FAQs

Contact your college career office or visit the Buckeye Careers website for information on internships and co-ops.

You may also check with your academic advisor for suggestions on opportunities that might be right for you. Finally, start thinking about doing undergraduate research to gain experience in your field! Many colleges and departments have research opportunities for students. Check out the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry to find opportunities that might be right for you!

While some study abroad programs require junior or senior standing, most programs can be arranged anytime, starting your first year! Study abroad programs can last as little as a week to as long as a year and take place throughout the world. The Office of International Affairs recommends starting your study abroad planning a year before departure and also provides more information on the various programs available at Ohio State.

There are countless ways to get involved at Ohio State—through residence halls, your major, recreational sports, and more than 1,000 clubs and organizations. To learn more about specific opportunities at Ohio State, visit the list of registered student organizations and check out the Student Involvement Fair at the beginning of each semester, where you can visit booths from more than 1,000 student organizations, campus departments and community agencies.

Also, make sure to use resources on campus such as FYE Peer Leaders, Resident Advisors (RA), community ambassadors, professors and teaching assistants (TA) for advice on other ways to get involved.

Columbus offers many different eating and shopping options and lively art and music scenes. Take advantage of the opportunities you have living and studying in this smart and fun city: Explore Columbus!

There are many options for you when it comes to selecting on-campus housing. For specific information about your options and to learn more about what each hall provides, visit Housing and Residence Education.

Living-learning communities might be a good fit for you! Some living-learning communities are geared toward academic disciplines, and others are aimed at specific interests that you might have — allowing you to start off your Ohio State experience with a built-in network of fellow Buckeyes who share your major, interest or background.

You may make changes to your dining plan up through the second Friday of each semester. Keep in mind, it is easier to drop back from a larger dining plan than it is to add on to a smaller one.

Also, check out information about dining plans, where dining halls are located and how to choose the right dining plan for you.

Many students will wait until the first week of their first term to purchase their books for classes, but you can definitely get a head start before that to estimate your costs and identify your best option. You can determine what books you’ll need through Ohio State’s bookstore, Barnes & Noble. Select “Course materials and textbooks,” click on “Find Course Materials” and follow the steps that prompt you to enter the term, course, section information, etc. From there, you should be provided with ISBN numbers for your required texts, and you can determine which retail outlet is best for you (including book rentals for the term through Amazon, Chegg, etc.).

Before you drop any class, you should contact your academic advisor to learn important information about dates and deadlines, as well as how dropping the class will affect your academic progress. Learn more at Academic Advising.

Once you have met with your advisor, you can add and drop classes through My Buckeye Link, your online academic center. My Buckeye Link is where you can check your grades and find quick links to registration info, financial aid, your statement of account and other things you need.

Make sure to talk to your professors so that they understand your situation. Professors may be very willing to help you if you are open and honest with them. You can also receive documentation of a visit to Ohio State’s Wilce Student Health Center by visiting the front desk for a record of your appointment. For official university documentation of an illness or death in the family, contact the Student Advocacy Center.

You may edit your course schedule by adding or dropping classes. Please check the Academic Calendar for important dates related to course registration deadlines. Make sure to talk to your advisor to confirm the changes are still in line with your degree requirements. Additionally, before changing your schedule, it is recommended that you contact Buckeye Link to make sure your financial aid isn’t affected.

To change your class schedule, log into My Buckeye Link at Buckeye Link, click on the Enrollment and Registration task, and select "Add a Class" or "Drop a Class."

Different colleges, schools and departments have different requirements for their majors. It is important to understand all of these requirements to remain on track to complete your degree. You will need to schedule an advising appointment within your college to discuss major options with your advisor. For more information on advising, visit Welcome to Academic Advising.

For information about Credit By Examination, visit the University Registrar’s Testing Center.

Cheating is taken seriously at Ohio State. You are expected to do your own work and adequately cite ideas you receive from other sources. The Committee on Academic Misconduct works to ensure the academic integrity of The Ohio State University and determines appropriate disciplinary action in all cases involving cheating, plagiarism and academic misconduct. Each professor may handle cheating differently, but to make sure you protect yourself, familiarize yourself with the university’s basic tips and procedures at the Committee on Academic Misconduct website.

University Survey is a course first-year students enroll in during their first semester at the university. This course is designed to introduce students to Ohio State, their majors or colleges, our library system, how to schedule for classes and how to conduct other university business.

The First Year Success Series is a First Year Experience program that offers more than 150 different events and lectures about transitional topics important to first-year students. Students are often required to attend a couple of Success Series events through their University Survey course, although students can attend many more sessions than required.

There are many resources for you if you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, homesick, or are just having a hard time with your transition to college. One idea would be to talk to your Peer Leader for advice or a referral.

Ohio State’s Counseling and Consultation Service (CCS) also has many resources to help you with all those concerns. You can learn how to cope with your transition through sessions on stress management, individual and group counseling sessions, or by finding helpful information on the CCS website.

Find answers to many of your financial aid questions at Student Financial Aid. If you don’t find the answer you need, the website has additional information on how to contact a financial aid counselor.

