Otterbein College
www.otterbein.edu Columbus, Ohio
Founded in 1847, Otterbein College is a small (3000) liberal arts college near Columbus, Ohio. Equine studies is a growing program and their new facilities are only 3 miles away in the large town (36,000) of Westerville. Otterbein is soon to become a university. The culture is one of being engaged and of service to the community. It is also an inclusive community at its core and was one of first schools to have females on the faculty as well as one of the first to have Black students (along with Oberlin). Very progressive set of values. 30% are first generation students. 20% are legacies. The five core values include internship, global education, original research, leadership opportunities and development, and finally community service (one of five Presidential awards for this).
ACADEMIC ATMOSPHERE: Liberal arts in a small town setting with education, nursing, equestrian studies. Pre-vet, equine studies, equine management. Double majors available. Strong music program. Largest classroom 48 seats. Most classes 10-20. Brand new science building. Much of campus is renovated. Plans to grow into small university. New President/leadership. Outreach to national posture.
SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE: Not a great party school. Half live off campus. Dry campus. Mixed dorms. Very little diversity. Many kids root for Ohio State, although their own Div III sports are supported as well.
LOCATION AND SETTING: Robust community nearby in Columbus, but setting is Pennsylvania/Ohio type town . Three exits down the road from Columbus international airport. Easy to get in and out.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESS: Will be member of Common Application and will change from rolling to January 15th for Scholarship. Regular admissions date is March 1. They will also look at some applications after March 1. They let kids know within a few weeks of receiving materials. Use superscores. Would like to see all of them. No need for official scores if on transcript. Auditions or portfolio for theater, art, music.
GPA: 3.4 – 3.6 EA: January MIDDLE 50% RANGE ACT: 21-26
CHARACTERISTICS OF TYPICAL STUDENT: Many first generation as well as legacy students. Most are from Ohio, but they are trying to expand to become more of a national institution and an internationally known institution. 36 states represented at Otterbein, but 48 state applications this year. COST AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE: Quite a few scholarships available as well as need based financial aid.
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES (internships, foreign study, pre-enrollment programs, etc): Theater, dance, art, and equestrian studies.) Equestrian studies, nursing, criminal studies. Brand new barn area for equestrian studies. 50 horses owned by college. Western, jumping, eventing, dressage, etc.
SOCIAL REGULATIONS (curfew, co-ed dorms/floors/rooms, substance free dorms, chapel, etc.):
STUDENT PARTICIPATION (varsity sports, theater, im sports, clubs, organizations): Division III NCAA sports. New addition of varsity lacrosse for men. Women’s lacrosse coming next year (2011). Basketball team was national champion 2003 Div III NCAA. 13 Greek groups. One national group. Students would like a swim pool and a rock climbing wall.
