Ohio State University - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

The feelings regarding professors and TAs are largely positive at OSU. Though feelings about the methods in which some courses are taught may differ a bit, one of the greatest advantages of OSU is the ease with which one can contact professors and TAs. OSU has a somewhat lax classroom environment compared to other schools, but don’t be fooled: attending classes is still vital. Many courses weigh attendance and participation in your final grade, and beyond that, subject matter moves quickly and skipping even one class can put you in a deep hole. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a teacher will rigidly stick to the syllabus, either. Agendas change, and so do deadlines. You might be smart enough to skip a class for two weeks, but it won’t matter if you miss a midterm because the date got changed and you didn’t know.

School is what you make of it. OSU is a distinguished university with a top 25 national ranking, but that doesn’t mean every professor will teach in a way that you prefer. It’s a give-and-take situation. In some classes, there is a language barrier created by a foreign professor or TA; understanding calculus is difficult to begin with, but trying to learn from a teacher who speaks broken English makes it even harder. Luckily, most professors and TAs usually have at least one strong point that you can build from: constant communication. Talking to your instructors via phone, e-mail, or office visits can be incredibly important. Set up a meeting at a local coffee shop, or bake them a cake just to show them you mean business! Okay, so that might be going a bit overboard, but you get the idea.

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Students Speak Out

BuckeyeGirl says: Ohio State University 2016 Communication and Journalism

Despite what OSU says, GECs are... Despite what OSU says, GECs are pointless. And every TA that I've had has been foreign, and I couldn't understand a word they said. 12345 Academics: April 27, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

The teachers at Ohio State vary.... The teachers at Ohio State vary. Sometimes, you land great ones that really want to help students learn, but it’s not that often. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

There are good professors, bad... There are good professors, bad professors, ugly professors, and cute professors. You’ll either end up learning, falling asleep, or, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be on the lookout trying to spot the hottest chick in the room. 12345 Academics Report

chaanaae says: Ohio State University 2013 Undecided

curriculum A There are many classes to choose from.There are a number of academically competitive programs. 12345 Academics: November 14, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

The quality of professors depends... The quality of professors depends on your major. I am an English major, and most of my teachers are graduate students and are usually around my age group. I find them easier to contact and talk to than the professors. 12345 Academics Report

Facts

Did You Know?

The term “Buckeyes,” in reference to Ohio State sports, actually comes from an older, broader use of the term—it used to refer to everyone who lived in the state of Ohio. The name was probably adopted because of the buckeye tree, the official tree of the state, or because Ohio is known as the “Buckeye State.”

Don’t watch your mailbox: all grades and bills are sent electronically to your University account, which can be accessed through OSU’s network.

If you need some extra luck on finals, go to the main library and rub the nose of former OSU president William Oxley Thompson.

Best Places to Study:
Main Library, Mathematics and Statistics Learning Center, Starbucks, and the Oval during the spring quarter

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