Ohio University in Athens for the Summer and Academic Year

Ohio University in Athens

Who knew it would be so difficult to find on-campus parking at Ohio University in Athens . . . in the middle of the summer? My tour guide stated that this summer was unusually busy on campus and likely due to students taking courses in preparation for the university changeover from quarters to semesters. The 2011-12 academic year will be the last year that Ohio University is on the quarter system.

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Photo of the student center at Ohio University

In addition to enrolled students taking courses this summer, there are 3 other cohorts on campus:

  • International students – I saw a lot of international students. I was surprised to see so many international students since there is a relatively small international community during the academic year (less than 8%). In fact, only about 17% of their student body are non-Ohio residents.
  • Rising Freshmen – OU encourages its freshman students in the Honors College to begin in the summer session. Those students participate in smaller learning communities. Administrators noted that the summer session is a program to help students transition to college and hopefully improve retention. The most recent graduation rate for OU is 69.7%.
  • Middle and high school students – There are a host of summer programs on OU’s campus for both day and residential students. Nike hosts several sports camps there each year. Additionally, OU hosts its own summer program for high school students. During my visit, I met with the directors of the summer programs and they have been fine-tuning this program since its inception. I will be meeting with them again during the academic year to learn more about upcoming changes.

As rising juniors and seniors are traveling this summer, I encourage them to take advantage of opportunities to visit area campuses. Even if you visit a campus that may not be of interest, you can still learn a lot about available options and make comparisons. When I use the term “area” I am referring to those campuses that are near your home or proximal to where you’re already traveling. I am not suggesting that families make special distant trips just for the sake of visiting – that can be very costly and time-consuming. Campus visits should be done more thoughtfully and strategically than that.

Please listen to our radio show on-campus visits and get more information about how you can make the most of your campus visits.

College Prep School – Western Reserve Academy

On a recent visit to Western Reserve Academy (WRA) in Hudson, Ohio, I lost my place on the map! One of the things that strike me whenever I visit the campus is how it reminds me of a quaint New England town tucked away from the hurriedness of an urban center. If I didn’t read the sign, perhaps I would think I was in Hanover, NH, or Wellesley, MA. When I talk with students and administrators, it’s clear that the curriculum is challenging, but the culture is fun and rooted in Midwestern values.

These photos highlight some of the features of the campus that are worth mentioning:

  • Almost all of the faculty live on campus, in dorms as well as private homes;
  • WRA is a “three-sport’ high school, which means that students must participate in sports or take a physically active course as an alternative. The gym probably gets a lot of use throughout the year.
  • The library facilities are top-notch and seniors spend plenty of time there to complete their senior thesis.
  • The “Green Key” club is special in that it matches every new student with a senior student. This supports a good way for new students to get integrated into the community.

This final feature is important from an academic point, as well as social. Community is really important at WRA.

Centre College and Transylvania U in Kentucky

Centre College, located in Danville, Kentucky, has a national reputation. The college is located in a small town where the college is the happening place. It wasn’t clear, however, if there was a strong relationship between the town and the college. A student described the Centre-Danville relationship as “getting better.” Staff and students consistently described the culture of the campus as “academic” and “All-American.” So, if that sounds like your kind of campus, great, keep on reading! If these descriptors are not appealing to you, keep reading this posting, but perhaps we should talk! ☺

Culture and tradition at Centre

The more telling signs of the cultural spirit may be the strong presence of students from Ohio and Tennessee with a 55% in-state population overall. My own impression of the Centre culture is a Southern/Midwest homey-ness!

All freshman dorms are single-gender with graduated visitation privileges. Upperclassmen have varied housing options. The new upper-class dorm got rave reviews. The dining hall, fitness center, and other academic buildings are also either new or recently renovated. What was nice about the renovations on campus is that they maintained the character of the architecture on campus

What makes Centre College special

A signature differentiator of the college is the “Centre Term.” Centre Term, a 3-week period between the first and second semesters, provides an opportunity for almost every student to study abroad. The main dining hall is adorned with flags displaying all the countries visited by Centre students.IMG_0399

Gotta check out the glass-blowing course if you attend!

While I was in Kentucky, I also visited Transylvania University. Quite frankly, I didn’t know much about the college until I heard the President speak at an IECA conference last November. The fact that the President had been a partner at Goldman was even more intriguing. One of the reasons I visited was to see what compelled him to relocate to Lexington, KY!

Transylvania students love their campus

The Transylvania campus is located in a really hip section of Lexington – not too far from campus. There were several restaurants close by and the homes in the neighborhood appeared well-kept. I was a bit disappointed with being on campus, however, because a campus police officer actually followed me around. Not sure why I was singled out. Nevertheless, it dampened my spirits a bit.

transylvannia university campusStudents that I met were enthusiastic and positive about their experiences at Transylvania. (I didn’t let the overzealous campus police ruin that.) Students remarked on the small class sizes and access to extra-curricular activities. I didn’t get a sense of Transylvania’s distinguishing qualities, but do plan to visit again! Stay tuned.