FAQ
What is the difference between the Honors Program and the Scholars Program?
The University Honors Program and the Ohio State Scholars Program are specialized programs for high ability students interested in joining academically stimulating, close-knit communities within the larger Ohio State community. Both programs are open to students in any of Ohio State’s 170+ majors. The basic difference between the two programs is that Honors is a curricular program (i.e., the focus is on activities occurring in the classroom) and Scholars is a co-curricular program (i.e., the focus is on activities occurring outside of the classroom).
Can I be in both the Honors Program and the Scholars Program?
You cannot initially enroll in both programs as an incoming freshman. As an incoming first year student, you submit an application for admission that allows you to be considered for the Honors Program and all 14 Scholars Programs. Please note that you can only join the Scholars Program as an incoming freshman. However, the Honors Program accepts transfer students as well as currently enrolled Ohio State students. Therefore, Scholars students who meet Honors Program criteria after being on campus for at least 1 semester may apply to the Honors Program directly through their college of enrollment.
How much does it cost to go to Ohio State and are there extra fees to be in the Honors Program or the Scholars Programs?
There are no additional fees associated with being in the Honors Program or any of the Scholars Programs. Please visit http://undergrad.osu.edu/costs.html to learn more about the cost of attending Ohio State.
How do I apply to the Honors Program?
Please click here to submit your online application to the University Honors Program and the Ohio State Scholars Program.
When is the application deadline?
The priority deadline to submit your application is December 15th. The final submission deadline is February 15th.
Why doesn’t the online application ask for my test scores, class rank or GPA?
The online application does not ask for test scores, class rank, or GPA because we access that information from your official high school transcript and test scores that you submit to the university when you apply for admission.
Is there a minimum test score or class rank/GPA to apply?
There is no minimum set of requirements to be considered for the Honors Program. All interested students are encouraged to apply. Please note that your application will not advance in the review process until you are admitted to the Columbus campus (regional campus applicants can also apply to the Honors Program by following the “click here” link above).
How will I know if you have received my application?
Once we receive your application, we will acknowledge receipt via email to the address that you provide in your application. You can always contact our office if you want to make sure that we have your application. You can email us or you can call us at 614.292.3135. The Center’s hours during the academic year are as follows:
• Monday through Thursday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
When will I know whether I’ve been accepted to one of the programs?
Students who meet the December 15th priority application deadline will receive their decision in late January. Students who apply after December 15th but by the February 15th final deadline will receive their decision in late March.
What are the requirements to stay in the Honors Program?
In order to remain in good standing in the Honors Program you must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.4 (3.5 for some majors) and complete six Honors courses (or equivalent courses) in your first 2 years at Ohio State. In addition, to graduate “with Honors” or “with Honors Research Distinction” you must fulfill all additional requirements stipulated by your college of enrollment (i.e., additional Honors coursework; senior Honors thesis, internship or study abroad experiences, etc.).
How do transfer students get into the Honors Program?
Students transferring from other institutions should consult their intended college of enrollment for Honors admission information. Click here for more information.
Do I have to live in an Honors residence hall if I am admitted to the Honors Program?
No, you do not have to live in an Honors residence hall if you are admitted to the program. However, the majority of our incoming Honors freshmen choose to live in an Honors residence hall.
Can I be guaranteed a space in an Honors residence hall?
No, housing assignments are made based upon the date when students submit their residence hall contracts online. Depending upon demand for Honors housing, it is possible for it to reach capacity.
When will I get information about campus housing, selecting my residence hall, and learning who my roommate is?
Housing contracts are sent via email from the Housing Office based upon when students pay their $100 acceptance fee to Ohio State. Students may receive housing contracts as early as March. The contract asks students to indicate the area of campus in which they would prefer to live. Students can also preference a space in an Honors residence hall or note their interest in living with someone that they already know. Actual housing assignments that specify residence hall, room number, and roommate(s) are sent to students’ Ohio State email address in July.
When will I receive information about orientation?
Orientation information is mailed to students from the Orientation Office based upon when students pay their $100 acceptance fee to Ohio State. Students begin receiving information packets in early spring that will allow them to schedule orientation dates.
