Phil Barker is a recent graduate of North Shore Senior High School who is currently attending Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and is majoring in Anthropological Sciences. Just over 1,100 miles from Houston, Texas, OSU has a student population of roughly 60,000 and an alumni base of over 500,000. The numbers are impressive in their own right, but even more impressive is how well our former Mustang is adjusting to his new environment.

Although transitioning from home to an out-of-state college is never easy, Phil has been too busy to get homesick. While his first year has been hectic, he was able to get a head start on his college career by taking AP classes and transferring 31 hours of Advanced Placement and dual credit, which not only saved him time and money but also saved him from overloading in his first year. Even though the coursework and time management have been challenging, he is getting used to dividing his time and keeping a healthy perspective and routine.

While attending an out-of-state school can be expensive, OSU was actually cheaper than some other Texas universities. To further reduce costs, he applied for local scholarships, which significantly lowered his overall tuition.

Phil is glad he neither limited his options of schools nor let the distance limit him from his family. This experience has helped broaden his horizons and enrich his life through exposure to different cultures, giving him new perspectives on the world.

Phil’s advice to those who are still in high school and in the process of searching for the right college is to read carefully the recruitment pamphlets from each university. These brochures can provide an outstanding overview of what they offer new students and whether the school is the best fit for their goals.

Phil also encourages seniors to take their last year in high school seriously. He suggests that the same work ethic you displayed in high school, especially in your last year, is what one takes into their freshman year of college. Additionally, he added that organization is key to success, since there are no reminders in college.

Phil stated, “Have fun if you have time, but most importantly, don’t sell yourself short, work hard to set yourself apart, and be responsible.”

We are very proud of Phil! We wish him the best of luck and look forward to hearing all about the amazing things he will do after graduation.