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- Local Atmosphere

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Ohio University - Local Atmosphere - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.46

Local Atmosphere

B
Where does this grade come from?View all Local Atmosphere rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Local Atmosphere Grades:

Quick Stats

Points of Interest
  • Athens Skate Park
  • Burr Oak State Park
  • Hocking Hills
  • Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch Guitar Camp
  • Kennedy Museum of American Art
  • Old Man’s Cave
  • The Ridges
  • Splash Down
  • Stroud’s Run
  • The Wilds

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

OU students agree: Athens is unique. A small town built around a college, it is full of distinctive personalities. There are small, specialty shops and great restaurants that you won’t find anywhere else. Practically any student you ask will say that the atmosphere is one of the greatest parts of going to OU. Athens is the epitome of a college town: tree-filled greens, colonial architecture, brick streets, all of which makes for a very quaint and comfortable learning atmosphere. However, at times, it can seem like Athens is closed off from the rest of the world (when a Wal-Mart finally opened a store in Athens a few years ago, students rejoiced). Shopping can be really difficult (the closest mall is about 45 miles away in Lancaster) and most students resort to online shopping or driving an hour and a half to Columbus. There are plenty of exceptional, cheap thrills in and around Athens, though, such as the haunted areas and the skatepark.

The residents of Athens are very tolerant of the rowdy OU students and, for the most part, friendly (part of their patience might have to do with the fact that their businesses rely a great deal on the students). “Townies,” as they are affectionately known, range from upper-class citizens to hippies, creating an eclectic and downright weird community. A great college town, it’s hard not to love Athens; just be prepared to escape to the “real world” every now and then when you need a Target or Starbucks fix.

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Ohio University Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Local Atmosphere at Ohio University

MDCwithJ3

'15

Music

3.5
B

Beyond School Limits in Athens, OH.

Upon my first visit to Athens, Ohio, I was immediately struck by the gorgeous scenery. Everywhere you look makes a perfect snap-shot. However, Athens is a small town. And outside of the University, there is not much to do as far as activities are concerned. On multiple occasions, my family has come to visit me here at school, and we have had very little to do, aside from walk around campus and view my classrooms. There are countless attractive restaurants, but for entertainment purposes, top-notch restaurant choices are not quite enough to amuse guests for a weekend.

Jan 23, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at Ohio University

kp114309

'14

Early Childhood Education

5.0
A+

Picturesque

Ohio University is what the campus you see on TV shows and in movies looks like. With the bricks, hundreds of trees and constant buzz of activity, Ohio University has the atmosphere that people expect when they go to school.

As a student, I am constantly inspired by the friendly professors and even friendlier fellow students, the sight of the quaint Court Street; which is busy any time of day and the day, and the smiles that seem to come naturally to everyone on campus. The entire community is full of life and energy, while still remaining quiet and calm enough for anyone to feel relaxed. I can't imagine a more fitting environment to study, shop and become educated on the diversity of this world than in Athens, Ohio.

Jan 03, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at Ohio University

sm903710

'15

History

4.6
A

Athens Is a College Town.

The University is in the middle of the city, and is a big part of the city. Athens is a college town, it's just that simple. There are lots of things to do in Athens that are within walking distance of the University or within the University itself.

Dec 19, 2011

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Page 1 of 10

Photos of Ohio University's Local Atmosphere

College Students:
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Ohio University - Scott Quad CourtyardScott Quad Courtyard
Photo by CBPoindexter
Scott Quad Courtyard This is the courtyard of Scott Quad, one of the nicest dorms at Ohio University. If you can stay here, do it. OUPD is right downstairs, making it quiet and easy for studying.
Link to this photo
Photo by CBPoindexter
Ohio University - Winter in AthensWinter in Athens
Photo by CBPoindexter
Winter in Athens Love snow? Then you'll love winter in Athens.
Link to this photo
Photo by CBPoindexter
Ohio University - Pyramid ClubPyramid Club
Photo by CBPoindexter
Pyramid Club This is a snapshot taken of the Thursday night belly dancer performance at the Pyramid hookah café, a neat little place just off Court Street. Pyramid is a good place to spend time if you don't drink, or even if you do, as it's affordable and fun. Plus, there's karaoke on Fridays, and live music and comedy shows on the weekends.
Link to this photo
Photo by CBPoindexter

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the local atmosphere on the following topics

What is the local atmosphere like at your school?

What is the proximity to other universities? Is there much interaction?

Can you see yourself living here after graduation?

Facts

Shopping Centers
  • Athens Mall
  • River Valley Mall
  • University Mall
Major Sports Teams
  • Cleveland Browns: football
  • Cleveland Cavaliers: basketball
  • Cleveland Indians: baseball
  • Columbus Crew: soccer
City Web Sites
Distances to Nearest Major Cities
  • Cleveland: OH: 4 hours
  • Columbus: OH: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Athens:
• Athens is notoriously haunted; from the spooky Ridges, which used to be an insane asylum, to the five cemeteries that form a pentagram around the city. Athens was even voted the 13th most haunted place in the world by the British Society for Psychic Research. Athens was also featured on FOX’s Scariest Places on Earth TV special.
• There are tons of unique, fun festivals in Athens County throughout the year, including Parade of the Hills, the Ohio Paw Paw Festival, the Bead International Festival, and the Jambalaya Jam.
• The new 17,000-square foot Athens Skatepark was designed by award-winning Grindline Skateparks and partially funded by the Tony Hawk Foundation. It was even featured on the MTV show, Viva La Bam, when broken in by the show’s star Bam Margera during a 2004 episode.
• Athens is a paradise for hikers, bird watchers, and nature lovers. The city is surrounded by several state parks (Burr Oak, Lake Hope, Lake Snowden, and Wayne National Forest), making it easy to take a weekend hiking, backpacking, or camping retreat.
• Thousands of partiers head to the small town every Halloween to partake in what has been called the “Mardi Gras of the Midwest.”

Famous People From Athens:
Dow Finsterwald, champion professional golfer
Maya Lin, architect of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
David Wilhelm, campaign manager for Bill Clinton and former chairman of the Democratic National Committee

Movie TheatersWhat's This?

Athena Grand
1008 E. State St.
Athens
(740) 593-8822

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at OU

Name: Nash Bober

Hometown: Berlin Heights, Ohio

Major: Management information systems/Marketing

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