Metadata
Title
Gap Year Policy
Category
undergraduate
UUID
5685fc46038048f68470917fb8cfc25b
Source URL
https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/gap-year-policy
Parent URL
https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/after-you-are-admitted
Crawl Time
2026-03-18T05:28:48+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

Gap Year Policy

Source: https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/gap-year-policy Parent: https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/after-you-are-admitted

Gap Year Policy

The Ohio State University’s gap year policy allows applicants to delay their admission for one year. \

A student who is approved to take a gap year does not need to submit a new application to Under­graduate Admissions as long as they enroll no later than one year after the original application term.

Be aware:

Students who have changes to their application information (enrollment at another school, felony or disciplinary issues at another school, etc.) must contact Undergraduate Admissions to update their information, and may be required to reapply. Failure to follow the guidelines established in this policy can result in the loss of first-year student status, scholarships or admission to Ohio State.

Why does Ohio State offer a gap year policy?

This policy grants applicants the flexibility to take advantage of unique opportunities that will enrich the Ohio State community once the applicant is on campus or allows delay of enrollment for documented reasons (see "Eligibility" below).

Reasons for a gap year

Students can request a gap year for the following reasons:

Students cannot take a gap year to enroll in another college or university or to participate in a program that earns college credit.

Eligibility

First-year applicants who are admitted to autumn semester and have paid their acceptance fee are eligible to apply. A gap year is granted from autumn semester of one year to the following autumn semester. Transfer students are generally ineligible for a gap year.

How to apply for a gap year

  1. Students admitted to the Columbus campus must pay the $100 acceptance fee by May 1 prior to the original term of admission. Regional campus students must pay the fee by August 1 prior to the original term of admission.\
  2. Contact Undergraduate Admissions for a Gap Year Request Form. The form will ask for a personal statement explaining your reason for requesting a gap year. You may be asked to submit additional documentation in support of the request.
  3. Complete all steps and submit the request form by August 1 prior to the original term of admission.

If your gap year request is approved, we'll send an email confirmation within 2 to 3 weeks to the address you provided on the request form.

After your gap year is approved

Once approved, you must complete two steps:

  1. After you graduate, have your high school send us your final high school transcript reflecting your date of graduation.

Once we receive your final high school transcript, your new application for your new term of admission will be visible in your Applicant Center (after September 1).

  1. Accept your new offer of admission.

To accept admission for your new term, go to your Applicant Center and click Accept/Decline Admission, then follow the directions.

New status

In your new term of admission, you will retain first-year student admission status along with the following awards and designations, if offered for the original term of admission:

Students must file a new FAFSA and complete the Scholarship Universe application prior to their new term of enrollment.

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