As I go through college, I find myself being asked more and more by my peers about why I chose Ohio Northern University. The truth is, there's no secret formula to choosing the right college. Every college has their advantages and disadvantages. For ONU, one of the advantages of attending a small liberal arts university is the opportunity to take classes outside of your major and to form great relationships with both your professors and advisors. A definite disadvantage, however, is that ONU is located in the middle of the cornfield which means there's no Target within a 30-minute radius. Regardless, here are my tips when it comes to choosing the right university.
Choose a campus that feels like home
Going away to college can be one of scariest decisions you make in your life. To be honest, you do agree to leave your family and friends, sign your life away in school debt, and strand yourself in an unfamiliar setting all for a piece a paper (which we all know, college is much more than this!). So make sure, wherever you decide to spend the next four years of your life, to pick a place that feels like home. Although in my opinion, Ada does not compare to my hometown in Oberlin, I think it's a close second.
To make sure you find a place like home, look to see if the campuses have things that are important to you! This could be anything from a high-tech workout facility to Apple Desktop computers (I'm fortunate enough to have access to these on campus through the communication department). I remember the what I wanted most out of my campus was a place of worship. Because ONU is Methodist-affiliated, we have a chapel on campus, so every Thursday afternoon my friends and I meet up for the 11:00 am service.
Finding Your People
Another factor that plays into "feeling like home" are the people. If you are like me and you decide to spend your undergrad years at a campus that houses less than 4,000 students, be prepared to know everyone, professors included. It's important that, when choosing a college, you choose one that best fits you and your expectations for the next four years. I am going, to be honest with you, your expectations will change, so it is important to fill the bridge between you and your goals with people who want nothing but success from you. For me, I create the foundation to fill this gap with my professors and roommate. If you know me, then you know I had a rough freshman year. I had the problem of not knowing what I wanted to do and not knowing where I belonged on campus. This is where my advisors came in. When I was struggling my professors suggested that I meet with Dr. Alisa Agozzino from the communications department. I did, and from there she helped me decide what field was best for me. This field turned out to be something about which I had never thought: Public Relations. Let's just say she helped this once 2.7 GPA student take a 360 and turn into one on Dean’s List. It is because I was able to trust in my advisor and allow her to bridge "the gap" between me and my family that I am now on the right track to graduation! At the end of the day, it is important to find your Dr. Agozzino, so that you too can be put on a path to success.
Find Your Likes
Activities are just as essential in choosing the right college. For me, I knew I wanted to attend a smaller university because I wanted the opportunity to get involved. True to my hopes, I have been part of many leadership opportunities within my organizations just as a sophomore. So before you chose your destination for the next four years, make a list of what you want to accomplish while you're in college. I knew since I was a senior in high school that I wanted to participate in Greek life. And many of my older friends had talked about how much they loved it! Although I waited until my sophomore year of college, choosing to participate in Greek life has been on of the best decisions I've made!
Stay Overnight
The last suggestion I would like to make when it comes to choosing your home is doing an overnight visit. I have come to learn that this can be a major influencer when it comes to deciding between schools. The reason I suggest staying overnight is because you get to see the campus culture from a variety of angles that you don’t have access to on a regular day visit. Staying overnight allows you to sit in on class, attend on-campus events, get to know students better and ask any additional questions that were unanswered during your first visit. Although personally, I did not stay overnight at ONU, I know many students who have who can testify that their overnight stay significantly influenced their decision.
Ultimately, no matter where you end up, or what you decide to major in, remember it’s important to find a campus that feels like home and surround yourself with those who have you in their best interest.
