The City of Columbus , Housing, and Recreation

The City of Columbus

The state's capital and largest city, Columbus is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States and currently has a population of just over one million. Its growth has been spurred in part by its moderately priced housing and broad-based economy. Columbus has dozens of service and information-related businesses, many research- and insurance-based companies, and several regional and national retail distribution centers.

The city has a thriving downtown complete with excellent restaurants, a symphony, an opera company, a ballet company, theatres, museums, and art galleries. A fine zoo, dozens of shopping malls, specialty shops, and housing styles ranging from turn-of-the-century brownstones to ultramodern condominiums, as well as many fine public and private schools have made Columbus, together with its surrounding suburbs, an attractive place to work, get an education, start a business, begin a career, or raise a family.

 

Travel to Columbus

Twenty-two airlines serve Port Columbus International Airport with 350 arrivals and departures daily serving 35 destinations on a non-stop basis and hundreds of additional cities on a direct or connecting basis.

 

Housing

You can choose from several housing options at Ohio State. The university maintains three graduate residence halls. These facilities provide attractively furnished single and double rooms and are designed to provide a mature atmosphere for advanced study. You can obtain detailed information on these facilities by writing to

Residence and Dining Halls
Office of Contracts and Assignments
640 Lincoln Tower
1800 Cannon Drive
Columbus, OH 43210-1230

The university also has student housing for families in one and two bedroom apartments at Buckeye Village, an apartment complex on the campus that is close to shopping and other facilities. Each apartment is equipped with major kitchen appliances. Air-conditioning, heat, water, trash collection, storage space, and parking are provided, as is free bus service to other campus locations. Two-bedroom apartments are available only to families with children; however, there is a long waiting list, and students are urged to apply as soon as possible. To apply, write to the Residence and Dining Halls, Office of Contracts and Assignments at the address above.

Ample off-campus housing of all types is available at reasonable rates. Columbus housing costs are very reasonable compared to many major metropolitan areas, especially those along the East and West coasts. For additional information about off-campus housing, you can write or visit Office of Commuter Student Affairs,

211 Ohio Union,
1739 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43210-1392

or call (614) 292-0100.

Recreational Facilities

Whether you are a weekend athlete, an amateur musician, or fine arts buff, you will find a wealth of recreational and cultural pursuits to complement your life in the laboratory, library, or classroom. The university's sports complex features dozens of outdoor tennis and basketball courts, jogging trails, and par courses. Its indoor facilities include 20 racquetball and handball courts, six squash courts, tennis and volleyball courts, 12 basketball courts, multipurpose rooms for karate, judo, archery, and table tennis, an indoor jogging track, two completely equipped conditioning rooms, a Nautilus room, four pools, a diving well, and two saunas. We also have two baseball diamonds, two rugby fields, two 18-hole golf courses, more than a dozen football and softball fields, and areas for soccer, volleyball, field hockey, lacrosse and cricket, and crew and sailing. There is an established intramural program for almost any sport you can imagine.

If you enjoy film, fine art, or music, the university has annual film series, art galleries and exhibit space, and several museums including the Wexner Center for the Arts. The music, drama, and dance departments offer presentations throughout the year, including a variety of theatre productions, student ensemble concerts, and a faculty-recital series. In addition, Ohio State presents an annual great artist series that features world-renowned performers, an early music series, year-round theatre productions, dance productions, and a variety of special events such as the annual Medieval and Renaissance Festival.