As a new school year begins, a new class of students start their senior year. At Hudson High School, senior year is filled with lots of exciting events and opportunities. But with the excitement comes responsibility and decisions. The first semester of senior year will be filled with college applications, college visits and research. Students must decide whether they want to spend their next years staying close to home or living across the country. For those wanting a mix of the two, with the benefits of staying in Ohio but still being far away from Hudson, a future in Athens, Ohio might be for you.
For starters, Ohio University is most admired for its spectacular natural surroundings. The campus is located in Athens, Ohio, which is right at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. This location makes for a wide array of different scenery. The campus is surrounded by rolling hills and forests on all sides. Adding to this, the school features an abundance of trails and outdoor spaces for students to enjoy everyday. Nearby Athens lays Hocking Hills, a state park with hiking trails and cabins, further highlighting how esteemed Ohio University’s location is.
As far as academics go, the school should also be considered appealing because of its large amount of programs offered. The school is most famous for its communications program and has one of the best programs in the country. The school is also one of the few in Ohio that also features an aviation school which can be appealing to anyone interested in anything flight related. Other popular majors at OU (Ohio University) include Biological sciences, nursing, psychology, business and marketing.
As previously mentioned, this school is also desirable because of its location in regards to Hudson. OU is approximately three hours from the city of Hudson so it is a very driveable distance. Because it is in Ohio, HHS students would receive the benefits that state schools give. These benefits include: lower tuition, increased financial aid and scholarships and a cheaper commute. With all of these considered, it is clear that overall expenses, in many areas, would be lower.
Expenses are regarded as one of the biggest drawbacks college brings. Ohio University’s tuition as previously mentioned would be less costly for Hudson students. Tuition at OU is about $13,746 for in-state students and $24,114 for those out of state. When adding on all other expenses like room and board and meal plans, the total to attend the school per year for Ohio residents would be about $28,666. This would make a total of $114,664 for all four years. The cost of Ohio University is considered to be very reasonable as compared to other schools in and out of Ohio, which is an important factor to most when considering colleges.
Along with expenses, another huge factor to contemplate is campus life. The activities available on campus are a vital part to having a good college experience. First, Ohio University offers a wide variety of clubs available to all students. They also have a strong presence in Greek life but not requiring huge commitments. There is also an abundance of restaurants and other popular places where students can socialize. One of the most popular places to socialize is sports events.
OU has 21 NCAA Division 1 sports. The most popular of these being the school’s football program. Football games in Athens are very popular and in recent years the team has been very successful as they most recently won the MAC (Mid America Conference) championship. But although football games are most popular, all sporting events provide fun and school spirit. Apart from watching sporting events, students can also join club teams and participate in intramural sports for the school.
The size of Ohio University is also considered a positive factor to many. The school’s total enrollment is approximately 28,000 students. This number is considered admirable because it is big enough to meet lots of people who have similar interests. The population also isn’t too big where it is overwhelming and you aren’t able to connect with teachers or get into programs/classes.
With tuition, campus culture and opportunity considered, OU is a well rounded school with opportunities for everyone no matter what your interests are. As college application season is now upon us, there is much for seniors to consider. So if nature, driveable distance, sports or academics are important to you, Ohio University should be added to your list of colleges!
