Ohio University | Student Reviews | Best College

Student Profile

Caitlin

Class: Junior
Major: Social Work
Gender: F

High School: Grove City High School
Transfer Student: N

Big Picture

The best thing about OU is the atmosphere and the scenery. There isn't a more beautiful place to be in the middle of the fall or the beginning of spring. If there's one thing I would change, it would be the use of all-freshman residence halls. They get a little crazy when first year students don't have anyone to look up to; it's like they're still in high school. I feel like the size of OU is perfect. It's a little big compared to other schools but you can't walk anywhere at any time without passing someone you know. Perfect size, in my opinion. When I first started at OU and told people that I went there, the reaction was typical-"That's a party school, you know". Now that I'm older and have been here for a few years, people will ask normal college-kid questions: What year are you? What's your major?, etc. Athens is definitely a college town and I love it that way. Coming from Columbus, home of Ohio State University, I couldn't imagine going to a university where it's part classes, part skyscrapers. I love the college town atmosphere. Ohio's administration could be a little better, let's be honest. They're doing a lot of things that the student body doesn't agree with but you can't please everyone, right? I couldn't tell you what the biggest campus controversy is, to be honest. It changes from group to group, organization to organization-whatever those people are passionate about. I feel like there is a lot of school pride. You'll see at least 5 people wearing an OU shirt every day. It's not out of control school pride, however (cough-OSU-cough). People don't get out of control. The most unusual thing about OU is the fact that it's haunted and that everyone knows it. OU is home to The Ridges-an old insane asylum. Pretty unique=) The experience I'll never forget is that with my fraternity-Alpha Phi Omega. APhiO is the reason I still go to OU and has provided a number of my college memories. Overall, Ohio University is fantastic. I honestly couldn't imagine being anywhere else for four wonderful years of college.

Academic Life

There are some professors who get to know our names. Not very many, though. Most classes are pretty big so I'm sure it's difficult for them, especially when they teach so many classes during a single quarter. There are definitely those that make a real effort to get to know us. My favorite class was Social Work 101. Great professor, great topics, fantastic class. My least favorite was Social Work 350-Research Methods for Social Work. It wasn't taught well, professor was VERY unclear. Personally, I study a lot-mostly on the few days before an exam. I live with all freshman, though, who are still in their 101 classes who don't really study that often. Class participation varies from class to class. You'll get a lot of discussion in literature or political classes but not so much in psychology or science classes. I think that OU students do have intellectual conversations outside of class. We don't all just sit around talking about booze, I promise=) The most unique class I've taken is Biology 205-Reproductive Biology. The professor is kinda quirky and makes things in class fun. My major is okay, the department isn't fantastic. Had I know that I would be a Social Work major going in, I probably wouldn't have stuck around. The department is very unorganized, people just need to get on the same page, already! I don't spend time with professors outside of class and to be honest, I don't know a lot of people who do. OU academic requirements, at least for the College of Arts & Sciences, are pretty typical. I enjoy the classes that are outside of my major that I'm required to take. The education at OU if a little of both-for getting a job and for learning. The majority is learning for its own sake but a lot of professors will say "If you're going to be a social psychologist, this is the kind of thing you would be doing...", which helps=)

Student Body

I haven't had a lot of experience with diverse groups on campus. I've taken a training through the LGBT center and focused a project on the Crewson House for students with disabilities but otherwise, I haven't gotten a very diverse experience. I don't know that any student would feel out of place. No matter who you are, there's someone else here with similar backgrounds, interests, etc. Most students wear jeans and a hoodie or t-shirt to class. There are a few of the sorority girls who dress a little more fashionably or skimpier but it's pretty dress down here. There isn't a whole lot of interaction among different types of students. There's a lot of pride for being different but not an awful lot of interaction. The four tables: Asian/International Students, Residence Life staff members, Sorority girls/Frat boys and the rest of OU. Most OU students are from Ohio-a shocking number from Cleveland. Most people come from middle class backgrounds. There are a good number of students who are politically aware, a good number who aren't. Predominantly left. I haven't heard a lot of students discuss how much they'll earn one day.