Why did you choose Ohio State University for your graduate studies?

The Ohio State University has a great reputation. Also, Ohio State’s geographic location in the midst of an active hospitality industry is excellent.

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What do you like about your graduate program at Ohio State?

Our graduate program is a small program but it is a good program. The professors are always available for students and willing to support each student's individual needs. The program offers a great opportunity and freedom for choosing courses.

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Any comment on the Research facilities, teaching, and opportunities at Ohio State?

Hospitality management program has a high quality student-run restaurant/laboratory, View Point at Drake Union. It provides professional training for students to experience restaurant management and operation. The research facilities and resources are very sufficient as well as teaching opportunities.

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What do you like about Columbus?

Columbus is a simply city. It is definitely a good place for studying.
Public transportation in Columbus is convenient more than what I expected. Also, because of its central location, you can reach other states easily.

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What has been your experience in obtaining financial aid?

I have had the opportunity to receive Graduate Teaching Assistantship that covers my tuition and provides a monthly stipend. It has various opportunities to apply for financial aid at Ohio State.

What do you like about your graduate program at Ohio State?

I’ve always known that I like challenge and being at Ohio State in my graduate program gives me exactly that! A nationally known and respected school, faculty of renowned repute to work with, and a flexible program that allows one to actively get involved in planning courses provides the daily challenge and that’s what I cherish.

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What has been your experience in obtaining financial aid?

To date, I have been extremely fortunate. I have been awarded graduate teaching assistantship, which has literally and practically supported my school and living. As a graduate-teaching assistant, I hold office hours for the classes for which I am TA, I grade and I also have an opportunity to teach under the guidance of the professor.

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What do you like about Columbus?

Columbus provides a good blend of a large city, where parking space is so limited you’re always scared that your car is being towed YET there is always some space for one’s horse to move around leisurely. It is difficult to explain on paper, it takes one to experience this environment. The variety of restaurants, parks, movie theaters, the many mini-cities (the likes of Polaris and Easton), that surround downtown, make it a place worth living. Its also interesting to live in a city that is totally faithful and dedicated to the University.

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What is your specialization?

My field of study is Hospitality Management and Consumer Sciences. I have an interest in consumer behavior and especially the consumer decision making process with regard to purchase of hospitality services.

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Why did you decide to be a Buckeye?

I liked the nationally renowned name. Plus, they had the type of program I thought would fit my needs, a program that is flexible.

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Any comment on the Research facilities, teaching, and opportunities?

The department operates and has access to great teaching and research facilities. Students in the program have an early ‘hands-on” introduction to restaurant operation at The ViewPoint Restaurant which is owned by the department. When the students have to experience hotel operations, The Blackwell Hotel on campus provides this opportunity. This provides the graduate students an opportunity to work in conjunction with the full time management at these establishments too. In my first and second years, I had the opportunity to work with students at The ViewPoint Restaurant and now, I look forward to working with the undergraduates during their Hotel Operations internship. I still think and believe that Ohio State has great teaching and research facilities that can meet the needs of any student interested in graduate work in hospitality management. For the graduate students, you will be working with faculty that are highly published and respected. It’s upon you to face the challenge they provide.

Why did you choose Ohio State University for your graduate studies?

I had been working for OSU for 6 years when I began my Masters course work. During those years I had this continual thought in the back of my mind that I should get my Masters degree. I knew that there were probably thousands of people that would love to have the opportunity that I had, which was the benefit of taking classes virtually free. I got involved with one of the Hospitality Management lab courses through Dr. Parsa, a professor in the department, and really enjoyed the experience and interaction with the students. It was actually Dr. Parsa that made pursuing a Masters degree in Hospitality Management seem so obvious.

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What do you like about your graduate program at Ohio State?

I looked into the program that was currently offered and it was really exciting to me. There is such flexibility to structure the program to meet my goals and interests. I began with getting more involved with the undergraduate lab courses and realized that this was going to be an enormous opportunity for me. The experience of developing an undergraduate lab program at OSU was something I had never thought of, but was exactly what I wanted to do. The professors and department staff have been supportive, willing to make changes, and very trusting of my decisions.

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Any comment on the Research facilities, teaching, and opportunities at Ohio
State?

I was quite unfamiliar with doing research here at OSU. I didn’t even know where the libraries were! With the gracious help of other graduate students and the professors I got on board very quickly. The best thing about doing research was being able to do so much of the ‘searching’ from home via the web. Having kept my fulltime job at OSU as well as being married with two sons, my time is precious!

