After you are admitted
Source: https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/after-you-are-admitted Parent: https://www.osu.edu
After you are admitted
Congratulations, you're a Buckeye!
International students, find your next steps here.
Over the next several weeks you’ll receive:
- A welcome letter from the college or school in which you have been enrolled. Learn more about our undergraduate colleges and schools.
- A scholarship letter, if you were awarded a university merit scholarship (autumn semester only). Note that you'll be notified about your full financial aid package in the spring.\
- Emails about your status if you applied for the Morrill Scholarship Program, Ohio State Scholars, the President’s Ohio Scholarship Program, Stamps Eminence or University Honors.\
- Email invitations to events for admitted students.\
To keep your admission on track, complete these steps:
What to do now
1. Check your email
Regularly check the email address you gave us on the Common Application AND — once you’ve accepted admission — your BuckeyeMail account. (We’ll be sending housing, orientation and football ticket info to your BuckeyeMail account.)
To check BuckeyeMail: Go to buckeyemail.osu.edu and log in with your BuckeyeMail address (lastname.#@buckeyemail.osu.edu) and the password you created when you activated your username. Get help.
If you don’t end up enrolling at Ohio State, your BuckeyeMail account and all data will be removed at the end of the semester for which you applied.
2. Apply for financial aid
Every student is highly encouraged to file the FAFSA and create a profile on Scholarship Universe to be considered for the most financial aid (including scholarships, grants, loans and Federal Work-Study). Get deadlines and simple steps for applying for aid.\
3. Accept admission and pay your fee
To accept admission, pay the $100 nonrefundable acceptance fee by the deadline. Housing and orientation information are mailed/emailed in the order acceptance fees are received.
- If you are admitted for autumn term, pay the fee by May 1.
- If you are admitted for spring term, check your Applicant Center for your deadline.
To pay your acceptance fee, or decline the offer of admission
Follow the directions on your notice of admission, which is emailed to you as soon as you’re admitted to Ohio State. You can also pay the fee through your Applicant Center.
Note: As a condition of enrollment, all admitted applicants are required to answer a question regarding disciplinary and felony history prior to paying the acceptance fee.
To delay your enrollment term
If you don't intend to enroll for the semester you were admitted for, you may be able to update to a future term. Contact Undergraduate Admissions before the application deadline for your desired term to discuss your options. Read our Gap Year Policy.\
4. Finish strong, and submit your transcripts
Final high school transcript
Your admission is contingent on our review of your final high school transcript. If you fail to maintain the high academic standards under which you were admitted, your admission to Ohio State may be canceled. Ask your school counselor to send your final transcript to Ohio State (electronically for faster processing) upon graduation.
If you’ve taken AP or IB classes, you may be able to receive credit for your test scores. To find out if you can earn credit for your AP or IB test scores, remember to have your official scores sent to Ohio State.
University transcript
If you earned college credit while in high school, ask each institution you attended to send an electronic transcript to Ohio State so that we can begin evaluating your transferable credits.
- If you are admitted for autumn term, do this by May 1. If you’re still taking college classes after May 1, request that your final transcript is sent to Ohio State as soon as your grades have posted.
- If you are admitted for spring term, do this as soon as your final transcripts become available.
Important! Transcripts should not be delivered by the student or sent to other addresses on campus. Sending them directly from the schools is the only way for the transcript to be considered official.
If you earned credit from more than one school, request transcripts from each institution.
How to send university transcripts to Ohio State:
- If you completed classes at Ohio State, you do not have to send these transcripts.
- If you attended an Ohio college or university, request that your transcript be sent electronically.
- For other institutions, request electronic delivery (preferred). If ordering a transcript online, select The Ohio State University as a recipient. In the absence of a list of universities to select from, ask your school to email your transcript to ugdocs@osu.edu.
- If your school does not offer electronic delivery, have your transcript(s) mailed to:\ The Ohio State University\ Undergraduate Admissions\ PO Box 182646\ Columbus, OH 43218-2646
Military transcript
If you have military credit, an updated copy of your military transcript is required. For Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard, order transcripts through Joint Services Transcript (JST). For Air Force, order transcripts through Community College of the Air Force (CCAF). Military transfer credit is accepted according to the recommendation of the American Council on Education.
See more about transfer credit for military-connected applicants.
What to do after you pay your acceptance fee
1. Check BuckeyeMail for housing updates and more
We're sending important, time-sensitive information — like your housing contract and financial aid offer — to your BuckeyeMail account.
- Log into buckeyemail.osu.edu with your Ohio State username (lastname.#@buckeyemail.osu.edu) and password.
- Check your email several times a week.
What if I haven't activated my username? Get instructions.
Keep checking your personal email, too: We may still send important information there.
2. Apply for housing
Most incoming first-year students on the Columbus campus are required to live on campus for their first two years. Exemptions or exclusions from this policy must be approved by Housing and Residence Education.
Students admitted for autumn semester
Housing contracts are emailed to students' BuckeyeMail accounts beginning in mid-March in the order acceptance fees are received. We process housing contracts in the order we receive them, with the first contracts typically submitted in mid-March. Housing assignments are sent beginning mid-July. New students are typically assigned to 4-person rooms.
Students admitted for spring or summer terms
Housing contracts are emailed to students' BuckeyeMail accounts after they have been admitted and paid their acceptance fee but no sooner than two months before the start of the desired term.
3. Register for orientation
Orientation is held prior to the opening of each term and is required for all students. Parents or other adult family members are encouraged to attend with you. Orientation will introduce you and your family to people and resources that play a critical role in first-year success.
During orientation, you will:
- Get to know the resources and people who will aid in your success. **
- Schedule classes and attend an academic planning and advising session. \
- Learn helpful information about how Ohio State does business.
Students admitted for autumn semester
Orientation information is mailed beginning in late March as acceptance fees are received. Orientation programs are held June through July.
Students admitted for spring or summer terms
Orientation information is mailed (after you pay your acceptance fee) beginning in mid-October for spring term admits and mid-March for summer admits.
What if I want to change my major?
Contact Undergraduate Admissions to discuss your options. Learn about eligibility requirements for Ohio State’s majors. Note that some major changes can only be requested until May 15.
4. Receive your financial aid notification
Financial aid notifications are emailed to BuckeyeMail accounts — for students admitted for autumn semester, this begins in March. Learn more about accepting aid. Haven't filed the FAFSA yet? Do so as soon as possible.
5. Complete the vaccination requirement
Complete the university vaccination requirement before the start of your first semester. Learn more.
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Taking AP or IB classes? Find out if you can earn Ohio State credit for your test scores.