Admitted/Current Students

1. Where can I get information on housing?
2. 1. Ohio University has on-campus apartment options for graduate students.  To learn about these options, please visit the University Apartments web page. You may also contact them by email or by phone at 740.597.2571.
   2. If you do not want to live on-campus, you can find information at the Office of Off-campus Living.  The Office of Off-campus living also provides a roommate search service on the Office of Off-campus Living website.  You may also contact them by email or them at 740.593.4073.
   3. Ohio University Foundation has an apartment complex off campus that may be beneficial for you as you explore housing options in Athens.  They may be contacted via the Ohio University Foundation web site.  You may also contact them by email or phone them at 877.681.7117.
      
3. How do I register for classes and what is a RAC code?
4. 1. Newly admitted graduate students register on the first day of classes of the quarter in which you start your graduate program.  Before registering, you will need to talk with an advisor in your program to ensure that the classes you register for will apply to your graduate degree.  A DARS (Degree Audit) report with your registration access code (RAC) is sent to your academic program prior to the start of pre-registration for students continuing in graduate status, and prior to the first term of entry for newly admitted graduate students. You can access your DARS online.
   2. Registration access codes can be disclosed only to you in person at the Graduate College with a picture ID, or to your Ohio University Oak email account, or sent via US Post to an address listed in the student information system.  To check and/or update your address, visit the University Registrar’s Address update page.
   3. Registration access codes cannot be disclosed over the telephone or faxed.
      
5. I was admitted for Fall Quarter but I would like to defer my admission to another quarter.
6. 1. Please contact the department to which you were admitted, as the department must approve the change and notify our office.  If you have received a graduate appointment (i.e. tuition waiver, graduate assistantship, recruitment scholarship, etc.) please note that your aid may no longer be available if you defer your admission.
      
7. Why do I have a hold on my account even though I have already graduated?
   Graduate students are eligible to register only when they are in a current academic program.  Once you graduate, you need a new status with the university to continue to register.  The hold is placed to prevent additional registration, but it will not affect your ability to request transcripts, receive your diploma, or do any other business with the University.  If you wish to register for additional courses, contact the Graduate College at 740.593.2800 for assistance.

Admission/Application Questions

5. How can I schedule a tour of campus?
6. 1. The Graduate College does not conduct campus tours.  As a graduate student, you may want to contact the program to which you applied in order to arrange a visit with them.  Follow this link to find department contact information.
      
7. What degree programs are offered at Ohio University?
8. 1. Follow this link for a complete listing of the Graduate Degree Programs offered at OU.
      
9. Can you send me a paper application, graduate catalog, and other materials?
10. 1. Printed materials are not mailed, but everything can be found online.  Please visit the graduate web site to find the information you need.  If you have any questions, please email us.
       
11. What are the admission requirements, and what is the application deadline?
12. 1. Each academic department determines admission requirements and deadlines. This information can be found on our Degree Programs web site.
       
13. How does the admission process work at Ohio University?
14. 1. Your application, transcripts, and test scores are all processed through the Graduate College, and then are forwarded to the academic department.  The department evaluates your application materials as part of the program admission process.  The program admission process may include interviews or auditions. The program faculty also makes decisions regarding graduate assistantship assignments.  Once the program faculty have made a decision, that decision is relayed back to the Graduate College, and an official admission decision is sent to you.
       
15. Can you tell me if I am qualified for admission?
16. 1. As you are probably aware, graduate admission is competitive.  The chances of any application being successful depend on a variety of factors, including (but not limited to) academic background, work experience, test scores, letters of recommendation, and the overall strength of the applicant pool in any given year. We encourage you to review the departmental information available on-line, contact the department directly to determine whether or not it seems like a place you believe you could be successful, and if you find it so, then please fill out an application.
       
