columbus

Exploring: A guide to navigating Ohio State and Columbus!

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Your first year is all about exploring. Whether it is a new area of study, new ideas, relationships, new places, or a new city–college is the place for you to embrace your inner explorer. Another important piece to this search is to plan HOW you will navigate your first year. When it comes to transportation options on and around campus, you can’t go wrong in finding a way to explore Ohio State and Columbus. Here is the rundown of some alternative forms of transportation to be a sustainable and travel-efficient Buckeye!

CABS: Campus Area Bus Service

Certainly, if you’ve been to campus at all this academic year, you have seen plenty of CABS buses shuttling students across campus. They look like this:

To ride, just hop on! There is no need to show your BuckID while riding.

Perks:

  • The Campus Loop North has overnight service around campus and runs 24/7!
  • The Ohio State mobile app and the Transportation and Traffic Management website provide information on arrival times so you don’t have to wait in the rain, snow, or look like this:

 

COTA: Central Ohio Transit Authority

If you’re a commuter trying to get to campus or a student who lives on-campus and wants to explore outside the university walls, COTA is the bus system for you!

COTA provides service throughout Franklin County and surrounding areas both day AND night. All you have to do as an Ohio State student is show your BuckID and hop on for free (it’s included in the fees you pay each semester)! Maps and service availability for the campus area (and beyond) are available on the COTA website.

Perks:

  • Late night service around the city
  • It comes and leaves from Ohio State–which is great for commuter students!

 CAR2GO

Don’t have a car on campus and need to run some quick errands off campus? Want to be able to drive somewhere, drop off a car, and not have to worry where you left it? If so, CAR2GO may be just the method of transportation  for you! You’ll need to purchase a membership card first, but after that it’s simple: just take it, drive it, and park it.

Perks:

  • It’s a great alternative to bringing your car to campus and keeping it parked across campus for months on end
  • It’s sustainable (and sort of like a toy car for adults)!

There are plenty of other options to get around campus and the city, but the three above are my personal recommendations; you can also learn more about biking, carpooling, and other options.

As you think about exploring and navigating campus, remember this: you WILL get lost. And that’s okay! We have all been there! Once, I took COTA instead of CABS and ended up in Clintonville instead of Fisher College of Business. A great part of exploring is the potential to getting a bit off course. Granted, it may not be the most convenient to test out the bus for the first time when your class is in five minutes, but it is important to figure it out for yourself. I recommend trying it out when the stakes are low. Hop on a bus and see where it takes you when you have an extended period of time to “get lost”. Bring a friend. Ask the bus driver if the bus is the right one for where you’re heading. And know that (at the very least), they all come back to the stop you hopped on originally! Happy exploring, Buckeyes! Oh, and don’t forget to look at the maps.

23 Things to do on the Weekend!

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Whether your personal definition of the weekend is a traditional Saturday-Sunday affair, or a liberal Friday (even Thursday) to Monday morning, everyone needs something to work toward during the week; Ohio State and Columbus hardly lack in activities, festivities and general fun for the weekend. My name is Alex and here are my favorite things to do:

 I. YEAR-ROUND OPPORTUNITIES

1) Study: Let’s be honest, that midterm isn’t going to study for itself. I like to set aside a little time from my weekend to get down to business and get ahead in my classes.

(suggested background music)

2) Hang out: Going to class with friends is great, but make sure to get to know each other outside of the classroom.

3) Athletic events: The feeling around campus on game day is pure SCARLET AND GREY ENERGY. Breakout your Buckeye attire and face paint because the Bucks are about to win!

4) Concerts: Whether it’s a free OUAB concert or a performance at the LC Pavilion or the Newport Music Hall, Columbus is a favorite stop on some of the best tours.

II. PLACES TO EAT:

5) Thurman Café: This famous burger café has delicious monster burgers (including the Thurmanator) and is located German Village.

6) Melt: Just a short bus ride or walk into the Short North, this restaurant has an amazing assortment of delectable sandwiches.

7) Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams: World-famous Jeni’s Ice Cream is available on campus!  However, I think visiting the shop in the Short North is well worth the trip.

8) Piada: For all you Chipotle fanatics, just imagine Chipotle but for pasta!

9) Northstar Café: With several locations, Northstar is my personal favorite for great food and organic options.

10) North Market: Right by the Convention Center, the North Market hosts many independent vendors and food from around the world.

11) Tai’s Asian Bistro: Talk about more bang for your buck, when I order their Pad Tai, it lasts me for days!

12) Union Café (not the one on campus): If you are looking for a great brunch, pop on in for some tasty breakfast food!

13) Surly Girl: Located close to campus in the Short North, Surly Girl offers great comfort food.

14) Katalina’s: Three words. Nutella Pancake Balls.

15) Figlio: If you are looking for pizza and pasta, Figlio in Grandview is a great place to eat!

III. OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVENTURE

16) Scioto Audubon Metro Park: This Columbus park has an outdoor rock climbing wall!

