OSU: Freshman Guide After Acceptance

Dec 19, 2017
5 min read

Congratulations on your acceptance to THE Ohio State University! The coming months, is the time to being the process of planning for the fall and the transition to this prestigious university. To help you in this process, here is a compilation of the top five things I wish I knew as an incoming freshman (an insider’s, perspective).

1. The Meal Plan

Meal plans are quite expensive and choosing the right one may be difficult.

I use, and recommend, the Gray 10 plan, which costs $1,952. Each week 10 swipes are uploaded to your Buck ID (they refresh Monday). These can be used at any dining location on campus (traditions, which are locations that you can swipe into and eat as much as you would like, and others) and have a cash value of $8. I, and many of my friends, have found that we don’t use over 10 swipes in a week. If you have access swipes, they can be spent at the C-Store (grocery store) or at other locations to purchase food. Also, $200 of “dining dollars” are uploaded. This can also be used at any dining location on campus and should be used in instances that you want a quick snack that doesn’t reach the $8 value of a swipe. You also have $150 of “Buck ID Cash” uploaded with this plan. This can be used at many restaurants and stores just off of campus. There will be a sticker in the window saying, “We accept Buck ID Cash,” if they do.

The Scarlet 14 plan, which costs $2,325, has the same benefits of the Gray 10 meal plan, however, you receive 14 swipes per week, instead of 10.

The Unlimited plan offers unlimited swipes. Additionally, there is $100 in dining dollars and an option to add BuckID Cash. This plan costs $1,905. The downside with this meal plan is that swipes can only be used in tradition locations, and not at other places (ex. campus coffee shops or the Union).

You can choose one, and if you find that you would like to change your plan, you have through the second Friday after classes start each semester to do so.

You can find more information by clicking here.

2. Where to Live

Each side of campus has their pros and cons. Be sure to consider where most of your classes will be when deciding on a location. You also have the option to live in a “Learning Community” on campus. This is a dorm that is filled with people that are in the same major as you. This provides a great opportunity to bond with people in your major and study with them. However, there is a lot said for living with people that are in other majors. You then are able to get to know people from all over the University with many different backgrounds.

I, personally, live on South Campus and love it. It is close to the Student Union, where I study and eat most of my meals. It has Kennedy Commons, which is a traditions location where students can eat. Plus, it is very close to High Street. I do not live in a learning or honors/scholar community. I have been able to form relationships with people in my classes and study with them. I enjoy living with people in all different majors because it gives me different social groups of friends. I also tackled the daunting “no air conditioning” this year... While I was terrified when I got this piece of news, it isn’t as bad as it seems. While moving in and the first week or so are rough because your body hasn’t become accustom to the temperatures, continue to remind yourself that it does get better. Bring lots of fans to circulate the air, and you will be just fine. Something must be said for bonding over the lack of AC.

By clicking here, you are able to look at the floor plans of the various dorms and see what side of campus they are located.

3. Roommates

Choosing a roommate is vital to a successful first year on campus. It is time to log into Facebook! There are groups that you can join for your graduating class and these will be used for more than just roommate searching. You will begin to find people on campus that you have commonalities with and start some new friendships! To start the roommate search, however, you can read the biographies that are posted in the Facebook groups. Feel free to message people to become friends or inquire about living together. It isn’t weird, because everyone is in the same boat. There are many questions, some that may seem uncomfortable, that you should ask. Some include…

What is your major?
Do you play any sports?
What do you like to do in your free time?
Are you a night owl?
Do you plan to join a sorority or fraternity?
How do you feel about drugs and/or alcohol in the room?
Are you currently seeing anyone?
How do you feel about sex in the room?

I know, some of them are awkward conversations to have, especially with someone you have never met before. It is better to ask now than regret later. So, get your Facebook up to date with your current friends and “likes!”

Also, randomized roommates are not a death sentence. I currently live in a triple; one of them I met on the Facebook group and the other was randomly assigned. There is a quiz that you will take when applying for housing with dozens of questions and it will match you with something that put similar answers, so be honest with how you feel, and not how your parents or anyone else feels. It is important to be truthful with yourself and what you would like in another person. After all, you will be the one living with them day in and day out for a year (or more)!

I was lucky enough to find my best friends in my roommates, but that isn’t the case for everyone. You don’t have to be best friends with who you room with, just compatible.

4. Courses—First Semester

Keep in mind that this is your first semester on campus, and probably your first time living on your own. There is a lot to figure out about yourself and the dynamics of campus life. Take an easy first semester! Remain full time, but don’t take all of your hardest classes right away. This is not the time to cram everything in… You have four years to complete all of the course work. Once you get used to how classes are run in college, because despite what your teachers said in high school, it is different, you can increase the course load. Be sure to check your major requirement sheet online before registering as well to have an idea what is required for your major.

5. Clubs & Activities

Make sure to take some time to yourself when you first get on campus. There is so much to get involved in, but if you are anything like me, you’ll want to do everything. This can be overstimulating at times. When going to the involvement fair, you can always look at everything and put your name down on a few things, and join more clubs later. The information for clubs on campus is online (here).

With over 1,300 registered organizations, you are bound to find something to get involved in. There is also always something happening on campus! You can find a list of events here.