For Anne Pinto, an undergraduate student from São Paulo, Brazil majoring in aerospace engineering, choosing a university meant finding more than strong academics but one deeply rooted in research.
“I really wanted a place where I could truly be in a research environment, meet professors and students who were genuinely engaged in research,” said Pinto. “Since I want to pursue aerospace engineering and also astronomy,
I remember going on each university’s website to see what they were actually doing related to those fields.”
That search led her to The Ohio State University.
“It was not only about having good professors and strong infrastructure,” she said, “but also seeing that nationally the university stands out in these areas. There are award-winning professors and many ongoing research projects. That combination made the difference for me.”
Since arriving on campus, she has explored a range of academic and social opportunities. One of her favorite student organizations has been Cru, which she said offered a welcoming environment, particularly for international students.
“They receive international students very well,” Pinto said. “I met several people who had been to Brazil and even spoke Portuguese.”
She has also attended events hosted by the Office of International Affairs, as well as gatherings organized by BRASA and Portuguese-speaking student groups. Building relationships with faculty has been another important part of her experience.
“I have gone to professors’ office hours and scheduled short meetings,” she said. “Through that, I met many interesting people who encouraged me to explore campus even more, learn more and also have fun.”
Her curiosity has extended to the university’s world-class facilities as well.
“When I found out that telescopes are built underneath McPherson, my mind was blown,” she said.
In the classroom, she said Ohio State’s STEM courses stand out for their structure and variety.
“I love that my classes are very dynamic,” she said. “Having lectures, recitations and labs allows me to learn the same material in different ways, which strengthens my understanding.”
Hands-on learning has been especially meaningful for Pinto.
“The moments I enjoy the most are definitely in the labs, especially in the chemistry lab,” she said. “I really like hands-on projects, such as building and sculpting objects, doing 3D modeling and even a lab where we went outside to calculate the speed of vehicles.”
Outside academics, she has found life in Columbus to be a welcome change from São Paulo.
“I really love the weather,” Pinto said. “Even though it can be extreme at times, very cold or very hot, I have learned to appreciate the well-defined seasons.”
She described the city as calmer than her home city.
“Coming from São Paulo, where there is always a sense of rush, I was surprised by how peaceful Columbus feels compared to living in a big city,” she said. “So far, I already feel at home.”
Some of her best memories come from her first semester on campus. One occurred during Welcome Week.
“I learned how to sing the famous Buckeyes song (Carmen Ohio), saw the stadium and the entire campus was full of activities and attractions,” she said. “My roommate and I went on the zipline together. She showed me some American snacks, and that day became unforgettable.”
Pinto also recollected the season’s first snowfall.
“I was studying in the library with a friend when she suddenly asked me to go to the Oval,” Pinto said. “There was a huge snowball fight with hundreds of people. Even though the weather was cold, that moment truly warmed my heart.”