for Students
FAQs About The Admissions Requirements
- What is the minimum grade point average for admission?
- Are minimum GRE scores required?
- How are admissions decisions made?
- What can I do to enhance my chances of being accepted?
- Will I need to be interviewed?
- How long does it take to make an admission decision?
- Will my professional experience be a significant factor when my application is being considered?
- Do I have to have an undergraduate degree in education in order to be admitted to Educational Policy and Leadership programs?
- Are there any undergraduate course prerequisites that I should take?
- Am I more likely to be admitted if I take some Graduate Non-degree coursework prior to applying?
Once you have completed your application, several processes begin. First, the Graduate Admissions office collects your application, your application fee, your transcripts, your GRE scores, and your TOEFL, MELAB or IELTS scores if you are an international student. Once all that information is received, the Admissions office will refer your file to the School of Educational Policy and Leadership to be reviewed for admission.
While you are sending in all the information listed in the first paragraph to the Graduate Admissions office, you are also sending to the School of Educational Policy and Leadership, your statement of intent, 3 letters of reference, and in some cases, a sample of your scholarly writing transcripts and vita or resume. Our admissions coordinator will match the application materials you send us with a copy of the application materials you sent to the Graduate Admissions office. When everything is received, we will forward your file to the appropriate section faculty for review. Your file must be complete before the faculty will review it. Once the faculty receives your file, the admission process begins in earnest.
1. What is the minimum grade point average for admission?
A 3.0 undergraduate grade point average is the minimum GPA's required by The Ohio State University. The benchmark GPA for the Ph.D. program in Educational Administration and Higher Education is a 3.3. If you choose to submit an application with less than a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, Ohio State University requires that you take the GRE and submit scores. A grade point average of less than the stated minimum also requires the review and approval of the Graduate School. If an offer of admission is approved by the Graduate School, it would be conditional and would include certain academic conditions that must be met in order to maintain enrollment. Those conditions will be specified at the time you are notified of your admission to the Graduate School and the School of Educational Policy and Leadership
2. Are minimum GRE scores required?
Three sections in the School of Educational Policy and Leadership – Cultural Foundations, Technology, and Qualitative Inquiry, Educational Administration, as well as Higher Education and Student Affairs, look for a minimum combined verbal and quantitative score of 1000. Faculty in Educational Psychology and Philosophy look for a combined verbal and quantitative score of 1100. Faculty in Quantitative Research, Evaluation and Measurement look at all three scores - Verbal, Quantitative and Analytic Writing - when making admission decisions.
3. How are admissions decisions made?
Once a prospective student's application file is complete [with the application, application fee, transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, GRE and TOEFL scores (when necessary), three letters of recommendation, a statement of intent and writing sample (when required) and resume or vita], it is then forwarded to the faculty in the section to which you are requesting admission. Faculty will first review the minimum GPA and review GRE scores (when they are part of the file).
While reviewing your file, the faculty will examine all aspects of your academic record. They examine your transcript and look at other information including the rigor of your undergraduate and previous graduate institutions, the type of degrees you have completed, and the difficulty of the coursework you have taken. They will read your statement of intent for focus and clarity of educational goals. They will also look at the quality of your writing. Faculty will read each of your letters of recommendation for evidence of your ability to do graduate level academic work and research. Letters of recommendation that are thorough and address all aspects of your academic ability as related to both the level and focus of your future area of study are extremely helpful. Non-specific letters may be detrimental to your efforts.
4. What can I do to enhance my chances of being accepted?
A strong GPA is important, as are GRE scores that meet the minimum requirements. Please see application checklist for our programs (http://ehe.osu.edu/epl/students/prospectve-stdnts.cfm). A well-focused statement of intent and strong letters of recommendation that are comprehensive and address all aspects of your academic ability will all enhance your chances of being accepted.
If you are applying to a Ph.D. program, you will find it helpful to examine faculty web sites. You will want to take an in-depth look at their research to see how closely their interests and expertise relate to your research interests. You will also want to look at a list of the faculty members and perhaps read several of their articles to expand your knowledge of their previous and present work. Be sure to address, in your statement of intent, how your research interests and the expertise of the faculty intersect. Ph.D. candidates should consider contacting faculty in the appropriate section to express an interest in their research.
5. Will I need to be interviewed?
The decision to interview rests with each academic section of the School of Educational Policy and Leadership. An interview is required of some doctoral applicants. Sections do not interview candidates for master's degrees.
The purpose of the interview is twofold. First, it is an opportunity for you and faculty members to get acquainted. Secondly, it is the final step in determining if Ohio State's program is the one that will best suit your needs. The process of asking and answering questions during the formal interview should help clarify your decision to pursue your research interests at Ohio State.
If you are admitted to the Master's program in Higher Education and Student Affairs, you will be required to interview for assistantship placement. Please review Student Personnel Assistantship program's website for further information.
6. How long does it take to make an admission decision?
Several factors can influence the amount of time it takes to make an admissions decision. Those factors include but are not limited to the type of degree you are seeking, the section to which you are applying and the time of year you are applying.
The average time to decision is much less if you are applying for a master's degree. That decision can be made in a few days or a few weeks depending on timing. Most section faculty meet several times during the quarter and will discuss admission decisions at that time.
The length of time it takes to make an admission decision for Ph.D. students can be significantly longer because of the interview requirement. The average time to decision is between 6-8 weeks. You are welcome to check the status of your application on line or you can call our office at (614-688-4007).
7. Will my professional experience be a significant factor when my application is being considered?
Yes, your experience is a significant factor contributing to the total picture you present as part of your application. It is helpful to remember that our faculty attempt to build as complete a picture as possible to determine if your research interests and abilities fit well with the aims of the program that you have chosen.
8. Do I have to have an undergraduate degree in education in order to be admitted to Educational Policy and Leadership programs?
While you are required to have a baccalaureate degree, there is no required undergraduate major. Given the interdisciplinary composition of our faculty, a diverse scholastic background is encouraged. Some programs are designed for students with preschool through grade 12 teaching experience and that may be a factor in your admission to a program. These include Curriculum and Instruction, Principal and Superintendent Licensure, and the Ph.D. in Teacher Education
9. Are there any undergraduate course prerequisites that I should take?
There are no specific undergraduate courses required for admission to the School of Educational Policy and Leadership although Ph.D. candidates who completed some master's course work in an area other than education may find it useful to take a couple of master's level courses. This will be determined by the adviser and the student.
10. Am I more likely to be admitted if I take some Graduate Non-degree coursework prior to applying?
Often taking graduate courses as a graduate non-degree student allows you to become acquainted with the faculty member who is teaching the class. This is an opportunity not only for you to build a relationship with one of the faculty members but also to demonstrate your ability to do graduate level work. While we cannot guarantee acceptance into the School or the University, successful completion of non-degree coursework with a GPA of 3.3 or higher may enhance your chance of admission.