Reviews

Although it has a 66% acceptance rate, the classes are far from easy. Class sizes usually fall between 6 and 30 so participation is a must. Professors are fully invested in the enrichment of the students, so as students, we are expected to be focused on knowledge as well.

OWU is the perfect balance of community and academia. It really holds to its mission statement changing you, so you can change the world. The entire campus is a family, and everyone works together to improve society, domestically and abroad.

OWU gives out a lot of financial aid, so the sticker price is rarely what you pay.

Call Admissions and ask to talk to current students. We're pretty honest about what's good and bad on campus, and we love to talk about OWU.
Visit Slocum Hall when you're on campus, the stain glass is gorgeous.
Delaware, OH is a small town, but don't let that discourage you because it promises plenty of opportunities for community involvement.
Apply Early Action, that's when all the scholarships are given out.
Visit campus! You can't feel the energy and community if you don't.

Economics, zoology, and psychology majors.
Undecided majors who want a well-rounded curricula.
Social justice activists.
Liberal minds.
Vegetarians.
GLBT and Women's Rights supporters.
International Students.
Catholics.

During my freshman year, I knocked out a lot of my diversity course requirements: Computer Science, Mathematics, Foreign Language, Electives, etc. I'm an English Major, so Computer Science and Mathematics were a bit tough for me. Mainly Calculus. But at OWU, the professors expect you to have common sense. In the introductory courses, it really is introductory - they don't expect you to know everything ahead of time, which is really helpful. I highly recommend CS 103 with Zaring - he's an awesome professor. But, as easy as they make it for students learning the field from nil, I learned a lot over the past two semesters. Not to mention my musical skills that have grown exponentially over the past year. I don't come from a big school district with an overly fancy music department with correlating budget, so I was always the top player. When I got to OWU, Dr. Griffin had those same expectations, and more. He challenged me to improve, not just for the group, but for myself.

Like every campus, there are the people you want to avoid, but there's a lot fewer of them at OWU than there were at my high school, so I really can't complain. The dorms are fantastic, the food is pretty good; Smith dining can get a bit repetetive, but whatever it is, it's usually good - that's more than I can say for my mom's cooking! The professors are, for the most part, very laid back and welcoming. Whatever you do, you have to take HMCL 122 with Elias - he's hysterical! I was taking his course the same semester as Calculus, and I loved going to his class - even at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays - just for the laughs. The excellent readings, discussions, and jokes kept me sane while I was biting my nails over integrals and derivatives.

OWU is expensive, but their merit scholarships are easy to apply for if you're in good standing. All in all, I think my yearly costs are actually around $22,000 versus the full price, but it's worth every damned penny. I wouldn't trade going to OWU for anything else - I absolutely love it. When I enrolled, I knew that I was going to have a good college experience, but I never could have predicted how much fun I would have, how many friends I would make, or how much I'd learn about myself in addition to my studies. It's not just a university - it's a life experience.

Don't live in Stuyvesant. It's not an option right now, with renovations, but just don't. There are parties constantly, slamming doors, mysterious clouds of smoke in the stairwell that make you lightheaded. If you are there for studies at all, just don't do it. My personal recommendation is Smith East or West. The dining hall is in the basement, the suites are well laid out, and there's air conditioning - a big plus for August and April. Also, I don't know about frats, but the sororities seem like a waste to me. There are dances and mixers, but other than that, it's just cupcake icing and other stuff for recruits. I'm friends with quite a few sorority girls without even being in a sorority, so I don't really recommend it. If you want, I don't think it'd be bad, I just don't see the point in spending the money for it.

Level-headed students. Personally, I've always been motivated to do well, but I'm not a big study-aholic. OWU is great for that. It allows you to work hard when you want and take classes you enjoy. In the higher level classes, there aren't any pointless assignments. The classes are fun yet highly informative, and you learn a lot about yourself constantly. If this sounds like you, then OWU is just for you.

