Dispatch
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
New elite class
Higher standards have OSU rivaling Miami, making it tough to get in
Friday, September 08, 2006
Kristy Eckert
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
JEFF HINCKLEY DISPATCH
PATRICK KASTNER
The newest undergraduates at Ohio State University are just as brainy as their counterparts at Ohio?s so-called public Ivy, Miami University.
Several academic measurements show that years of rising standards have helped OSU close the gap on Miami, traditionally considered the state?s most selective public school.
The two schools now stand at the head of the class among the eight largest universities in the state.
"I think Ohio State could lay equal claim to being the elite public (university)," said Michael Mills, Northwestern University?s associate provost of enrollment. Mills graduated from Ohio State and worked as Miami?s admissions director.
According to preliminary figures, Ohio State?s incoming freshmen surpass or nearly match their Miami counterparts in class rankings and ACT scores, areas in which OSU trailed dramatically 10 years ago.
"They?re definitely neck to neck now," said Jenny Savakinas, chairwoman of the guidance department at Gahanna Lincoln High School. "Their worlds have collided now, and they?re going after the same kids."
At least two New Albany High School graduates this year were accepted at Miami and rejected by OSU, said Jeff Stahlman, New Albany?s guidance counselor.
"I really wasn?t that surprised," Stahlman said. "If you do this every year, you could see the two were getting close."
Consider this:
? A projected 43 percent of Ohio State?s incoming freshmen this year graduated in the top 10 percent of their high-school class, compared with 38 percent at Miami.
? A projected 80 percent of Ohio State?s freshmen graduated in the top 25 percent of their class, compared with 73.6 percent at Miami.
? Miami?s incoming freshmen averaged 26.46 on the ACT. At Ohio State, the projected average is 26.4.
In addition to academics, universities say they also look at extracurricular activities, background, finances and several other criteria when evaluating prospects.
Ohio State?s academic toughness might not raise the brows of guidance counselors, but some college-bound students have been shocked by rejection letters from the school, which for years had been viewed as a safety net.
"People used to say it was their safe school," Ohio State President Karen A. Holbrook said. "That?s not the case anymore. We are a destination school."
In her four years at OSU, Holbrook continued an effort to make academics tougher, a campaign that began in 1988, when the university dropped its policy of accepting any highschool graduate in Ohio.
While about 55 percent of OSU students graduated under the old policy, seven of 10 now earn diplomas, said Martha Garland, Ohio State?s vice provost for enrollment services and dean for undergraduate education.
Now, the children of many middle-aged alumni are applying ? perhaps with better credentials ? and being rejected.
Columbus real-estate agent Sam Koon graduated from OSU in 1977. His son, James, graduated this year from Bexley High School with a 3.2 GPA and a 23 on the ACT. He finished third in the state Division II golf tournament, was head of the drum line in his marching band and played in his church band.
When he checked his OSU admission status online and saw that he was turned down for the main campus, he thought it might be a mistake.
"But then I received the letter. ? I was in shock," Koon said. "My dad went there, and back then when you went to school at Ohio State, you had to be breathing to get in."
Koon is now golfing for Capital University.
"He was very disappointed," his dad said. "But I really don?t object to what they?re doing with the university.
"There?s nothing embarrassing about it," he added. "Ohio State is a wonderful university."
Ohio State was Molly Zwelling?s first choice, too.
She graduated from the Columbus Torah Academy with a 3.6 GPA, having taken two advanced-placement classes and studied Hebrew. She also played tennis for a year and was active in her synagogue youth group.
She was stunned when she was rejected for a spot at Ohio State?s main campus.
"Just growing up, it was like ... ?I want to be a Buckeye,? " she said. "I was just really, really shocked. I was so upset."
She could have attended a branch campus, where admissions are still open. But like most students who apply to Ohio State, she was looking for a big-school experience. Instead, she will attend the University of Cincinnati.
High-school counselors are advising students aiming to attend Ohio State to embrace more rigorous schedules, take advanced-placement classes and take the ACT early so they have more chances to improve their score.
Still, even students? older siblings are often surprised to learn how difficult it is to be admitted to OSU now, said Joe Palazzo, college counselor at Hilliard Darby High School.
"But that?s a good thing for Ohio State," he said. "And it?s a good thing for the students who get a degree from Ohio State, because that degree?s worth much more."
Others are noticing the changes as well. Last month, in the U.S. News and World Report annual ranking of "America?s Best Colleges," Ohio State placed 57 th nationally and 19 th among public universities. Miami placed 60 th and 21 st, respectively.
Richard Little, a spokesman for Miami, said he?s aware of Ohio State?s strides.
"It?s great for Ohio," he said. "The more students we can keep in Ohio, the better off we all are."
Kyle Girardi hopes he?s good enough to be a Buckeye next year.
The Hilliard Darby senior carries a resume packed with highlights: 3.4 GPA, several advanced-placement classes, student senate, symphonic choir president, swim team, 4-H, Columbus Zoo volunteer, altar server.
He?s working to improve his ACT score of 20.
"I was born and raised a Buckeye," he said. "I can?t really see myself being anything else."
