UC Answers: Why should I choose UC?

LINDSAY: What sets UC apart is the amount of opportunities available. There are so many opportunities not just academically and professionally, but also through our 400-plus active student organizations. Many of these opportunities stay with you as you become an alumnus and can help keep you connected and informed as you start the next chapter of your life.

In terms of research, UC is a Carnegie Research I institution. Most recently, it was amazing to see how our researchers reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students and faculty quickly shifted their attention to create ventilators, make reusable face masks, develop vaccines and track virus hot spots.

LINDSAY: Invented at UC in 1906, cooperative education, or co-op, has students alternating traditional academic semesters with semesters spent working full time in their chosen field. It’s different depending on the college, but co-op essentially lets you take a gap semester from classes to work full time with a company in your discipline. Most students have their co-op in their second year and continue taking gap semesters until your fourth or fifth year.

It may sound scary to get your first co-op, but the university provides plenty of resources to help you secure your dream job. You are required to take an introductory co-op course, and career fairs are hosted right on campus. You have a co-op adviser whose sole purpose is to help you with your professional development needs.

LINDSAY: Like most engineering students, I decided on UC because of the co-op program. I knew that being able to afford college would be much easier given that every other semester, I’d be working and earning a full-time paycheck for 15 weeks. Once I graduate, I’ll be going into the workforce with more than a year and a half of work experience. It’s those advantages that help set UC graduates apart from others.

LINDSAY: I’m currently heading into my fifth year studying computer engineering. In high school, I was really into building and fixing computers. After doing that for a couple years, I really liked the idea of doing it as a career.

I quickly learned that the computer engineering program is much more than just computer parts, but I’ve loved everything that’s been thrown at me thus far.

LINDSAY: There are many different branches and committees of student government to get involved in. I recommend that incoming first- and second-year students get involved through student government’s mentorship program. In this program, you are paired with an upper-level student that’ll teach you the ins and outs of student government. That way, you know which branch you want to get more involved in.

For upper-level students, it’s never too late to get involved. We also recommend students visit our website at ucstudentgov.org.

LINDSAY: I’m involved in the College of Engineering and Applied Science Ambassadors. We give tours of the engineering facilities to prospective high school students, their families and sometimes even alumni.

LINDSAY: It’s nice that you can get from one side of campus to the other side in a brisk 15-minute walk. That was one thing that I immediately noticed — how accessible all of UC’s amenities were compared to other universities.

Another physical thing that I enjoy about campus is the placement of the university. The fact that UC is an urban university gives students plenty to do, not just around campus, but in nearby neighborhoods like Over-the-Rhine, downtown, the West Side, Northside, Eastgate. There’s so much available within a short drive.

LINDSAY: Outside of the classroom, I happen to spend most of my free time working on things for student involvement. Besides that, playing intramural sports on campus, going to The Banks and parks downtown, axe throwing, campus concerts and skiing at Perfect North Slopes, are all fun options in and around Cincinnati. There is always something happening on campus which makes it very easy to make plans with your friends.