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UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS

Admissions news

For high school counselors
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1. Updates on applicants

As of January 15, first-year student applications are closed for fall enrollment at the Columbus campus. To date, the university has received 75,285 applications from this cohort.

A few notes:

  • We posted decisions for early action applicants on December 12 (Ohio residents and Stamps Eminence) and January 23 (non-Ohio residents and international).
  • We have a strong applicant pool and were able to offer admission to nearly 10% more students than last year, knowing that our class size goal is 8,300 to 8,400, modestly higher than last year. 
  • Final notifications for regular decision applicants and those deferred from early action will be sent on March 6.

Ohio residents interested in attending Ohio State in the fall are encouraged to apply directly to one of our regional campuses. Scholarships and financial aid are still available, and the final deadline for autumn 2026 is July 15.

 

2. Financial aid and scholarship reminders

Ohio State uses the FAFSA as our application for need-based financial aid. Students are also encouraged to create a profile on Scholarship Universe to connect with a wide range of Ohio State and national rewards.

  • Morrill Scholarship Program: Notifications began in early January and will continue through March until all awards are made. 
  • University merit scholarships: Notifications were sent in December and January. If offered an award, students received a letter in the mail and can also view it in their Applicant Center. 
  • Financial aid notifications: We plan to send official financial aid notifications to students' BuckeyeMail accounts in early March. 
  • President’s Ohio Scholarship Program: Students received notification of their selection in December. There were over 180 students who received this award in its inaugural year.
  • Regional Campus Commitment: New first-year students who are Ohio residents, who apply directly to a regional campus (including ATI Wooster) and whose AGI is $100,000 or less will have their tuition and mandatory fees covered in grants and scholarships. Learn more.
 

3. Helpful suggestions to share with juniors

As you meet with juniors who are preparing for the college application process, here are some reminders to share from Ohio State: 

  • Strength of curriculum matters. Continue to select challenging courses in academic areas such as math, science and foreign language. 
  • If offered, challenge yourself with advanced courses, like College Credit Plus, Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate (or equivalent).
  • Ensure you are completing the minimum college prep requirements. To reference these requirements, please view this table on our website.
  • Have a plan for testing. Plan your test-taking timeline and plan to have scores sent directly to Ohio State. Our registration codes are: 
    • ACT: 3312
    • SAT: 1592
  • Note extracurricular involvement. Take an inventory of all your clubs, summer activities and/or part-time jobs.
  • Ask for letters of recommendation early. It's best to request them before the end of the school year. 
  • Create your Common Application profile early. Your profile will automatically roll over to next year when the application opens on August 1.
 

4. Events for admitted students

Beginning this month, we will begin to connect with our admitted students through receptions, virtual webinars and our Buckeye Bound event days on campus. We are also hosting overviews and tours of campus beginning in February running through May 1. Learn more and register.

 

5. Counselor visit day

New to working with Ohio State? Familiar with Ohio State, but haven't made it on to campus recently? We hope you will join us on campus to hear a high-level overview of our admissions process and learn more about Ohio State and its resources for students!

Thursday, March 26
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Ohio Union Barbie Tootle Room

At this event, you will:

  • Take a campus tour
  • Engage with current students and hear their experiences
  • Get to know Ohio State's Undergraduate Admissions senior leadership team

Please register via the link below. We're looking forward to seeing you there!

REGISTER

Have a colleague who might love this event? Please share this invite with them!
 

6. Buckeye Student Leadership Academy application is still open!

The application deadline for the 2026 BSLA is March 1 — we're excited to be looking for the next cohort of students!

Strong candidates should:
  • Be a junior in high school
  • Be a first-generation student, or attend a high school in a rural or urban school district
  • Rank in the top 25 percent of their class
  • Be enrolled in a competitive curriculum, which might include AP, IB or honors; foreign language; or advanced math courses 
  • Be actively involved in extracurricular and leadership activities
Learn more and apply to BSLA.
 

7. Ohio State Academy (College Credit Plus) reminders

Consideration for admission to the Ohio State Academy (CCP) program will continue to be test-optional for the Columbus campus. Students applying to one of our regional campuses for CCP can also continue to apply test-optional if they meet the requirements.

As a reminder to our school counselors, administrators and CCP coordinators, all admission information and grades for CCP students can only be accessed through Ohio State's Counselor Portal. For assistance with the Counselor Portal, please refer to the portal website instructions.

 

8. Upcoming webinar: Resources and guidance for students with disabilities

Making the leap from high school to college is exciting, but for students with disabilities, it comes with unique challenges and opportunities. Here's a great opportunity for all students — even those not bound for Ohio State — to learn how they can transition with confidence. 