It's a good school, but one where you only get out what you put in. This school has a surprising degree of academic rigor, but only if you seek it out; it has a lot of advanced and specialist scholarship opportunities, but only if you seek them out; lots of fun programs, clubs, and teams; but again, only if you seek them out. Not a school to write off from the face value of price, size, and typical college statistics.

The school is expensive at face value, but the *average* aid is over half of the total tuition. Put a basic amount of work into it, and the cost drops to super-affordable levels with surprising rapidity. At the end of all my scholarships, it was cheaper for me to come here than to go to OSU.
In regards to academics, know you get out what you put in at a very high rate. Work hard and you'll be rewarded in a thousand ways.

More than you'd expect given its acceptance rate. It has easier programs, just as any school does, but if you're looking for a challenge, you certainly don't have to look hard.

The dorms themselves are ok. Typical college dormitories, with nothing to impress you. The university tries to keep students from living off-campus as part of the college experience, unless conditions merit otherwise. However, it does offer a pleasing variety of alternative housing, from themed small living units, to fraternities, to on-campus apartments, senior housing, and even housing for those with specific academic interests. Quite surprising for such a small school.

Least favorite part of the university. They granted a long-term contractual monopoly to one company. As an economics student, I'm appalled on principle. But again, the university manages of offset some of the negatives with a surprisingly huge variety of eating locations on campus and has partnerships with a rotating selection of five student-selected, in-town restaurants to take the university's meal plan points.

I'm going to do a list, because that's easier. Essay-lovers, my apologies.
--Varsity sports
--HUGE (again, for the size) number of club sports
--standard and special interest clubs
--foreign culture and arts clubs
--huge variety of charitable organizations to work with
Less officially:
--partying can be found on any given weekend, typically in the super-hospitable and generally friendly frat houses
--partying in off-campus (aka houses on streets adjacent to university) houses where students live

This one varies. I've said before you get back in proportion to what you put in here. If you put in some work, you can come here quite cheaply. And if you work hard, you can excel and benefit greatly here. In this case, it's incredibly worthwhile.
However, if you just want a degree and will work minimally, sure, you can probably do it, but you'd be better off elsewhere.

Tons of historic buildings. Apparently, ghost hunters love this place too, since it has buildings from before the Civil War.
Huge and beautiful mirror in University Hall. There is a myth that someone who stands on the university seal in front of it, says something that I can no longer remember, and turns around, will find the first person they see in the mirror to be their future spouse.
Most university traditions, however, are particular to clubs, teams, and other organizations, and almost all of them have at least one.

Academics!
Those who major in: Economics, accounting, or management, english, statistics, and several sciences. How many schools with 1800 students have a dorm dedicated to econ/management students and a scanning electron microscope in the science center?

Great diversity, something for everyone. Club sports are great ways to have low-pressure fun. Students here pride themselves on the university's reputation for charity participation, with many branches of organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Key Club on campus.

Good, with 6 fraternities with on-campus buildings, one fraternity with an off-campus house, and one newly-returned frat with no house. I believe there are 7 sororities here as well.

One of the safest universities on one of the safest counties in Ohio. There are no dangerous spots on campus, has a Blue-Light system, Public Safety, and the city fire and police stations are adjacent to the middle of the campus. Many organizations dedicated to helping students return to housing with no questions asked if they feel unsafe for any reason. It's so safe that an event when a group of students in a car in town *thought* they were being menaced by a person in an adjacent car, the entire campus buzzed for a week. Some call that boring; I call it almost amusingly safe.

The Professors actually care about the students and teaching. Their office doors are almost always open, and they often give you another way to contact them if you need extra help. There are also study groups made for many of the classes. By learning from the professor and not from a T.A. I believe you get a lot more out of lectures and discussions. The professors here are also passionate about what they teach. They are enthusiastic, and it is amazing what you learn from them.

