McNellie set her sights on The Ohio State University’s Columbus campus and the Fischer College of Business. However, she didn’t have the perquisites needed for admission. She spoke to academic advisors who recommended Ohio State Newark — not only to complete her prerequisites but also to help her transition from a small, private school to Ohio State, too.
“Ohio State gave me a really awesome financial offer,” McNellie enthuses. “And Newark was an amazing opportunity to dip my toe into Ohio State. It’s been perfect for me to get used to being in a more diverse and fun location, and it’s a good transition between a school of 2,000 to 60,000.”
Attending Ohio State Newark has also given McNellie a wonderful opportunity to get involved in campus life at the Newark campus and acclimate herself to the Columbus campus at the same time. At Newark, she works as a receptionist in the Office of Retention and Student Success alongside the peer coaches. In Columbus, she serves as the student government’s senior staff administrative assistant. She is also a member of Women in Business.
“I know that getting involved in social organizations in Columbus is going to make that transition a little bit easier because I’m going to know familiar faces,” she explains. “Being involved in these organizations, I’ve gotten to know Columbus better. I’m a lot less nervous, and I feel more prepared now to take that step. It’s really made me feel like a part of Ohio State as a whole, not just Newark.”
McNellie lives in Columbus and commutes to Newark for school and work. “The drive is truly not that bad,” she said. She advised other commuters to “schedule your classes early so you can avoid people going home from work getting back into Columbus.” She also recommends scheduling a day off of classes, if possible.
“I definitely feel like I’ve learned to advocate for myself,” McNellie says. “Ohio State Newark has shown me there are so many opportunities if you go and find them. I’ve made great connections with my professors in these small classes, and I’ve made a lot of good friendships. Newark has provided me a safe space to learn and explore what I wanted to major in.”
McNellie is transitioning to the Columbus campus this fall, where she will major in accounting at the Fischer College of Business. She also plans to minor in cybersecurity.
McNellie’s advice for her peers is to “get involved.” She continues, “I think some people wait around to meet people or think they’ll organically just run into someone, and that might happen. But getting involved with people who are like-minded makes your college experience so much more fulfilling.”
Outside of school and her extracurricular involvements, McNellie enjoys arts and crafts, particularly scrapbooking and baking. She also likes walking and hiking and is currently training for a half marathon.