I'll move this to Open Discussion later probably, but this needs some exposure...
The Lantern
Improved image
Old mindsets, new successes
Editorial Board
Issue date: 5/22/06 Section: Opinion
<script language="Javascript">function goPage(newindex) { currentLocation = getThisPage(); cleanedLocation = ''; // If this is an SHTML request. if (currentLocation.indexOf(".shtml") > -1) { // Detect if this is a request that already has a page specification. if (currentLocation.indexOf("-page") > -1) { cleanedLocation = currentLocation.substring(0, currentLocation.indexOf("-page")) + '.shtml'; } else { cleanedLocation = currentLocation; } // Only add the "-pageX" suffix when the page index is higher than 1. if (newindex != 1) { cleanedLocation = cleanedLocation.substring(0, cleanedLocation.indexOf(".shtml")) + '-page' + newindex + '.shtml'; } } else { // Only add the "-pageX" suffix when the page index is higher than 1. if (newindex != 1) { cleanedLocation = currentLocation + '&page=' + newindex; } else { cleanedLocation = currentLocation; } } document.location = cleanedLocation; } function getThisPage() { currentURL = '' + window.document.location; thispageresult = ''; if (currentURL.indexOf("?page=") > -1) { currentURL = currentURL.substring(0, currentURL.indexOf('?page=')); thispageresult = currentURL; } else if (currentURL.indexOf("&page=") > -1) { currentURL = currentURL.substring(0, currentURL.indexOf('&page=')); thispageresult = currentURL; } else { thispageresult = currentURL; } // Make sure the URL generated by this fuctnion is compatible with mirror image. thispageresult = thispageresult.substring(7, thispageresult.length); thispageresult = thispageresult.substring(thispageresult.indexOf('/')+1, thispageresult.length); thispageresult = basehref + thispageresult; if (thispageresult.indexOf('sourcedomain') > -1) { thispageresult = thispageresult.substring(0, thispageresult.indexOf('?')); } return thispageresult; } </script> There was a time, not too long ago, when Ohio State was labeled a fall-back school. Recognized only for its football and big parties, students knew all they needed was a high school diploma to walk into an OSU classroom.
OSU had an open admissions policy, meaning it did not require ACT scores, a minimum grade-point average, recommendation letters or even an essay. Many unprepared students came home after dropping or failing out of OSU, and stories of the college's party-school image, high drop-out rate and lack of serious commitment to academia fueled negative views of the institution in local and national communities for decades.
But in recent years, all that has drastically changed. Since 1995, applications have increased by 15 percent, but the number of students admitted dropped 9 percent, according to a recent Cleveland Plain Dealer article. As further evidence of OSU's increasing selectivity, less than 30 percent of almost 20,000 prospective students who applied for enrollment into OSU for this upcoming autumn quarter were accepted by the university. Few, if any, make it off the wait list.
OSU is now in its 11th consecutive year of recruiting the best and brightest from around the country. ACT and SAT scores and class-rank averages for incoming freshmen have all skyrocketed as a result. On numerous occasions in the past, this page has praised OSU's climbing retention and graduation rates, particularly among black students and athletes.
Some of these improvements, and the prestige that has resulted from them, have spurred resentment among those who feel that, as a state school, OSU should be open to everyone. Some students admitted to private institutions and renowned out-of-state colleges are finding themselves being turned away from OSU because of increased selectivity and academic strength - and this can cause tension and confusion for those uninformed about the current OSU.
Some of the negative views from past images of OSU still exist even in light of OSU's recent accomplishments and shift in emphasized goals. Outdated mindsets, selective media coverage and miseducation about recent successes has helped to create a skewed image of the current OSU.
There is no doubt that issues such as crime, diversity and size remain question marks for those still forming their opinions about OSU. But anger should not be directed at a university that has dramatically improved the lives and academic enrichment of its students and faculty. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging that OSU is a much better school than it once was.
Increased selectivity and rising academic rankings exemplify, without a doubt, that the policies and initiatives implemented by OSU throughout the past two decades have been an overwhelming success. As a result, high school graduates looking to attend the best colleges are recognizing that OSU's increasing national spotlight and rise in rankings has, and will continue to, substantially increase the value of a degree from a prestigious - and under priced - university. There is no reason to get upset about smart investing.