I found out in pretty short order that I really liked teaching. I spent two quarters going to one of the undergraduate hospitality management courses and then asked if I could teach the class for one quarter. That was 3 quarters ago and I’m still teaching it! As I mentioned before, the professors are very willing and flexible to make each graduate experience what you want it to be. They are tremendously supportive and encouraging.

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What do you like about Columbus?

What Columbus has to offer me may well differ from other students. I like that my sons have great school choices, both private and public. I like that it doesn’t matter what I’m hungry for, I can find it in Columbus. Whether it’s good hummus, or homemade meatloaf, the best choices for eating are here. I can take my kids to live performances or to one of the best zoos in the country. I can enjoy shopping at its finest and my husband can enjoy both professional and college level sports. I like that my sons go to school with kids named Ahmad, Izzy, Yejin and Ofor. I’m not originally from Columbus, so I like that I can drive to my hometown in 2 hours and I can easily get anywhere else via the very convenient Columbus Airport!

What do you like about your graduate program at OSU?

As a mid-career professional with over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, I am not your “typical” graduate student. Consequently, I wanted to attend a university that appreciated my work experience and offered a curriculum that was tailored to meet my specific needs. Quite frankly, I had started a Ph.D. program at another university and quickly realized that I would need to complete a core curriculum that was not the best use of my time due to my extensive work experience. At The Ohio State University, I was able to design a curriculum that meets my specific needs and research interests, which does not require any unnecessary coursework.

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What has been your experience in obtaining financial aid?

The University provides me with a tuition waiver as well as a monthly stipend. My assignment as a Graduate Associate is to work as an Academic Advisor for undergraduate students in the Hospitality Management program. This has been an ideal assignment for me. In addition to assisting students in the scheduling of their classes, I have also counseled many students on career options within the industry. I also discuss industry opportunities with students that are considering Hospitality Management as their major. Again, with my industry experience, I am well prepared to offer students this type of counseling. So, once again, The Ohio State University is using my industry background to everyone's advantage.

My assignment as an Academic Advisor allows me to maintain my required 20 hours per week of office hours at times that are convenient to me. It is easy to work the hours in around my family obligations, courseworkm and research schedule.

Student loans to help cover some unanticipated financial shortfalls were quick and easy to obtain through the financial aid office. And with everything "on-line", communicating with the financial aid team can be completed without leaving my office or from my home.

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What do you like about Columbus?

Quite frankly, I commute 120 miles to Columbus from the Cincinnati area. Due to family considerations, I did not want to relocate to Columbus and force my children to change schools, etc. Again, my flexible office schedule makes this commute possible. The faculty has been very supportive and understanding.

In conducting my research, I have needed to work with several hospitality firms in the Columbus area. The business community here is very receptive to working with students and researchers; it is viewed as a "win-win" situation.

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What do you study and research?

My research is in the area of the service-profit chain. How does the quality of service that a firm delivers impact the profitability of the business enterprise? Research in this topic area requires a multi-disciplinary approach since it involves a level of expertise in many areas including marketing, human resource management, consumer science, and psychology.

The Ohio State University has a strong commitment to foster and encourage interdisciplinary research. It is one of our academic priorities. As a result, faculty members from academic areas outside of my "home" college have been very helpful and open to providing support, assistance, and insights to guide me in my research efforts.

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Why did you decide to be a Buckeye!?

When I decided to leave corporate-America to pursue a career change into the field of research, teaching and consulting, I wanted to find a university that would truly appreciate my industry experience. Ohio State appreciated my industry experience. The faculty made it clear to me, right up front, that they would value me as an individual and the industry perspective that I brought into the classroom and the research lab.

When I contacted another university that I was considering for a PhD program, the first question that I was asked by the Department Chair was "What did you score on the GMAT?" I was totally offended! I am more than a test score! Don't get me wrong. I had solid test scores and exceptional grades throughout my academic career, these are expected when you apply to a "top tier" graduate program. But I felt that I brought much more to the table. The faculty at The Ohio State University demonstrated to me IMMEDIATELY that they valued the "total package" that I would bring to Ohio State - my industry experience, unique perspectives, and academic qualifications. At The Ohio State University I AM more than a test score!

The Ohio State University is internationally recognized. And having a winning football team makes being a Buckeye fun, too! (By the way, I also play the tuba and have always dreamed of "dotting the 'I'" although I don't think that this is an option at this point in my life!).