Ada, OH
Ohio Northern University

Ohio Northern University quickly became my home. Everything about the campus made me fall in love. The academics and professors are top notch, and there are endless chances to boost your future. Although the food may be lackluster, ONU makes up for it with facilities, opportunities, and adventures.

Ohio Northern has provided me with a stellar education, and I could not have asked for teachers more dedicated to making sure their students fully understand course material and are prepared for graduate school or jobs. For the 2016 graduates, 94% of them have either enrolled in graduate school or found employment within 6 months of graduation. All of the professors I have had the pleasure of knowing during my time at Ohio Northern have expressed so much passion for not only the subjects they teach, but for each and every one of their students. I have personally experienced this kindness many times, but most specifically, when I was going through a tough time, my Medicinal Herbs professor called me into her office and made me a hot cup of tea and let me talk to her like she was a second mom. Class sizes are relatively small, so you get the chance to develop relationships with your professors and classmates that you wouldn't normally have in large colleges. Although the classes can be difficult, there is always an abundance of help- from free tutoring to being able to have one-on-one discussions with professors. On campus housing is very expensive but required for the first three years. It does provide a great way to meet new people, especially in the freshman dorms. One of my fondest freshman memories is playing twister in the hallway after getting an email about our first snow day. The freshman dorms are your typical tiny bedroom, but ONU does also offer on-campus apartments with a kitchen, living area, separate bedrooms, and a bathroom. Laundry is free and you are typically able to get a washer or dryer without too long of a wait. The campus meal plan is expensive, and not worth it for the quality of food served in MAC. That is probably my one and only big complaint, the food. There is very little variety and on more than one occasion, students have found raw or under-cooked meat being served. There are many opportunities for students to get involved on campus, and at the beginning of every semester, organizations hold a Welcome Fest to get new students acquainted with the wide variety of clubs, sports, and organizations. I have personally been involved with Model United Nations, Student Senate, Kappa Phi, and rugby. Greek life is big on campus, but it is not the only opportunity for students to be involved in a philanthropic organization. Athletic organizations are also big on campus, and student athletes are held to a high standard both on and off the field. At ONU, education comes first, so sports are played more for the love of the game than anything else. But that doesn't mean we aren't competitive, and many students go out to support our teams. Ada is a lovely little village, but there is not much to do. There is an abundance of pizza places, a small movie theater, and three small bars that many college students over 21 frequent on the weekend. Karaoke nights are Wednesday nights, which tend to draw a large crowd and are always a fun time. There are some house parties on the weekends, but they are not huge parties like you would find on larger campuses. Ohio Northern is a very safe environment because it is so small and everything is within walking distance. Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed my three and a half years at ONU and I feel very proud to say that I will graduate from this university. The education I have received here is second to none, the student (although there is not much diversity) are intelligent and charismatic people who care very much about their education. It is a very expensive school, and I will graduate with more debt than I would like, but the memories and experiences I have gained at Ohio Northern University make up for that.

If you don't mind living in the middle of nowhere, it is an amazing school to go to. The education is fantastic, the people are awesome, the campus is safe, and the overall quality of life here is great. It's a fun place to be if you find the right group and are committed to your education.

It is a beautiful campus. It's on the smaller size, but that just means that everywhere you go, there is always someone you know and a smiling face to say hello to. It is a well known school for many of it's wide variety of programs. You are encouraged to do your best work with it's rigorous courses offered.

It's a great college with amazing people. It's small which is a good thing when it comes to knowing everyone and getting more one on one time with your professors. We like to have fun here and next to academics ,sports is what we live for.

