First Year Experience

Sky Sherman
Fostoria, OH
2nd year Sociology & Social Justice Leadership
Getting started: When I first came to college, I thought it would be really difficult to find people that I connect with. Through the organizations I’ve joined, I have met so many people and connected with many students and faculty members.

Sariyah Crawford
Chicago, IL
3rd Year Criminology and Criminal Justice
Making connections: My favorite Ohio State tradition is when students and athletes go around crossing out all the M's on campus. I think it is hilarious to see a bunch of red X's all over campus and even surrounding campus.

Nicholette George
Pine Bush, NY
Fourth Year Political Science and Criminology
Getting started: I decided to come to Ohio State because of the opportunities and environment the university provides. While there are so many students, it still feels like one small community because of every opportunity there is personable to me.

Paige Vanderpool
Mansfield OH
Biology and Anthropology
Quick fact: What keeps me motivated is my dream life. I decided I wanted to be a doctor in the sixth grade, and my goal is to make the medical field a better place. It’s easy to get down on myself, but then I look at how far I've came and how I can’t stop now.

Samantha Ramirez-Rodriguez
Grove City, OH
3rd Year Dental Hygiene
Quick fact: A study tip is be confident in the material you do know and try not to let panic in there is always time. It benefited me because it helped me take myself less seriously when studying that my brain wasn’t just in a panic.

Tiarah Thompson
Spanish Town, Jamaica
3rd year Actuarial Sciences
Making connections: I joined the Caribbean Students Association to meet others of similar upbringings and to learn more about other Caribbean cultures. It was one of the most natural ways to feel at home while away from home.

Duniyo Jama
Columbus OH
Aviation
Quick fact: The most helpful resource I used was the Math Tutoring Center. I was struggling with my math class, and going there really helped me understand the concepts and problems better. What I liked most was that we weren’t rushed—we had all the time we needed to figure things out.

Lily Wood
Cranberry Township, PA
2nd Year Psychology
Getting started: I came to Ohio State because I wanted a bigger school with a lot of opportunities. I wanted to be close to a city, and be provided with many places to explore. Ohio State was the perfect distance from my home, and offered many great opportunities for my college experience and my future.

Azhani Perry
Akron, OH
2nd Year Actuarial Science and Finance
Getting started: I came to Ohio State because of the various opportunities presented to me here. I am planning to become an actuary after college and there are so many firms here that are able to offer me both internships and jobs. I also saw the multitude of clubs and student led activities on campus and it intrigued me.

Stasz Munro
Milford OH
2nd Year History
Quick fact: The promise of a career in a field which I love motivates me to excel here at OSU. My dream of being a diplomat keeps me attentive in my classes and I am always looking to make connections.

Zack Bartemes
Dublin OH
2nd Year Finance
Getting started: One piece of advice I wish I received was that college is what you make it to be, meaning you choose what you want your experience to look like having more freedom than high school gave you.

Akasha Lancaster
Fairfield OH
4th Year Psychology
Getting started: The most significant resource that I used in my first year was the Counseling and Consultation Services (CCS). As someone who was going through the journey of getting better mental health, these services really helped me stay afloat during a busy and eventful year.

Xiyonne McCullough
Columbus, OH
3rd Year Journalism
Getting started: The most important piece of advice I would give new students is to allow yourself to live. Too often, we are our own worst critics and stop ourselves from experiencing our potential because we fear making mistakes or judgement of others. Remember: to live is to learn, and to learn is to grow.

Owen Dennewitz
Portsmouth OH
3rd Year Communication Technology
Getting started: I’ve always had eyes on OSU ever since I was a little kid. I grew up in a small town and went to a small school, so I wanted to take advantage of the massive campus/population OSU provided!

Kenna Colwell
Leesburg, OH
4th Year Integrated Language Arts
Making connections: My time at Ohio State has been everything I hoped it would be. I came to OSU to get the life experience and knowledge of a large and diverse university, and I feel like I have learned so much about the world while being here.

Sam Robinson
Emerson, NJ
3rd Year Biology
Quick fact: My study tip is to use your free time wisely. I believe during the long(ish) breaks between your classes is the best time to get homework/studying done. This is a great way to stay up-to-date on your assignments while also getting to have free time at night to hang out with friends.

Ethan Strock
Dublin, OH
2nd Year Molecular Genetics
Making connections: I was surprised by how easy it was to make new friends at OSU! Even though the school is so big, I still recognize at least two people I am friends with on my walks to class!

Tabitha Cap
Findlay, OH
3rd Year Neuroscience and Psychology
Quick fact: A study tip all students should know would probably be going to Thompson Library's Grand Reading Room. It is a nice quiet aesthetic area to study and feel comfortable and relaxed.

Carly Stalling
Monroe, CT
4th Year Psychology
Making connections: I came to Ohio State from Connecticut because I wanted to experience being a part of something bigger. The pride that comes with being a Buckeye connects you with an entire network of people that are ready to support you. In a school with countless opportunities, you are set up to thrive!

