Our daughter is thinking of these Ohio colleges - how are they different? (Columbus: dorm, transfer)

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by jbcmh81

Can't help you with not liking the sports, but the area around OSU is definitely improving. Granted it has its issues, but all the development from the Short North is gradually moving up High Street in that direction. OSU is spending a lot of money trying to fix up the local neighborhoods and Weinland Park nearby is also seeing significant revitalization. Also, all sophomores will eventually have to live on Campus, which is going to change the neighborhoods a bit as well, probably for the better. Most of the neighborhoods surrounding OSU are growing in population.

The worst areas, though, are east of the railroad tracks past N. 4th Street, which isn't the campus area or even an adjacent neighborhood.

As someone who graduated last year, the problem isn't that the University is in a bad neighborhood, but the surrounding neighborhoods are definitely not great- southeast of campus being the worst. 4th street is the general rule of thumb- don't live too far east of 4th. But this is where the problem comes in. Non-students come in to prey upon unsuspecting college kids, many of whom are from very suburban or rural areas and don't know how to make themselves less of a target of crime. It was almost every day I would find new smashed windows of a car on the streets I walked to get to campus. There were a lot of reports of assault, robbery, muggings and the like.

HOWEVER, I think that basic awareness of your surroundings goes a long way. I mean, is it any surprise that people walking alone at night listening to their ipod and texting get mugged? Talk about an easy target- completely unaware of anything! Leaving your GPS in your car for the world to see? Don't be surprised if someone smashes your window. Like getting wasted and walking home 2 miles down Pearl? Well, I could see that going poorly for you.

I chalk a lot of the crime up to kids being stupid. But I'm not gonna lie and say that the area around the university district is anywhere desirable.

[sheena12]

Originally Posted by MarianR

If you are concerned about costs, check out Ohio Wesleyan. They have a fantastic merit scholarship program.
OWU is a small school with an excellent science department, among others. It has a large percentage of foreign students. The faculty and staff are very caring.
Our daughter graduated from OWU in 2009. She had a presidential scholarship as well as some others and was able to graduate debt free. She went to a summer institute sponsored by Notre Dame in between her junior and senior year, and the field trip for one of her senior classes was to Costa Rica.
Check out Ohio Wesleyan in the ratings magazines and you will find it's always rated very well.

I am looking into other schools with my daughter. I am not disguising Ohio University though. My daughter is very interested in it and loves the Ivy League look of the campus.

My son currently attends YSU and loves it. There is not much of a party scene there but enough for his taste. He is easily distracted and says that it is best that he goes to a school without much of a party scene. He might be too tempted.

Around Halloween there was a celebration and parties at YSU and at a frat where he hangs out sometimes. Apparently, the norm today is to celebrate Halloween for a week. My nephew, who is a recent grad of WVU confirmed this. When I was at college, Halloween was not a week long celebration but it was taken very seriously. Basically, it was one of the only holidays that were not family time that you could spend with friends. EVERYONE dressed up and there was live music and much over indulgence.

The other day that we celebrated was St.Patrick's Day. They actually sold beer on campus back then and the drinking age was 18. The beer was green and everyone partook in the festivities.

This year my son and a group of his friends were invited to nearby Kent State which had a pretty wild week long Halloween celebration. The night they went the place was packed.

For some reason there was a police swat team there, although nothing out of the ordinary was going on.

I think that parties are a part of college, but time have changed.

I actually think that this new zero tolerance attitude attitude towards drinking backfires. When I was in college, things were much more relaxed and there were no deaths due to alcohol poisoning. People were a lot more realistic.

That's my opinion and I know that I am in the minority these days, but I still think that "just say no" does not work.

[natininja]

^ I wouldn't take something from WVU as the gold standard of university norms. It's the country's top party school. OU is third, according to this list from 2012:

West Virginia Tops List of America's 20 Best Party Schools - Baltimore events | Examiner.com

Well, then there is this Princeton Review ranking OU as #1:
2012 Princeton Review Party School Rankings - The Best Colleges

[TheYO]

Originally Posted by natininja

^ I wouldn't take something from WVU as the gold standard of university norms. It's the country's top party school. OU is third, according to this list from 2012:

West Virginia Tops List of America's 20 Best Party Schools - Baltimore events | Examiner.com

Well, then there is this Princeton Review ranking OU as #1:
2012 Princeton Review Party School Rankings - The Best Colleges

Ohio was #1 for the 2011-12 academic year. WVU is #1 now for the 2012-13 year. But like I said, those rankings aren't based on any facts at all, just student surveys.