Who do I call if I want information about . . .
• The status of my university application: 614.292.3980
• The OSU Academy Program: 614.292.3930
• Orientation: 614.292.4161
• Housing Contracts/Assignments: 614.292.8266
• Financial Aid: 614.292.0300
• Young Scholars: 614.292.4884
• Morrill Scholars Program (MSP): 614.292.0964
Honors & Scholars (H&S) Application
The H&S Application is used to determine students' admissibility to the Ohio State Scholars
Program and the University Honors Program. Both are competitive admission programs open to incoming freshmen for autumn semester at the Columbus
Campus of The Ohio State University.
There are 14 Scholars Programs and 1 Honors Program. The H&S Application requires students to list their top three program preferences and indicate their
level of interest in the remaining 12 programs. Typically, students who list the
Honors Program as their first preference have the following characteristics:
- Want a challenging curriculum
- Plan to conduct research and/or write an Honors thesis
- Desire to attend graduate or professional school
Students interested in the Ohio State Scholars Program and the University Honors Program should:
- Apply to Ohio State preferably by December 1 but no later than February 1
- Receive their OSU ID via e-mail (issued within 1 week of application submission)
- Use their OSU ID to access and complete the H&S Application preferably by December 15 but no later
than February 15
Please note: Students applying for freshman admission to one of Ohio State's Regional Campuses and interested in joining the Honors Program
need to complete the Regional Campus Honors Application. For information about admission to the Honors
Program as a current or transfer students, please go to Transfer Students on the Honors & Scholars website.
Honors & Scholars Visits
One of the best ways to gather information about a university is to visit its campus and learn about the programs it offers. We strongly encourage you to visit campus to learn more about Ohio State and our Honors & Scholars Programs.
Do you want to know more about Ohio State and Honors & Scholars before applying?
Our Office of Undergraduate Admissions & First Year Experience coordinates visits to campus. The Admissions Overview & Tour includes...
- Information about the freshman application process (including dates, deadlines, and next steps)
- Baseline information about the Honors & Scholars Programs
- Highlights of academic and extracurricular opportunities
- Tour of campus (including seeing a residence hall) lead by a current Ohio State student
To schedule an Admissions Overview & Tour, submit your visit request online.
Have you been admitted to the Honors Program and want a more in-depth visit?
During the month of April, the University Honors & Scholars Center offers visits for students who have been admitted to the Honors Program. An Honors Visit includes...
- Honors Program overview session
- Academic session (learn more about Honors in your college and/or major)
- An Honors residence hall tour
- Lunch with current Honors & Scholars students
Registration information for Honors Visits is distributed via e-mail to eligible students.
If you have questions about visit options, please contact the Honors & Scholars Center at honors-scholars@osu.edu or 614.292.3135.
Scholarships
The majority of merit-based scholarships are awarded by Ohio State's Office of
Undergraduate Admissions & First Year Experience. These scholarships are awarded on the basis of ACT/SAT scores and class rank. They are not
associated with being admitted to the Honors & Scholars Programs. To be considered for Ohio State's merit-based scholarships, students must submit
their freshman admission application to Undergraduate Admissions by December 1.
To be considered for need-based aid, students must submit their Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15. To be considered for specialized scholarships administered by Ohio State, students must submit the
Application for Special Scholarships by February 15.
Please note: Select students admitted to the Honors Program at the Columbus Campus of Ohio State will be invited to compete for
four scholarships awarded by the University Honors & Scholars Center. The four scholarships and the approximate number awarded are as follows:
Battelle Scholarship (4 awarded), Glenna R. Joyce Scholarship (3 awarded), Medalist Scholarship (50 awarded), and Presidential Scholarship (15
awarded). To be considered for these scholarships, students must submit their H&S Application by
December 15th and be admitted to the Honors Program. Approximately 100 selected competitors are contacted by the Center in mid-March with additional
details about these four scholarships.
Scholarship Opportunities at The Ohio State University:
Scholarship Opportunities outside of Ohio State:
