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Application Timeline 

  • November 15: Early Action Deadline to apply for best consideration
  • Late December: Email invitations to interview will begin and will continue on a rolling basis. Students who submitted all required materials by the November 15 early action deadline should expect interview notification no later than January 14.
  • Late December - Mid-February: Interviews will take place virtually and in-person (tentative); students will be sent videos and materials to review in advance.
  • February 1 - March 1: Admission decisions will be mailed on a rolling basis. 

Dates are tentative and subject to change. 

Application Process

Complete applications will be reviewed by Undergraduate Admissions and HTC to determine whether the application will be forwarded to the Director(s) of Studies (faculty members responsible for administering each program of study) for further review. Directors of Studies will select candidates for required  interviews. 

The College is highly selective, typically enrolling fewer than 100 students each year across all of its programs of study. Applicants who do not receive an invitation to interview for an HTC program automatically will be reviewed for admission to the appropriate OHIO college. Because of the nature of a tutorial education, an interview with Directors of Studies and faculty tutors is required for admission to HTC. 

How to Apply

Students are encouraged to apply using the Common Application. Applicants should plan to submit a list of activities, one or more letters of recommendation, and two HTC-specific essays.

Students interested in applying for transfer admission should follow the transfer application guidelines. 

You may have seen that Ohio University is test-optional. We truly mean that! If you want to submit an ACT or SAT score as part of your Honors Tutorial College application, you are welcome to do so, and we’ll use it as one of several factors in considering your candidacy. If you choose not to submit one, we’ll simply use everything else in your application as we review.

Applying for HTC consideration after submitting the Common App

If you decide to apply for an HTC major after you have submitted your application for admission (whether the Common App or Alternative Online Application), simply e-mail admissions@ohio.edu with:

  1. your selected major 
  2. your first and last name
  3. your date of birth or PID number
  4. materials as outlined below

HTC Materials

Honors Tutorial College applicants should submit a list of activities, one or more letters of recommendation, and two essays (see below). If you already submitted a list of activities and letter(s) of recommendation, you do not need to resubmit those items. Your responses to the essay questions will be considered by all individuals involved in the Honors Tutorial College admission process. What and how you communicate are important in helping us determine if a tutorial education is the best fit for you. While it is acceptable to ask someone to review your answers for feedback, the writing and ideas should be your own. Recommended word count is approximately 500 words per essay.

  1. Please explain why you have chosen your particular program of study.
  2. We expect that one reason you seek a tutorial education is for the one-on-one interaction with faculty, but other than that, what interests you about pursuing a tutorial-based undergraduate education? What aspects of your education and life experience have prepared you for a tutorial education with its emphasis on research and creative activity?

Additionally, Film applicants are required to submit via the online film materials form at least one of the following items: a personal statement, a short essay, a link to your relevant work(s), an original screenplay, or a creative resume.

Optional Materials

Please do not send original artwork or other "one-of-a-kind" materials unless providing digital copies. Because of the number of applications received, it will not be possible to return materials.

Submit supplemental materials via e-mail, postal mail, or fax.

E-mail: admissions@ohio.edu

Postal: Undergraduate Admissions
Chubb Hall 120
1 Ohio University Drive
Athens OH 45701-2979

Fax: 740.593.0560

Recommended Additional Admission Material

To provide better insight into their abilities, HTC applicants are strongly encouraged to submit the optional materials below. Applicants who do not submit additional materials may be contacted and asked to submit them at a later date.

Biological Sciences
Applicants may submit two letters of recommendation, at least one from a math or science teacher.

Business
Applicants may submit one writing sample, preferably a research paper.

Chemistry
Applicants may submit two letters of recommendation, at least one from a math or science teacher.

Communication Studies
Applicants may submit one writing sample, which may be any paper from high school.

Dance
Applicants may submit a written essay on the significance of dance to the applicant's career objectives, along with two letters of recommendation, one from a dance instructor and one from an academic teacher or counselor. Writing samples from academic coursework are also encouraged.

English
Applicants may submit a copy of an essay written for an English class, which analyzes a literary work. If possible, the essay should incorporate secondary sources (but this is not essential). Applicants interested in creative writing may also submit a short sample of creative work.

Journalism
Applicants may submit a writing portfolio including at least three samples of published work. Students who intend to study broadcast and/or multimedia journalism are also encouraged to submit links to short video or audio clips in addition to the writing portfolio.

Media Arts & Studies
Applicants interested in integrated media (narrative video), music production and recording industry, screenwriting and producing, games and animation, or media and social change must submit a portfolio of work that may include creative or written work.

Neuroscience
Applicants may submit two letters of recommendation, at least one from a math or science teacher.

Spanish
Applicants may submit two letters of recommendation that speak to the applicant's knowledge and use of the language and culture. Samples of graded papers in Spanish with at least two pages of writing with teacher comments are also welcome.

Studio Art
Applicants may submit an initial portfolio in electronic format for review.

Theater
Applicants may submit a copy of a paper written for an English or social studies class.