oregon state application essay questions

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Application Materials

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This section of tools provides writers with some information and support in writing and revising materials such as application essays for graduate school, cover letters, resumes and CVs, scholarship essays, and more. 

Oregon State University

Academic Catalog

Admission to oregon state university, administration, admission requirements for first-year students, evaluation process, selection of first-year students, transfer admission, nondegree admission, admission of postbaccalaureate students, admission of graduate students, admission of international students, admission to summer session, admission to professional programs, osu-cascades, degree partnership programs – dual admission and enrollment at designated community colleges, credit for military experience, placement assessments, registration procedures, re-enrollment.

Oregon State University welcomes all students without regard to race, creed, sex, marital status, sexual preference, age, religion, handicap, or national origin who provide evidence of suitable preparation for course work at the university level.

Office of Admissions B104 Kerr Administration Bldg. Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331

Phone: 541-737-4411 Toll free: 800-291-4192 Fax: 541-737-2482 OSU code for SAT, AP, TOEFL, or CLEP reports: 4586 OSU code for ACT reports: 3482

Email: [email protected] Website: https://admissions.oregonstate.edu/ Admission application: https://admissions.oregonstate.edu/apply-choose-application

Information for undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, nondegree undergraduate students is available from the Office of Admissions.

Noah Buckley , Director , 541-737-0583 Blake Vawter , Sr. Associate Director , 541-737-9807 Natalie Rooney , Sr. Associate Director , 541-737-3418 Rebekah Lloyd , Associate Director , 541-737-8456 Heather Wofford , Associate Director , 541-737-9808 David Compton , Sr. Assistant Director , 541-737-2160 Brandon Swindon , Assistant Director , 541-737- 9841

Application deadlines are available online .

The application and fee must be submitted electronically by the respective deadlines. Applicants applying and/or completing their application file after published deadlines (regular or priority dates) may not receive full consideration due to enrollment capacity constraints.

The Admission Process

Apply online . Applicants are required to use a valid Visa, MasterCard, or Discover credit card to pay the $65 nonrefundable application fee. Request that your high school send your official high school transcript to OSU, and, if you would like your test scores considered, have your official SAT or ACT test scores sent to OSU.

Portfolios, videos, and personal interviews are generally not required.

Select a Major

Undergraduate applicants are asked to select a major in their application. The University Exploratory Studies Program is a choice available to undergraduates who are undecided about a major. Students may change their major in consultation with an academic advisor.

Admission to Oregon State University is selective and competitive and is based on a holistic review of application materials.

Complete applications are first reviewed to confirm successful completion of the 15 high school subject requirements and GPA earned. Providing SAT or ACT scores for admission review is optional for students applying during their senior year of high school.

Academic performance is not the sole criterion for admission to the university. The university may evaluate a person's behavior and background to determine their ability to maintain the standards of academic and professional conduct expected at the university. An evaluation may take into consideration current behavior and performance as well as past experiences and actions. Simply qualifying for admission does not guarantee admission. 

OSU’s admission requirements promote student success by assessing preparedness and academic potential in the unique context of each student’s personal experience. Admission assessment will consider all achievements, both academic and nonacademic, to enroll students with a broad range of characteristics and perspectives. These include, but are not limited to academic achievement, creativity, initiative, motivation, leadership, persistence, service to others, intellectual curiosity, exceptional personal or academic recognition, unusual talent or ability, substantial experience with other cultures, and ability to overcome significant challenges.

The admissions process provides a fair and comprehensive review of all applicants for determining potential success at OSU. It is crucial that applicants carefully complete the application process by providing thorough information. Estimating the likelihood of admission is very difficult without considering the complete application file.

Initial admission selections are based on a holistic assessment of the criteria listed below.

Strength of Curriculum:

• Quality, quantity, and level of course work throughout the entire high school program, especially course work completed beyond the minimum courses required (See the high school course requirements chart below.)
• Advanced placement (AP), international baccalaureate (IB), or college course work completed or in progress
• Strength of the program taken within the context of the high school attended
• Progressively challenging math sequence, demonstrated by performance. Cumulatively these courses should cover strong fundamentals in algebra, geometry and data sciences with higher level math taken in courses that focus on advanced algebra, statistics, pre-calculus or calculus

Academic Performance:

• A recommended unweighted high school grade-point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale as calculated by the Office of Admissions)
• Class rank taken in context with academic rigor and size of high school attended
• Performance on standardized tests: SAT or ACT (optional)

Applicants can see the status of their admission online .