Make sure to fill out your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which will help you learn about aid options. The deadline every year is February 1. Also, the Student Wellness Center can help you learn about budgeting, credit management and other financial issues.

The Wilce Student Health Center is a convenient place to go if you are sick while at Ohio State (map location). The Student Health Center is open during typical business hours. Call 614-292-4321 to schedule an appointment. All students enrolled at Ohio State are eligible to use the health service, regardless of health insurance coverage. In addition to providing health care through the doctors and nurses on staff, the Student Health Center also has a pharmacy, dental services, advice nurses, and many other services to help meet students’ medical needs.

If you are ill over the weekend or are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or visit the Emergency Department at the Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University.

All students registered at Ohio State for six or more hours of classes are automatically enrolled and billed for the University’s Student Health Insurance benefits plan.

To opt out of your Student Health Insurance, you will need to provide proof of other health coverage, either through a job or by demonstrating that you are included on your parents’ insurance plan. You can opt out of your Student Health Insurance online, but you MUST follow the proper procedures to waive your coverage, or you will be enrolled and charged for Student Health Insurance for the entire year.

• Campus Area Bus Service: CABS. CABS schedules are also available on the Ohio State app.
• Central Ohio Transit Authority Bus Schedule: COTA

It is completely up to you to decide if you want to bring a computer to campus. The university provides many alternatives to owning your own computer. Many students choose to utilize the tech spaces on campus, which provide free computer access to Ohio State students.

If you want to bring a computer to campus and need to decide between owning a laptop and a desktop, consider the benefits and drawbacks of different types of computers. Laptops are convenient and can be used in many areas of campus with Ohio State’s wireless services. Desktops have more space to accommodate additional programs and pose less of a theft risk.

You will need to take extra precautions to secure your laptop on campus by not leaving it unattended or leaving your residence hall room unlocked.

You can receive free tech support services at the Buckeye Bar located in Thompson Library. The staff there will be able to help you with anything from your internet connection to advice on what device to purchase.

Yes. Visit these sites for more information about recommendations and discounts:

• Site-Licensed Software
• techHUB

There are many places where you can receive additional help in your academic course work; some specialize in specific areas, and some offer more general academic guidance. Make sure to talk to an academic advisor or FYE Peer Leader if you are having a difficult time in classes and need assistance finding resources or learning your options. You can also take a class through the Dennis Learning Center to learn more about succeeding in the classroom.

For more information on academic help, seek out the following resources:

• Your academic advisor
• Dennis Learning Center
• Math and Statistics Learning Center
• The Writing Center

Check with your academic advisor to learn about services from your college in writing and reviewing resumes, or you can contact your college career office for input.

Buckeye Careers is another resource that can help you with your career decision-making process, and its website has many links to help you write resumes, cover letters, and work on your interviewing and networking skills.

Finally, make sure to ask a peer to look over your resume (try an RA, Peer Leader, or upperclass student in your major). They can probably help you catch typos and work on great phrasing to highlight your skills.

There are countless opportunities for jobs in the campus area. In addition to the general Student Employment Office, these areas typically have many positions for students:

• University Dining Services
• Recreational Sports

You can also look for jobs in one of the many academic departments and facilities. You may be eligible for a position through the Work-Study program. If this applies to you, contact Student Financial Aid for more information on finding a campus work-study position. Ohio State also has a Student Employment Experience page for finding a position.

There are also many job opportunities in the area surrounding Ohio State, including local restaurants and stores. Check the classifieds in The Lantern, Ohio State’s student newspaper, for more ideas.

The Student Wellness Center in the Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC) can provide you with great financial basics training. You can attend one of their financial sessions through the First Year Success Series, or request free financial education and coaching. The Student Wellness Center website also contains helpful information about the basics of setting up a budget, selecting and using credit cards, investing, and more.

Incoming freshmen can purchase football tickets beginning June 1 each year. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis, so order your tickets early! Student football tickets are only available online.

If you want to sit with other incoming freshmen, we suggest you order Block O tickets, the student seating section in the stadium. Direct further questions to the Athletic Ticket Office: 1-800-GO-BUCKS (462-8257) or athletic.tix@osu.edu. This is the same web page and phone number where you purchase basketball, hockey and other athletic event student tickets.

Ohio State has its own university police force of highly trained officers to protect students and staff on campus and facilitate a number of programs to keep students safe through the Department of Public Safety. Make note of the locations of the blue light emergency telephones located throughout campus. These can be used during emergencies to call 911 and bring a University Police officer to your aid.

Students can also access Lyft Ride Smart at Ohio State through the Lyft app for safe, discounted rides inside the university-designated service area from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

While many individuals work to keep campus secure for students and staff, all members of the Ohio State community should use common sense and awareness to help stay safe. Check out these campus safety tips.

First-year students who are commuting to campus may be able to purchase an on-campus parking permit from CampusParc. First-year students living on campus are not eligible to bring cars to campus during their first year . For other details on parking eligibility, availability and pricing, visit CampusParc.

Contact the IT Service Desk at 8help@osu.edu or 614-688-HELP (4357).