The University is a truly amazing place. No matter what kind of person you are you can always find someone who has your interests, even though it is a pretty small university. There are clubs, and intramurals, sports, and the school is really good at giving us entertainment like plays, and live music. The food is decent, not great, but decent. The parties are great if you know where to go. There is not much to do in the town of Delaware, but there is a mall 15 minutes (drive) away and Columbus is only 30. I love this school, and I am so glad that I came here

This school is very expensive, but most students don't pay the full amount. They have a lot of endowments and they readily give out scholarships. the one-on-one time that you get with your professors, and the different types of classes that the school offers, this place is definitely worth the money.

Check out the school before you decide on coming. It is in a very small town, and there is not much to do in the town that isn't part of college life. Even though this is a D3 school, we take sports pretty seriously, and you really bond with your teammates so going out for a sport is really good. Check out each of the dorming situations before you decide where you want to live as well, bacause each building has a different set-up.

This school is good for serious students. This school is really good in the sciences. We have a scanning electron microscope that certain classes get to use. I would say this University is great for anyone who is looking for a smaller college that still has the opportunity that a larger school has. Probably not the best school for people who hate cold, rain, and wind. It is Ohio, and we do get the lake effect weather. All-in-all this school is amazing, and if you are looking for a smaller University where the Professors actually have time to build a relationship with you then this is a great school. =)

There is ample opportunity to learn so much at OWU, and not just in class. Yes, OWU, being a small liberal arts college, has a great selection of classes, from the natural sciences and business to women and gender studies and a class completely dedicated to Hitler, but it has so much more to offer. There are an abundance of opportunities to be involved with extracurricular activities, having a job on campus, being a part of Greek life, and studying abroad with great programs through OWU, which, if taken advantage of, can teach you so much about the world, other people, and yourself.

It is a challenging school, that's for sure, but with everything it has to offer and how much there is to learn, it's an excellent choice for a college.

With everything OWU has to offer, it is easy to get involved and find a place to be happy. It's a tight-knit community, where everyone works together to make things happen. Along with all of the activities to get involved with, OWU and individual campus groups also have many speakers come, and hold demonstrations and other events throughout the year on a huge number of topics, which make it even easier to find what you like and be happy.

OWU gives out a good amount of financial aid, but the money can still add up to make it a pretty expensive school. Even so, what OWU can do for you can definitely make what you pay worth it.

visit campus! definitely the best way to really get a feel for the OWU community
get involved! there is SO much to do at OWU, and the happiest students are those who are involved with multiple extracurricular activities, not just classes.
check out Greek life! Greek life has the potential to do so much for those involved, including the development of leadership skills, the personal growth of the individual, and preparation for the future, not to mention making some wonderful life-long friends and sisters/brothers.

GLBTIQ students
undecided majors
international students
students of any religion
environmentally conscious students

Ohio Wesleyan University is an amazing environment in which individuals find out more about who they are and how they interact with others. I know that even though I'm only a sophomore I have learned so much about my interests and habits just from the three semesters I've spent on campus this far. It's hard to imagine my life had I not chosen OWU; it would be so empty.

Prospective students should understand that no school is as wonderful as tour guides and admission advertisements make it out to be. It's hard to believe that any school is as amazing as the school you see when everyone is trying to get you to choose their school. Let yourself fall in love with OWU like I did, but also anticipate that not everything is as it seems. No, the food is not as good as what they serve you and your parents. No, not everyone walks around all dressed up for class. However, what I can tell you is that one thing that doesn't change is the environment. OWU really is a small community and the cheerful atmosphere is real, I promise.

As a science major I experience an extremely rigorous academic schedule. The science program is a good one, full of amazing opportunities, but it is also hard. There are lots of things like that at OWU. It's my understanding that every major has at least one class where people struggle. While it's not always fun, it's this struggle that tests your love for that field. If you can push through those harder classes then that major is really what you love.

Most dorm facilities are okay. Welch Hall and Stuy are the nicest in many respects because people take care of them. Other halls are the hangouts and party dorms and, as a result, are not in the best quality. The cleaning staff are all wonderful people that really care about the students, and as such want to take care of them. The students all seem to get along on each hall as far as I've seen and the R.A.s are all chosen to be respectable and responsible individuals that are fair but also will lay down the law when necessary.

