<p>After going through the OSU admission/acceptance process, with my son and absorbing information on this forum, I have some suggestions to those students who are set on attending OSU next year.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Get your application in early–meaning September/October. Students that had the right stats got accepted in late November/early December. </p></li>
<li><p>Stats—At our school—the magic combination seemed to be a 3.5 and above and a 27 ACT/1200 SAT and above. Many that were under 3.5 were rejected or waitlisted UNLESS they had a 30 or above ACT. You should strongly consider retaking SAT/ACT in Sept/Oct for a higher test score (results will get to OSU in time for scholarship consideration) to compensate for a low GPA or low test score.</p></li>
<li><p>Your essay needs to bleed scarlet and gray. I saw many high achievers on this board (and our high school) get rejected. My perception—Don’t let your essay read “safety school” or think your high stats are good enough to get you in.</p></li>
<li><p>Get your application in by Dec. 1 or you’ll be closed out for the majority of merit scholarships.</p></li>
<li><p>Morrill Scholarship. YOU HAVE TO BE INVITED. Contact them early on to get an invite if you haven’t received one. Deadline on this one is also Dec. 1. (We didn’t receive one—but I strongly consider everyone to try—you don’t have to be URM to get—but it sure helps)</p></li>
<li><p>If accepted. Send in your $100 deposit ASAP. (Even if you are on the fence about attending) It makes a difference in receiving priority housing AND even more important—first dibs in selecting your orientation week in the summer.</p></li>
<li><p>Orientation. Select the earliest time slot possible. You have more selection for classes and CLASS TIMES. Don’t be under the allusion that if you are in honors or scholars, that you’ll get priority schedule for 1st quarter FRESHMAN year. Those that get to orientation early have more class choices especially when it comes to Class Time/Days of Week. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>As someone who has a child in the class of 2014 I completely agree with you on all the points but want to add one more. If you child is going to Ohio State be sure to have them sign up to be an OWL. OWL’s help other freshman move into the dorms and they get to move into their own dorm 3 days early at no extra cost to the student. OWL get to participate in a lot of fun activities. Plus we were told by my son’s admission counselor that OWL’s tend to adjust better to the first month of college since they feel less overwhelmed. </p>
<p>Ohiopublic is your son in the class of 2014?</p>
<p>Wow, that’s great to know about the OWL program. I got picked to be an OWL this year. They say OWLS are selected randomly but I wonder about that. Aren’t there be some characteristics they are seeking in OWLs?</p>
<p>OK I don’t mind about a different dorm. I just hope the food is close by. </p>
<p>As more advice for class of 2015 I’d say that to expect walking outdoors a lot during orientation. That wasn’t made clear to us at all and my mom wore long pants cause they said the rooms were cold (they were). But then she was miserable walking outside in th 95 degree heat. If you stay overnight you might want to bring your own pillow and blanket, too.</p>
<p>I agree with ohiopublic that prospective students should get started applying early. That actually goes for any ohter OOS public school where a kid wants to apply also. If you get into OSU, I would recommend getting a smartphone and learning to use it. It is a paperless university witha large campus so it’s great to be able to call/text, send/get email, and look up stuff on the Internet anywhere without your laptop.</p>
<p>You are so right about the smart phone and Ohio State. We got our DS a Droid in March because we realized that OSU emails everything to the student. It has been great having the phone so he can look up things and see what he still has to do.</p>