BasicOhioParent
Thu, 07 Dec 2017 16:55:26 +0000

You are asking different things.

How prestigious is Ohio State today?

The reputation with the general public is likely lagging behind the increased selectivity. Saying you went/go to Ohio State definitely doesn’t have the same cachet as Michigan, Berkeley, or UVa, but it might by the time you’re a middle-aged alum.

How is it today aside from the rankings alone?

It’s possible that profs have increased the rigor of the curriculum in sync with the rise in selectivity. It is also possible that there is a greater level of intellectual ferment, i.e., student-to-student learning, within an overall brighter student body. This question will have to be answered by a current student, professor, or recent grad.

As an general observation, I believe that the university, with the support of the legislature, has an unwritten policy goal of elevating OSU’s overall academic profile to that of Michigan. They have made substantial progress towards that goal, but whether they make it all the way remains to be seen.