Congratulations on your admission to Ohio State and the College of Arts and Sciences! We know you may have questions. Here's admission information to know.
Summer After Senior Year:
May 1
Acceptance fees due
June 1
Applications to BOLD due
Applications to PASS due
June-August
Attend orientation
July
Receive Housing Assignment
August
Start of fall semester
For more information, contact the Office of Undergraduate Recruitment at discoverasc@osu.edu.
Audit - To attend class without receiving official credit.
Award Letter - A document that outlines how much financial aid you will receive.
Cost of Attendance (COA) - The estimated total cost to attend the university, including tuition, fees, room and board.
Course Load - The number of classes or credit hours taken each semester.
Credit Hour - A unit measuring the educational credit of a class, usually based on classroom hours per week.
Double Major - A single degree with two majors leading to a single diploma with both majors noted on transcripts.
Drop - To formally discontinue a class during a designated time so that the class will not appear on your official transcripts.
Dual Degree - Two degrees leading to the award of two diplomas with both degrees designated separately on transcripts.
Elective - An optional course not required for a degree.
Expected Family Contribution (EFC) - The amount of money a family can be expected to provide towards one year of college, based on FAFSA data.
FAFSA - The Free Application for Federal Student Aid from the U.S. Department of Education.
Federal Pell Grant - A grant issued by the Federal Government based on a high level of financial need.
Federal Work Study - Part-time jobs funded by the Federal Government for students with financial need.
Full-Time - Enrollment in at least 12 credit hours a semester.
General Education Requirements - Required courses designed to introduce students to core academic areas.
Grant - A sum of money given that does not need to be repaid.
Hold - A red flag in the system which will prevent you from registering for classes.
Internship - An opportunity for students to work at a firm, business or agency for a fixed period of time with or without pay.
Major - Primary field of academic focus.
Minor - Secondary field of academic focus.
Placement Test - A series of tests used to gauge your ability level in subjects such as English, math and foreign languages.
Prerequisite - A specific condition for enrollment that a student must meet prior to starting a course.
Semester - Half of the academic year (usually lasting 15-18 weeks).
Subsidized Loan - A loan in which the Federal Government pays interest during periods of deferment.
Unsubsidized Loan - A loan in which interest accrues from the date the loan is issued.
Waitlist - A list of applicants who are admitted to the university if space becomes available in the incoming class.
Frequently Asked Questions
To accept Ohio State’s offer of admission for autumn term, you will need to pay a $100 nonrefundable fee by May 1. Directions on how to pay this fee can be found on your Admission notification, which is emailed to you within three days of admission to Ohio State.
Payment of your acceptance fee will initiate orientation, housing and Ohio State email information to be sent to you. Visit undergrad.osu.edu for more information.
Orientation is your official introduction to life as a Buckeye! Held prior to the opening of each term, orientation is required for all students and will inform you on what’s expected of you as an Ohio State student, assist you in scheduling classes for your first term, allow you to complete any necessary placement testing and finalize any outstanding university business.
Visit orientation.osu.edu for more information.
Visiting campus is the best way to get to know (and love) us! We invite you to register for a campus tour or event via campusvisit.osu.edu. These programs offer an overview of admission, academic programs, and life on campus — often from the valuable perspective of current students.
Yes! It’s very common to be unsure of which major is right for you before starting classes. Use the College of Arts and Sciences Explore Tool to match your interests and strengths with our academic programs.
Yes! In fact, we encourage it. With careful planning, you can successfully double major in any two majors across the college and even the university. Be sure to talk with your advisor early in the process for assistance in getting started.
The Personalized Study Program (PSP) gives Arts and Sciences students flexibility to design and complete a major that falls outside of established academic departments or programs. If you are highly motivated, independent and passionate about a non-traditional discipline, this may be the right path for you!
Ohio State makes every effort to make a world-class education both accessible and affordable. A variety of financial aid, such as scholarships, grants, student loans and Federal Work-Study is available to help finance your education.
Visit undergrad.osu.edu for more information on the variety of financial aid available to you.
Your first step in finding out what financial aid you might be eligible for is to file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA is available on October 1 each year and filing by Ohio State’s priority date of February 1 will provide you with maximum aid consideration.
Visit undergrad.osu.edu for more information on financial aid, including how to complete and file FAFSA.
The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program provides job opportunities for eligible students with financial need who are enrolled at least half time, allowing them to earn money to help pay indirect education expenses.
Eligibility is determined when you file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. Visit sfa.osu.edu for more information on this program.
Working while you are in school is a great way to keep student loan debt down while gaining useful real-world work experience. Student Financial Aid hosts a job board open to all currently enrolled students seeking part-time employment so that you can earn money by working for the university or for numerous local employers. Visit sfa.osu.edu/jobs for more information.
You will need to take at least 12 credit hours to be considered a full-time student at Ohio State. Keep in mind that 15 credit hours per semester will keep you on track to graduate in four years.
A variety of resources are available to help you successfully transition to Ohio State, find your way around campus, get involved, succeed in your classes, explore opportunities in and out of the classroom, address personal concerns and stay healthy.
Yes! We encourage you to establish educational relationships with our faculty and staff. In addition to open office hours, you can get to know your professors through the College of Arts and Sciences Take Your Professor to Lunch Program and Coffee Connections Program.
Ohio State’s campus offers many advantages including countless opportunities to get involved and make connections. Our students find and build their community through early arrival programs, student organizations, community service and engagement, recreational sports, campus events and employment, fraternities and sororities, religious and spiritual groups and more!
Visit activities.osu.edu for more information on getting involved on campus.
Our 17,000+ students represent a wide variety of ethnic, racial, economic and cultural backgrounds from all around the country and from countries all around the world. The Program for Advancing Scholarship and Service (PASS) and Buckeye Opportunities for Leadership & Development (BOLD) are first-year academic learning communities for underrepresented and first-generation Arts and Sciences students, respectively.
Learn more
Here’s everything you need to know about applying to Ohio State, from understanding the acceptance process, to applying step-by-step, to what happens after you apply and are accepted.