Admitted Transfer Students: Next Steps
Admitted Transfer Students
You've been admitted! What to do next:
To join the Bobcat family, admitted transfer students have important next steps to take. Just read all of the information about each of the steps to prepare for a successful start this fall.
Please check out our virtual visit opportunities to talk with advisors, faculty, and students. You can ask questions online, receive a phone call or text, or participate in an online event.
| Next Steps | When |
|---|---|
| Activate your OHIO ID | Upon applying |
| Fund your education/file FAFSA | Beginning October 1 |
| Confirm your intent to enroll/submit housing contract and deposit | January 8–May 1 |
| Review preliminary transfer credit evaluation | 10 days after admission |
| Apply online to join a learning community | February 1–June 14 |
| Pay $200 housing deposit for second-year room selection | By February 25 |
| Sign up for Bobcat Student Orientation | Beginning February 1 |
| Choose a room during second-year room selection (if applicable) | March 22-26 |
| Review financial aid offer | Beginning in early April |
| Pay $200 housing deposit for general room selection | By May 1 |
| Select a first-year roommate if you wish | By May 17 |
| Choose a room during first-year room selection (if applicable) | May 17-21 |
| Transfer your credits | Before orientation |
| Attend Bobcat Student Orientation | June-August |
| Review merit scholarship letter | Beginning mid-June (if applicable) |
| Review student expectations and academic calendar | After orientation |
| Enable OHIO online services | After orientation |
| Request final transcript be sent to OHIO | By June 30 |
| Complete online alcohol and sexual assault education courses* | July 12-August 23 |
| Pay fall semester account balance | August 21 |
| Move in | August 19-20 |
| Start fall semester classes | August 23 |
* Transfer students with fewer than 30 earned credit hours are required to complete this training.
Activate Your OHIO ID
Upon Applying
To get started, it is essential that you activate your OHIO ID. You need your OHIO ID to access your OHIO email and the housing contract. Your birth date and your personal identification (PID) number (provided in your application acknowledgement letter) are all you need to officially activate your online OHIO access, including email.
Make sure you check your OHIO email regularly. All official correspondence will be sent to your Ohio University email account.
Fund Your Education
Beginning October 1
Ohio University is committed to an affordable college education. We are dedicated to helping our students find the financial support they need to discover their promise at OHIO. During the 2019-2020 academic year, our students earned more than $39 million in scholarships, and more than $30 million in institutional, state, and federal need-based gift aid was awarded.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) serves as your application for all types of financial assistance at Ohio University. The FAFSA results must be received by Ohio University no later than May 15 for first-priority consideration for all federal, state, and institutional financial aid. Your application for admission serves as your merit-based scholarship application. For scholarship consideration, transfer students must be admitted for fall semester by May 15. OHIO may continue to award using updated credentials on an individual basis throughout the year.
In the My OHIO Student Center, you can view account details, account balance, and payment options. You can also designate authorized users to enable other individuals to view your account details and make payments.
Confirm Your Intent to Enroll
January 8–May 1
For students required to live on campus: You can accept your admission, accept any scholarships you've been offered, and confirm your intent to enroll at OHIO by:
- Submitting the housing contract and deposit
- OR Submitting the housing exemption form
Transfer students with fewer than four semesters or six quarters in the residence halls after high school graduation are required to live on campus and participate in the associated meal plan. (See the link to exemptions below.) For other students, submission of the final transcript confirms their intent to enroll. Students who are not required to live on campus may still apply for housing. There is no deadline to accept your Ohio University admission.
Planning to be a Bobcat?
Why wait?! Let us know today that you plan to enroll at Ohio University (and become a Bobcat for life!) by submitting your housing contract and deposit or housing exemption form.
Our beautiful, historic, residential campus in Athens, Ohio, provides an environment where students of diverse backgrounds live and learn together, build friendships, and share their ideas and perspectives. About 7,000 students live in our 38 residence halls and dine in our award-winning campus eateries.
Housing Process Overview
Students do not need to know where they would like to live on campus to complete a housing contract. After completing the contract and selecting a meal plan, students will receive information about housing selection.
- Transfer students who are admitted and have completed a housing contract by March 12 may select a room March 22-26 through Housing Self-Service.
- Transfer students who complete a housing contract after March 12 will be placed in available spaces within second-year halls.
- Transfer students may request to be pulled in by a roommate during the first-year general room selection May 17-21.
- Students who know with whom they want to live may select a second-year/transfer student roommate by March 22 or a first-year roommate by May 17.
- The Transfer Learning Community is also available in Adams and Bromley Hall. Students must apply to the Learning Community for consideration.
Students will be assigned a move-in date and time, but may change it through Housing Self-Service. Students must arrive at their scheduled date and time. Keys will not be available for students who arrive outside of their scheduled time.
Review Transfer Credit Evaluation
Transfer students who have activated their OHIO ID can view a preliminary transfer credit evaluation in their online OHIO Student Center. The preliminary transfer credit evalution is available within 10 days after admission.
The guide Understanding Your Online Transfer Credit Evaluation Report explains how to interpret each part of the report. If you have questions about your report, you can review our FAQ.
Explore Learning Communities
Beginning February 1
A learning community (LC) is a group of Athens campus students who take a common set of courses together or share a common experience built around their academic studies. For some academic programs at OHIO, LC participation is required. More than 200 learning community options are available each year, with more than 90 percent of new students participating in them. LCs are only offered for students arriving in the fall.
LCs may be college-based, designed around student interests, or structured to serve a particular group of students, such as transfer students. With your community members, LC leader, LC instructor, and faculty who teach your linked courses, you will make connections throughout the University. Each of these unique relationships can contribute to an academically rich, fun, and rewarding experience and your ultimate success at OHIO.
Apply online to join a learning community February 1-June 14 or in person at Bobcat Student Orientation.
Sign Up for Orientation
Beginning February 1
Bobcat Student Orientation (BSO) connects you with the people and resources you'll need to transition into OHIO with confidence. During this required one-day event, faculty, staff, and orientation leaders will teach you about the curriculum and the requirements for your major. You must attend orientation even if you did so at your previous institution.
In-person and virtual orientation sessions are conducted during June. A one-day orientation program for transfer students who were unable to attend previous sessions will be held in August.
Please review the Preparing for Your Orientation page to ensure you are fully prepared to participate in orientation. Placement tests are critical, so be sure you’ve taken all necessary placement tests before your scheduled BSO program. You should also review the Undergraduate Catalog 2021-2022 (coming soon!) to learn about available courses. Bobcat Student Orientation includes registering for courses.
You will learn how to take advantage of the resources and opportunities available to you as part of the OHIO community. Transfer students who have confirmed their intent to enroll will receive BSO registration information in the mail.
Transfer Your Credits
Before Orientation
Generally, college-level courses completed with a C- or better from a regionally accredited institution as part of College Credit Plus or dual enrollment programs through a high school are transferable to OHIO. Test credit (Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, College Level Examination Program) is also generally accepted, provided you earn the necessary score. To transfer your credit, you must have an official college transcript or score report sent from the college or testing agency directly to Undergraduate Admissions.
Prepare to Join OHIO
Beginning in May
Now you are ready to complete the rest of the tasks required to ensure a smooth transition to your first day at Ohio University. This includes reviewing the course catalog, enabling your online services, learning about student health services and insurance, and planning for transportation to campus. Transfer students with fewer than 30 earned credit hours must complete the online alcohol and sexual assault education courses.