Ohio Wesleyan University Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Matthew

Make sure that the university has many activities to do outside of school work. When you are in class for 36 hours a week and study just as much it is always nice to have something to look forward to, be it a football game or a Fraternity dance party. Also that the students need to get involved with as much stuff as they can. They don't want to over do it but by getting envolved they will open up so many doors, and meet people that will help them when the graduate.

Michael

Never let money decide ones education, there are always alternatives and loans, and an education is the greatest investment you will ever make.

William

Don't worry so much how good the school ranks for an undergrad program. Any school is what you make of it.

Amir

It's very expensive at this school. There are scholarship opportunities but, as a poor person, I would recommend considering a public university. The perks about coming here are a very active campus in extra curricular activities as well as weekend events. Also, the professors are pretty involved with their students. For financial reasons, I could not study abroad for a semester so my advisor organized a summer for me to backpack through mexico for under 500 dollars. Overall, my college experience at Ohio Wesleyan has been an amazing experience. I am a senior with a 3.0 GPA who is involved in mens rugby, coaches women's rugby, head the big brother/big sister program, student government, intramural basketball, and Black Men of the Future. My point is that a student has the option of doing WHATEVER they desire here while maintaining a good GPA. I definitely recommend coming here if the prospective student is okay with living in a very small town with few places to shop, purchase food and hang out at. Great experience in a tiny town.

Jessica

Made sure to visit schools, and preferably do an overnight visit. There is a huge difference between attending a small school and a large school, and between a liberal arts school and a state school. If you have an intellectual interests, a liberal arts environment is the best way to fulfill them. When you get to college, one of the best and overlooked ways to make friends is to join clubs, whether they be volunteer groups, political organizations, or just about hobbies. That is the easiest way to meet people who share your interests.

Kyle

The best thing you can do when making your final decision is visit the colleges that are your top choices to get a feel of what the campus is like. For the best experience, go when school is in session, visit a class and eat a meal in a dining hall. In the end, what you get out of college is going to be what you put into it, so don't be afraid to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible. Be responsible, but have fun because the years fly by quickly on a campus environment where so much is going on!

Jackie

When you visit a school, trust your gut instinct. If you feel a good vibe about a school and can picture yourself being happy attending there, take those feelings strongly into consideration. Set goals to achieve in college and then do your best to meet or exceed these. Reward yourself by doing well. Be driven and balance academics with fun! Enjoy college...these are the best days of your early life.

Edmund

Make sure you contact the financial aid office in advance, Admission Counselors are very understanding of economic situations and are willing to find the extra money to get your son/daughter to study at this school. Get them to the college that offers you the most help as well as the best facilities in relationship to your son/dauther's interests. Always dont forget to get a weekend out of your schedule to visit the school personally with your teenager and stop and talk to people about the college. I strongly believe that parents and prospective student alike will have a better understanding of the school and will consequently know if they want to spend the next 4 years of their lives at that institution... Good luck in your search process.

Sarah

The best way to discover your ideal college is to narrow it down to colleges that have your intended major, or majors that interest you. Then you need to visit the schools. Often just going to a school will knock it off your list, or make you want to got there. Once you have chosen your college, make the most of all the opportunities that you are given. Meet people from all over the world and learn from them, not just in classroom settings. Go to other religions' services and eat native foods from countries you might not have ever heard of. Take advantage of the chance to speak with people that know how to make it in the real world. Do not be too concerned about grades; be concerned with learning material that is actually going to make a difference in your life.

Corey

You have to go visit schools.

Ashleigh

I believe education to be one of the most important things to receive in life, and choosing the right school is a very crucial part of being successful. In my experience, a small liberal arts school was the best decision for me. There are fewer students and fewer distractions, but life-changing professors and classes that require hard work are definitely part of the bargain. Each of my classes, whether I liked them or hated them, have taught me more than any high school class had ever taught me. I would say, take a new challenge and get out of your comfort zone. Go far away and really live on your own. Study abroad through the school's programs. Do as much as possible while you have the time. Be active and enjoy every second of it. Use your education to its fullest. You will succeed if you try.

Denise

Honestly, it is impossible to know what exactly one is getting into, when coming to college. I personally only applied to one school. I come from a lower-middle class family and I am the first to ever attend university, so of course it was hard for me to know what to expect. But, upon just showing up to orientation here at Ohio Wesleyan, I was enthralled. I was surprised, anxious and just happy to know that this is what my life would be for the next four years. My advice though, despite my personal experience, would be to visit as many schools as possible and stay over night, get a feel for the environment as much as possible. I consider myself lucky to have come to a school in a small town, not knowing anyone and instantly hitting it off with the people I met and loving academia. The liberal arts education I am receiving has saved my life. And encourage anyone to look into such schools. They are personable, friendly, helpful and it is just an all around awesome experience.

Megan

I would have to say that when looking for a school you have to find the school that is right for you. That being that when you go to visit the school, stay over night and interact with the people and see if you fit it. A big part of college and often why many people leave the school they first choose is because they do not get along with the people. So my advice is that if you fit in well, then that college is right for you because it will be easy to make friends and form study groups.

