<p>Please help me. I need to come up with an essay: Why do I want to go to Ohio State? What can I come up with so it doesn't look generic that it would pass for every other large state school. Any OHio State students on line? I want to go into the buisness school. What could I say that really tells admissions I REALLY want TO GO TO Ohio State!!! Thanks.
worldgoround1</p>
<p>Take this question to the Ohio State message boards, here at CC. Someone should be able to give you some good suggestions there.</p>
<p>What you write probably won’t make that much difference anyway. Virtually all public universities make admissions decisions based on stats and state of residence, with in-state students being preferred.</p>
<p>Have you visited the school? If so, was there anything that really “won you over”?</p>
<p>If you haven’t visited, thoroughly review the school’s website, particularly the webpages for your likely major.</p>
<p>Also, avail yourself of the website’s “Virtual Tour” or online tour. </p>
<p>Look at the webpages for it’s leisure activities.</p>
<p>What do you know about the school?</p>
<p>agree with northstar mom</p>
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<p>NSM, you’ve said this repeatedly, but the game HAS changed at some flagship public universities – that used to be all about stats, but now read essays and LOR and so forth, and DO turn down qualified kids, especially those in over-served areas of the state. (I’m thinking of Chicagoland kids, for whom U of I is NOT the stats-driven safety it was years ago.) I can’t speak for Ohio State, but I suspect the same thing might be true there, esp for well-off suburban Cleveland, Cincy and Columbus kids. I just think you might be well served to update your thinking on this!</p>
<p>Why are you applying?</p>
<p>Link to Ohio State’s common data set:</p>
<p><a href=“http://oaa.osu.edu/irp/publisher_surveys/09ColumbusCDS.pdf[/url]”>http://oaa.osu.edu/irp/publisher_surveys/09ColumbusCDS.pdf</a></p>
<p>I see that stats are regarded as "most important’ with essay being regarded as “important.” Since Ohio state is funded by the state taxpayers, I doubt that they’d turn down someone who has great stats but an essay that’s not that great. It would be very hard for OSU to justify that to state legislators who may question such a decision on behalf of disgruntled constituents. Note that level of applicant’s interest is not considered.</p>
<p>That’s the main reason why virtually all public universities make decisions mainly based on stats and state of residence: Making stats and state of residence-based decisions makes OSU look less biased, and also makes it easier for OSU to reject less qualified students who may have high placed officials requesting that the students be admitted. </p>
<p>OSU may do what many universities do: Use essays for consideration for honors programs and merit aid.</p>
<p>Since OSU admits students on a rolling basis, it would be advisable for the OP to submit their application ASAP because the stats of admitted students increase in rolling admission schools the later that one applies because there are fewer spaces available. Getting one’s app in early is more important than is having an exceptional essay.</p>
<p>Due to the economy, more students – including more strong students – are applying to public universities. I’ve seen no evidence that this means that admissions officers are spending more time with applications. I remember seeing an article a few years ago that at one public school in Fla., admissions officers spent about 10 mins. per application, and mostly that was reviewing the apps to make sure that it met the university’s standards for courses required and stats. I doubt that admissions officers at publics now are spending a great deal of time reading essays.</p>
<p>Are you in-state for Ohio State? What are your stats?</p>
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<p>More great advice from Harvard’s most illustrious graduate…state schools just use stats, but Harvard took the time to delve in to your soul and discover what a unique and beautiful snowflake you truly are. Bravo to you!</p>
<p>For the OP, try to be sincere and use details. Which major are you interested in and why? What makes Ohio’s academic program special? Possibly talk about vibrant campus life, students you really connected with, lots of school spirit, research opportunities, alumni network, EC’s you want to get involved with…</p>
<p>“but Harvard took the time to delve in to your soul and discover what a unique and beautiful snowflake you truly are. Bravo to you!”</p>
<p>Why flame? Truth is that most colleges in the country have to spend a lot of time weeding out students who lack the stats indicating the students can academically survive at the colleges. That’s why most colleges make admissions decisions overwhelmingly based on applicants’ stats. Most applicants to top colleges qualify for admission, so those colleges have the luxury of being able to select from the large pool of qualified applicants those who’ll most contribute to creating a well rounded student body. Consequently getting admitted to such colleges can be based on factors totally beyond one’s control such as where one lives.</p>
