This might belong in the transfer portal thread, but I think we too often overlook the allure of Athens for some athletes -- and certainly for students.

There is a long thread on the BGSU fan site concerning their recent spate of losses to the portal. A few posters expressed their frustration about their own choice of school after having visited Athens during football road trips. Here's one of several messages:


"Just spent the day in Athens again Saturday. It's a miracle we ever get people to BG (or stay here) when places like Athens, OH are our peers.

I don't have a lot of regrets in life but going to BGSU because it was close and I grew up with the sports teams rather than spending 4 years in Athens (where I probably would have never left) is up there."


As for me, I ended up at OU almost by accident but sure am glad I did. The friendships formed there, literally from day one, have lasted a lifetime.

Let me preference this by saying I love both Athens and Ohio University. I personally fell in love with both the first time I visited and that never changed. But I also know and have met people who feel differently about Athens and Ohio than I do. Certainly the majority of friends and family who came to visit me felt the same as I did. But not all did or do. For every group who loved it for why I did, some cut on it or ridiculed it for the same reasons. This is also why I feel it's extremely important to visit schools during the college selection process. Some people like college towns, some people like cities. Some people like rural campuses, some people like urban campuses. Some people like warm weather locations, some people like cooler weather locations. I continue to love Athens and Ohio. But over the years I have also been to many campuses all across the country. Some I like better than Athens and Ohio, some I don't like as much. Picking a school has a lot of factors in it. What might seem great to one person may be awful to another. The bottom line is, it doesn't really matter what opinion others have on a specific school or location. The opinion that matters when choosing a school that's right for you should be your own. The rest doesn't really matter.

Several years ago during a conversation with some people who worked in and with Enrollment mentioned the big negative for us was our dorms. They would interview people who chose another Ohio school and the main reason they went elsewhere was our dorms. They loved Athens and the school, just not our dorms. Hence why South Green has shrunk. My current student employees couldn't imagine living on the far points of South Green. Times change.

Dorm is complicated because its required for students in their first two years unless they live within a 45 mile radius of campus. The policy I thought only applied up to 30 miles but now they are exempting more areas. This goes to show how much OU isn't a SEO school if its relying on students filling up its dorms from outside the region as the core of its revenue model. There is all that merit aid tuition discounting these days so the profit is in the room and board.

If we get a kid on campus, the chances of him committing are almost guaranteed.

Is this true or wishful speculation?

While many (most?) on here, including myself, love Athens and our shared college experience at Ohio University, I'm not sure if it's for everyone. Are the young athletes OUr coaches are recruiting into a rural, bucolic setting? Or are they more interested in an urban setting?

This is true. For non-athletes too. I don’t recall the exact % but it’s pretty big (over 50% for regular students) and mentioned often on campus.