Selby

Although there is a lot of pressure from the media to choose a high-powered school that will connect you with top scholars and get you a job wherever you want to go, your college decision is about much more than that. I strongly encourage students applying to schools to think about where they would be happiest, instead of where a college could get them in the future. You will make your undergraduate experience; if you work hard, engage others, and step outside of your comfort zone you'll be successful anywhere. It's ok to choose the school that gave you the most money over your top choice, as long as you can see yourself being happy there and comfortable with your decision years later. I chose my school because of the scholarship they gave me, but I fell in love fast and now I can't imagine being anywhere else. Choose a school that has successful faculty in your field who you've met and you know will be engaging and caring; they're the ones who will help you achieve. Overall, as long as you put your best foot forwards, you can be happy anywhere.

Zachary

Finding the right college is all about feeling. The feeling of the campus, teachers, and students one gets as they step onto campus should have a large effect on the choice. I think that while academics are very important - they are the reason why you go to college - it is also just as important to feel comfortable in the place where you will continue your education. A school that has 30,000 students might feel comfortable to one but another might feel that it is an unnavigatable sea of people. I think once the comfort barrier is crossed, the other joys of school will fall into place. The student will feel comfortable with doing things that the school puts on, taking part in clubs, making friends etc. All of that comes with being comfortable at the school of your choice. The final choice however should be the students', not the parents'. The parents should let their child make the choice based on their own feelings and observations. The parents should only give input sparingly and NOT try to make the decision for the student. Afterall, it is the teenage kid that is going to school, not the parents.

Chelsie

I would advise students to visit as many colleges as possible. Keeping an open mind is great and making sure the school offers courses for your major is a plus. Make sure you are comfortable with the class sizes and keep in mind what type of environment you want to be surrounded with. Diverse schools are a good choice because you are always going to find a comfortable group of people to hang out with. Also, pick a college that has a wide variety of activities and clubs that you enjoy because being involved is very important. Safety is another important concept to keep in mind. Look for a public safety group and make sure their are forms of contact when in danger. Money is another factor to focus on. Make sure you can afford the expences at certain colleges before making a direct decision so you don't find yourself in a hole.

Ashley

There is a great deal of advice that I would give to students about finding the right college. Make several visits to the prospective colleges to get a feel for the campus and community to make sure you are where you want to be. This will make you feel more comfortable when you finally move into your dorm. You will not be so lost and unsure. Try to sit in on a class or two and talk with some professors to get a feel for them. This will make you get an idea of what their interests are and how they teach college courses. You will already know what to expect if you ever take a class with that teacher. To make the most out of your college experience, live on campus for at least one or two years. You will have more of an opportunity to get involved on campus and meet new people who may become your friends. Be willing to get involved and try new things because this will help you combat homesickness, stressful times, and burnout. Lastly, if you need help, ask for it! do not let stress hinder your success and potential in college.

Hayley

Find a college that you're completely happy with. Make sure they have the major (or majors) that interest you, and that their programs regarding those majors are sufficient enough to give you the best education possible. Visit campus and make sure that you like the people and the atmosphere. When you get into college, make sure to stay on top of your work. If you fall behind, you will be left behind. Don't put yourself in danger of a low GPA, which will affect the rest of your college career and possibly your career after school. Study hard, but make sure to have some fun as well. Get out of your dorm room once in a while and socialize! You'll meet a lot of amazing people from all over the world, and you'll make lasting friendships. Get involved with extracurricular activities. You'll meet new people, learn new things, and have an amazing time doing it. All in all, study hard, have fun, and learn as much as possible. These college years will go by much too fast.

Danielle

pretty much all liberal-arts colleges are the same, they will give you the basic learning materials for your field of study, they'll all offer interesting community involvement/extracurricular activities, they'll all have sports and they'll all have sweet parties on the weekends (or whenever). you just have to make sure that you're willing to put in the work to actually have a great time at college and still come out with good grades and a sense of being able to balance your life's schedule and manage just about anything that gets thrown at you. finding the right college is not really that important, it's learning how to make the best out of what you choose--because not everyone is going to pick the college that is actually the best for them. when life gives you lemons, college teaches you how to make grape juice out of them and make everyone else wonder how you did it.

Justin

I would tell students to visit as many colleges as possible and to find a school where they feel like they truly fit in. I would also say not to go off of what other people that you know have experienced at a school because everyone is different. I would also tell these parents and students to not worry about what the ranking of the school is that they are going to go to because in the end it does not really matter what school you got your undergraduate degree from, it only matters that you have the degree from an accredited institution. Once students arrive on campus I would advise them to join clubs and organizations where they feel like they fit in. Joining these clubs and organizations will help them to feel more like they belong at the school, not feel as homesick, and to have an overall more enjoyable college experience. Lastly I would tell them not to worry if they feel like the workload has become overwhelming and too much to bear because these problems will be over shortly, and that the college experience is fleeting and should be enjoyed to the fullest extent possible.

Shade

Students have the most responsibility when it come to the best college experience. It starts with picking the right college. Visiting college campuses allows you to know what it's like to be a student. Not only staying over night, but going to classes and talking to your host. Ask important questions about the things you care most about. Make sure your grades and test scores give you the flexibility to pick the college you want to attend, not the one that will take you. When you finally know that you have picked the right college, be active. Class is not the only part of college! Find the organizations that interest you most! Try new things and make everything a learning experience. Also, return the favor to prospective students. When you love your school, you will have a great time entertainging those who are experiencing the things that you have gone through. Parents, allow your students the flexibility to choose the school that they want. Also, make sure they make the best of their experience and support them in their decisions.