College Profile: The Ohio State University

katspitzer
1 hour ago
4 min read

I recently had the chance to spend the day at The Ohio State University and I was wowed by the sheer amount of opportunities available for students. As one of the largest universities in the country, I thought it would be easy to feel overwhelmed. What I found instead was a warm, welcoming environment, enthusiastic, engaged students, and faculty who really cared about the progress and future of their students. There is an abundance of school spirit on campus, and the whole place buzzed with energy. Here are all the reasons why Ohio State might be the right place for you!

Fun Facts:

Ohio State’s mascot, Brutus Buckeye, was first designed in 1965 by an art student.
The university’s school colors — scarlet and gray — were chosen in 1878 by three students.
In 1926, in a now-famous campus legend, a cow named Maudine Ormsby was (politely) crowned homecoming queen after election ballots were found to be tampered with.
The Ohio State Marching Band is often referred to by the acronym TBDBITL, which stands for “The Best Damn Band In The Land.”
The popular song “Hang On Sloopy” became a Buckeye staple after the marching band began playing it in 1965; fans later inserted the “O-H / I-O” chant into the chorus. Also, as I was walking around campus, it was not unusual to hear a student make the O-H call and others finish with the I-O response.
Ohio State operates a long-running, student-run humor magazine called Sundial Humor Magazine, founded in 1911. Notably, James Thurber and R.L. Stine were among its early editors.
OSU once ran Big Ear, a radio observatory involved in SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence).
The Tom W. Davis Tower, completed in 2017, features a large LED display and clock. It’s become a campus landmark.

History:

The university was founded in 1870 as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College under the Morrill Act.
Instruction began in 1873 with only 24 students.
In 1878, the institution adopted the name “The Ohio State University” to reflect a broader academic mission beyond agricultural and mechanical studies.
The campus grew over the decades. The Ohio Union (student union) on campus opened in 1911, and it was one of the earliest unions built at a public university.
Orton Hall is another architectural icon: its stone was sourced from Ohio bedrock in the order found underground, so the building physically represents layers of Ohio geology.
The campus’s open space known as The Oval has become a central gathering area. The concept began in the 1890s, and the first reference to it by name appears around 1910.
Over time, OSU expanded beyond Columbus. Branch campuses in Marion and Newark opened in 1957, Mansfield in 1958, and Lima in 1960; the Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster started in 1971.
Today, Ohio State is classified as an “R1: Very High Research Activity” institution, reflecting its intensive research output.

Traditions:

The Game (Ohio State vs. Michigan)

The rivalry with Michigan is one of college sports’ most storied matchups. The rivalry stretches back over a century, and games between the Buckeyes and Wolverines always draw huge campus energy.

Buckeye Trees & Buckeye Grove

Each year, before the spring game, a Buckeye tree is planted in Buckeye Grove to honor each football All-American from the prior season. There’s a playful ritual, too: in some years, the losing Scarlet team from the spring game helps clean up and maintain the Grove.

Masking and Buckeye Leaves on Helmets

Since 1968, Ohio State football helmets have borne Buckeye leaf decals, awarded to players for individual or team accomplishments.

Mirror Lake

The university decorates Mirror Lake for the winter holiday season in a ceremony called Light Up the Lake.

Love & Whispering Traditions

Hayes Hall Whispering Arch: Legends say if a couple whispers into the archway, their voices carry, and their love will last.
Oval Walk / Cross-path myth: There's a campus lore that says if you walk the long way around the Oval with a partner and don’t let anyone cross your path, your relationship will last.

Taste of OSU

Each year, OSU hosts Taste of OSU, a celebration of campus diversity. Over 30 student organizations participate, showcasing food, performances, and cultural experiences.

Student Statistics & Academic Profile

Here’s a snapshot of some key numbers that help explain the scale and academic environment at Ohio State:


Student-faculty ratio	~ 18:1
Number of academic colleges & schools	18
Total courses offered	Over 12,000
First-year classes ≤ 50 students	Nearly 80%
Fulbright Scholars produced	OSU ranks as the nation’s top producer
Peace Corps volunteers produced	6th highest among institutions
Study abroad programs	~ 350 programs in 70 countries
Number of career fairs per year	~ 36
Undergraduate & graduate enrollment	Nearly 50,000 undergraduates + ~15,000 graduate students (approx)
Endowment (approx.)	~$7.9 billion
Number of sports	36 varsity sports

The location of the campus in Columbus, OH, affords students a myriad of opportunities for internships, jobs, and other hands-on experiences. There are also wonderful restaurants, galleries, and interesting sites all around. Students are busy, challenged, and thriving.

If The Ohio State University sounds like a good fit for you, I encourage you to visit in person for a tour. Check out the website at: https://www.osu.edu/.