Open up to those around you, because the world is an inviting place if you give it a chance. Don’t make excuses for yourself for why you can’t attempt to socialize and find the kinds of friends that your parents and their friends always have stories about from their “glory days”, because you could miss out on the chance to meet some of the best people you will ever encounter in this world. They enjoy watching the Game Show Network just as much as you do, and appreciate all your poorly made puns, because these people who started out as just your classmates understand you and you understand them. These are the friends you will remember for the rest of your life, so open your door and find them. You don’t want to be the woman years from now who can’t recall a single good story from college that doesn’t involve environmental research. Make those hypothetical stories a reality when you enter the halls of Ohio Northern University next year, because it is possible, even for an awkward sapling such as yourself. You are capable of anything, even socializing.

When I applied to Ohio Northern, I was lucky enough to be accepted into their Honors Program. Since then, I have met so many wonderful people because all of the freshmen in the program live in the same hall. We do so much together and have a great time, but still respect that everyone is at ONU to receive an education. Therefore, I know I can always get my work done while still knowing I have a friend to talk to and play Euchre with. This community is the reason that I am so proud to be a polar bear.

The most frustrating thing about my school is that it is four hours away from my hometown, where so much of my family and friends live. While it is not impossible to get home for a weekend, it makes it much more difficult. It requires much more planning than my friends whom are mostly native Ohioans, which means I can’t see everyone as much as I would like. I love being at ONU, but after being in Lexington for my entire life before college, it is so frustrating to have part of my life so far away.

We are known for our amazing Pharmacy program. In addition to that lesser known is our Forensic Biology program, which will have an accredited forensic labratory by 2016.

Personally, Ohio Northern University is a great place to recieve an ungergraduate degree. It is located in a small village, so it lack the amenities of a big city, but one never feels bored. This is because there are constantly things going on on campus and off campus. The staff at the school are very understanding and friendly people who care about their students and enjoy teaching.

The worst thing aboutt the school has to be the food. The food has always been amongst the worst in the country. Every other night there's boiled chicken, or barbeque boiled chicken, or cajun boiled chicken, or, well you get the point. You better have a strong stomach to eat the food or you may get a case of "mac attack".

Anybody that can't stand the cold should not consider Ohio Northern. The wind here is a blistering cold and there is a reason that our mascot is a Polar Bear. It got so cold here that our school even coined its own twitter tag #PolarBearUp. Also, any person looking to go to parties every weekend should not consider Ohio Northern. The campus is a dry campus and parties are hard to find. That's not to say there aren't parties, but if you're looking to get blackout drunk, Northern isn't for you.

It's October 9th 2013 and I'm alive. Senior year I reeked of failure and social awakwardness. I had no plans and goals for after high school. Instead I found myself tangled up in my own madness. I became that nervous villian lurking behind my fellow classmates who were destined for greatness. Me? I was destined for being alone because; nobody wants a weed inside their garden. I treated every senior acitvity like it was waiting at the doctor's office. It's uncomfortable, long, and dreadful. I wished my senior self knew that you didn't need to already have your life planned out by 17. I'm turning 20 in 26 days and I'm still working out the kinks in my career and education path. Depression yanked away the good parts of me and left me broken for two years. I wished I tooked a deep breath and looked at the joyful things in my life. I was editor on literary magazine and I had created wonderful friendships with teachers over the past four years. I now reek of hope and good memories.

Although they can be friendly, at times they do act small-minded.

I would tell myself, "Go big, or go home." There I was, with the ability to apply to any school I wanted, but I limited myself to staying in Ohio because I was afraid to drift away from my comfort zone. Now I am at a school, that I fit into academically but not always when it comes to other ares, such as finances. Ohio Northern is definitely full of many kids who don't have to work for anything. They can simply call their mom, dad, or grandma and ask for whatever their heart desires. As an independent student, I don't have this luxury. I knew college would be difficult with the lack of a support system in place, but I would tell myself, to not only get a summer job, but 'Save, save, save.' Emergencies happen all of the time and we never know when one may occur. And I'll just say, I have had more than my fair share. I would tell myself that, "A lot of people you depend on now, won't be there 3 years from now... and at first, it WILL hurt. But tomorrow is a new day."

It's in the middle of nowhere.