Most people recall their “Why I chose Ohio University,” stories when asked about the university. In my case, however, I prefer to say that Ohio University chose me.
I toured OU when I was a sophomore in high school with my dad, an alumnus. As you can imagine, the tour ended with my dad comparing the 2017 campus to his 1970 campus, and me with a very sour attitude. To add to it, we had gone in the early spring, and by 3 p.m., we were drenched in frigid rain.
From that point on, I had completely eliminated OU from my mind. Not because it wasn’t a good school, but because I was an angsty teenager who wanted to be as fundamentally different from her parents as possible.
Flash forward to my senior year, during college application time. I was the most indecisive 17-year-old and applied to almost a dozen colleges under three different majors. Ohio University was the only one I applied to as a Journalism major, due to the E.W. Scripps School’s stellar reputation.
I ended up committing to the Ohio school that insists on using “the,” in the title. I was also insistent on being an Environmental Science major. The more I thought about it, though, the more I wanted to grow my career as a Journalist.
This was when OU began to tempt me more and more.
I visited a friend in her beautiful Jefferson Hall dorm and had her show me around OU. This time, it was from the a college student’s perspective, and the weather made the trip an absolute dream; it was springtime in Athens, and anyone who lives there knows the charm of the cherry blossoms.
After this visit, I started having dreams of Ohio U. Yes, dreams. I couldn’t stop thinking about what my life there would be like. I had fallen in love with the campus environment. It also seemed very similar to my hometown, which houses the College of Wooster.
April 25, 2019 came around, and I remember running into my mom’s office at the high school. It was five days away from the college decision deadline, and I was flustered. OU had continued to call my name, and I didn’t know what to do.
After talking it over, my decision was re-made. Later that night, after many emails, I was recommitted to Ohio University and more excited than ever.
Now, being a sophomore at OU, I couldn’t be happier with my decision. My freshman year roommates became my best friends, and Athens now feels like my home. Any time I run into a stranger with OU apparel, I promptly get into a lengthy discussion about the beauties of the campus.
OU managed to change my already-made-up mind and pulled me in with its charm. I can’t wait to see what students OU chooses in the upcoming years.