STUDENT PROFILE ARCHIVES
I chose Ohio University specifically because of the HTC. I had a full-ride tution, room, board and books scholarship to another university, but I felt that the Honors Tutorial College offered a unique level of interaction with professors and university staff, and that it would challenge me more intellectually than would any other institution. It was a difficult decision, given how tight a college student sometimes has to be about finances, but in the end, the opportunity to study at a higher, more personal level won out over my monetary worries. and OU furnished me with a full tution scholarship to boot, soit worked out even better in the end.
The Honors Tutorial College has completely revolutionized my ideas of a college lifestyle. Being able to design my own one-on-one tutorials with professors in my field has given me more control over my curriculum and my earning than would have ever thought possible. Priority scheduling has allowed me the privilege to take challenging, thought-provoking classes, but it has also given me a chance to balance that schedule with more energetic classes like Hockey and Tennis. So I've not only been able to push myself academically through HTC, but I've been able to deal with stress, manage my time, and enjoy the typical college lifestyle even while I better my mind with personalized curriculum.
Since coming to college, I have been blessed with many opportunities to celebrate knowledge and commnity. Some of my proudest achievements have come from working closely with great professors and peers. I've had the chance to research the writings of one of my favorite authors, C.S. Lewis, and present my findings alongside my fellow researchers in New York City. I've co-founded a student film group that has won or placed in several local contest and has received recognition and patronage accross the state.I've been awarded the King Foundation Scholarship for my research in the field of Telecommunications, studying audience analysis and why people watch shows like NBC's Heroes. And I've learned how to prepare and give a sermon, wrte film reviews and play ice hockey. So my biggest accomplishment in my mind is learning such a diverse assortment of things in such a short period of time.
I never would have learned any of these tings without the help of the HTC. Whether through priority scheduling with [HTC Administrative Associate] Kathy White, help with scholarship applications from[Office of Nationally Competitive Awards Director] Ann Brown or maternal pushes toward video greatness from Deans Jan Hodson and Ann Fidler, the Honors Tutorial College has allowed me to acheive greatness by putting me in a situation where I could acheive great things. Whether it is through funding or schedule wrangling, the whole college has always been there to help me make it through and to push me toward greater things.
Ohio University diofferentiates itself from other college towns by retaining both an old-time atmosphere and a progressive outlook on education and recreation.There is such a diversity of activities, both academic and just plain fun, for students to fill their time with. From concerts to comedians to intellectual debates, the campus offers a stimulating mix of ideas and venues in which to share them. All of this takes place with student needs in mund, and I think that shows in the school's dedication to the marriage of strong curriculum and entertaining extracurriculars. That is what makes OU different, and quite frankly, better than any other university. Oh, and have I mentioned the amazing HTC?
My favorite part of Athens is the atmosphere. There's always something going, always something available to keep you busy, day or night. But there is also a very laid-back feeling to the campus. If you feel like staying in for a quiet evening or just being with a close group of friends, Athens offers plentyof comfortable, peaceful places to just enjoy the college life. Athens encompasses everything from Stroud's Run to Dance or Die, and all these offeringscreate an atmosphere that is both energetic and relaxd,the perfect setting for a university experience.
To incoming freshmen, I would definitely say, "Have fun." Make friends. Have debates on topics that are reallyimportant to you. Leave your dorm room door open when you're home so friends can stop and chat. Share. Trust. Laugh. Love. Learn how to balance your time, how to push yourself hard intellectually but also how to relax and enjoy the best company you will have in your entire life. Go to Stroud's Run and have a cookout and a swim. Go to Ping and have a pick-up dodgeball game. Learn a new sport.Take classes that aren't required just because they sound fun and stimulating. Eat at Burrito Buggy, Souvlaki's, and Casa at least once. Help out with local community service projects.Study hard, but not at the expense of sleep or friendships. Schedule at least one quarter where you can sleep in until noon if you want to. Schedule at least one quarter without class on Fridays. Meet people in every other major. Read books for fun. HAVE FUN! YOU ARE ON THE CUSP OF ADULTHOOD.ENJOY ACTNG LIKE A KID SOMETIMES, AND ENJOY BEING GROWN UP SOMETIMES. BALANCE IT ALL, AND COLLEGE WILL BE THE GREATEST TIME OF YOUR LIFE.
