How do Emory and Ohio State compare for undergraduate research opportunities?

The biggest practical tradeoff is scale versus proximity: Ohio State offers a much larger volume and breadth of research labs, while Emory’s smaller undergraduate environment can make faculty access and mentoring feel more personal. At Emory, undergraduates can pursue research across the university, Emory School of Medicine, public health, and nearby Atlanta research institutions, which is especially valuable for biomedical, neuroscience, public health, and health-policy interests. Ohio State’s size supports opportunities in an exceptionally wide range of fields, from engineering and agriculture to social science, humanities, health, and business.

Students at both schools can begin research early, including during the first year, but neither makes it entirely automatic. At Emory, a student who identifies a few faculty members whose work genuinely interests them and writes thoughtful outreach emails may find it relatively manageable to build a direct relationship with a lab. The undergraduate population is smaller, and many projects are connected to close-knit academic departments and professional schools.

At Ohio State, the main advantage is that there are many more potential entry points: large faculty networks, research-focused courses, departmental programs, and campus offices that connect students with projects. The challenge is navigating a very large university. A proactive student can find substantial research there, but may need to contact more professors, use formal research-matching resources, and be deliberate about standing out in labs that receive many inquiries.

For a student primarily drawn to medicine, public health, neuroscience, or a faculty-mentored research experience with a more intimate campus feel, Emory has a meaningful edge. For someone who wants maximum choice across disciplines, including fields outside health, and is comfortable taking initiative in a large institution, Ohio State can provide just as serious a research foundation.