Mia Hathaway
Powell, OH
2nd Year Dental Hygiene
Quick fact: The most helpful resource I used during my first year is the fixed commitment calendar found at the Dennis Learning Center. Balancing your school and social life can be tough as you transition into college, so using this calendar helped me fit in both my classes and extracurriculars while prioritizing sleep.

Natalie Rock
Saratoga Springs, NY
(?) Year Neuroscience and Psychology
Making connections: My favorite tradition is singing *Carmen Ohio* in The Shoe after every home football game. The students, players, and fans gather together to sing OSU’s alma mater no matter the weather, and I think it’s a special moment no matter how many times you’ve done it.

Mary Stevens
Columbus, OH
Biology Pre-Health Major
Making connections: On campus, I feel most at home at Jennings. I have had classes there since my freshman year, and now work there too. I love the building and find it charming. I got involved with the manga club, which is a pretty unique hobby, so it was amazing to see it was a thing that existed! I am now the president, and it has been an amazing experience.

Bailey Witt
Jackson, OH
2nd Year Communication
Making connections: A meaningful extracurricular activity I got involved with during my first year was Block O. The pride Buckeyes have for our athletics is unmatched, and the energy of the student section is the heartbeat of the sporting events. Being a member of something greater on campus has allowed me to form amazing relationships and even choose a new career path.

Gwyn Cable
Shadyside, OH
2nd Year Strategic Communication
Getting started: A piece of advice I wish I had received before coming to OSU is that your time here may look very different than you are currently picturing. I’ve loved being here, but it is definitely different than I originally imagined. I’ve become friends with unexpected people, become involved in organizations I didn’t know existed, and found new passions. Also, don’t worry about navigating campus—it’s a lot easier than it seems.

Tiaja Abbington
Columbus, OH
3rd Year Public Management, Leadership and Policy
Making connections: My most meaningful extracurricular activity was flag football during my first year. Every year, a fraternity holds a flag football tournament for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It feels good to do something that involves giving back to the community.

Jesse English
Hilliard, OH
3rd Year Mechanical Engineering
Getting started: When I got to my orientation, I wish someone had told me to keep my life and mind flexible. New friends may come and go, I may find things I like and don’t like, etc.

Maggie Howard
Bellefontaine, OH
3rd Year Communication Analysis and Engagement and General Sciences
Getting started: The most important piece of advice I would give to students is the practice of mindfulness and well-being. While university is designed to challenge your brain in a positive and resourceful manner, balancing that pressure can be difficult. Taking time to nap, go on a walk, color in a coloring book, etc., is life-changing and has provided me better results in my time here at Ohio State.

Jay Brocious
Pitsburg, OH
Integrated Language Arts
Making connections: I'm from a very small town with very few opportunities, and I wanted to get a real, good college education. My sister came to OSU and told me all about her life and how she was happier here than she ever had been before—she felt supported and like she belonged, and I wanted that.

Andrew Winters
Lakewood, OH
2nd Year Aerospace Engineering
Getting started: I came to Ohio State because it had everything I wanted in a college, such as an urban location and big campus culture. I’m motivated to excel by networking with companies and attending talks, where I get to see all the versatile and interesting things that can be done in aerospace engineering.

Michael Quinlan
Westlake, OH
5th Year Psychology
Getting started: What keeps me motivated to excel is surrounding myself with others who, like me, are striving to become better—whether in the workplace, classroom, or any other aspect of life. Constantly challenging myself to improve has been key to my growth.

Gavin Rode
Worthington, OH
3rd Year Psychology
Making connections: A meaningful extracurricular activity from my first year is my Scholars' Program, Mount Leadership Society. Through Mount, I was able to make critical connections that set me up for success in future experiences! It also connected me to some of my best friends.

Kourt Carr
Wadsworth, OH
3rd Year French and Francophone Studies, African American and African Studies
Making connections: The thing that surprised me the most about Ohio State is how small the campus can feel. Even though there are tens of thousands of students here in Columbus, everything feels so close-knit and connected. I make friends in class and see them all over campus—it truly feels like a small community, rather than an isolating metropolis.

Eryne Schneider
Harrison, OH
3rd Year Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) and Spanish
Quick fact: The number one study tip I would give is to get out of your dorm to study. Meet a friend somewhere, sit outside on the Oval, or go to a library. It helps so much with focus and productivity and provides a lot of opportunity to connect with others. Doing this my freshman year improved my grades and brought me closer to my friends.

Maho Ito
Cincinnati, OH
2nd Year Management Information Systems
Study tip: Get into active learning NOW! Find the methods that help you learn and apply the content you're studying because that will set you up for success now AND post-graduation. Prioritize application over memorization!

Kaijah Minor
Zanesville, OH
2nd Year International Studies, Security and Intelligence
On campus: I feel most at home at Hale Hall. Hale has always been such an accepting and welcoming space for me. Whether that be for club meetings or to study, I know I always have a home there.