It’s the final countdown: In just four short days, Learning Community applications are due for twelve of our Learning Communities. Monday, May 2 is the deadline. Apply here!

Prior to submitting your application, which includes a short essay, read a few words from a current Exploration Learning Community student, Hannah Dunlap. Her story provides valuable insights that may inform your application!

When I think back to high school it is filled with bittersweet moments, especially during my senior year. I have so many joyful memories with my friends that make me smile every time I think about them, but I also remember the anxiety I felt as graduation grew closer. I didn’t know what college I wanted to attend and once I decided the college I wasn’t sure what I wanted to major in either. And for a long time these questions ruled my life. “What do I enjoy?” “What should I major in?” “What can I see myself doing for the rest of my life?” It did not help that I was asking myself these questions as well as everyone else in my life. My answer was always, “I don’t know.” And that is how I always felt. I didn’t even know what I did know, and all this pressure to figure it out didn’t bring me any closer to a decision. In fact, it just made me want to shut down.

After I made the decision to attend The Ohio State University, I got a packet in the mail all about Learning Communities. I remember looking through it and thinking, “Of course, none of these apply to me, they are for people with majors.” I was so hard on myself all the time because it felt like everyone else had majors they loved, and everyone else had a plan for their life. What was wrong with me? Why couldn’t I figure it out? And as I got to the end of the brochure I saw the Exploration Learning Community. Realistically I knew that I wasn’t the only one going into college as an undecided major, but it is still hard and stressful when you just don’t know. But I think physically seeing there was something specifically for undecided majors made me realize for the first time that I wasn’t completely alone, and that is a truly reassuring feeling.

Joining the Exploration Learning Community is a decision I still feel confident in today, and I know that I always will. I come from an extremely small high school with a graduating class of 100. So coming to one of the biggest colleges in the country…I’m sure you can imagine how nervous I was. By joining the Exploration Learning Community I was able to have a small community that I knew I was a part of. And I think that having a sense of belonging, especially in such a large and unfamiliar place, is an incredibly important feeling. I was able to meet so many new people with diverse backgrounds, and we all had something in common. The LC also presents you with opportunities and activities to get to know students and also get to know different majors. This was very helpful, but I also had to work hard to teach myself to apply myself and ask questions. Though this is all valuable knowledge, I wouldn’t be able to pick a major without sitting down with my advisors and other professors. Through my Learning Community I was also able to join a Learning Community Council which exposed me to students in other Learning Communities as well. This was also a great experience we were able to learn to develop our leadership skills to represent and help others in our LC. You might not think so, but this also helped me to understand what I’m looking for in a major. It showed me that I actually enjoy meeting new people and speaking with others.

I am very glad that I made the decision to participate in the Exploration Learning Community and the Council. I know that my college experience wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t decide to join. I never thought of myself as a truly extroverted individual, but my LC allowed me to become comfortable and it made it so much easier to be confident in myself. When I first moved down to Ohio State I remember feeling so sad and lonely, I didn’t know who I had to talk to. And that is when I realized that coming to college is the biggest opportunity I have ever been given. Everyone is in the same boat, even though we all come from different backgrounds and situations. It is important to remember that there will never be a time when you are more independent, and when you are able to explore all things that interest you. I always try to remind myself of this. As an undecided student there is nothing wrong with exploring all the opportunities available to you.

This is a picture of Hannah at an Exploration Learning Community event in which teams explored campus and set personal goals!

In just over a week, applications for six of our nationally recognized Learning Communities are due! April 18 is the application deadline for: Business Honors, Engineering House, Future Health Professionals, Global Business, Women in Engineering, and SUSTAINS. Don’t delay, apply here!

As a bit of inspiration for your application, Megan Luthie, a first-year student in Women in Engineering, shares her story about her experience in a Learning Community!

“You can make this big university small.” These are the words you’ll hear at every single visit, tour, and even orientation at Ohio State. In a school of about 60,000 people, how is that even possible? Coming from a town less than a third of the size of Ohio State, I was very skeptical. There was no way that this school was going to feel small to me. But, after joining the Women in Engineering Learning Community, I realized that this was true.

Being in a Learning Community made the transition from a small high school to a huge university far easier and also surrounded me with 50 other women who are pursuing a similar degree. This created a comfortable community where we could ask each other questions about school and life in general.

We were also able to move-in three days before the big move-in day, allowing me to connect with the other women in this community and a sophomore in engineering that served as our mentor. We were able to build relationships with one another and also become familiar with the campus before classes started. Living in the same building as all of these women also helped us stay connected throughout the year.

As a group we were able to create our own scented candles, attend a Columbus Crew soccer game, travel to the Columbus Zoo for Zoo Lights, design mugs and plates, and participate in so many other events. This helped us to engage with each other outside of the classroom and become closer to one another.

While this community inspired friendships, it also created the opportunity to meet with professionals and students that are in the engineering field. During our early arrival program, we had the chance to meet with multiple engineering professors including ones in Electrical and Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering fields. We were also able to meet professionals working at ArcelorMittal and were even able to tour the factory in Cleveland. Furthermore, every two months there is an event entitled WiE Tea where women in the field of engineering come to our dorm and talk about why they chose their careers and what they do in their field. We are also able to ask lots of questions! This community has provided many networking connections throughout the year.

Overall, joining the Women in Engineering Learning Community is one of the greatest choices I have made here at Ohio State. I have created connections in a few short months and could not have hoped for a better outcome. I have had the chance to bond with my RA, Learning Community Advisor, Hall Director and other students while participating in fun events that enhance my connection to engineering. As a result, I felt comfortable at Ohio State almost instantly and have been able to join other organizations that I am interested in. I have become an active member in the Ohio State community in large part because of my experience as a member of Women in Engineering!