New Student Guide

Covid Testing:

Resoruces about University’s testing updated policies can be found at https://safeandhealthy.osu.edu/testing

Housing options:

On-campus housing:

Explore the on-campus residential options for graduate students at https://housing.osu.edu/living-on-campus/graduate-professional-and-non-traditional-housing/

Off-campus Housing:

This link provides a good list of off-campus housing options https://offcampus.osu.edu/search-housing.aspx

Used bike sales and Rental Bikes:

Buckeye Bike hub at OSU Recreational sports offers bike sales and rental bikes for semester. Check this out!! This place also offers a bike maintenance center, a DIY area and a retail area for purchasing bike supplies (locks and other bicycle parts).

Student Health Center:

The Wilce Student Health Center is located close to RPAC (recreation facility) and Thompson Library. Check the services available at the student health center.

Parking:

Commute to work?

Find out more about parking on campus from CampusParc.

Gateway Plaza – 1560 N. High St. –Columbus, OH 43201

614-688-000

 

Need a place to park?

Find out where from the CampusParc map!

 

Visitor and Guest Parking

Visitors and guests can pay for parking in either the many garages located heavily around the Academic Core and the Wexner Medical Centeror, by paying for a surface lot parking typically located in the less dense areas of campus.

 

Need to get around Columbus, but don’t want to drive?

Use CABS, COTA, or CoGo!

Campus Area Bus Service (CABS)

A free transit service provided by OSU, use real-time tracking to see where your bus is either online or on their mobile app! Schedules and maps can be found here.

 

Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA)

COTA goes all around Columbus. Some of the major bus routes are:

Route #2  – E Main/N High

Route #7 – OSU/Riverside Hospital

Route #18 – OSU/Kenny/Tuttle Mall

Route #80 – OSU/Lennox

Route #82 – OSU/ Grandview

Route #84 – Hilliard/Arlington/OSU

You can find all the routes on your phone too! Download the app Transit, with COTA real-time tracking for any line in town. Available for either iPhone or Android phones.

If you have a bike, don’t worry! Bikes can be secured to the front of the bus. For more info head on over to their website.

Part of your student fees is toward COTA, so make sure to carry your BuckID with you when you catch a free ride!

 

CoGo Bike Share

Located around Columbus, rent a bike and explore! Find a bike station.

 

Columbus Ohio Places of Interest

Below is information about some of the major areas for off-campus life in Columbus.

Sporting Events:

Nationwide Arena: Home of the Columbus Blue Jackets hockey team, located in the arena district. The arena offers plenty of non-hockey venues throughout the year. Click here for info.

Columbus Clipppers Stadium: Home stadium for Columbus’ minor league baseball team, the Columbus Clippers.

MAPFRE Stadium: Home stadium for Columbus’ professional soccer team, the Columbus Crew. In addition to soccer matches, the stadium frequently hosts other events throughout the year. More info here.

 

Music Venues:

The Newport: The Newport Music Hall is a music venue located at 1722 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio, across the street from the Ohio Union of the Ohio State University. It is America’s Longest Continually Running Rock Club.

A and R Music Bar: Music bar and concert hall located in the arena district.

Skully’s Music Bar: Music bar located near campus on High Street.

Ohio Theatre:  Classical music to modern dance, yearly family traditions to concerts, the world’s best artists come to the Ohio Theatre.

Shadow Box Live: Shadowbox Live is a non-profit performance troupe that self-produces a wide range of shows, including original rock operas, traditional musicals, fine art exhibits, contemporary dance, and video/television.

 

Arts and History:

Columbus Museum of Art: Columbus’ local art museum.

Ohio History Center: Ohio History Center includes a museum, archives/library, historic preservation office, and Ohio Village.

COSI: Center for Science and Industry, Columbus’ interactive science center. 

 

Food/Nightlife:

Short North: Known as the art and soul of Columbus, the culturally rich Short North Arts District is a pioneer in the urban revitalization of Central Ohio. Visitors are invited to explore our vibrant neighborhood known for its wide variety of amazing art, dining, nightlife, fashion, home décor, and unique gift.

Arena District: The Arena District is one of downtown Columbus’ most popular neighborhoods featuring sports, entertainment, food and drink.

German Village: German Village Business Community is a collection of independent businesses, sharing resources and working together to promote the historic business community of German Village. Whether you’re planning a night out on our bricks or visiting for the weekend, you’ll find what you’re looking for.

 

Thanks to the Buckeye Biochemistry Club for sharing these contents.