Ohio State University

Date: Aug 21 2008
Major: Math (This Major's Salary over time)
I graduated twenty years ago when students just needed a weak pulse to get in.

First the negative comments: The Math program at that time was horrible. Even the professors said the Math program was good only if you took it twice. No thanks! But I did finish.

I did run into professors that spoke weak English, especially the Math professors, but you will find that at any university. It made me work harder reading my textbook, and some of my best grades were in those classes.

I had a hard time finding a good advisor. At first I put up with it. But part of my education was growing up and standing up for myself. I complained to my college until I got an advisor I was satisfied with. It worked.

Campus safety or the outlying apartment areas is not good. Common sense is key - don't walk in dark areas alone at night. Don't walk down Pearl Alley at night. Lock your dorm door. There are plenty of apartments with security buzzers.

The Internet will have improved the administrative issues in signing up for and changing classes that were a nightmare then. It took all day to change a class.

Now for the good things:

I never went to a professor's office hours and had he or she not be there as expected. I was always helped. If you think the professor thinks of you as a number, that's your own fault. If I didn't need help, I was quiet and fine with it. I had a few professors take an interest in me and try to talk me into getting a masters in the field. They could have just taught and went home but they didn't.

There are resources everywhere. My ex-boyfriend went to Ohio Northern, and I was amazed at the lack of resources at his expensive private school.

Even though admissions standards were more lax back then, I was amazed how smart some of the students were. I sometimes felt inadequate but just worked harder.

I had an absolutely great time. I have wonderful memories that will last forever. The football games are second to none. Yes, it is a big factor there, but it isn't everything. I had friends there who hated football; I had friends who loved football but not Ohio State football. The other students were extremely friendly. I met a few snobs who thought they were better than everyone else, but that is everywhere.

Columbus is a fantastic, under-rated town. I live in Chicago now, and when my youngest graduates high school, I am moving back to Columbus. It is relatively safe, clean, friendly, open-minded, has affordable housing, and has great restaurants. My kids both want to go to OSU. I have to admit I do have them taking Tae Kwon Do now because of safety.

Unless you are obsessed with Ivy, an OSU education is widely recognized. There are elite private schools that no one has heard of where students can't find jobs. Employers respect OSU, and it has opened doors for me even outside the state of Ohio.