<p>Heres my problem, but i need to start with a few questions which may be really quite dumb…</p>
<p>-How many times can i technically apply?</p>
<p>-Any idea when applications can first be sent in?</p>
<p>-I did decent on my ACT and SAT but would really like to take both again, becuase I feel if I take them again I could become much closer to a lock. Would you recommend sticking with my previous scores (26/1710) and applying early (which I hear really helps at OSU) or waiting until ~Late October when I have taken both again and get 28/1800+?</p>
<p>I don't know what you mean by how many times you can apply...</p>
<p>Applications come out September 1st online, and once you apply, that is your application. You may add things to your file, such as test scores, higher class rank, etc., but you can't "apply" again.</p>
<p>Like nicesocks said, there is no early decision option at Ohio State. However, applying early ensures that you'll be considered for selected scholarships, and will get the ball rolling on an admissions decision earlier, and therefore set you ahead when it comes to housing and such...</p>
<p>Keep December 1st as your ultimate deadline, as long as you apply before then, you'll be among the first to do so.</p>
<p>A lot of people in the 26-27 range were turned down for the 2007 freshman class if the rest of their application was average, so it's kind of hard to tell without a more complete profile.</p>
<p>It's not official, but I believe that the average for '07 class were top 8%/28.2 ACT.</p>
<p>Sh60614, that seems like it might be a little high...especially on the class rank...mostly because Ohio State doesn't do an "average" for class rank.</p>
<p>Now, you could say that 50% of the incoming students are in the top 10% of their high school class...but that wouldn't be the average.</p>
<p>Hmm okay, thanks for the replies osu and socks. I really did not have any idea on how the application process worked but now I think i get the jist of it. I'll take the advice on applying earlier for housing and scholarships too, but what exactly is meant by early decision option?</p>
<p>And I do realize that this incoming class had some very high averages and accolades, but if schools only selected students who were better than the previous to come in, then in a few years OSU would only be taking 36s and 2400s in the top 1%. Im sure OSU will have another great class coming, but its not like we can say you cant get in if you didnt do as well as the class before you.</p>
<p>Some schools have an "early-decision" option that means if you apply by a certain date, you can technically have a better chance of getting in, but there are often many stipulations required to do that...so Ohio State just opts not to do it.</p>
<p>I think I've said this before, but I don't mind explaining it, yes, Ohio State's admissions standards have gone up obviously in past years. It is Ohio State's goal to attract the best and brightest to our university, because OSU truly believes that, as President E. Gordon Gee highlighted, it is simply Ohio State's time to become an elite University.</p>
<p>That being said, just because you target and recruit doesn't mean you're going to get a stellar class of freshman. But Ohio State is fortunate to get a VERY large application pool, of which less than 30% will actually enter Ohio State the following year, so obviously the admissions process is going to be naturally competitive when you have 22000 people applying for 6000 spots in the freshman class.</p>
<p>Where OSU seems to do a great job is recruiting those it accepts. Of these 22000 apps, OSU will accept approximately 50-60%, which by no means guarantees a strong freshman class. But Ohio State's admissions team seems to be really adept at getting those very very bright freshman to come to Ohio State, often while turning down acceptances to some of the nation's tried-and-true "elite" schools.</p>
<p>Well, the e-mail that I was sent said that 56% were in the top 10% of their h.s. class, so it's an estimate that the 50th percentile for the 2007 freshman class would fall somewhere around top 8%. It certainly would comfortably be within the top 10%</p>
<p>A couple of thoughts on the admissions trend at Ohio State. First, it's very little secret that Ohio State was forced to maintain open admissions in the 1960s and 1970s by a populist, anti-intellectual governor whose higher education philosophy essentially boiled down to quantitiy over quality with no qualitative distinctions made between the state universities. He left office in 1982, and his appointees to Ohio State's board went into the minority in 1987. Is it any coincidence that Ohio State formally did away with open admissions in 1987? Somebody once described Ohio State during the Rhodes era as a a 3 legged table--great graduate programs, research and faculty but cut off at the undergraduate level.</p>
<p>For reasons both practical and political, they didn't simply start rejecting half their applicants overnight. The 2007 freshman class is the result of policies began by Ed Jennings and continued by Gee, Kirwan and Holbrook. I believe that it's the 13th straight class with better numbers than the previous. Now, has it plateaued with the 2007 class? I don't think so for a couple of reasons.</p>
<p>First, there's been no sign of the trend losing steam in the last several years. If anything, the 2007 class shows signs of gaining momentum. There was a 50% jump in applicants with a 32+ on the ACT. Eventually, the trend will plateau, but I think that's at least five years off.</p>
