I didn’t really put much thought into it. I know that it’s actually ranked lower than tOSU when it comes to national universities in terms of secondary education and educational administration. tOSU is also more selective, but only by about 10%. A lot of the older people in my community usually say that Miami of Ohio use to be the main choice for everyone to go to but in recent years, tOSU has grown more than Miami of Ohio has. I don’t know if that’s true, but a lot of the rankings that I’m finding are ranking tOSU higher than Miami of Ohio every single time.
Most of the information I’m getting is coming from US News: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/ohio-state-university-06159
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/miami-university-7104
In terms of grad schools, tOSU is ranked at #10 for Secondary Education and #11 for Educational Administration, so I’m assuming that their undergraduate programs are just as well renown.
Yes tOSu is stronger than Miami Ohio, but Miami Oh is stronger than Kent State.
Overall tOSu has the most prestige, the most resources, the best connections in the State, and the highest caliber peers.
Kent State: average GPA 3.3/ tOSu
% with a 3.75+: 18% / not indicated but estimated at about 45-50%
% below 3.0: 25% at Kent State, not indicated but very low
Kent State: average SAT 530/ tOSu: 600
% students who reach 700 on CR/ M: 2/3% at Kent State, 14/34% at tOSu
Top 10% in class, Kent State 14%, tOSU 58%