What Makes Ohio State a Great Institution?
By Jefferson Blackburn-Smith, Senior Associate Director, Undergraduate Admission and First Year Experience
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For several years, The Ohio State University has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s best public universities. If you were to talk with Ohio State students and faculty you would hear the same thing. Why is this true? Is it the number of highly ranked academic programs, the excellent extracurricular opportunities for students, or is it being located in Columbus, Ohio, the nation’s 15th largest city? What is it that makes Ohio State a great university?

Ohio State University is the largest university in the United States, with more than 50,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on the Columbus campus. That’s big. There’s just no other way to describe it. And the undergraduate student experience at Ohio State is heavily influenced by the size of the institution. Big, however, isn’t a negative in this case. “Ohio State is a large institution yet has the characteristics of a small institution. By this I mean that OSU, by being large, has all the advantages of a large top research institution. You can find any major and activity that you may be interested in. However, teaching and personal attention to student needs are similar to a small institution,” said Dr. Jose Castro, a professor in Industrial and Systems Engineering.

At Ohio State, big means great academics, great faculty, and a great student body. At Ohio State, big means a comprehensive university that houses six professional programs (law, medicine, etc.), 111 master’s programs, and 93 Ph.D. programs on the same campus as the undergraduate programs, giving students excellent opportunities for research, jobs, and mentoring. At Ohio State, big means state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories, student support services, and, of course, big-time athletics. And it is the mix of these factors that makes Ohio State a truly great university. “Ohio State is one of the top schools in the nation and it is an honor to be part of this family. I know that my mom brags about me to everyone because I attend this grand university,” said Melissa Castillo, a sophomore from Weslaco, Texas, majoring in International Studies and a participant of CAMP (College Assistance Migrant Program). For more information, read the article about CAMP on page 34.

Academics are the cornerstone of a successful Ohio State experience. Offering more than 170 undergraduate majors, many of them ranked among the best in the nation, Ohio State has both academic breadth and depth.

Students, with the help of an academic advisor, choose their classes from more than 10,000 courses offered each year. This flexibility allows students to build a curriculum that reflects the student’s career goals and interests and still has the academic rigor Ohio State requires. For example, many students are required to take a history sequence as part of their general education curriculum. Students can select from courses in Western Civilization, African Civilization, History of East Asia, Latin American Civilization, World History, or American Civilization.

Ohio State faculty, engaged in research and in the creation of knowledge, are the real academic strength of the university. Students gain insight into the newest theories and applications of knowledge. “I continuously draw examples from my research for my teaching. When relevant, I invite industrial sponsors as guest lecturers,” Dr. Castro explained. Melissa Castillo sees another side of the faculty at Ohio State. “I like the fact that the faculty truly care about the students and are willing to go the extra mile to see them succeed.” All professors and graduate teaching assistants are required by the university to hold office hours to be available to meet with students. Many academic departments also offer free tutoring to help ensure student success.

Academics are just one part of the Ohio State experience, however. Vanessa Boss, a first year Latina student from Hinckley, Ohio, majoring in pharmaceutical sciences, describes the campus as full of opportunities. “Ohio State has spirit, diversity, and a variety of classes, majors, and activities. There is always something to be involved with and do,” Boss said. Some experiences outside the classroom may enhance the student’s academic work, while others are just for fun. Ohio State has the largest intramural sports program in the nation and currently has over 600 student organizations. “I’m a floor representative for Bradley-Paterson Hall Council and I also play intramurals,” Boss continued. “Being a part of hall council is so much fun and was a great way to get involved with fellow dorm mates.” Melissa Castillo sees other benefits to getting involved. “We come together and help the students become part of our family as well as the OSU family.” Jenny Klein, director of Student Life agrees: getting involved in student organizations in order to make new friends, develop leadership skills, and just for enjoyment is a key way students make Ohio State feel like home. “No matter what group you join at Ohio State, becoming a part of something that helps you experience the true Buckeye community will make your college experience truly rewarding,” Klein said.

A big University doesn’t mean only big classes taught by TAs: 89% of OSU classes have 50 or fewer students. Only 6% have more than 100 students. 85% of OSU classes are taught by a faculty member. Only 15% are taught by a TA.

Ohio State undergraduates are also encouraged to take advantage of the myriad extracurricular opportunities that will enhance their classroom experiences and make them more competitive for the job market and graduate or professional school upon graduation. Co-ops and internships, which give students real work experience while they are in school, are available for all students who pursue them. Study abroad programs take OSU students to more than 40 countries, and while most programs last a quarter (10 weeks), they can run as little as nine days or as long as a year.

Undergraduate research is another opportunity that Ohio State encourages. “I involve undergraduate students in my research programs. The undergraduate students in my research group interact closely with both my graduate students and my industrial sponsors,” said Dr. Castro. Each year OSU hosts the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum to showcase student research. This May, more than 300 undergraduate students, doing research in a variety of different disciplines from biology to business to engineering and English, participated. In addition to winning cash awards, all students who participated in the Denman have the opportunity to apply for a research exchange program with the University of São Paulo, in Brazil. “Every November, we travel to São Paulo where the students present their research in an international research forum on the São Paulo campus, and each spring students from São Paulo are hosted at Ohio State,” explained Brian Orefice, program coordinator with the University Honors & Scholars Center.

Any conversation about Ohio State is incomplete without discussing the open and friendly nature of the campus community. Vanessa Boss acknowledges the accepting environment. “OSU is so diverse and you will never feel out of place, ever. There are so many multi-cultural organizations and activities. It’s an amazing place to be and experience!” Ohio State students come from all 50 states and from more than 135 countries. In fact, Ohio State ranks in the top 10 nationally for number of international students, with more than 4,200 enrolled on the Columbus campus. The Ohio State Columbus campus has more than 7,600 students of color, including more than 1,100 Hispanic/Latin@ students. OSU attracts students who are serious about getting an excellent education. For the 11th year in a row, this autumn’s freshman class will be the strongest academic class ever admitted. More than 88 percent of freshmen return for their second year (compared to a national average of 75 percent for four-year public universities.)

Great students. Great faculty. Great educational opportunities in and out of the classroom. Great facilities, like the new Recreation and Physical Activities Center (Phase I opens this summer) which, when completed in 2006, will be the largest recreational facility in the world. These are the elements that make Ohio State a truly great university. Melissa Castillo offered this final thought for Hispanic/Latin@ students thinking about college. “If I had a chance, I would encourage them to consider OSU, despite the obstacles they might have to jump over just to get here. Ohio State University is one of the top schools in the nation.” Vanessa Boss agreed. “OSU is wonderful. I have met the most amazing people and have been having a great time. All of the many opportunities here at OSU have led me to many answers for my future.”