<p>Second, the Governor of Ohio has just announced "The University System of Ohio" and designated Ohio State as the state's singular "flagship" university. Now, that's essentially what it's always been--even during the Rhodes period. It's what Ohio State was founded by the political and business leadership of the 1860's to be, and it's what was written into Ohio law in 1906 with the Eagleson Bill. They have specifically stated that Ohio State's role is not to compete with in-state colleges but to go out and compete with the Michigans and UCLAs of the world, and the sytem will be set up to ensure this. While this means a lot in practical and funding terms, it also means a lot in general perception within the state. The problem with Rhodes was that he was in office for so long that many Ohioans to this day view his higher education policies as the historical norm rather than the break with history that they truly represented. Now, it's going to be clearly stated government policy (as it was prior to the 1960s) that Ohio has one qualitative flagship university. That can't help but further drive up applications in coming years.</p>
<p>I see how you might see that. While half of the students are in the top 10%, there's another half that is not...if 50% of the students are in the top 8%, but the other 50% between 8-25%, the "average" wouldn't work out to the top 10%, percentiles are more of a median...not an average.</p>
<p>It's probably better to just stick with percentages (56% are in the top 10%, 90% in the top 25%, etc.)</p>
<p>That being said, I totally approve of your commentary of OSU's rise...as E. Gordon Gee said, "This is Ohio State's time."</p>
<p>^^OFG^^, do you work for OSU? What do you tell potential students about the size of OSU? We are in State and both my kids are good students. I would really love for them to go to OSU for their under. But each time they give me this look then - it is too big. </p>
<p>Also, do honor students have their own "spaces"? </p>
<p>What will OSU do to "encourage" good in state kids to attend OSU? My DD has a 34 ACT, a 4.0 UW GPA, and potentailly a NMF (222 PSAT).</p>
<p>I do not work for the university. I would strongly encourage you to take a tour of OSU, and you (and your kids) will see that it's not as big as one may think.</p>
<p>At the same time, Ohio State's size really plays to its advantage. It's a top 20 public university, a top 10 research institution, has over 170 majors as well as 400 specializations and minors...and that's just the beginning. I know the admissions office has this motto that all they need to do is get the student to campus and the campus can sell itself.</p>
<p>Ohio State provides a lot of benefits to honors students including honors housing, special programming, priority scheduling, honors class and seminars, study abroad, undergraduate research, the opportunities are endless. Your DD has an exemplary school record and definitely can score some really high scholarships here at OSU.</p>
<p>One thing, Ohio State will never shy away from its size. It realizes that it is a big university. But the size of Ohio State gives SO MANY opportunities to its students that no other university can even compare. Come on a tour, check it out for yourself. I spent the best four years of my life at OSU and not once did I ever say, "Wow, this place is just way to big..."</p>
<p>LB - I echo OFGs opinion about what your D can expect regarding scholarships. If she is a NMF, OSU awards a full tuition plus $4500 per year Distinguished Scholarship that is very sweet. Basically a 3/4 ride.</p>
<p>We were there a couple of times as well. They told us that there was no guarantee that every NMF would always receive that scholarship - if they had a huge number it was theoretically possible they would limit it. However, they said that historically they have never NOT awarded the scholarship to a NMF that chose OSU. They said we could read into that whatever we chose to. Personally, I don't think that scholarship is in jeopardy, but anything is possible.</p>
<p>Well for one thing, Ohio State's 2.2 billion dollar endowment allows the university to offer more merit aid for top students than all the other public universities in Ohio combined.</p>
<p>As far as size goes, Ohio State has a student/faculty ratio and average class size numbers similar or favorable to other top public universities such as the other Big Ten schools, the University of California system or the University of Texas. There may be other schools that are smaller and quieter in Ohio, but given your child's ability is that the most important thing? Or, would going to a school with multiple National Academy of Sciences members and Guggenheim Fellows on its faculty provide the better undergraduate education?</p>
<p>I should also add Laserbrother that if your kids perform their freshman year as they have in high school, they'd be strong candidates for the Honors Collegium to which membership is extended after a student's freshman or sophomore year. Collegium is sort of an "honors within honors" program that grooms the university's top students to compete for nationally competitive scholarships and top graduate schools.</p>
<p>I don't. A quick e-mail to their staff would be able to tell you how many students per year are accepted. I do know that there is no pre-acceptance. A student has to earn their way in their first two years.</p>