I expected college to feel overwhelming, but ATI immediately felt like a place where people knew my name, asked about my goals and wanted to help me grow. The small class sizes and supportive faculty made it easy to feel like I belonged from day one. Having this support helped me transition much better into college for my first couple of weeks.

My best hands-on experience at ATI was my lab time for Intro to Animal Science. Learning the information in class is very helpful, but at ATI, we have some of the best research facilities for all livestock, so I was able to take the knowledge I learned in the classroom and actually apply it in my lab time in the research facilities.

Living on campus at ATI made me feel part of the Ohio State community because I was given a lot of connections. In my opening week at ATI, I found that students spent a lot of time outside of their townhouse apartments in Applewood Village, and I was quickly able to meet people around campus. This was vital in my experience on campus as I have now built lasting relationships with those same people I met in the courtyards in my first week.

ATI prepared me for a campus change to Columbus by giving me a strong foundation academically, socially and professionally. The smaller environment helped me develop confidence and build relationships with people who supported my goals.

My favorite class so far was my accounting course I took in the spring of my first year. In this course, I learned how to correctly enter, manage and track all financial records. This, in turn, will help me correctly manage funds for my future FFA chapter, as well as give me the background knowledge of finance that I may use in other aspects of my future.

Yes, being at Ohio State ATI makes it easy to get involved. I’ve been able to explore leadership, community building and service opportunities that connect to my passion for agriculture through student organizations, campus events and other opportunities.

Starting at Ohio State ATI is one of the best decisions you can make. You get the resources of a major university with the support of a small community that invests in you and your future. ATI gives you room to grow, build connections, ask questions and build confidence before transitioning to Columbus. I would also tell future students that when you start, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there right away. Talk to people, whether it’s another student, staff, faculty or even a guest speaker and see where it takes you. Join clubs, be involved in extracurricular activities and find things to do that keep you motivated. Being in college is more than getting a degree, it’s about building professional connections that help you grow for your future.