Ohio State University-Main Campus Top Questions

A lot of people think we are football loving partiers who think we're better than everyone else.... that much is true. But who wouldn't love a great football program, fun nights with friends and having so much pride in your school that you feel you can do no wrong. If you don't have that kind of pride in the school you choose, no matter where you go, you should move on and find somewhere you love. The other stereotype is that we aren't a very academically strong school. In the past I would agree, but the past decade or so has been full of change and OSU is one of the best schools in the country. I'm not claiming to be Harvard, but OSU is no cake walk and the education you receive is very valuable. It is one of the greatest values across the board though. Our return on investment is one of the best in the country. Why go into tens of thousands of dollar in debt when you don't have to?

These stereotypes are definitely not accurate. In the past few years OSU has increased the minimum ACT score for a spot on the main campus in Columbus to 27 and to be a part of the Honors College at least a 30 is required. Sure, there are a few athletic exceptions that may sneak through the cracks here and there, but overall the campus has taken on a more "ivy-like" flavor. The parties are still wild, the football games are insane, but President Gee has really kicked up the academics.

Sort of, the standards at OSU have recently raised with President Gee's return. (I think the min. ACT score for main campus is 27 now) However, because it is such a large school there are always going to be many different types of people. There are just as many people that are serious about their work as the people who party. It's all about what type of people you surround yourself with.

Pretty much.

I hate to say it, but fairly. A lot of people have superiority complexes, and if you don't like football, prepare to be ridiculed.

- if you place yourself in a smaller dorm, it's easier to divide OSU into your own smaller group of friends and acquiantances. Living-Learning dorms like the Agriculture dorm (Norton) is a great way to surround yourself with peers you easily relate to because you have similar interests and background. Many students that live in larger dorms say they don't see the same person twice on campus, but I've seen the people I lived with in Norton every week on Ag campus and at club meetings, etc. Ag campus has greatly shrunk the size of OSU. -OSU has become much more selective in admissions. They trialed an extensive essay application when I applied. It's a land-grant public school meant to allow everyone admittance...

While the campus is huge and you have to walk a lot, you won't care after the first 2 weeks. Basically you get used to it. Suprisingly a lot of people at OSU have no idea about the sports. The classes are too damn big, but the professors are usually available to discuss the class. I've had some really cool professors so far.

Hell Yes!

This is fairly accurate. There's plenty of parties, but I don't think there's much pressure to go if you don't want to. The sports stereotype is definitely true. If you don't like football, you're going to be out of the loop fall quarter.

Yes.

They can be...yeah we like to have our fun and certainly LOVE our Buckeyes, but students here are also very focused on academics. It's a great blend of both.

These stereotypes are true some of the time, but not all of the time.

you can make them true or not partake of them

I think I answered this above!

Party School-- It is certainly true, if that is what you're looking for in a school. Ohio State is large enough that you can find just about anything that you are interested in. If you want to party every weekend, you can definately find places to go and things to do. However there's so much more to Ohio State. You can go on gallery hops in the Short North or you could go to the Franklin Park Conservatory or you could see one of the speakers/bands/movies put on by OUAB. Too Big-- I see people that I know all the time. I've found that I can't cross the Oval without recognizing someone that I know. By the time you've been here for four years, you become acquainted with almost everyone in your major. It's knid of nice to be able to just blend into a class sometimes and just be a number. (Not many people notice if you're late or if skip class from time to time.) OSU is a big campus, but it can feel a lot smaller if you get to know people and become active in your classes.

NO

Not entirely. The personal time statement is somewhat true because OSU is such a huge campus that it is nearly impossible for professors to get to know each of his/her student on a first-name basis.

No, they are just like any other stereotype, they are generalizations and do not apply to the whole student body.

OSU actually offers a really good education. We are ranked in practically every department, and some majors are in the top 10 in the nation. We do like football, it's true, but it's not as if life stops after fall quarter. Game days can be hectic and noisy, but the games are rarely talked about in class or during the week. I won't deny that alcohol is readily available on and off campus, but there are about a million sober things to do each weekend. I never drink, and I can always find an international dance or food festival, independent film, sporting event, theater performance, etc. to attend. And those are just the things I'm interested in - whatever you want to do socially, it's here.

No.

To certain extent yes- in regards to tradition and athletics, however one would be surprised to find out how many people actually DO NOT go out party!

OSU is huge but that is only a positive when dealing with the unique and vast opportunities that are presented to OSU students. From research, study aboard programs, extracurriculars, and internships OSU has created a network of support for all students.

In some cases, they are. I am not bitter - I wish it weren't true because I am always having to defend my "lowly Ohio public school" (which, in fact, is not actually lowly at all) to my elitist former high school classmates attending Ivy League schools. I'd like to think that most at my school don't meet the stereotypes above, though it's hard to remember that when I'm standing in line next to two girls who are appear to be holding a "Who can say 'like' more times in one sentence" contest or when I'm trying to ignore the guy at the bar loudly trumpeting his latest sexual conquest (which, at best, is likely exaggerated and at worst completely made up). In reality, tens of thousands of the "rest of us" exist on this campus. Hacky-sack playing, pot-smoking, radical hippies with dreadlocks can be found taking the same GECs as anime-loving, WOW-playing nerds; eccentric "art kids" fairly peacefully coexist with their preppy, over-privileged business major peers who are shoe-ins for Daddy's company when they graduate. In fact, every single damn brochure you ever get from OSU uses the word "diversity" enough times that the word sounds funny, accompanying pictures of black, white, Asian, Hispanic, disabled, gay, and Appalachian people laughing together on a sunny day or skipping through the daisies holding hands. In short, stereotypes don't really work unless you're receiving a minority scholarship.

While there's definitely a grain of truth in both of those stereotypes, OSU is so much more! Not only are its academic programs among the top-ranked in the country, the huge number of extracurricular organizations give students a great opportunity to get involved.

mostly

Now, I have done my fair share of tailgaiting, trash talk (especially against that team up north), Mirror Lake jumps, and countless hours of watching, discussing, and listening to the glorification of The Ohio State Buckeyes. We do have quite the radical fans who love nothing more then football season so they can play out their worship for our beloved football team. When I leave OSU, I know that I will pine over my ever-so-sacred Buckeyes! Yes, football is important here and yes, we all love that time of the year, however, I think our level of affection is quite fit and my time here would not have been quite as memorable without those incorporated into my overall college experience. I would rather be a pompous Buckeye than a filty Wolverine!