New Ohio State University Students: What You Need to Know

So you've decided to attend The Ohio State University - Welcome! If you are one of the 12% of out-of-state students attending Ohio State, you are likely wondering why the really important things you need to know aren't in the new student handbook. Through the years, I've learned from my own family's experiences all the things that should matter to a new student at Ohio State.

Best Pizza: Hound Dogs, 2657 North High Street, and Tommy's Pizza, 174 West Lane Avenue

I've had Hound Dogs' pizza dine-in and as take-out - it is one of those greasy, curled-up-crunchy-pepperoni works of art. They deliver promptly, even on the weekends, until 3:00 AM and are open almost 24 hours a day. If you want to eat at Hound Dogs, remember that the bars in Columbus close at 2:30 and the "entertainment" is kicked up several degrees around that time.

Tommy's Pizza has been around for 25 years and it's a classic. Take out or dine in only and Tommy's is open 11:00-11:00 Monday through Saturday. On Sunday, you'll have to wait until 1:00 PM. Tommy's is a little more pricey than Hound Dogs but I've learned from experience: even when the power goes out on Lane Avenue, Tommy's gas ovens still bake the pizzas.

Columbus Coffee: Cup O' Joe and Stauf's

Ohio State students love their coffee. Columbus residents love local businesses. There are three Cup O' Joe Lounges within a reasonable distance of the OSU campus: the Short North, Clintonville and the Lennox. Stauf's Coffee Roasters in Grandview Heights gets its share of students. Not exactly local but more acceptable than the Seattle coffee chain is Caribou Coffee with campus-friendly locations in Grandview Heights, Upper Arlington and Clintonville.

Getting Around the OSU Campus and Columbus: BuckID

You're paying a lot for your college education, so take full advantage of the perks that come with your student ID. CABS (Campus Area Bus Service) and COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority) will take you anywhere you need to go for free. Most COTA busses have bike racks so you can ride to and from the bus stop. Remember that the busses in Columbus don't run 24 hours a day and plan accordingly.

Short North Gallery Hop: Free entertainment the first Saturday of every month.

The galleries and shops in the Short North open their doors in the evening for a stroll through the area. Musicians are tucked inside the galleries and on the sidewalks. If you're lucky, you may wander into a gallery offering free food!

Accept Ohio State Football: It's only 8 games.

I know you are attending Ohio State to get an education. Please realize that your campus will be invaded by approximately 100,000 people for a few Saturdays every fall. The invasion will begin before sunup on game day and continue until the bars close. Most of the people you see dressed in scarlet and gray will be the same age as your parents and might behave like your 4-year old little brother. It's a minor annoyance that can be avoided by a) staying in your dorm or b) going home for the weekend. One bonus tip: The appropriate response when hearing a loud O-H will be an equally loud I-O!

Sources:The Ohio State Buckeyes