Hannah Zimmerman is the Prospective Student Services Coordinator for the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). She works at the Columbus campus of The Ohio State University. The admissions counselors here at Ohio State ATI work closely with Hannah as Ohio State ATI is also part of CFAES. We are the campus located in Wooster, Ohio.

In her role Hannah helps students find their place within the university and choose a major that is going to align with their dreams and goals. She can talk to students about the opportunities they have both on the Wooster and Columbus campuses. She says, “Being available to answer any questions students have and assist them through the process of calling OSU home brings forth lots of excitement!”

Hannah’s biggest advice for prospective students is to be involved with the recruitment opportunities the college or university is hosting! She explains, “Attending different events, webinars, or student panels will help you get a sense for the school you are interested in and help you see if it is going to be the best fit for you. Talk to current students and take time to explore the campus, the school website, and the different events offered to make sure you will be happy while you are a student.”

Ohio State ATI is currently hosting many different webinars with topics ranging from admissions overviews, housing, financial aid, conversations with current Buckeyes, and programs about our different majors. Dates and recordings of these webinars are available on our website.  Check back often as we are in the process of adding more webinars to the calendar!

For current high school seniors, it is time to start making those decisions about where you are going to go to school in the fall. Once you have applied, been admitted, and paid your acceptance fee, it is time to register for orientation!

Since the safety of Buckeye Nation is our top priority, we have made the decision to suspended face-to-face interaction and move all fall 2020 orientation programs to a virtual format.  The orientation team at Ohio State ATI is working diligently to create a program that will encompass everything you would have learned while on campus.

Here to help assist with the orientation process is Ella Lorentz.  Ella is an Admissions Counselor and the Orientation Coordinator at Ohio State ATI where she has been working for six years. Students can contact her with questions about placement testing and what to expect the day of orientation.

When asked what some of the benefits of orientation are, Ella stated, “Orientation is the perfect step before fall semester to get connected with faculty and staff. You will register for classes with the professor who will be your academic point of contact during your time at Ohio State ATI; they want you to be successful and will have great advice for your academic career. Presentations from housing, financial aid, and other offices on campus will also be given during orientation. Make sure to send in questions to each presenter as they also want to make sure you are successful outside of the classroom. Above all else, make sure to take everything in with an open mind and don’t be nervous – everyone is new at this, but we are in it together and want your Buckeye career to start with your best foot forward.”

Ella loves to see our students grow over their time at Ohio State ATI. From orientation to graduating or transitioning on to the Columbus campus, she is able to witness a lot of personal and academic growth. She and the rest of Ohio State ATI would love to meet you, so once you have paid your acceptance fee, register for orientation!

All communications and updates regarding your virtual orientation will be sent to your OSU email account, so please make it a point to check it routinely.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us at atiorientation@osu.edu or by phone at 330-287-1305.

Ohio State ATI is the Wooster Campus of The Ohio State University and part of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). Within CFAES there are many close working relationships between the Columbus and Wooster campuses. One such relationship is with Amy Jo Baughman, who works on the Columbus Campus as the CFAES Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving.

In her role with alumni, Amy Jo says, “Once you become a Buckeye, you’re a Buckeye for life no matter which Ohio State campus you choose. Just as the university and college offer resources to students, once a student becomes an alumnus, there are many resources available through the OSU Alumni Association and CFAES to support them as alumni! Things like career coaching, financial workshops, social events, alumni awards, community service, and more await future alums.”

Before beginning her role in the alumni office, Amy Jo worked in the CFAES Office of Prospective Student Services, so she has a lot of advice for prospective students! She says, “Choosing a college is all about finding the right fit for you, and a lot of factors go into that “right fit”—cost, housing, degree options, campus size, campus location, extracurricular opportunities, etc. It’s important to take the time to visit and see campuses for yourself.”

Currently, due to COVID-19, in-person visits to Ohio State ATI are not available as we prioritize the health and safety of our guests, students, faculty, and staff. However, we are working to bring Ohio State ATI to you through virtual weekly Admissions Overviews Fridays at 1:00 p.m. Tune in to learn about degree options, admission requirements, deadlines, and highlights of financial aid and campus life.  We are also hosting webinars about housing, financial aid, and steps of the admission process. Information about how to join these online conversations can be found here.  You can also schedule an individual visit with an admissions counselor and/or ATI faculty member over Zoom.

Although Amy Jo does not work on our campus, she is still part of our Ohio State ATI family! We would love for you to join that family as well!

Caitlin Blake has been Ohio State ATI’s Applewood Village Apartments Manager for two years. Ohio State ATI has apartment style living. This means that students have the opportunity to live in one, two, or three-bedroom apartments complete with a kitchen, living room, and bathroom. Caitlin’s role impacts our students by providing a safe and comfortable environment that helps them learn and grow and discover who they are outside of the classroom.

As far as advice, Caitlin is full of it! The following is all advice that Caitlin would give a prospective student!

