Ohio State University

Ohio State is a big school, in a medium sized city, that a lot of people from small towns in Ohio go to. However, there are plenty of opportunities to grow and interact with different kinds of people. If your parents are middle income and you have very good/better than average but not absolutely perfect grades and test scores forget about scholarships or work study, even if you're in an underrepresented group. The parking is horrible and ridiculously expensive, but you really don't need a car on campus. I always felt safe on campus, even when walking alone at night. Like anywhere else in the world, you just have to use common sense and be aware of your surroundings. The career services department was not helpful to me personally, but the staff and resources were great. OSU served its purpose; it gave me a broad academic education, while allowing me to learn about people and life in general. I wish I had know what I actually wanted to do with my life before going to OSU, because I would have been better able to utilize its extensive resources.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

If you're considering going to Ohio State, you've probably already heard it all, so I won't repeat it. For the most part, this University is a hit-or-miss enterprise. Depending on which subject you decide to study, you may get to study and learn under brilliant faculty and be assisted in your learning process by administration that remembers that you, the student, are paying their salaries and hence are actually helpful.

Or you may choose a major where the faculty are indifferent to your intellectual advancement or are too wrapped up in their own research to care about mere undergrads and where the administration are overwhelmed by the number of students to provide any meaningful guidance or are bitter for some reason and are not helpful at all to students.I know one of the popular defenses for large universities is that because they are so large and anonymous (believe what you hear - you ARE just a number here), you, the student, are forced to distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack. While I agree that applying yourself and manufacturing your own success are critical skills to learn for the rest of your life; often, you will succeed in spite of this University.

5th Year Male -- Class 1999

Social Life: A-, Individual Value: F