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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Hey OP,

My daughter is interested in engineering so we have looked at many large schools as her specific engineering major is impossible to find at private schools.

We have been to Ohio State, Michigan, Purdue, Iowa State, UMD, Virginia Tech, UF, UT, and ASU.

What she liked about OSU 
They have great merit and scholarship packages.  
The campus is relatively easy to walk around (no hills, pretty compact, food and exercise close to all dorms and class buildings.) 
A lot of school spirit
In an urban setting.  Not in the cornfields
Change of seasons, but not 25ft of snow each year
A lot of options for extra classes and double/triple major without going in summers
A lot of student activities, IM sports, and clubs
The dorms and dorm system seemed to be pretty nice
Greek life is only 15%

What she didn't like:
The school spirit was a little too centered around sports and there seemed to be a deep divide between studious and not studious. 
Kids were content, none seemed overly happy unless they were talking about OSU football.  
Our engineering tour was terrible.  Both ambassadors that toured were 5 year students. Neither with co-ops.  That was a huge red flag for us. 
Most kids were sitting alone at lunch eating, in the student union, walking around etc...  That was probably the only thing that really stand out that was so different from other schools.  Maybe it was the day, but it felt strange. 
It felt very in-state.  Even more than others that have more in-state.  The admissions tour started with the kids coming in chanting OH-IO.  We were like WTF.

Anyway, I think a smart kid who can self-advocate could probably be extremely successful there and get in with professors for internships and research quickly.  It is not a cut through atmosphere which can be a positive as long as you know your child won't slack.  It is probably a much easier place to be at the top of the ladder.

But there was something about it, that my daughter didn't like. She wasn't sure what.  She didn't like VT (too rural, too conservative.) but I would say out of the rest OSU was second to last.

We went into Iowa State thinking that was going to be a bust and was so thoroughly impressed with the people, the spirt, the campus, and the love they have for their program.  Same with Purdue.  That was one of our favorite campuses.  More urban feel than I thought and the happiest and spirited kids there.  Even the engineering nerds were social and wearing Purdue gear.

So I wouldn't say it was a midwest thing.  It was something else for us.  That said, my DD's friend is there on a full ride OOS and is having a great time.  I wouldn't go on anyone else's perception, but your own.

[/quote]

not op, but thank you so much for sharing your direct experience with several universities that are not typically discussed on this board![/quote]

Regarding the no co-ops for engineering Ohio State, this is also true at UMichigan. Look over at college Confidential where posters talk about this in greater detail. Not every program does the co-op thing well. [/quote]

I am the PP. My point was that both ambassadors for OHU were in the 5th year of straight college for a BA - no change in major. One was going to take 5.5 years to graduate. For those programs, that is not good. Being in an engineering program with co-ops, it is normal to go 4.5 or 5yrs. Without it, there is no reason to not graduate in 4 or 4.5 years. So it was a red flag for us.

UMD doesn’t do co-ops really either, but their internships are great and their 4yr graduate rate is super high. That is important to look into for your major no matter what school. [/quote]

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