Living in Columbus

Columbus is a growing city that embraces families and singles, the young and the old, traditional and alternative lifestyles - and everything in between. In fact, nearly half the population falls within the 18-44 age group, making Columbus a youthful melting pot with a wide array of cultural and social offerings.

• Explore Columbus

With a growing reputation as a hip town, Columbus has been tabbed as a "Midwestern style capital" by The New York Times and has been ranked in the top ten "Best Place to Live" by Money Magazine. Columbus has all the big-city benefits without big-city problems, like traffic jams, and a high cost of living.

You will be pleasantly surprised when you experience, first-hand, all that Columbus has to offer. From comfortable neighborhoods to hip enclaves with trendy housing, restaurants, shopping, and clubs, Columbus will impress you at every turn.

Arts and Entertainment

The city boasts some of the finest venues around, including the Schottenstein Center on Ohio State's campus, Nationwide Arena, and the more intimate Lifestyle Communities Pavilion. Columbus has a thriving theater community, too, and provides audiences alternatives for every taste and preference. Broadway touring companies regularly delight audiences, while the excellent Contemporary American Theatre Company (CATCO), stages productions from established and emerging playwrights alike.

Artists and art galleries, many of which are ensconced in the Short North Arts District, are first-rate.  Its monthly Gallery Hop where owners open up their shops to the art-loving public every first Saturday of the month.  Located on campus, the world-class Wexner Center for the Arts houses an astonishing array of vibrant programs that include the best of contemporary visual, performing, and film arts from around the world.

Culinary Experience

Columbus is developing a reputation as a foodie friendly city.  Students rave about the variety of eclectic restaurants just minutes from campus in the Short North.  Dessert is on the menu anytime with the handmade artisan flavors from Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, which has been featured in Food & Wine magazine and the Food Network.

Diverse Neighborhoods

Take a trip in either direction on High Street, which runs through Ohio State's campus, and you will discover a series of charming neighborhoods to explore.  Some of the more popular destinations for Fisher's graduate students is the Short North Arts District, Arena District, German Village, and Clintonville.  Other popular neighborhoods include Grandview Heights and Victorian Village.

Family Fun

Columbus is home to the Center of Science and Industry, the No. 1 rated science center in the country, and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, rated No. 1 in the country and Director Emeritus, Jungle Jack Hanna. In addition.  The Columbus Metropolitan Library is continually recognized as one of the top library systems in the nation.

The Columbus Commons park downtown features a carousel, concert pavilion, and nine acres of green space right in the heart of downtown Columbus.

Nightlife

Every Thursday night, Fisher graduate students gather together for the "Event of the Week."  Each week students socialize somewhere around campus or the city to take a break from class to relax.

Outdoor Adventure

The Clintonville area, just north of Ohio State's campus features many ravines. The area features many walking trails that allow you to be surrounded by nature in the middle of the city.

One of the best ways to explore Columbus is to follow the bike path along the Olentangy River.  You can ride your bike for nearly 30 miles along the path, which takes you from Worthington and south to downtown.  Along the way there are parks, picnic areas and great neighborhoods like Clintonville, Victorian Village and Ohio State's campus.

Shopping

In terms of shopping there are some great shopping destinations in Columbus.  Easton Town Center and Polaris Fashion Place are favorite destinations among many students. Both are indoor and outdoor malls with a great selection of stores as well as many places to eat.

In addition to the malls, Columbus' Short North Arts District features art galleries, fashion boutiques and many other stores.  The district also features the North Market, Columbus' only public market with more than 30 independent merchants and farmers.

Sports

Saturdays in fall are special in Columbus. On days of home football games, students wake and get ready to go to the football game. The campus area is filled with students, alumni and fans showing their Buckeye pride. Away from the gridiron, Ohio State fields 35 other varsity teams.

In addition to the Buckeyes, the city is home to the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League, Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew, and the Columbus Clippers, the minor league baseball team that plays in their brand new award-winning ballpark in the Arena District.  Also Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament attracts the world's top golfers to Dublin's Muirfield Village in June.