Hana Wagner: Why I Transferred From Another College to Ohio State ATI
I graduated from Mapleton Local Schools in Ashland, OH, in 2021. After graduation I knew I wanted to explore and see what other places were like in the country. I intended to pursue an out-of-state option, so Ohio State University was not my initial choice for that reason. Instead, I looked at several other
universities. It was a hard decision to make but I decided to go to Middle Tennessee State University as I could live with family there.
Sadly, in June 2022, my uncle had been declining in health as he had stage 4 colon cancer, so I made the decision to move back to my hometown to spend some quality time with him. I also knew that staying at home with my parents again would be more affordable than living in Murfreesboro. I had college decisions to make as well…
I knew Ohio State ATI would offer a more “hands-on” education and the student-to-teacher ratio was smaller, allowing for better connections with professors and classmates in a more laid-back environment. I took advantage of the time I had to weigh my options and submitted my application two days before the deadline. I was a little nervous, but thankfully I was able to get into Ohio State ATI before classes started, with most of my credits transferring.
In all honesty, returning home was one of the wisest moves I could have taken. I experienced tremendous growth being in Tennessee for just one year; however, my goals and aspirations are more in line with ATI. The teachers, the programs, and the opportunities I have here at ATI are better than I could have imagined.
I started working in ATI’s Admissions Office as a student ambassador, which has been super fun, and I have met so many new students while developing professional relationships with staff as well. I have also taken a position as a resident advisor in ATI’s apartment village to help cut living costs and to increase my communication, conflict-resolution, and time-management skills.
The majors at Ohio State ATI are designed to help you excel in your career field by providing students the opportunity to intern anywhere in the world. So, ironically, I am going to be interning next summer at the same vet clinic back in Murfreesboro where I previously worked. The experience hours I will gain from the internship will also help me fulfill a requirement to get into vet school.
Overall, I will always value my time at Ohio State ATI. I have met so many incredible friends here that I do not know what I would do without.