Liz Nalepa Senior | Youngstown, Ohio | Mathematics
I originally had my heart set on Colgate University in New York because I loved the campus and their interesting ideas about liberal education. My parents, however, convinced me to come look at HTC to see if I like its education satyle. I loved HTC, and it's a better program for a better price, and I got to come to Athens to boot, which is just as beautiful as upstate New York (and doesn't smell like cows!).
HTC has really affected my academic experience. All of my professors are just as enthused to have me around. From ceramics to French literature to history, I have been welcomed with open arms despite the fact that I am a math major. My advisor is not only always willing to meet with me and discuss my academic career, but also just interested in spending time with me as a person.They are more like thesis advisors than undergraduate advisors, and I like the closeness. HTC also has allowed me to pursue a French degree along with my math major, and even graduate on time.
HTC has also enabled me to participate in a research apprenticeship program. Under the program I worked with a faculty member on a research project. Of all my college acheivements, I am most proud of the results of that apprenticeship. It wasin a field toatally outside my own of which I had only a basic knowledge (genetics), but I dove right in and ended up solving a couple interesting problems and coming up with a pet project of my own.
Coming to Ohio University, specifically to HTC, is really like getting the best of both worlds. It isn't a small university, and yet it isn't in a big town. The campus is just gorgeous regardless of the season, and I love walking to class year round.
To incoming students, I'd say to try new things, but not too many new things. Set aside time each quarter to try out one or organization that sounds cool to you.
Greg Rosen Senior | Centerville, Ohio | Physics
I have always learned better when I can confront someone with questions in a small-lecture setting, and the tutorial is the extreme of such a setting. I could not find another program like the HTC anywhere in the United States, and certainly not within Ohio. It seemed to be tailor-made to the style of education that I wanted, while still offering a relatively stress-free quality of life as compared to other academic powerhouses.
Since I am an avid coffee drinker, my heart goes out to Athens' coffe shops. I love the Baker Front Room, the Donkey Cafe, and Brenens. I also like the Baker recreation room, as well as the Ping Center. If I am leaving for a night on the town, I usually end up schmoozing with friends, shooting pool, or dropping in on one of the myriad parties in Athen, especially on the weekends.
A few words of wisdom: Don't worry about doing things "right" the first time. This applies to your tutorials as well as general life on campus. It's a new thing, and with all new things, mistakes inevitably happen. Just let them happen.
Marie Braasch Senior | Athens, Ohio | Biological Sciences
One of the greatest reasons in my mind to be a part of the HTC was the guaranteed research opportunities. Professors in the Biosci Department favor HTC students, even freshmen, because we have already shown that we are high caliber students. I was able to start doing research in a lab during the summer before my freshman year, and I think that having been accep
ted into the HTC was a key factor in my professor's decision to let me in. Another reason was the small, close-knit community that the HTC provides. Since there are so few of us, I know all of the HTC Biosci majors in my year well, and was able to click with them since the very beginning of school because we already had something in common.
It is a great experience to learn so much; I'm maturing as a scientist and a scholar, and also it's wonderful to have an awesome group of people to hang out with.
Also, the tutorials which are at the core of the HTC are really great experiences to study a topic really in depth. I don't know where else you would be able to study literally any subject that you wanted, as long as you can find a faculty member who knows something about it.
Talking about HTC, I won't try to hide the fact that it is a lot of work, but I have come to truly discover that learning a lot and working hard go hand in hand. I think that when you know people are expecting a lot out of you, you give a lot, and that's what happens when you're in the HTC. It is a great experience to learn so much; I'm maturing as a scientist and a scholar, and also it's wonderful to have an awesome group of people to hang out with.
