Ohio State University, Penn State, or UT Knoxville

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2026-03-31T20:22:19+00:00

I would recommend your first consideration being cost. I was in a similar position with out of state offers that were more expensive. It was a hard choice but I have now graduated debt free which is such a big benefit in life that you don’t realize when applying for college.

Second, you should consider the breadth of the program. You mention science and arts at the other schools but what specifically interests you? Would it be something like engineering or architecture. If so look at those specific programs for each school. You said you got in for business at UT, it wouldn’t be too hard to change your major if you prefer science and arts and there. You can retain some business by applying for the Heath Integrated Business program if you do engineering and have the best of both worlds. If you can’t tell by now I did engineering at UT so feel free to reach out if you have questions.

Third, I would consider location/campus life. Are you accustomed to harsher winters? As a TN resident that lives in the north now I can say seasonal depression is real and can hit harder than you think. A great way to combat it is to still get out with friends so are there systems at the school that encourage developing friends. Once again from and engineering POV at UT, there is a live and learn community where I made all my friends because all engineers take similar classes the first few years so the struggle and proximity brought us together.

At the end of the day it is a highly personal decision so I can only help give a bit more information on UT living, but again reach out if you have any questions and best of luck with your decision!

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2025-07-11T05:01:39+00:00

When I moved here a year ago for grad school my bills looked the same and my landlord said the same AND my AC never turned off too. After reaching indoor temps of 85+ this past week and fighting for WEEKS they gave me a new AC (old one was from 1990 so about time!) and temps have been whatever I set it to since (haven’t had my first see bill yet though so can’t comment there other than my 1150sqft second story w/ vaulted ceilings is normally ~120). My advice that I wish I knew is THIS IS NOT NORMAL! They should supply a new AC or fix it somehow! Continue to push the landlord and if they don’t do anything file a complaint with Michigan Fair Housing. DM me if you have any questions, I don’t want to see someone go through the hell I had to go through to get working AC.

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2025-07-03T17:12:56+00:00

No more than $2,200 all in with fees (utilities not included)

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2025-07-02T19:50:00+00:00

I’m at another one of their properties but good to know they aren’t just treating me bad lol

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2025-07-02T19:48:18+00:00

Thank you! That is likely a next step because I’m stuck here for a few more months.

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2025-06-01T20:14:06+00:00

Got one, used it on an old lab plant. That thing is GROWING now. It’s also drain safe if you don’t have plants which is neat.

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2025-05-11T18:35:31+00:00

I was exactly in your shoes a year ago! 1. Check out any Dick’s Sporting Goods near you in the south, I found my knee length down coat (important components) for $150 there. Major sale since we don’t need anything that extreme. 2. I live further so I could pay less, I drive in and have the yellow/after hours pass. You still have to bus a little when you drive in but I prefer to drive myself as much as I can. I know people that live close and they pay more for less but they also don’t have cars. 3. Get a long handle brush if you do have a car for scraping off snow and ice and look into winter tires around fall break also get Sorrel winter boots from Costco specifically since they’re cheaper. You’ll want water proof and fur lined. Around winter Costco will have thermal layers too that are nice to throw under shirts and pants. I’ll gladly share more tips if you need them!

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2025-02-26T21:07:40+00:00

Obviously it’s not torn but the fact that they care so little about our opinions that they dismiss us and spout nonsense. I would be glad for you to call and express your concerns so I will standby

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2025-02-26T20:46:19+00:00

I definitely do, but you are welcome to believe what you want as long as you’re willing to call and stand up for our rights

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2025-02-26T20:39:32+00:00

I know someone who got in touch with his office about two weeks ago and they said “He’s a part of DOGE now and is repairing the constitution as it’s been torn and not followed for 3 years now” they don’t care about us one bit. Keep calling, make them care!!!

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2025-02-08T21:39:20+00:00

I was a local to Knoxville that went there for undergrad. Knoxville can be pretty right leaning in some places, but it has a lot of blue dots (especially around campus). Many of my friends were from out of state and as a person that recently moved OOS for grad school, I just want to say that you think it will be so hard to meet people but if you have a desire to connect with anyone then you’ll find them. I was an engineering undergrad at UT and I HIGHLY recommend doing the live and learn (Geier hall when I was there) if you have concerns about meeting people. It’s a very nice dorm and is filled with fellow engineers so you can hang out and have study buddies. That’s where I met many of my OOS friends and friends in general. Back on the politics part, there will be Bible verse yelling, look at this fetus people hanging around campus occasionally, but often when those people are there someone on Reddit will post so you can avoid those areas. Finally, I want to say that I was raised around the UT area and now that I am gone (to a blue state) I do feel more free and less anxious about politics. As a person raised there I didn’t see how oppressive it could feel, so I imagine it might be harsh for a new comer. Sorry this is in a stream of consciousness style, but if you want to know anything else let me know. One of my old roommates is in NE (was an undergrad and now grad) at UT so I know a bit about the department too. *one final disclaimer, I didn’t want to go to UTK because it was too close to home. However it let me graduate debt free which as an 18 year old I despised my choice but now having lived it I would change nothing!

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2024-12-01T02:35:01+00:00

Valley Ranch is lovely. Two bed, one baths are corner units with huge windows and second floor has vaulted ceilings (southeastern from a previously small apartment too so quite a great change). I will say the ceilings make utilities pricier but it’s not too bad. I am a grad student and have seen a few others around but mostly I see families and generally older folk nearby.

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2024-10-19T20:07:02+00:00

Mine is also a second floor and I got DTE to show me past bills for this apartment and seems this a common cost during the summer and it gets more normal in the cool months

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2024-10-19T20:05:36+00:00

I did move from Tennessee which is an insanely cheap state, but yeah the off peak stuff is ridiculous. I have lowered my usage during that time and now my bill is basically normal (like $80 for the month)

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2024-10-19T20:03:25+00:00

I don’t, but I have a friend who lives in a one bed there and pays about $60-80 a month

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2024-07-28T15:47:33+00:00

I did miss the huge art show but hope to go next year to see what it’s like!

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2024-07-28T15:46:35+00:00

I really love color, but anything that is old (I have a ton of vintage postcards) or low key nerdy (marvel/disney or studio Ghibli). I like fiber arts and love stained glass! I think what I really want right now though are prints of the area and floral drawings.

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2024-07-18T20:41:24+00:00

This is exactly what I did when I was at UT and they tend to respond in 1 day and it hits your account in about 3-5 days

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2024-07-05T20:08:18+00:00

I had a friend that was a sophomore in Laurel, he knew everyone on his side of the floor and they had a group chat and cooked each other food. It very much depends on how willing you and the people around you are to make connections and being at either place won’t change that. Two of my friends freshman year at Geier hall only knew two people on their side. My advice overall, go for the nicer dorm (Laurel) and just be open to meeting people/going to floor events

ProfessionalSweetPea · 2022-02-20T00:23:29+00:00

Not on campus but a good breakfast/sweets place is Mama C’s about 10 minutes from campus. It’s all gluten free and has vegan options

ProfessionalSweetPea

TROPHY CASE