It can be hard to answer all questions, but there a few frequent questions parents and students ask during tours.

Where do you live? What housing options are there?

• UC requires all students from outside of a 50-mile radius of campus to live in University-affiliated housing. This can be a UC residence hall, University Park Apartments (UP), Stratford Heights, or McMillan Manor. These facilities require the signing of a lease (usually a year) and other payments. UC dorms and Stratford Heights offer major-specific floors and group housing by college (Stratford). This is a plus to some students because if offers a better learning environment when you're living with students who sharecommon classes.
• If you're inside the 50-mile radius and don't want to live on campus, you can live at home and commute, or get an apartment or house near campus. A lot of faculty members have observed that commuting makes the adjustment to college a little difficult. In addition, it hinders a student's ability to join groups that meet in the evening or early in the morning. This comment is directed more towards freshmen because of the fundamental classes they take. It can be relaxing to go home to your own room and a hot meal, but its all about finding your comfort level with commuting. An additional benefit of living close to campus is that you don't have to worry about parking.

How does housing work during co-op quarters?

• If you work in the Cincinnati area:
  • On-campus housing: You will sign a coop housing contract which means UC has to hold you a room in your current residency hall, but the exact same room or with the same roommates. As far as most of us know you can still live in the dorms while you're on coop too.
  • Off-campus: Here's were it can get tricky, in most cases your lease will state you will have to get a sublet if you travel out of town or be required to pay your monthly fees. Some landlords will specify that they don't want coop students taking leases from them.

• If you work out of town: This totally comes down to what your employer offers in the employment deal. Some companies will completely set you up for free, pay part, or offer no housing deals. If the location is fairly far from Cincinnati they may be willing to assist in looking, but not paying for your housing. Some employers will also provide you with a travel stipend to use.

What kind of computer should I have?

Your major will affect your computing needs--for most majors outside of electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science, you can use whatever computer (desktop or laptop) you would like. The College does provide some basic specifications that they would like students to have, but these specifications usually are the current standard for new, entry-level computers. UC CoE does have a discount arranged with a few computer companies that provides the student with a small discount on specified computers. Just remember, the CoE's computer labs are open 24/7 and they have all the computer programs you'll need while in school.

Should I try to come in with college credit (AP, PSEO)?

Although it is worthwhile to give anecdotal evidence to answer this question, ultimately it should be referred to Pre-Admissions and to the student's potential department(s). Generally, the College wants everyone to take the entire Calculus sequence, although exceptions are made in the case of ACCEND students. AP Calculus scores can be used to qualify for Honors Calculus, so there's still a benefit to taking the AP Calculus test.

Obtaining advanced college credit for classes like English, American Government, American History, etc., can be hugely beneficial by filling some of the BoK (breadth of knowledge/gen ed) requirements. This can free up time for ACCEND students, or make time for a minor, certificate, video games, or whatever.

How many hours do you spend studying each day/week?

When you describe your study time to prospective students, be sure to remind them that everyone's study habits are different. The biggest factor students face when entering college is the amount of flexible time they now have. It's important to stay on top of coursework, and it helps to treat class as a job-- although individual students must find the approach that fits them best.

Do I have to co-op in the Cincinnati area?

• No; the best and most important aspect of UC'sco-op program is that it is completely designed for the student and what they want. Sometimes a better job is farther away from Cincinnati. Don't forget to mention the International Co-op Program (ICP)!
• The International Co-op Program (ICP) allows students the opportunity to take a position in Germany, Japan or certain Spanish speaking countries. The program is connected with well known companies such as Audi, BMW, GE Aircraft Engines, Hewlett Packard, Siemens, and 3M.

How does the co-op interview process work and what skills are needed?

• The interview process is fairly simple. Your Professional Practice advisor will make a list of companies and job descriptions available to you, and after you rank which companies you'd like to interview with, your advisor will send your resume out to those companies. The companies will contact you and arrange an interview time and place. If the company is far away they may hold a phone interview or fly you out to their office. Many companies interview on campus.
• If a student is interested in pursuing a job that is not on the list provided by Professional Practice, they can work with their advisor and with the company to set up a co-op assignment there. We are not limited in our job options!
  
• During freshman year, students take Introduction to Professional Practice, which is taught by their major's advisor. They'll go over topics including how to interview well, how to write a resume, and how to adjust to the professional environment. In addition, they will offer the opportunity for mock interviews and resume reviews.

What kind of pay and incentives can I look forward to on co-op?

• Co-op wages vary by major, and older/more experienced students tend to earn more. Students are paid directly by their employers, so the amount depends on company size, the student's individual experience, and the benefits (such as housing and transportation) that the student might be receiving. Students typically earn enough to live comfortably and have money for the the next school quarter(s).
• Average wages, as well as information about students' previous experiences with specific companies, are available from the advisors in the Professional Practice office in Swift Hall.
• Many companies hire UC co-op students every year, so asking previous co-op students about their experience with a particular company is a great way to learn about working there.

How difficult is the ACCEND program?

Do I have to have a meal plan? Can upperclassmen get a meal plan?

Freshmen living in the dorms are required to have a meal plan, but can choose from several options with varying cost & number of meals per week. Older students and commuters don't have to have meal plans, but its sometimes nice to have the option available. Meal plans are used in MarketPointe and Center Court. Non-meal plan dining options abound as well.

How safe is campus and the surrounding area?

UC sits in an urban environment and because of this certain activities do happen both on campus and off campus. It is very important to tell parents the realty and provide them with all the resources and programs UC has for its students. Point out that UC police officers are real police officers, and they work together with the City of Cincinnati police department work together to secure a safe environment for the students and residents in the Clifton and other neighborhoods. The "Campus Safety" page of this wiki provides a more detailed answer for you to review.

What other schools did you look at while college searching?

All of us had our own lists of schools we looked at before choosing UC. Most times our choices revolved around: location, costs, ranking of program, campus appearance, personal reasons, and many other. When asked be honest, remember this is a great time to discuss how UC stood out in your decision. Families will also enjoy hearing about your personal reasons for attending (family history or scholarships). Just let them know how UC differed from the other schools on your list.

Why did you choose UC and would you have now changed your mind?

How difficult is it to register for classes and are your classes always available?

One of the best things about being in the CoE is that you are given a curriculum sheet before you even have your first class. This sheet lists all the classes you're going to need to graduate in 5 years. Therefore this make signing up for classed extremely quick and easy. UC uses the Onestop website for students to add/drop classes and its as easy as entering a 6 number code for the class. Onestop displays all the classes offered for that quarter for all colleges. You can get a course description, view the professor, and check attendance of certain sections.

For your engineering classes you are guaranteed to get in no matter what because the course is required for you to graduate. If the class is full online you just get the professor's signature and you're in. With students splitting time between coop and school, all engineering classes are offered twice a year in a way that you never miss your required classes. This feature is not common at all engineering universities which tends to hurt a student's graduating time.