<p>Stats particularly are important for public universities, which are responsible to the residents of the state. Consequently, public universities even more than do private universities base admissions decisions on stats and state of residence, which makes it easier for colleges to justify their admissions decisions when irate state residents complain to state legislators.</p>
<p>Anyway, instead of obsessing over the essay, the OP would be better off getting the application in ASAP because the longer one delays applying to rolling admissions schools, the higher are the stats required for admission.</p>
<p>On the essay forum is a featured thread about how to write the “why this college” essay.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/429255-why-college-essays-aaargh-nightmare-help-please.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/429255-why-college-essays-aaargh-nightmare-help-please.html</a></p>
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<p>Because he was clearly intent on putting thought in to the question and making a good essay. OSU is a top 50 school and admission is competitive. Telling him to forget about the essay isn’t helpful.</p>
<p>That’s still no reason to flame or to act like the college that I went to had something to do with my answer. I also didn’t tell him to forget about the essay. The sooner he gets his app in, the better. The stats count far more than does the essay – particularly with public schools. The longer he waits, the higher the stats necessary for admission. I’ve seen this happen in my own state with its top 50 flagship: The students who delay while trying to write perfect essays may be turned down while students with far lower stats were accepted earlier in the cycle.</p>
<p>One also can disagree with someone without disparaging them. This isn’t the Jerry Springer show.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, there’s plenty of info on CC about how to write good essays including essays explaining why one wants to go to a certain college. In fact, I’ve written some of those informative posts.</p>
<p>And, BTW, my husband is a proud OSU grad. I’m very familiar with the college.</p>
<p>And the most important admission factors at OSU are the following according to OSU:</p>
<p>" </p>
<p>Academic requirements
Ohio State has a competitive admission process in which students are considered for admission based largely on their academic performance and credentials. All students are considered under competitive standards except Ohio residents applying to an Ohio State regional campus in Lima, Mansfield, Marion, or Newark, or to Ohio State ATI in Wooster.</p>
<p>Three primary factors are considered in our competitive admission review process:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Successful completion of the college preparatory curriculum while in high school. The minimum college prep requirements are listed below. Numbers in ( ) represent the recommended number of units for strong preparation:
* 4 units of college prep English
* 3 (4) units of college prep math
* 3 units of college prep natural science
* 2 (3) units of college prep social science
* 2 (3) units of the same foreign language
* 1 unit of a visual or performing art
* 1 additional unit of the above courses </p>
<pre><code> Students exceeding the minimum curriculum in math, natural resources, or foreign language will be given additional consideration.
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>Performance in high school as shown by class rank or grade point average.</p></li>
<li><p>Performance on the ACT or SAT (See “Important information about test scores,” at right)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>u may be given additional consideration if:</p>
<pre><code>* you attend a competitive high school
- you have taken accelerated courses
(e.g., honors, AP, IB) - you are a first-generation college student
- you provide cultural, economic, racial, or
geographic diversity - you demonstrated outstanding talent in a particular area
- you have been involved in extracurricular activities, had significant work experience, or held leadership positions
- your high school performance was adversely affected by physical, mental, or learning environment factors
- you are eligible for and will benefit from organized support services at Ohio State"
</code></pre>
<p><a href=“http://undergrad.osu.edu/FreshAdmissioncriteria.html[/url]”>http://undergrad.osu.edu/FreshAdmissioncriteria.html</a></p>
<p>Bottom line: get the application in ASAP and don’t obsess over the essay about why you want to attend OSU. That’s not a big factor.</p>
<p>If you really can’t think of anything, make it up. I wrote something about how OSU’s location and distinguished staff and research opportunities blah blah blah. Heck, I know someone who answered it with “Why not?”</p>
<p>After all, they do say there’s no wrong answer!</p>