Jordan PleasantSenior | Chatteanuga, Tennessee | Philosophy
I chose to attend OU for a number of diverse personal and circumstantial reasons. The two deciding factors in the end were the appeal of the standards of academic excellence at the HTC and the ineffable beauty of the campus and of Southeast Ohio in general. I chose the Honors Tutorial College because I expected that it would challenge me to grow intellectually and artistically in ways that other programs could not. I was right.
HTC has allowed me the full use of my own prudent character in academic matters; in other words, I have been able to pursue my academic career with special regard to my individual interests and talents. Further, the HTC has been an invaluable resource for meeting like-minded students and professors with whom I have collaborated very productively.
Of all my accomplishments while being an HTC student, I am probably most proud of the growing number of languages I have learned, and the poems and translations I have been able to publish during my undergraduate career, although I can't overlook the Gilman Scholarship for Study Abroad and the Critical Languages Supplement Scholarship, which have provided me with the means to study Arabic in Cairo. HTC and the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards have both proven to be treasure chests. They have inspired, driven, and supported my academic aspirations in more ways than I can mention.
OU and Athens stand apart from other universities and colleges because of academic excellence and scenic beauty. The natural environment in Southeast Ohio seems to perpetuate a healthy state of mind and a clear and focused environment for intellectual development, not to mention that professors and students alike are so helpful and friendly.
For incoming freshman: be mature, exacting, and put all of your effort into everything you do. OU and the HTC will always be there to support you, so don't be afraid to accept intimidating challenges and to take risks. Finally: talk to other students and professors--it can never hurt to make friends.
Dan Hoy Class of 2008 | Findlay, Ohio | Physics
My HTC experience has been wonderful. I have been able to study exactly what interests me, and have unique relationships with my professors based on my one-on-one tutorials. Last winter, for example, I was interested in studying the terrorism of ETA and parallels between this case of terrorism in Spain and the brand of terrorism that the United States is facing. (Quite shockingly,) there wasn't a course covering that, but through the HTC, I was able to make one. I have also been fortunate to have one physics class every quarter conducted one-on-one with a professor. Those tutorials have allowed me to focus on t
he things that I find interesting and attack the areas that I didn't understand from the reading.
The life of an HTC student isn't all about studies, though. For me, Donkey Coffee, the trails on the Ridges, and College Green are the best places in Athens. Catching one of the many shows that go on, enjoying the great outdoors, enjoying the hang-out joints, and swing dancing are all great ways to pass the time. The worst part of living in Athens is the difficulty of getting groceries without a car
My word of advice for incoming students: Make a four-year plan as early as possible. Even if you don't follow it, dreaming is essential to success.
Andy Goodhart Class of 2008 | Cortland, Ohio | Political Science and International Relations
The greatest opportunity that has come my way because of HTC has been to study exactly what interests me with competent, passionate faculty. My education has progressed far more quickly than it would have otherwise, because I've had committed tutors who have challenged me and motivated my studies. Also, the HTC staff has provided me with more advice, support, and direction than I could have asked for.
The Honors Tutorial College, in one word, is intense. I think every field or occupation has a small group of people who are more motivated, passionate, and driven than most. The HTC is that for OU. It is a community of diverse and interesting people for which I know no equivalent.
I love the beauty and the restaurants of Athens. My favorite things to do are hike new trails and escape the stress of college, or try a new restaurant-one with flair and personality. The worst aspect of Athens is that there is no good Italian food!
I'm fascinated by the people of Appalachia, with their ingenuity, kindness, and self-sufficiency. I wish that America's detractors could spend some time with honest, kind people of all stripes across our nation and then sit down for an open, meaningful dialogue about our shortcomings. I think that would take us far.
It is a community of diverse and interesting people for which I know no equivalent.
