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Here's what I'm going to talk about: why I love Ohio State. Admittedly, it was not the only college I applied to. I also applied to Baldwin-Wallace College and Marietta College. However, for as long as I can remember, I've wanted to go to college here. Ultimately, that is what drove my decision. And on a side note, the day I found out I was accepted here was one of the best days of my life! Before I actually got here, my family, friends, and others worried about safety, about me moving from our small, rural community to Ohio's capital. I have never felt in danger while on campus, but I know what I have to do if that situation should arise. I'll admit, too, that I was worried about my adjustment to the city; growing up on the farm doesn't exactly compare to walking down High Street, passing a variety of people, restaurants, and shops that I know would never be seen in my hometown. But once I moved in here, and after a couple days of adjusting, I knew I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else. I love walking across the Oval and seeing hundreds of other students laying out, doing homework, throwing a baseball around, or playing frisbee. I love walking past Orton Hall and admiring its beautiful bell tower. Mirror Lake is another great aspect of campus, too, and not only for the Mirror Lake Jump tradition the Thursday before the Ohio State vs. Michigan game! The RPAC is a great place to work out, too; I've never seen as many different machines that worked so many muscles I never knew I had! Aside from all these "exterior" reasons, I have plenty of "interior" reasons. I've made some great friends, and I don't have the roommate horror stories you sometimes hear. Ohio State does a fabulous job of matching people with compatible roommates. I've been able to re-connect with a friend of mine who I hadn't seen or talked to very often before now. I've been exposed to a variety of cultures, races, and traditions that have only made my experience here that much better. This university is the place for me, and it can be the place for thousands of other students, too. It's great to be a Buckeye; we love our toxic nuts!
Leslie Sophomore
Ohio State is the biggest campus in the world. So many of my friends from high school go here and both my parents went here. I found the transition to college akward and weird here because the campus is so big and it is very very hard to establish close friends. There is a ton of pride with people yelling the O-H-I-O chant. I loved the experience of having football tickets and being in the crazy atmosphere of the crowd.
Viggy Freshman
I love the fact that OSU is huge. There are literally thousands of people to meet. You never run out of new things to do. It never gets boring. The Oval in the spring is incredible. Whether you like to play frisbee, get a tan, smoke hookah, play guitar, walk tightrope, or just take advantage of the free foods that are given out from the various student organizations, the oval is the place to get it all.
Ben Freshman
You have to make your OSU experience. It is a LARGE campus, and most faculty and administration care more about RESEARCH than the education aspect, which is very annoying. I wonder how it might have differed at a smaller school. Also, athletics tend to place a shadow on academics. The most important warning is that speaking English well is not a requirement for professors. I wish I'd known how many professors I would not be able to understand before I came. I had an English class professor that had just moved to the U.S. and was trying to learn to speak English still! (These professors have a research agenda, but they are giving a light academic class to keep them on staff= ANNOYING for students.)
Leesa Senior
A lot of people feel like Ohio State is so large that they would become just another face in the crowd if they came here. But the great thing about a huge university is the huge number of opportunities you have. There ARE a ton of students here, but that just means that you're practically guaranteed to find some awesome people that are interested in the same things you are. And while OSU is definitely a big school, it doesn't take long before you start to feel like you're part of the family. Another great thing about Ohio State is the number of traditions that we have. From jumping in Mirror Lake to yelling "O-H! I-O!" at each other around campus, football season at Ohio State is definitely an exciting time to be a Buckeye. Being surrounded by 100,000 other screaming Ohio State fans at a game is definitely an experience I'll remember for the rest of my life.
Randy Senior
Time: Fall 2003. Location: a cramped room in the Union. Event: Campus Tour. It was approximately 8:30 in the morning and I was less then thrilled to be sitting in a crowded lecture hall with about 200 other high school students and their parents. It was hot and I had just driven 2 hours from my Cincinnati suburb to check out Ohio State University. OSU really hadn't been one of my top schools of choice, I had my heart set on Miami University since I was in the 4th grade. So, you can imagine how irritated I was being here so early. The next thing I knew, some high energy students came out followed by the band. Before I knew it Hang On Sloopy was being echoed throughout the room and everyone was doing O-H-I-O. I was suddenly amazed by the energy in the room. I had forgotten all about my self-pity and was throwing my arms up with the rest of the crowd. The tour was equally as fun and the tour guide was bursting with happiness about the school. I suddenly felt at home and was loving every inch of the school. For being one of the largest schools in the nation, it surprisingly didn't feel as such. It was overflowing with charm. On the drive home I remember telling my parents, "Forget Miami, I'm going to OSU". That same welcoming feeling has continued with me throughout my time here and I have never felt like "just a number". OSU is big enough to encompass any club, activity, sport, and class you could ever want, need, or desire, and small enough to make you feel like you actually belong.
AChurbock Senior
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