Out-of-state students speak about their experience and share tips with the freshman class of non-Ohioans.
When coming to Ohio University for the first time, students have to adjust to a new environment.
For some students, they need to adjust to a new state or country as well.
Data provided via Ohio University 2014 Factbook. Click on your state to see how many students are from there. Darker shades represent more students.
Some unique adjustments for out-of-state students include taking a plane by themselves for the first time, being away from home while other students can go back for a weekend and understanding that “pop” means soda.
Jess Carnprobst, an OU class of 2016 graduate from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said there are more people on campus from out of state than some students realize.
“There is an out-of-state ambassador organization. There’s out-of-state student Facebook groups. There’s a lot of opportunities to find students who are also out of state,” Carnprobst said. “Make those connections when you can and don’t be afraid to ask (to carpool home) because somebody’s gonna have a car, somebody’s gonna have their parents getting them too. ... It makes it really easy.”
Joseph Stacy, a rising sophomore studying piano performance and pedagogy from Pulaski, Virginia, added that meeting people who have cars is a good way of getting transportation.
“I had a friend who took a road trip back home with me this semester, and so that was a lot of fun,” Stacy said.
For some out-of-state students a drive home is out of the question, but rather a trip to Port Columbus International Airport is necessary.
“Have friends that will take you to the airport because that’s probably the biggest dilemma I always find,” Whitney Hatano, an OU class of 2016 graduate from McKinney, Texas, said.
Students can use other resources if having a friend drive them to the airport is out the picture. OHIO Transportation Services offers an airport shuttle to Port Columbus that students can sign up for online, and $35 is charged to their student account, according to the OHIO Transportation Services' website.
Students can also take the GoBus from campus and travel one-way to the airport for $10, according to the GoBus website. They can also travel to other cities throughout the state on GoBus for varying prices.
Getting to the airport may be a breeze for some students, but riding a plane alone for the first time may be a problem.
“I think people really overestimate how ... stressful flying is. It’s not a big deal at all,” Hatano said. “I’ve been flying by myself since I was 10 years old and nothing bad has ever happened. So don’t stress out about flying.”
Although all students can experience homesickness, out-of-state students may not have the opportunity to go home until major breaks.
“Talk to your parents as often as you can because you don’t see them often and you miss them, and I feel that you can’t see them as often,” Hatano said. “But also step outside the box and go out there and meet people.”
Carnprobst added that if you have the chance to go home, don’t rush back too soon.
“The first time I went home, that was probably when I got the most homesick — when I was coming back (to OU),” she said. “Give it some time, make it back maybe before Thanksgiving or something but not in the first month.”
Carnprobst said to embrace every second as a Bobcat starting freshman year.
“Even being out of state, I feel so welcome here, and I feel like this is my family and this is my home,” she said.
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