All new freshmen should be encouraged to get involved in the community. This was advice to me and I've realized slowly how interesting and tightly-knit Athens is. It's not a far stretch to say that 'everyone knows everyone' and it is certainly not a stretch to say that we have more than our fair share of fascinating individuals. Our diversity here is more than superficial. What we have is a broad and meaningful mix of people with widely varying experiences, skills, stories, and personalities. You might find a few of them at a keg party, but you'll have to dig deeper into Athens if you want a really meaningful experience here.
Kelsey Brennan Class of 2007 | Dublin, Ohio | Theatre
I chose to attend the Honors Tutorial College at Ohio University because it was important for me to choose a school that provided me with both an environment to grow and learn as an actor as well as one that would offer me outlets for other academic endeavors. The Honors Tutorial College encourages and praises my involvement in the Fine Arts and also allows me to partake in a more rounded, interdisciplinary education. Thanks to the structure of the program and its influential mentors I have been able to take classes in Music, Physics, Education, Nutrition, Classics, Political Science, complete a minor in English and still stay on track with my actor training.
My HTC experience, specifically in tutorials, has provided me with a rich academic context for my work in theatre and deepened my ambition and passion for the arts. Being in the Honors Tutorial College also gave me the means necessary to spend two weeks studying abroad in London, England, during Winter Intercession of my junior year. While I was in Europe, I saw at least one play or performance every day and was greatly influenced by the more worldly perspective I gained while abroad.
The Honors Tutorial College constantly challenges me as an artist and an academic, and encourages me to be involved on campus and “go the extra mile.” I am incredibly grateful for the teachers and mentors who have helped me receive a rich, eclectic education and will always be proud of the work I have completed within tutorials, onstage and informally.
My favorite thing about Athens is that it has an amazing community of local artists and entertainment! One of my favorite places is the Athena Theatre which shows a great collection of Art Series films as well as more popular blockbusters. I also love seeing live music Uptown, attending hockey games at Bird Arena, going to The Donkey for a warm caffeinated drink or to Casa Nueva for a one-of-a-kind meal, and of course seeing live theatre compliments of the OU School of Theatre!
A few fun things about me — I come from a family full of great musicians who have always encouraged me to be creative. For example, I love reading any and all things by Jonathan Safran Foer and Tom Stoppard. My favorite movie is Forrest Gump and I’ve never lived without a golden retriever!
To incoming students, I would definitely say to take advantage of every opportunity you’re given as a young student. Four years fly by so do everything you can to make the most of it!
Micah Mitchell
Class of 2007 | Oberlin, Ohio | Communication Studies
No other collegiate experience could satisfy me to the degree that I have been satisfied by my academic studies in Ohio University's Honors Tutorial College. The HTC is structured in such a way that grants students the opportunity to work one-on-one with professors in their area of study. This tutorial setup has deepened my level of understanding and connectedness to academic material in a way that I have never before experienced. The flexible and supportive atmosphere makes it fun and easy to ascribe personal meaning to information, resulting in one intellectually stimulating experience after another!
In my sophomore year I was selected as one of two HTC students to spend four weeks in South Africa with a small group of Ohio University faculty and students. The opportunity came at little cost of my own and allowed me to learn about another county's rich history through personal interaction with host families, politicians, and other citizens.
My HTC status, and more importantly, what I've done with that status, set me apart from other applicants for Ohio University's student trustee position. Student members of Ohio University's Board of Trustees are appointed by the governor of Ohio to serve a two-year term. The position yields countless opportunities for personal and professional development.
The flexible and supportive atmosphere makes it fun and easy to ascribe personal meaning to information, resulting in one intellectually stimulating experience after another!
Ohio University's Athens campus is the most beautiful campus I've ever seen. I love East Green, College Green, Emeriti Park, "The Flying Bacon Strip Bridge" on West Green, the LGBT Programs Center, the HTC Common Room, and Stroud's Run. I feel happy when I'm out dancing with friends at Dance or Die, Casa Nueva, or just someone's home! I feel warm and fulfilled having conversations on campus after picking up a beverage from The Donkey, or the Front Room.
