One of the reasons I love visiting high schools is that I get to connect with our prospective students in a way that’s not really possible at a college fair. Not only do students get to hear from me about what OSU has to offer but I also hear first hand from students and counselors about the OSU Admissions process.

For the most part, our students have a pretty good handle on applying to OSU. However, there are some misconceptions about the OSU application and admission requirements. I am going to hit on some of the big ones in this post.

Myth: OSU has an early admission deadline of Nov. 1st.

Fact: OSU has one regular scholarship deadline which is February 1st. However, we are a rolling (we work applications and send decisions throughout the admission cycle) admission school which means applying early is to your benefit.

Myth: OSU does “Admission on the Spot” programs.

Fact: We are unable to admit any student “on the spot”. Because we are a holistic admission school with a required essay we must completely review a student’s file to make a decision.

Myth: If I have a 3.0 and a certain test score I am automatically “in”.

Fact: OSU has not auto admission. In general, the 3.0 GPA along with completing the core curriculum and the Insight Resume will put a student in a good position for admission…Again, though, there are no guarantees.

Myth: I can apply through a paper application.

Fact: OSU has no paper application, students may only apply online. If you do not have a computer with internet access, give us a call: 1.800.291.4192 and we will be happy to help you look for a computer with web access at your school or in your community.

That’s all for now! Consider these myths BUSTED!

(Photo courtesy of Discovery Channel)

-jm

If you are a regular reader of the Admissions Blog, you know that OSU and our Insight Resume have been on the leading edge of measuring non cognitive abilities in university admissions. So much so that many schools have adopted or are moving to adopt our Insight Resume into their admissions process. Now, the College Board is ready to join the movement.

Here’s a little tidbit from the Newsday article about OSU’s Insight Resume success:

Other institutions have begun to fundamentally question the premises of either type of standardized test as a measure of academic ability. Oregon State University and Tufts, for instance, are using new types of assessments that measure “non-cognitive” traits in students, such as leadership skills, drive and motivation that predict college success as well or better than traditional academic tests.

In Oregon State’s case, students are simply asked to write a few sentences each on a handful of questions called the “Insight Resume,” which is incorporated into the college application and scored by teams of readers. The prompts ask students to describe leadership skills and experience, examples of overcoming adversity, experience and accomplishments in a field of knowledge or creativity, and so on.

Since implementing the Insight Resume, the university has found that for every one point increase on an applicant’s Insight Resume score, the odds of that student’s staying in college increases by 10 percent. The enrollment of disadvantaged students has increased under the new admissions system, as has academic performance of the entire campus – the result of a more motivated, more directed study body than what Oregon State got under the old paradigm.

Leave your questions and comments below!

-jm