• College is a time to figure out who you are! Be open to learning new things, meeting new people, and making hard choices. She says, “Sometimes your plans or your major change, sometimes you find a hobby you are really passionate about, and a lot of times you figure out the person you want to become.”
• Fill out your housing contract as early as possible. Information about your housing contract will come to your new Buckeyemail account.
• Turn in your roommate groups by June 1. If you have certain people you know you want to live with, be sure to join their roommate group or create a group, and make sure that everything is in by June 1.
• Don’t worry too much about where you end up getting placed in housing. She says, “You will have a chance to meet so many people and find your friends. Sometimes it is best to room with people you aren’t already close to, so you can still cherish the times you get to hang out together.”

 Caitlin’s favorite part about Ohio State ATI is our students. She loves working with students and hearing what they have learned in their classes. She also likes to see them take advantage of all that Ohio State ATI has to offer, including housing programs, events at the Student Activities Center, and on-campus organizations!

We would love for you to be part of our Buckeye family! Watch the video below to learn more about your potential home-away-from-home at Ohio State ATI!

Ohio State ATI – Housing:

Allison Mayer is Ohio State ATI’s Admissions Staff Assistant. She has been at Ohio State ATI for four years. She works with prospective students and their families to schedule visits to campus.

While in-person campus visits at Ohio State ATI in Wooster are currently unavailable due to COVID-19 you can still schedule to meet with an admissions counselor over Zoom, which is a video conferencing service, or by phone or email. It may be possible to meet with a faculty member from your major through these methods, as well. You can use the website and contact information at the bottom to schedule a visit. We would love for you to meet with us (virtually at this time) to learn what Ohio State ATI is all about.

Allison’s favorite thing about her job is seeing hesitant students and their families come to campus and after meeting with an admissions counselor or faculty member their fears fade away. The families are reassured Ohio State ATI has the resources to help students succeed and the faculty and staff to support the student’s needs. Often relationships continue after a student is on campus, because their admissions counselor is one of the first people they meet when they visit campus as a nervous or excited high school senior. Students feel comfortable with a familiar face.

“Take this time to learn to be a good roommate,” Allison suggests. She says, “Under quarantine you are likely in your home with your family for an extended period. Living on campus is not a quarantine, but you will be living with new people in close quarters. Take this time to take care of yourself and learn how to support your household. Do the dishes, do the laundry, help make meals, read, practice your hobby, and most importantly establish study techniques to utilize when people are around. When you are in college, there will be lots of distractions and people will always be around. Being able to separate yourself and taking care of business is an important skill to develop.”

Allison and the rest of Ohio State ATI’s Admission Office are still here to answer any questions that you may have! During this time, visits look a little different, but we strive to provide as much information as possible to help students make their decisions about Ohio State ATI.  Please feel free to contact us!

ATI Office of Admissions
ati.osu.edu/visit
330-287-1327
atiadmissions@osu.edu

Thom Janini, PhD, is Ohio State ATI’s Assistant Director for Student Programming and Life. He has been at Ohio State ATI for 13 years. He came from industry to be a professor and then progressed into administrative roles. As the Assistant Director for Student Programming and Life, he works to make students’ lives better. His job encompasses all parts of the student experiences, including cocurricular activities, such as clubs and organizations. His role also encompasses Student Success Services, which provides services such as counseling and academic resources.

As he strives to make students’ lives better, he emphasizes that Ohio State ATI is a great place to come because there are so many resources to help students achieve their goals:

1. It is a small campus community, so everyone knows everybody. It is an environment that facilitates making friends for life. We have a Student Activities Center, which hosts a multitude of activities for you
   

   Intramural basketball at the Student Activities Center

   and your new friends. Activities include intramural sports, trivia, and craft nights.

2. Our faculty know our students. Our student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1, so your professors will know your name. Our classes emphasize experiential learning, so students can learn by doing. Janini states, “In an age where students are so empowered by things digital, they need opportunities to get experience and try things out in the real world.”
3. There are many other resources for student success. These include peer-based tutoring, counseling, our library, and many other services. Dr. Janini says, “In pursuing
   

   Ohio State ATI Library

   your program here, you are going to have to do some things that are really hard and that you have never been asked to do before. While that may seem challenging, we offer a big support network. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

There are so many resources available to students at Ohio State ATI, and we are constantly trying to improve the student experience! We would love for you to explore Ohio State ATI and see if our campus is a place where that you could thrive.

Cate Hunko works as Ohio State ATI’s Transition Counselor. She has been with us for a year and a half. Before starting her role as our transition counselor, she had an internship in our Learning Lab , where she really loved Ohio State ATI’s student body and wanted to join us! Her favorite thing about Ohio State ATI is still the students! She says, “I meet a lot of fun and interesting students who have the drive and capacity to achieve their goals, and I enjoy being a part of that movement and growth.”

In her role as a Transition Counselor, she works with students who are interested in transitioning from Ohio State ATI to the Columbus campus to finish their bachelor’s degrees. This includes working with students on what classes they need to take, but it is more than that. She strives to give students the information they will need in every aspect of life, including housing, parking, transportation, and clubs and organizations. She works closely with people on the Columbus campus and provides information and contacts for students at Ohio State ATI to create a smooth and successful transition.

