The transition from high school to college can be a difficult one. Students may go from knowing people in every class in high school to not knowing anyone on campus. Attending a school with thousands of other students can be overwhelming and this might be especially true for out-of-state students. Ohio University has students from every state and Out-of-State Ambassadors (OSA) is a club that helps students from different states adjust to college life in southeastern Ohio. The organization is comprised of students from all over the United States with a variety of majors.
Photo courtesy: OSA
“It’s a good way for out-of-state students to get to know each other and go through what it’s like to be an out-of-state student at a largely in-state student population,” said OSA treasurer Katie Fallon.
Members of OSA organize events for out-of-state students such as dinner off campus, hiking, or attending sporting events. This spring semester OSA will be traveling to Columbus in March for a day to explore the city. They also attend Ohio Up-Close lunches and talk to prospective students and their families about their time as a Bobcat.
“We help students become more comfortable,” OSA president Aly Mitchel said. “I like that we help high school students when we talk to them at lunches and resource fairs.”
Photo courtesy: unitedplatesofamerica.com
OSA also has a peer mentor program where upperclassmen are paired with new out-of-state students in order to assist in the transition to life at Ohio University. These mentors meet with their mentees to attend social events and to answer any questions their mentees might have.
“I had a hard time adjusting to college and if I would’ve had the mentor program maybe it would’ve been easier,” OSA secretary Lizzy Roth said. “I want to try and make it a smooth transition for others.”
Out-of-State Ambassadors meets every other Wednesday in Schoonover 145 at 7:30 p.m. The next meeting of the semester will be on February 3 and is open to all out-of-state students.