There is a wide variety of dining options between the on-campus and off-campus food points. Each meal plan supplies students with points to spend on campus for the dining hall, an a la carte cafeteria in the student center, a sub sandwich shop, a deli, a convenient store, pizza delivery, and three other coffee shops/bakeries. Every student finds something they like with this plan. If not, then they also have off campus options because the meal plans extend to five restaurants in Downtown Delaware. I only give four stars out of five because the quality is not always great, but overall it's a pretty great system.

There are a lot of people involved with various clubs and organizations for fun. Also, there seem to be quite a few parties that happen throughout the year. Every weekend there also seems to be a large crowd of OWU students at the bar in town, Clancy's. They'll let students under 21 in, after marking their hands to stop underage consumption, and there's always great music and dancing.

As long as you plan your schedule right and take close to the maximum credits allowed, there's plenty of bang for your buck. The bang, however, is really up to each student to find because no one can tell you the best way for you to make the most of your experiences at OWU.

There is the President's Ball in December, right before finals start. It's a really great dance with the Jazz Band playing for a while and then the DJs take over. What really makes it special is that it's held in the science building. Out science building is really new and has this huge atrium on the ground floor - perfect for dancing. It's really special and always tons of fun. President Rock Jones even comes and dances with us for a while!

Student that enjoy the small community (like really small) and want to meet new friends for life will love OWU. There is a little bit of a party scene so those that are into that will find what they are looking for. There is a wide variety of people from a number of diverse backgrounds and cultures, allowing everyone to find somewhere they feel they belong.

There are so many clubs and activities! I'm currently involved in Campus Crusaders for Christ (Cru), Choosing Learning Environment with Alcohol Respect (CLEAR), and the female a cappella group Pitch Black. There are so many clubs that no one person should be without at least one group of people that they can identify with and become a part of. It's a wonderful feeling to be included, and no one on campus feels excluded unless of course they haven't tried to find anything to join.

I'm not a member of Greek Life so I have little to say on the matter. I so, however, have many friends involved in Greek Life and they all love it so that should say something.

Campus is totally safe. Hardly anything ever happens in Delaware (a result of being such a small town), but when it does we have an alert system that sends texts and calls students to alert them of what happened and how they should respond. Public Safety is totally approachable and helpful in situations where you feel unsafe and there is also a Safe Walk program that will walk you back to your dorm after it gets late if you don't want to walk alone.

I haven't studied here, but there is are many available majors and even the ability to create your own major if it isn't offered

The dorm rooms looked pretty nice on my visit to OWU. I loved that there were bathrooms and showers in the rooms rather than community baths.

The meal we had on the 2016 fall preview day was really good! I love that students can use their food points at close-by restaurants that are off-campus

The campus is small in size, but it is extremely diverse and is home to many international students. With that said, there is a grand array of clubs, sports, events, languages to take, and things to do. Our motto at Ohio Wesleyan University, is to Never have an ordinary day!

Everyone is here to support you, especially the professors, so always ask questions and feel free to stop by their offices even just to say hello!

Your professors will expect a lot out of you, but they are also will to negotiate and help you out if you're having a hard time learning to material or if any other events arise in your life. Everyone is here to help you!

Out of all person living on campus, I have only heard of two roommates who do not get along, but the feeling of community on my dorm floor is easy going. One of my dormmates broke her leg, and our entire floor is wishing the best for her upcoming surgery. With that said, we are a caring close-knit community, that welcomes and supports everyone.

All of the dining areas on campus are delectable and you can eat whatever you want, when you want; you could have chicken and waffles for breakfast or dinner! There are also a couple places off campus where you can use your food points, if you're not hungry for what's on campus or just want to go out on the town.

There is plenty to do for fun, depending on your interests because there is a club for everything. If your interest is not available at Ohio Wesleyan, then you can always start your own club, because there is always someone else on campus who has a similar interest as you.

No matter where you go, college is always going to be a big adjustment, because there will always be challenges/obstacles: environmental, class courses, peers, etc. I'm the only child from a big city, and decided to go to a small, diverse, liberal arts college. I do not regret this decision one bit, because I like the caring atmosphere and enjoy the personal relationships that I'm creating, along my journey.