17) CoGo Bikes: No bike, no problem. CoGo is a bike share program so you can bike the Columbus trails.

18) Columbus Crew: So maybe you’re not playing on the field, but come cheer on Columbus’s very own professional soccer team. Check out student discount tickets at D-Tix.

19)  Run the Trails: The Olentangy Trail stretches alongside the river. This is a perfect place for long runs and bike rides.

20) Relax on the Oval: It’s nice to actually stop and smell the roses (or grass) once in a while.

21) CoSi: You might nerd out a bit, but CoSi isn’t just for kids. This interactive science museum is a blast for all ages.

IV. THINGS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER (but are easy to forget)

22) Call home: Let’s face it, there are times where you may miss home during your first year. Make a point of calling those good friends or family members when you’re thinking of them, they’ll appreciate it.

23) Sleep: You’ve earned it. Although you may not want to spend your whole weekend catching up on sleep, it’s healthy to take time to rest. Work on creating a healthy sleep schedule, so you can use your weekends to build relationships and have adventures!

Check in on July 7 (orientation day 25) when Nikki will write about The 25 Tweets You Might Post During Your First Year. 

16 birthday gifts you can find around campus!

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As a student at Ohio State, everyday feels like my birthday! However, when my actual birthday rolls around (September 25th just in case you need to know when to buy my gift), an extra present doesn’t hurt. In honor of Day 16 of orientation, here are 16 gift ideas for Ohio State students (found in the campus/Columbus area):

1.Discount tickets

Discount Tickets (or D-Tix) gives you discounts on a wide variety of opportunities and events in the Columbus area! From sports, concerts, shows and almost anything you can imagine, tickets are sold at a reduced price…if you want to buy something for your friend on a budget, D-Tix is the way to go.

2. Concert tickets at Newport Music Hall

Newport Music Hall is directly across the street from the Ohio Union, and musical acts perform there nearly every day. You’re likely to find something your friend will love, ranging anywhere from 2 Chainz to Neon Trees.

3. Dinner at Bistro 2110

The menu at Bistro 2110 (located inside the Blackwell Inn) is top notch! If you’re a food connoisseur like me, using some of your meal plan to eat steak and other delicious food is the way to go. Just remember to reserve  a table in advance!

4. Ohio State football tickets

Just in case you didn’t know, Ohio State has a pretty good football team. What’s a better gift than getting the experience of seeing the Buckeyes win in person surrounded with 100,000 of your best friends?

5. Ohio State apparel

Perhaps you’ve noticed that your friend’s wardrobe is missing some scarlet and gray? Check out Barnes and Noble College in the Ohio Union and gift wrap that Ohio State jersey or hat.

6. Name an entree at Sloopy’s Diner!

Food naming rights is not a difficult endeavor, but it can have a meaningful (year-long) impact! It’s as simple as applying for the Sloopy’s Diner sandwich club.

7. CD of TBDBITL

TBDBITL is short for “The Best Damn Band In The Land” and if you haven’t experienced them yet, check out some of their shows on YouTube. A quick trip to the University Bookstore will get your friends the sounds of TBDBITL wherever they go.

8. Textbooks

Are textbooks really a gift? Absolutely! Textbooks can be a large investment each semester, so being able to alleviate some of that financial burden is a gift worth more than its weight in gold (and because those books can weigh A LOT).

9. Massages at the RPAC

Sometimes a little R&R is needed so that the stress doesn’t get the best of us. Massages at the RPAC are given by licensed massage therapists for a fee, so you know your friend will enjoy it.

10. Suit from Pursuit

Pursuit is a local suit shop owned by some Ohio State alumni. All you need is your friend’s size, and you can guarantee that your friend will end up with a quality suit. Don’t have the size? Pursuit also sells other accessories.

11. A personalized candle from The Candle Lab

You can get candles that smell like pancakes or grass, or make your own!

12. A round of golf at the Ohio State golf course

Whether your friend is a golf expert or they’ve never played before, it’s a great experience. Scarlet and Gray are the names of the Ohio State golf courses and all you have to do is pay a green fee and schedule a game!

13. Picnic on the Oval

As a college student, FREE is the best price tag. Pack up a lunch and spend some time on the Oval in the middle of campus. Pack a Frisbee for some fun games and a blanket for sunbathing, but remember to wear sunscreen!

14. Cookies from Insomnia

Sometimes, a box of cookies is the perfect combination of, here’s a gift for your birthday, and I know this is too much for food for you, so as your friend, I will take it upon myself to help you finish all of these cookies.

15. Segway tour of Columbus

One of the benefits of attending Ohio State is living within walking distance of the 15th largest city in the United States; however, I recommend having a birthday party via Segway! This is an awesome tour to get acquainted with Columbus.

16. The little things

Your friend may too busy on their own birthday to go anywhere or do anything but it’s the little things that make a huge difference. Offer to proofread a paper or combine their laundry with your own…even a text message can make any day feel like a happy birthday.