A piece of advice that she would give a prospective student is, “Be open to the possibilities of college and know that there is support if you are struggling not only academically but also if social and emotional issues arise. Over the years, the college experience has become all-inclusive, and a place like Ohio State ATI provides the opportunity for students to achieve their academic goal.”

Whether it be graduating with an associate degree and moving out into industry, or making the transition to the Columbus campus and finishing a bachelor’s degree, explore Ohio State ATI and learn how we can help you achieve your goals!

Uttara Samarakoon, PhD is an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Greenhouse and Nursery Management at Ohio State ATI. She has been at Ohio State ATI for four years. She currently is doing research on nutrient optimization for hydroponic crops.

Ohio State ATI’s Greenhouse and Nursery Management program is an Associate of Applied Science degree. It offers students the opportunity to specialize in one of three areas of controlled environment agriculture: Greenhouse, Nursery, and Greenhouse Engineering Technology.

“The greenhouse industry is taking agriculture to the next level, providing the possibility to grow plants in a controlled environment,” Dr. Samarakoon stated. “Job opportunities are many, and skilled people are paid very well. There are very few greenhouse management degrees in the US, and the greenhouse engineering technology specialization is the only 2-year program in the North America.”

Student working in our hydroponic greenhouse.

Students in the greenhouse program have the opportunity to take a class called Greenhouse Vegetable Production. This course gives students principles and practices of vegetable crop production. It is Dr. Samarakoon’s favorite class to teach because she designed it! For hands-on activities, students establish crops in different growing systems. ATI has a greenhouse dedicated to hydroponic crops.

A Greenhouse and Nursery Management degree is not just for people who enjoy plants and learning about the process of growing. Dr. Samarakoon says, “Opportunities in the greenhouse and nursery industry are many and can range from growing plants and working with equipment, to sales and public horticulture. Students can experience these different opportunities at ATI and gradually build their career of choice in the greenhouse industry.” Ohio State ATI has state-of-the- art greenhouses established in 2017 to enhance the educational experience in controlled environment agriculture.

Students working with hydroponic plants.

Dr. Samarakoon’s favorite part of Ohio State ATI is our students, and we would love to have you on campus as one! Find more information on our Greenhouse and Nursery Management degree here or schedule a visit to campus and experience it for yourself.

Cindy Shelly is the Fiscal Associate within the Business Office at Ohio State ATI. The Business Office processes student’s tuition payments and are always available to help students with their Statement of Accounts. A Statement of Account shows what fees a student would owe for the upcoming semester. Cindy has been here for 11 years.

The faculty and staff at Ohio State ATI are very approachable, and that is Cindy’s favorite aspect of Ohio State ATI. Cindy, too, is very approachable and very willing to help. In the past, she has received the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Science Staff Advisory Council “Above and Beyond Reward.”

When asked what the value of coming to college and Ohio State ATI in particular, Cindy stated “College can help students plan their future goals. ATI offers two-year degrees, which help a student figure out if they want to enter into the workforce with an Associate’s or they have the option of continuing to pursue their Bachelor’s.”

Ohio State ATI students choose from two different types of associate degrees. The Associate of Science degree is built to transition on to a bachelor’s degree at the Columbus campus. The Associate of Applied Science program is meant to be a terminal degree, for students interested in starting their career right away.

The biggest piece of advice that Cindy would give to a prospective student is, “Look for scholarships, no matter how small every little bit helps.” Scholarships and financial aid can significantly reduce the cost of coming to college. Nonetheless, if you do have questions about your Statement of Account, do not be afraid to ask the Business Office.

Jodie Holava is Ohio State ATI’s new Student Activities Coordinator. Her background is in collegiate coaching, but here at ATI she facilitates many campus activities. She tries to provide a variety of options, so that everyone can find something they enjoy doing.

As Jodie says, the only way to know if you like something is to try it! Her biggest advice to a prospective student is to, “Try it all! You want to join a student group? Go for it! Go on a trip to visit someplace you’ve never been? Why not!  It may be uncomfortable and something you’ve never done before, but that’s how you learn and grow!”

Some of the activities students take part in are through campus organizations, from clubs within your major, to the Hoof-n-Hide Club, to the ATI Community Choir. Many ATI students participate in Collegiate 4-H and Collegiate FFA. We also have a variety of intramural sport leagues and tournaments, including traditional sports such as volleyball, kickball, and basketball, as well as unconventional intramurals such as laser tag and euchre.

ATI’s Student Activities Center also hosts events such as craft nights, karaoke, and trivia. In addition, there are opportunities to grow as a leader through attending Lunch with Leaders sessions. Lastly, students have the opportunity to give back by volunteering with service activities such as the local Habitat for Humanity. You can learn more about some of the activities Ohio State ATI offers here.

Jodie has been with ATI for only about four months, and her favorite part of ATI is how welcoming everyone has been. She says, “I guess you can consider me a ‘new student’ too, and from the first time I stepped on campus, it felt warm and inviting. Every person I met said ‘Hello!’ with a smile, and it has been the same ever since. ATI definitely makes you quickly feel part of the family!”

We would love for you to be part of the ATI family! Please consider visiting campus soon!