My favorite building is Slocum Hall, on the second floor, because the study area is an open oval room, full of historical wooden tables, that have been there, practically forever! The tables alone have so much history. There is beautifully-colored stained glass of Great Philosophers, when you look up, and when the sunlight hits it, the sight is beautiful.

If you like to always be busy, or like to be free to make plenty of choices, or if you're undecided of what you want to do, then always take the time to check out Ohio Wesleyan. You're bound to find something you like, just by looking OWU up!

As a member of numerous clubs, I feel like a more well-rounded being because many of our discussions help you evaluate your choices and decisions in your life and help mold the bridges that you're making. Clubs and activities are also a great place to make friends, so if you ever need them, they will have your back.

As a freshmen, I can not be a part of Greek Life, yet, but there are many events that invite us to many fraternities/sororities/small living units, to learn what they are all about. Don't worry, though! The weird myths about the college movie initiations are not true here and you will not be pressured to do anything like in those movies!

Ohio Wesleyan is not located in a dangerous part of town, but we still have public safety who patrol campus on bikes, even late at night, to make sure that all is well. They are very friendly and are to get you out of a tough situation and even to walk you home, late at night, if you're afraid. Public safety even teaches self defense classes, to prepare students for dangerous situations.

The people are friendly and helpful. They really make you feel welcome. The school is small, intimate, and truly personalized.

Keep up on your deadlines and apply early to get the best scholarships.
Do go to one of the visit days, they give you free stuff.
If you are spending the night, be nice to your host, they are sharing their personal space with you.

The class may start off easy, but they tend to get more difficult.

The dorms are really nice, and personally I live in the Honors dorm, Welch. Only Stuy and Smith have AC though. The rooms do not come with mini-fridges, microwaves, or TVs. But laundry and cable are free!

There are a lot of dining options on and off campus. But I would still bring food from home/ go grocery shopping sometimes because these options are not open 24/7.

Ohio Wesleyan is situated in quaint, rural mid-west environment with a 10:1 student to faculty ratio, making it an awesome place to learn first-hand from a very talented and dedicated group of academics. It offers a broad range of student activities, ranging from special-interest clubs to foreign study programs to highly-competitive Division 3 athletics. For the student seeking a high-quality education without the distractions of a large city, I strongly recommend visiting OWU in Delaware, OH.

Here are my tips for prospective students:
1. Explore the breadth and depth of OWU's academic offerings.
2. Determine if a rural environment is for you.
3. Consider OWU if you want to get to know your teachers well (and not just teaching assistants).
4. Plan to spend a semester abroad, because our generation will be tasked with solving problems way bigger than what we see in the US!
5. Think about playing a sport, if for no other reason than to stay fit.

OWU offers classes and programs that fit nearly every level of desired rigor. Therefore, you can challenge yourself and discover new limits as you see fit.

While there are very modern dorms at OWU, some are a bit dated and cramped. Most rooms accommodate 2 students, and the floors of most dorms are single sex. The options for studying in the dorms are good too, as each building has comfortable, well-lit common areas, desks, and or tables for group studying.

OWU's dining rooms offer a nice variety of cuisines, so it is easy to find good, healthy, and diverse options. For example, many of the salad bars are more extensive than what you might see in a restaurant. Also, the small town of Delaware, OH has pretty cool dining choices as well.

Despite the rural setting of OWU, there are numerous activities going on almost constantly. For example, various student-led clubs frequently host social events, like ice cream tastings, lectures, debates, pizza parties, and even intramural athletic competitions. For those who are more artistically inclined, there are many performing arts activities, concerts, and the like. Perhaps one of the most common activities for make-shift fun is simply meeting in the common area of a dorm to simply hang out and chat with your neighbors.

OWU is great for students seeking a small, rural setting with top-notch academics. Keep in mind, however, that the capitol, Columbus, is a short 20 minutes or so away.