High School Course Requirements

Admission to Engineering Majors

OSU will provide direct admission into an Engineering degree if the applicant is considered ready to take Calculus . This determination is based on a review of both completed coursework shown on available transcripts and self-reported courses that are in progress or planned for later in the school year.  A student with a C- or better in a Pre-Calculus or Calculus course, or who is registered or planning to take Pre-Calculus or Calculus will be deemed calculus-ready and will be admitted to their Engineering major of choice.  Applicants that have taken college coursework while in high school will be deemed calculus-ready if they have taken or are taking the equivalent of OSU’s  MTH 111Z and MTH 112Z .

SAT and/or ACT Scores (Optional)

SAT and ACT Scores are not required for admissions review. Scores can be sent electronically from College Board (SAT) and/or ACT.  Scores are primarily used in holistic review process.

• The SAT college code for Oregon State University is  4586 .
• The ACT college code for Oregon State University is  3482 .

College Work

Students must provide official transcripts of any completed college credits. Students are encouraged to complete courses in core subject areas (Math, Writing/English, Science).

Additional Factors

Oregon State is also looking for students who will lend educational and cultural diversity to our campus. We are looking for students who go above and beyond the minimum whether in talent, academic ability or potential. Combined with academic strengths, evidence of these characteristics may be considered in our review of applicants for admission.

Please note that academic performance is not the sole criterion for admission to the university. The university may evaluate a person's behavior and background to determine their ability to maintain the standards of academic and professional conduct expected at the university. An evaluation may take into consideration current behavior and performance as well as past experiences and actions. Admission to Oregon State University is selective and competitive and is based on a holistic review of application materials, including the submitted essay and personal responses. Life experiences are also considered during holistic review. 

High School Graduation

Public high school students must graduate from standard high schools. 1  Private high school students must graduate from regionally or state accredited high schools. 2

Standard high schools are public high schools that are certified as meeting specified levels of resources, services, and quality established by the Oregon Department of Education.

Accredited high schools are those that are reviewed and recognized by a regional entity, such as the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, as meeting an appropriate level of academic rigor and support.

Graduates of Nonstandard or Unaccredited High Schools or Home-Schooled Students

Graduates of non-standard or unaccredited high schools, or home-schooled students will be considered for admission based on a holistic assessment. To help OSU provide a thorough assessment of academic ability, a student may provide SAT or ACT scores. 

GED Students

GED students will be considered for admission if they achieve an average  GED score  of at least:

• 58, if taken prior to January 2002, with no subtest score less than 41
• 580, if taken between January 2002 and December 2013, with no subtest score less than 410
• 680 (total from 4 subject tests), if taken in January 2014 or later, with no subtest score less than 150

Students who take the GED test in the 1996–97 school year and later must pass two years of the same foreign language prior to admission or an approved additional way to meet OSU’s foreign language requirement. Foreign language taken at an unaccredited high school does not qualify. If you have questions pertaining to these guidelines, please contact the OSU Admissions Office regarding your options for completion of this requirement.

Applicants admitted on the basis of GED scores  are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores , but scores may be considered if available.

Policy Regarding Students' Eligibility to Return to Prior College

Applicants who disclose that they are ineligible to re-enroll at any college or university that they attended within the last seven years for student conduct reasons will be automatically declined admission to OSU. Applicants who disclose that the reason for their ineligibility is for academic reasons may still be admitted if they meet OSU's academic requirements.

Applicants who are denied admission have the right to appeal that decision, and appeals will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Admission Appeals

Students not selected for regular admission may appeal via the appeals process. Appeal admission decisions will be determined by the Undergraduate Admissions Committee. In addition to regular admission requirements, students participating in the appeals process will be asked to provide additional materials for consideration. Please refer to the OSU Admissions Office website for details. 

Advanced Placement (AP) Credit

Oregon State University awards ungraded credit for achievement on certain College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examinations. Information pertaining to specific AP credit policies is available in high school counseling centers or may be obtained from the OSU Office of Admissions website . OSU's college code is 4586 for those wishing to have their scores sent.

International Baccalaureate Credit

Oregon State recognizes IB achievement by awarding credit to students who score 5 or above on standard and higher level IB exams. OSU also grants additional benefits for students who complete the full IB diploma with a score of 30 or higher, as follows:

Sophomore Standing , and IB Scholarships are available. Students with a total score on IB exams of 30 or higher may choose to accept the annual, renewable scholarship award of at least $3,000 OR may compete for more substantial awards.

Students must send their official test scores to OSU. The official International Baccalaureate Certificate is required in order to award credit.

Contact your IB coordinator or IB North America to request score reports.