Tune in Wednesday to learn from Molly about the 18 things that you can only experience at Ohio State! 

Do you like eggs? Because it’s time to Scramble. Scarlet Scramble, that is!

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I know SO MUCH about Ohio State!

I LOVE free stuff!

I have SO MANY (read: at least 5) friends who are first years!

If you have had any of those thoughts (and let’s face it, you know you have had all of them), you probably have also thought,

“I really wish Ohio State had an event where I could win prizes by exploring campus and the city of Columbus in a competition with my friends!”

Guess what?!?

THERE IS!!!! And it’s sponsored by First Year Experience. I’ll give you a minute to contain your excitement.

The Scarlet Scramble is a 24-hour challenge that take teams all around campus and the city of Columbus. The teams will have to compete in:

Head-to-Head Challenges

Maybe it’s a feat of physical strength, like a tug-of-war. Maybe it’s a feat of mental strength, like eating 3 Sloopy’s pancakes. Either way, you’ll stare your enemy (ahem, other Scarlet Scramble teams) right in the eyes for these challenges.

Trivia Questions

Quick, how many All-American Ohio State football players have there been? What’s the address of this building? Earn valuable points by answering questions like these.

Photo Clues

Know where the Hippie Brutus is? Can you find a member of the Ohio State Police Department who will pose with you in an O-H-I-O photo? Plaster on that smile and get ready to take some memorable and creative photos to earn points during the Scramble.

“But what about sleeeeeeeeep?”

Well, first of all, watch this clip and replace “water” with “sleep“.

The Scarlet Scramble takes place from 6 p.m. on March 28th until 6 p.m. on March 29th, but don’t worry! No clues will be handed out between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m., so you’ll have plenty of time for your beauty sleep.

“Whoa. That sounds seriously cool! How do I get involved?”

I’M GLAD YOU ASKED, FAITHFUL BLOG READER! You do it in TWO easy steps:

1. Craft a team.

Not assemble, not find, not scrape together. A well-crafted team will balance speed, dexterity, acumen, and panache, much like the 1996 Bulls. Only two requirements:

  • 5-10 people can be on each team
  • At least 5 members of the team must be first-year students

2. Register your team online using the access code scramble14.

The registration fee is only $50. Now, I’m not a math major, but…

$50/10 team members = $5

If you’re having trouble understanding what this means, it’s only $5 per participant!

This is also when you put your team name in, so come up with a good one! If you need help, check this link out.

AND THAT’S IT! Two easy steps to 24 hours of fun. Registration begins now through March 7th and is on a first come, first serve basis. For more information, please visit the Scarlet Scramble page on the FYE website or contact me at felty.7@osu.edu!

Can’t wait to see you all on the 28th!

You Mean to Tell Me You’re Not from Ohio?

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Let me start by saying we’re all united as Buckeyes. That said, for those of us from outside the borders of Ohio, there are some challenges that native Ohioans may not quite understand. But never fear, I have some solutions that you will make you feel right at home in no time!

Problem: You pay a higher tuition than anyone born and bred in Ohio. This is a downfall of going to a school in a different state, but we got to do what we got to do. It’s worth it.

Solution: Check out the Wellness Center in the RPAC for budgeting information if those student loans are starting to freak you out. You can also still apply for scholarships even though you’re already in college. It’s true, and I know what you’re thinking, “I just got into college writing a bunch of essays, and now you want me to write more?!” Well…yes. But think about it this way: you could essentially be paid to write down your thoughts, so go get ’em!

 

Problem: Ohioans can recite all 88 counties of Ohio in alphabetical order, but you barely know how to spell Cincinnati.

Solution: Take some time to get to know your new home state! Cedar Point, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, and Lake Erie are my personal favorites. Don’t have a car? Keep reading to find out some awesome things to do right here in Columbus!

 

Problem: Homesickness. Everyone experiences this, even if they don’t admit it.

Solution: When you’re feeling blue, try to do things that remind you of home, like cooking a favorite meal or watching your favorite show. It also helps to think about the things you have here at Ohio State that you don’t have at home. Not sure about you, but my hometown doesn’t have Big Ten sporting events or the RPAC. Nor do you have any chance of running into Aaron Craft on the Oval. If your town has any of these things, please comment below so I can come visit.

 

Problem: While some of your friends can go home whenever they want, you’re a plane, train, and/or automobile away from your house.

Solution: Take the weekends when your friends are away to explore Columbus. Check out the North Market, a Blue Jackets game, or get some Jeni’s ice cream! You can also check out Buckeye Beyond Ohio events to meet some new out-of-state friends (and there’s usually free food!)

 

Well my fellow out-of-staters (and I suppose even you Ohioans), I hope this list has given you some ideas on how to feel more at home here in Columbus. It may all still be a little overwhelming, but I assure you the longer you’re here, the more you’re going to fall in love (how could you not?!).