17. What minimum test scores are needed for admission?
18. 1. Please be aware that not all academic departments require standardized tests.  This requirement along with the minimum score requirement (if applicable) can be found on the Degree Programs web site. If you are an international student, minimum scores for the TOEFL and IELTS are also on our English Proficiency web site. The institution code for Ohio University is 1593. Please be aware that for the general GRE no department code is needed, but for a subject GRE please contact the department (contact information can be found through the first link).

12. How much is the application fee and how can I pay it?
13. 1. The application fee information can be found on our Application and Admission web site:
    2. If you apply electronically, you can pay by credit card or electronic check (U.S. Bank Only). Please be aware that an electronic check can take 5-7 business days to be processed and you should receive an email confirmation of the transaction. If you wish to pay by conventional check or money order rather than online, please download a paper application and mail it to:

Graduate College
Ohio University
Research and Technology Center
2nd Floor, Room 220
Athens, OH 45701-2979
USA

(Checks payable to Ohio University) If another individual is paying your application fee, please have them include a cover letter stating whose application they are paying for, or have them write “Application Fee for: your name (the applicant)” in the memo section of the check.

13. 3. Unfortunately, we cannot waive the application fee.
       
14. How can I change something on the application that I submitted online?
15. 1. Please contact graduatestudies@ohio.edu with your first name, last name, date of birth, and the last 4 digits of your social security number.  If you are an international student and do not have a social security number, please provide the first three pieces of information.
       
16. I want to change the recommenders that I originally put on my online application. How do I go about getting the new recommenders the appropriate form?
17. 1. The recommendation letter can be found on our web site, which you can print out and give to your recommender.  If you would like them to submit it electronically, please contact our application provider, CollegeNet by emailing help@APPLYWEB.com or call 503-973-5213.
       
18. How can I check my application status?
19. 1. At the moment, Ohio University does not offer an on-line application status check.  To determine where in the process of admission your application is at, please contact the specific program to which you applied.  A list of programs with links to their web sites can be found here.
    2. Please check with your mail carrier to confirm that your documents have been delivered to the Graduate College.  If they have, please allow the Graduate College 2-3 weeks to process a Domestic Student application and 4-5 weeks to process an International Student application.
       
20. When will I be informed of my admission decision?
21. 1. The Graduate College does not make an admission decision. The academic department makes all decisions and you need to contact the specific program to which you applied.  A list of programs with links to their web sites can be found here.
       
22. I have submitted my application and paid the fee, but the receipt shows that the term I am applying for is 20091 while my online status shows Fall 2008.  Which is correct?
23. 1. Your on-line application is correct.  Since we are on the quarter system, our fall quarter actually begins in September.  You are applying to Fall 2008 or 2009-1, as the academic year is 2009. It may be easier referring to it as the academic year 2008-09 since it does begin in 2008.
       

Financial Aid

  18. What is the cost of Graduate Study at Ohio University?

  19. What kind of financial aid is available?

1. A brief explanation of the types of financial assistance for graduate students can be found on our Financial Assistance web site.
2. You can find more information on our Graduate Appointments web site.
   

  20.  What is the Financial Support Form?

1. The Financial Support Form is required before a Certificate of Eligibility can be issued to an international student who will subsequently apply for either an F-1 or J-1 Visa.
   

  21. Do I have to submit a Financial Support Form with my application?

1. It is not required, but it is recommended.  The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services require that Ohio University establish that students have sufficient funds for the first year of study before a Form I-20 or DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility can be issued.  Having a complete Financial Support Form on file at the point you are admitted will speed up processing of your Certificate of Eligibility.

  22. I am an International Student.  How can I get a Form I-20 or DS-2019?

1. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services require that Ohio University establish that students have sufficient funds for the first year of study before a Form I-20 or DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility can be issued. If you are admitted to a degree program and offered a graduate appointment (RA, TA, GA), the monetary value of the award is included in the calculations that determine your financial responsibility.  If the value of the appointment does not meet the minimum amount required to fund your first year of study, you will need to provide documentation that you have personal funds or sponsorship funds to make up the difference.
2. If you are not offered funding by your academic department, you will need to provide a Financial Support Form with supporting documentation.