The Lantern
Improved image
Old mindsets, new successes
Editorial Board
Issue date: 5/22/06 Section: Opinion
<script language="Javascript">function goPage(newindex) { currentLocation = getThisPage(); cleanedLocation = ''; // If this is an SHTML request. if (currentLocation.indexOf(".shtml") > -1) { // Detect if this is a request that already has a page specification. if (currentLocation.indexOf("-page") > -1) { cleanedLocation = currentLocation.substring(0, currentLocation.indexOf("-page")) + '.shtml'; } else { cleanedLocation = currentLocation; } // Only add the "-pageX" suffix when the page index is higher than 1. if (newindex != 1) { cleanedLocation = cleanedLocation.substring(0, cleanedLocation.indexOf(".shtml")) + '-page' + newindex + '.shtml'; } } else { // Only add the "-pageX" suffix when the page index is higher than 1. if (newindex != 1) { cleanedLocation = currentLocation + '&page=' + newindex; } else { cleanedLocation = currentLocation; } } document.location = cleanedLocation; } function getThisPage() { currentURL = '' + window.document.location; thispageresult = ''; if (currentURL.indexOf("?page=") > -1) { currentURL = currentURL.substring(0, currentURL.indexOf('?page=')); thispageresult = currentURL; } else if (currentURL.indexOf("&page=") > -1) { currentURL = currentURL.substring(0, currentURL.indexOf('&page=')); thispageresult = currentURL; } else { thispageresult = currentURL; } // Make sure the URL generated by this fuctnion is compatible with mirror image. thispageresult = thispageresult.substring(7, thispageresult.length); thispageresult = thispageresult.substring(thispageresult.indexOf('/')+1, thispageresult.length); thispageresult = basehref + thispageresult; if (thispageresult.indexOf('sourcedomain') > -1) { thispageresult = thispageresult.substring(0, thispageresult.indexOf('?')); } return thispageresult; } </script> There was a time, not too long ago, when Ohio State was labeled a fall-back school. Recognized only for its football and big parties, students knew all they needed was a high school diploma to walk into an OSU classroom.
OSU had an open admissions policy, meaning it did not require ACT scores, a minimum grade-point average, recommendation letters or even an essay. Many unprepared students came home after dropping or failing out of OSU, and stories of the college's party-school image, high drop-out rate and lack of serious commitment to academia fueled negative views of the institution in local and national communities for decades.
But in recent years, all that has drastically changed. Since 1995, applications have increased by 15 percent, but the number of students admitted dropped 9 percent, according to a recent Cleveland Plain Dealer article. As further evidence of OSU's increasing selectivity, less than 30 percent of almost 20,000 prospective students who applied for enrollment into OSU for this upcoming autumn quarter were accepted by the university. Few, if any, make it off the wait list.
OSU is now in its 11th consecutive year of recruiting the best and brightest from around the country. ACT and SAT scores and class-rank averages for incoming freshmen have all skyrocketed as a result. On numerous occasions in the past, this page has praised OSU's climbing retention and graduation rates, particularly among black students and athletes.
Some of these improvements, and the prestige that has resulted from them, have spurred resentment among those who feel that, as a state school, OSU should be open to everyone. Some students admitted to private institutions and renowned out-of-state colleges are finding themselves being turned away from OSU because of increased selectivity and academic strength - and this can cause tension and confusion for those uninformed about the current OSU.
Some of the negative views from past images of OSU still exist even in light of OSU's recent accomplishments and shift in emphasized goals. Outdated mindsets, selective media coverage and miseducation about recent successes has helped to create a skewed image of the current OSU.
There is no doubt that issues such as crime, diversity and size remain question marks for those still forming their opinions about OSU. But anger should not be directed at a university that has dramatically improved the lives and academic enrichment of its students and faculty. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging that OSU is a much better school than it once was.
Increased selectivity and rising academic rankings exemplify, without a doubt, that the policies and initiatives implemented by OSU throughout the past two decades have been an overwhelming success. As a result, high school graduates looking to attend the best colleges are recognizing that OSU's increasing national spotlight and rise in rankings has, and will continue to, substantially increase the value of a degree from a prestigious - and under priced - university. There is no reason to get upset about smart investing.
