Ohio State University

I found it very difficult to rate OSU, because quality varies a LOT between class levels and departments. Generally, lower-level classes are worthless. The profs tend to either be completely unenthusiastic about material or teach 100-level gen ed classes like they're major requirements. Higher-level classes are a lot better, but some still suffer from profs who are more interested in their research than actually teaching. Generally, classes with buttloads of students are boring, and you'll have a hard time motivating yourself to go to them. Stick to smaller classes, if possible.

I'm a double major, in Security & Intelligence and English. The English program here is actually pretty good. I've taken some interesting classes in both general English and Creative Writing, and instructors have been helpful and friendly. I even had an instructor agree to write me a letter of recommendation for grad school 4 days before it was due, which IMO is above and beyond. I really have no complaints about the English department at all.

My experience with S&I (a concentration within International Studies), however, has been horrible. If you're interested in government work and are thinking of this major...just don't. Go to another school. The S&I major makes itself out to be like a small community interested in helping students find internships and jobs, but that is completely untrue. Unless you harass your adviser constantly, you're not gonna get any help from OSU in finding an internship or job. Even if you do that, all the help you'll really get is a couple websites to check out. (OSU has a site where you can upload your resume and check out jobs, but it's a joke.) Also, the classes within this major are such a mixed bag. I've taken some that were great, but many were a complete waste of time and seemed better suited to some other major. The S&I major is very haphazardly put together, and I wouldn't advise that anyone declare it. (The C- I put for "major program" is a combination of the A I'd give English and the F- I'd give S&I.)

As for the campus -- the dorms REALLY suck. They're small, disgusting, and often lack A/C (have fun boiling in the spring/summer). The campus itself is very collegiate-looking and pretty from the outside, but many buildings are falling apart on the inside and lack heat and A/C. OSU chooses to spend money to perpetuate its sports program rather than fix up dorms and classroom buildings, which is good for making $$$ but bad for students.

Overall, OSU is the quintessential "big school." I wouldn't say students are just numbers, but they're close. If you're looking for any sort of help in achieving your future goals, don't go here.A final note: Don't take philosophy to get out of math. You'll fail. Trust me.

3rd Year Female -- Class 2012

Friendliness: A, University Resource Use/ spending: F

OSU can be the perfect school for you or your worst nightmare, depending what you're looking for in a school. First of all, if you want to get sloppy drunk every night, this is the school for you. If you want a school for the education, choose somewhere else. 60% of students are from Ohio, 40% are off the boat from Asia. Not that that is a bad thing, but expect to struggle to understand a lot of your TAs. Also, expect to be put in lecture halls of 300 people with one professor. There will be no asking questions, no interaction. There will be a powerpoint, and if you don't understand you have to try to explain your question to your TA. On top of that, your advisor won't have a clue who you are. You can schedule multiple meetings, talk to him/her, and share your life story. When you schedule your next meeting, they'll have to look up your name first. There are just too many people. You have no individual value or worth, you are a number. This is a university that is just as concerned with cranking out diplomas as it is with cranking out trophies. Class buildings and dorms are falling apart, but sports facilities are top of the line. I am looking to transfer because it is incredibly impersonal. As the largest school in the nation, I think it's safe to say that it's too big.

1st Year Female -- Class 2014

Social Life: A, Education Quality: F