[email protected]
Dispatch
Friday, September 08, 2006
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
New elite class
Higher standards have OSU rivaling Miami, making it tough to get in
Friday, September 08, 2006
Kristy Eckert
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The newest undergraduates at Ohio State University are just as brainy as their counterparts at Ohio?s so-called public Ivy, Miami University.
Several academic measurements show that years of rising standards have helped OSU close the gap on Miami, traditionally considered the state?s most selective public school.
The two schools now stand at the head of the class among the eight largest universities in the state.
"I think Ohio State could lay equal claim to being the elite public (university)," said Michael Mills, Northwestern University?s associate provost of enrollment. Mills graduated from Ohio State and worked as Miami?s admissions director.
According to preliminary figures, Ohio State?s incoming freshmen surpass or nearly match their Miami counterparts in class rankings and ACT scores, areas in which OSU trailed dramatically 10 years ago.
"They?re definitely neck to neck now," said Jenny Savakinas, chairwoman of the guidance department at Gahanna Lincoln High School. "Their worlds have collided now, and they?re going after the same kids."
At least two New Albany High School graduates this year were accepted at Miami and rejected by OSU, said Jeff Stahlman, New Albany?s guidance counselor.
"I really wasn?t that surprised," Stahlman said. "If you do this every year, you could see the two were getting close."
Consider this:
? A projected 43 percent of Ohio State?s incoming freshmen this year graduated in the top 10 percent of their high-school class, compared with 38 percent at Miami.
? A projected 80 percent of Ohio State?s freshmen graduated in the top 25 percent of their class, compared with 73.6 percent at Miami.
? Miami?s incoming freshmen averaged 26.46 on the ACT. At Ohio State, the projected average is 26.4.
In addition to academics, universities say they also look at extracurricular activities, background, finances and several other criteria when evaluating prospects.
Ohio State?s academic toughness might not raise the brows of guidance counselors, but some college-bound students have been shocked by rejection letters from the school, which for years had been viewed as a safety net.
"People used to say it was their safe school," Ohio State President Karen A. Holbrook said. "That?s not the case anymore. We are a destination school."
In her four years at OSU, Holbrook continued an effort to make academics tougher, a campaign that began in 1988, when the university dropped its policy of accepting any highschool graduate in Ohio.
While about 55 percent of OSU students graduated under the old policy, seven of 10 now earn diplomas, said Martha Garland, Ohio State?s vice provost for enrollment services and dean for undergraduate education.
Now, the children of many middle-aged alumni are applying ? perhaps with better credentials ? and being rejected.
Columbus real-estate agent Sam Koon graduated from OSU in 1977. His son, James, graduated this year from Bexley High School with a 3.2 GPA and a 23 on the ACT. He finished third in the state Division II golf tournament, was head of the drum line in his marching band and played in his church band.
When he checked his OSU admission status online and saw that he was turned down for the main campus, he thought it might be a mistake.
"But then I received the letter. ? I was in shock," Koon said. "My dad went there, and back then when you went to school at Ohio State, you had to be breathing to get in."
Koon is now golfing for Capital University.
"He was very disappointed," his dad said. "But I really don?t object to what they?re doing with the university.
"There?s nothing embarrassing about it," he added. "Ohio State is a wonderful university."
Ohio State was Molly Zwelling?s first choice, too.
She graduated from the Columbus Torah Academy with a 3.6 GPA, having taken two advanced-placement classes and studied Hebrew. She also played tennis for a year and was active in her synagogue youth group.
She was stunned when she was rejected for a spot at Ohio State?s main campus.
"Just growing up, it was like ... ?I want to be a Buckeye,? " she said. "I was just really, really shocked. I was so upset."
She could have attended a branch campus, where admissions are still open. But like most students who apply to Ohio State, she was looking for a big-school experience. Instead, she will attend the University of Cincinnati.
High-school counselors are advising students aiming to attend Ohio State to embrace more rigorous schedules, take advanced-placement classes and take the ACT early so they have more chances to improve their score.
Still, even students? older siblings are often surprised to learn how difficult it is to be admitted to OSU now, said Joe Palazzo, college counselor at Hilliard Darby High School.
"But that?s a good thing for Ohio State," he said. "And it?s a good thing for the students who get a degree from Ohio State, because that degree?s worth much more."
Others are noticing the changes as well. Last month, in the U.S. News and World Report annual ranking of "America?s Best Colleges," Ohio State placed 57 th nationally and 19 th among public universities. Miami placed 60 th and 21 st, respectively.
Richard Little, a spokesman for Miami, said he?s aware of Ohio State?s strides.
"It?s great for Ohio," he said. "The more students we can keep in Ohio, the better off we all are."
Kyle Girardi hopes he?s good enough to be a Buckeye next year.
The Hilliard Darby senior carries a resume packed with highlights: 3.4 GPA, several advanced-placement classes, student senate, symphonic choir president, swim team, 4-H, Columbus Zoo volunteer, altar server.
He?s working to improve his ACT score of 20.
"I was born and raised a Buckeye," he said. "I can?t really see myself being anything else."
[email protected]
Dispatch
Friday, September 08, 2006