I do have a few words of wisdom for new students. Be honest and highly reflexive in everything you do. Take time to reflect on what you've learned after each class, each conversation, each program, and each reading experience. If you have trouble identifying what you've learned, speak out. Ask questions and give feedback. Discomfort is most often a precursor to growth, but challenging what you find unsettling is also essential. Give back; be civically responsible. Claim each component of your higher education experience. Seek balance so that your efforts yield happiness.
Clarissa KornellClass of 2006 | Akron, Ohio | Political Science
I would describe the Honors Tutorial College at OU as very rare. Based on what I have heard from other students at OU and students at other universities, it is very rare to work one-on-one with faculty members, let alone multiple times from your freshman year through your senior year. Also, the fact that the HTC administrators get to know each student personally really gives HTC students an edge when it comes to applications for scholarships, future academic programs, and jobs. As an HTC student I have received funding to study abroad in Ecuador and to intern twice in Washington, DC.
Because of the flexible course requirements I have been able to acquire a minor in Spanish and a certificate in Latin American Studies while taking a diverse assortment of classes.
Because of the flexible course requirements I have been able to acquire a minor in Spanish and a certificate in Latin American Studies while taking a diverse assortment of classes.
My favorite places in Athens are the botanical garden next to Scott Quad, Franklin Avenue, the art gallery in Siegfried, Tony's and Casa, College Green- especially on a sunny day. Athens is far away from a lot of places, but that's only a bad thing if you're trying to get to those faraway places.
Incoming students, be sure to take advantage of being in the HTC and take some classes just because they sound interesting, even if they don't seem to fit into your plan for the future. Also, while you're in the dorms, live on East Green; it's the best green. Then move to Franklin Avenue; it's the best street.
Annie ValenteClass of 2006 | Solon, Ohio | Biological Sciences
HTC offers students the opportunity to rise above the normal university experience. As the time for garnering letters of recommendation and post-college advice approaches, I realize just how lucky I am to be in the HTC. I have had the good fortune to become very well acquainted with numerous professors at OU, who have provided an invaluable source of mentoring. College is a great place to make life-long friends, but being in the HTC makes it a great place to find life-long role models.
The Biological Sciences program, in all honesty, is very much the same as the rest of the university when it comes to classes you are taking. HTC adds an extra dimension of enrichment that comes from self-selected tutorials. I would say that the greatest function of the tutorials is to force you to think about what interests you about your field of study, not just passively take in information. When you have a director who is going to ask you every 10 weeks, ¨What do you want to study more of next quarter?¨, it really forces you to hone your interests.
Athens is a unique mixture of of nature, political activism, and classic college-type fun. My favorite place to hang out at in Athens is Casa Nueva, which has fantastic organic Mexican food as well as a great bar atmosphere, including nights such as Rock-n-Roll Karaoke Night and $2.00 Margarita Night. I'm in the love with the local music scene, and the annual Community Music Festival is hard to beat. I love to travel, but I'd pass up a night in many a foreign place just to see my favorite local band, Southeast Engine, play a show.
An interesting fact about me is that my English is struggling significantly due to the fact that I'm living in Salamanca, Spain and speaking very little of it. So you have to excuse my poor grammar. Another interesting fact... well, actually just sad... reading the NYTimes online makes me very homesick for the US. I once drove overnight to Charleston, South Carolina just because I felt like seeing the coast.
My words of advice to all incoming freshmen: don't study all the time. Do as much as you can in the four years you have. Make a point to have friends who are liberals, conservatives, communists, gun lovers, animal lovers, tree-huggers, philistines, musicians, football aficionados, rugby players, homosexuals, foreigners, dancing queens, library nerds, and drug addicts. They will all be invaluable.