[sheena12]

Originally Posted by TheYO

Ohio was #1 for the 2011-12 academic year. WVU is #1 now for the 2012-13 year. But like I said, those rankings aren't based on any facts at all, just student surveys.

Ohio University or Ohio Stare? By the way, your advice concerning my son's school choice a year ago was spot on! He loves it there and is friends with people in one Frat who is describes as very laid back and not typical frat types. I would know the name if you mentioned it.

My daughter seems most interested in OU and Kent. Miami seems too conservative for her taste and she is looking into other schools as well.

[TheYO]

Originally Posted by sheena12

Ohio University or Ohio Stare? By the way, your advice concerning my son's school choice a year ago was spot on! He loves it there and is friends with people in one Frat who is describes as very laid back and not typical frat types. I would know the name if you mentioned it.

My daughter seems most interested in OU and Kent. Miami seems too conservative for her taste and she is looking into other schools as well.

Sorry, Ohio University, not Ohio State. When I say Ohio, I'm always referring to Ohio University.

I'm glad your son is enjoying YSU! I think most of the frats there are pretty laid back, but the one I was specifically referring to was Sigma Chi. One of my best friends from high school is in it, and I hang out with him and a lot of the other brothers whenever I'm back in Youngstown.

[sheena12]

Originally Posted by TheYO

Sorry, Ohio University, not Ohio State. When I say Ohio, I'm always referring to Ohio University.

I'm glad your son is enjoying YSU! I think most of the frats there are pretty laid back, but the one I was specifically referring to was Sigma Chi. One of my best friends from high school is in it, and I hang out with him and a lot of the other brothers whenever I'm back in Youngstown.

Yup that's the one! He has quite a few friends there and hangs out there a lot. You ARE good!

[TheYO]

Originally Posted by sheena12

Yup that's the one! He has quite a few friends there and hangs out there a lot. You ARE good!

Haha that's awesome!

[Rumble]

Speaking strictly as a business professional who supervised and worked in a department that hired and trained about 12-16 Ohio graduates every year:

In Order

Miami University:
The 2nd or 3rd most difficult school to get into in the state (behind Case and/or maybe tOSU). Seem to produce by far and away the most successful business professionals that we have noticed. Most MU grads had big time tunnel vision, drive, and focus that business leaders look for and, as a result, climb the ladder quickly. We have ones that were hired just 5/6 years ago and are already easily cemented throughout upper-middle management. They are normally very well spoken, and yes, I do admit that some of them give off a touch of a condescending/uppity vibe at times.

Ohio State:
Seen top flight performers from this school. A hiring recipe for success seemed to be hiring ones that had a 3.2+ GPA while also being heavily involved in extra-curriculars or internships. They also tend to me strong networkers. The only downsides is that many of their recent grads can't seem to get it out of their heads that they are not in college anymore. We don't care or want to hear about how "sick" that kegger was two years ago and no, we did not just watch that game this weekend where O-H-I-O tore up the powerhouse football program of DAYTON.

Kent State University
We hire primarily finance/accounting grads and Kent State has a pretty solid accounting program. We have gotten some top notch performers here. However, you really have to do your due diligence and be selective, as being a public school that just about anyone can get into, we got some big time duds.

Ohio University:
The OU grads that I have seen tend to be hit or miss, granted I have not seen many. The ones that I have met definitely retain their work hard, play hard reputation, but we do tend to see some grads from this school that just don't seem to take their professional life seriously and as a result fizzle out.

Bowling Green
Haven't brought many on board, but like Kent, being that it's a fairly unselective public school that most anyone can get into and graduate from, due diligence is required.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by Rumble

Ohio State:
Seen top flight performers from this school. A hiring recipe for success seemed to be hiring ones that had a 3.2+ GPA while also being heavily involved in extra-curriculars or internships. They also tend to me strong networkers. The only downsides is that many of their recent grads can't seem to get it out of their heads that they are not in college anymore. We don't care or want to hear about how "sick" that kegger was two years ago and no, we did not just watch that game this weekend where O-H-I-O tore up the powerhouse football program of DAYTON.

.

This is just the kind of thing that business people in general talk about. Business schools usually don't require their students to really try at all- just meet and network with people. Why not go to keggers? Nothing special about OSU.

When did the Buckeyes ever play Dayton in recent history?