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Admissions | Class Profile (Autumn 2006) | After Admissions
Admissions
Ohio State has a highly selective admissions process for new freshmen in which students are admitted to the Columbus campus based on academic considerations. While many factors weigh into the admissions process, the three main considerations are the completion of a college-preparatory curriculum, high school class rank, and performance on the ACT or SAT. The minimum college preparatory curricular requirements—including four years of English, at least three years of math, two years each of natural science, social science and the same foreign language, and one year of a visual or performing art—are exceeded by the vast majority of admitted students, resulting in a considerable reduction in remedial instruction at the university.
Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to a specific major program or college. Once it is determined that a student is admissible to the university, he or she will be considered for admission to an intended college of enrollment and major program. This decision is based on his or her intended major and the college's particular admission requirements, which may include a minimum GPA, prerequisite courses, or a combination of both.
The top four areas of interest to the entering class of 2006 were Engineering, Business, Exploration (that is, undecided), and Biological Sciences. These are only student interests coming into Ohio State and do not necessarily reflect their eventual majors.
Class Profile (Autumn 2006)
As the admission process has become more selective, students are coming to Ohio State with more extensive high school achievements. In the freshman class of 2006 for the Columbus campus, there were 109 National Merit Scholars, 6 National Achievement Scholars, and 1094 University Scholars. Eighty percent of freshmen came from the top quarter of their high school graduating classes, and 44% came from the top 10%. The average ACT composite score for the 2006 incoming class was above a 26, more than five points above the national average of 21. The average SAT combined score was 1200. The improvements in the overall preparation of admitted freshmen have resulted in changes that university instructors notice in their classrooms: students are more prepared in the curriculum and classroom discussions, and are leaving the university with degrees in steadily increasing numbers.After Admissions
Once a student has accepted admission to Ohio State, the next step is to attend a two-day orientation program during the summer. During orientation students learn about Ohio State; take placement tests in mathematics, foreign language, and perhaps English; and schedule classes for autumn quarter.National research suggests that an undergraduate's first year is critical to overall success and the likelihood of graduation. Accordingly in 2001 the university introduced a new collaboration and a new focus on first-year students: The Office of Undergraduate Admissions and First Year Experience (FYE). FYE extends the personal touch of the student recruitment and orientation processes to new students during the critical first year at Ohio State. FYE Initiatives for the Class of 2006 include university orientation, freshman convocation, The Buckeye Book Community (a campus-wide readership program which brings acclaimed authors to campus), retention, and a freshmen seminar series.
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