Next Stop: College! Navigating Disability Supports After High School
Thursday, April 16
6 to 7 p.m.

Have your students register here.

Program highlights:
  • Learn how to register for accommodations at Ohio State
  • Discover why self-advocacy matters
  • Explore available resources and documentation tips
Questions may be directed to speas.11@osu.edu.
 

9. Apply for Democracy Camp

The John Glenn College of Public Affairs at Ohio State is hosting a free*, one-day civic leadership program for Ohio high school students on July 15, 2026. Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors will explore how local government works, meet public service professionals, learn about voting and policy issues, and participate in hands-on leadership workshops. The application is open and will be reviewed monthly. The final deadline to apply is June 1, 2026. Contact Sydney Rubin at rubin.192@osu.edu with questions. 

*If parking on campus, parking is not included. 

 

10. System upgrade

We are enhancing the student experience by moving Transfer Credit Evaluations to Buckeye Degree Planner, Ohio State’s innovative degree management platform. Beginning February 23, undergraduate degree audits and transfer credit evaluations will both be available through Buckeye Degree Planner. 

 
 

A note from our assistant vice provost

Beth A. Wiser, PhD
Greetings from Ohio State! Sharing timely information with you is important, and the purpose of this newsletter. We hope you'll pass on relevant information to your students in the current application cycle and to those who see Ohio State in their futures. We also want to keep you aware of opportunities that matter to you!

As always, to connect with us, you can email your admissions counselor or email us at askadmissions@osu.edu. Please reach out if we can assist you in any way!

Beth A. Wiser, PhD
Assistant Vice Provost, Undergraduate Admissions
 
 

Bonus updates from our academic colleges

College of Pharmacy

The Early Assurance Program (EAP) is for prospective first-year students interested in becoming licensed pharmacists. Acceptance to the EAP program guarantees admission to our Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program if EAP requirements are met by graduation.

Benefits of EAP:
  • Guaranteed admissions: Being accepted into the EAP program guarantees admission into the PharmD program if all matriculation requirements are met.
  • Graduate sooner: Follow the BSPS/PharmD Combined Degree pathway and graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Science and Doctor of Pharmacy degree more efficiently.
  • Non-Binding: If you decide to change your mind, that's okay! We continue to work with students to help them on whatever career path they choose.
  • Community: EAP students also have access to a variety of benefits on campus through their residence in the Pharmacy Living-Learning Community during their first year.
Interested students may apply by April 3, 2026 using the Early Assurance Program application. Students must also have three reference forms completed as a part of the application.

Please reach out to Katie Watkins, Director of Recruitment & Admissions for the College of Pharmacy at watkins.541@osu.edu if you have any questions.

College of Education and Human Ecology

For students wanting to be teachers, now is a great time to encourage that choice, especially in subjects Ohio designates as high need. Those in-demand subjects include math, science, family and consumer sciences, special education and English as a second language. 

Students planning to teach these subjects can apply for the federal Teach Grant. The College of Education and Human Ecology, ranked number one in the state by U.S. News and World Report, also offers scholarships. Some education licensure degrees are offered at Ohio State regional campuses. Students may also start at a regional campus and then transition to the main Columbus campus. Learn more at EHE's website.

College of Social Work:

Discover Social Work
June 15 and 16

We're thrilled to invite students to Discover Social Work, a free and immersive two-day summer program hosted by Ohio State's College of Social Work! At this program, students will:
  • Participate in interactive workshops, hands-on activities, campus experiences and real-world scenarios
  • Discover what social workers do and the values they stand for
  • Explore the many career paths in this dynamic profession
Open to students grade 9–12 during the 2026–27 academic year. Please register via the link below. We're looking forward to seeing you there!

Register

For more information, contact Kelsey Hopkins at hopkins.800@osu.edu.

Social Work Class Presentation

Would you like to have a guest speaker in class? Social Work staff from the Newark, Mansfield, Marion and Lima regional campuses would love to share information about the social work profession with your students. AP Psychology classes would be ideal, but we can present to any class that would benefit. Reach out to askbssw@osu.edu to get scheduled. 

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

Ohio 4-H SparkEXPO

This is a summer camp opportunity for students grades 8–11. SparkEXPO emphasizes real-world learning experiences, connecting students with hands-on activities across Ohio State’s Columbus campus. At this four-day event, participants will:
  • Engage in career pathway workshops in fields like bioscience, food systems, health sciences and more.
  • Experience campus life by staying in an Ohio State residence hall and interacting with college students and staff.
  • Build essential leadership and work skills like communication, teamwork and problem-solving
Learn more and register on the Ohio 4-H website. We hope to see you there!

Participants do not need to be members of 4-H to participate.
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