IBO North America 212-696-4464 http://www.ibo.org/

Apply online . Applicants are required to use a valid Visa, MasterCard, or Discover credit card to pay the $65 nonrefundable application fee. Official transcripts must be sent to OSU from each college or university attended.

Please refer to the OSU Office of Admissions website for application deadlines.

Minimum Requirements for Admission Consideration

• Successful completion of no less than 24 quarter (16 semester) graded, transferable credits from (a) regionally accredited U.S. institution(s). Students with fewer than 24 graded transferable quarter hours will be considered on the basis of their high school records and test scores, and must have a 2.25 GPA on all collegiate work attempted. A review of all coursework and life experience are considered during holistic review. 
• Only college-level, transferable credits are counted in those accepted in the GPA computation (professional-technical course grades are not included).
• College-level writing equivalent to WR 121Z
• Mathematics equivalent to MTH 111Z – or – MTH 105Z
• Two terms of the same foreign language in college will be required of those high school graduates of the class of 1997 and beyond who did not successfully complete two units (years) of foreign language while in high school. Additional information on how to meet foreign language deficiencies can be found online .
• Applicants who are ineligible to re-enroll at any college or university that they attended within the last seven years for student conduct reasons will be automatically declined admission at OSU.  Applicants who disclose that the reason for their ineligibility is for academic reasons may be admitted - if they meet OSU’s minimum academic requirements.
• Applicants who are denied admission may be eligible to appeal that decision, and appeals will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Consult with the Office of Admissions for more information on the appeal process.

Please note that meeting the minimum admissions requirements and/or an individual’s academic performance does not guarantee them admission to the university. Furthermore, the university may evaluate a person’s behavior and background to determine their ability to maintain the standards of academic and professional conduct expected at OSU.

Admissions to Engineering Majors

OSU will provide direct admission into an Engineering degree if the applicant is considered ready to take Calculus based on high school coursework taken or college credit earned.  This determination is based on a review of both completed coursework shown on available transcripts and self-reported courses that are in progress or planned for later in the school year.  Applicants that have taken college Math coursework will be deemed calculus-ready if they have taken or are taking the equivalent of OSU’s  MTH 111Z and MTH 112Z or higher.  A transfer student who took Pre-Calculus or Calculus in high school with a C- or better will also be deemed calculus-ready and will be admitted to their Engineering major of choice.

Evaluation and Transferability of Credit

Only official records are used to evaluate eligibility and transferability of credit.

Official transcripts of all college work attempted must be submitted directly from the Registrar's Office of each institution.

OSU accepts college level credit from regionally accredited institutions toward a baccalaureate degree. While all acceptable transfer credits will be transcripted at OSU, no more than 135 quarter credits of non-OSU course work can be applied to an OSU baccalaureate degree. Therefore, students who transfer the full 135 credits from other institutions may ultimately graduate with more than the minimum credits for the baccalaureate degree. One semester credit equals 1.5 quarter credits at OSU.

For information on OSU's acceptance of professional-technical courses, please see Academic Regulation 2 .

Applicants who want credit for College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests should have official test scores sent to Admissions using college code 4586 . Additional details are available on the OSU Admissions website .

Nondegree enrollment status is designed for students who want to take courses but do not want to pursue a degree. In some instances, nondegree students might not meet regular admission requirements. Nondegree students are part-time students who are expected to enroll in no more than 8 credits a term. Students who want to enroll for more than 8 credits a term must apply for regular admission.

Nondegree enrollment status requires no formal admission process and has no requirements for entrance. Nondegree applications should be submitted electronically. Approval is granted for a specific term. Students who are unable to attend the specific term and want to enroll later should contact the Office of Admissions (undergraduate nondegree) or the Graduate School (graduate nondegree).

Nondegree students are given grades and academic records, and are reviewed according to university standards of good academic progress.

Nondegree students who wish to seek full admission and pursue a degree must do so by submitting an undergraduate, postbaccalaureate or graduate application for admission. In all cases, an admission application fee is required. Successful enrollment as a nondegree student does not guarantee regular admission. Credits earned while enrolled under nondegree undergraduate status will be applied to a student's record.

Nondegree graduate students who decide to seek admission to a specific degree program during the course of their studies should note that any credits taken as a nondegree student may or may not be applicable for that degree, depending upon a variety of factors, their chosen program, and the policies of the Graduate School. Graduate students are further advised that academic residency must be completed after full admission as a degree-seeking graduate student, regardless of the number of credits previously earned while in nondegree status. Please refer to Reclassification of Postbaccalaureate Students, Nondegree-Seeking Students, and Graduate Certificate Students on the Graduate School Admission page .

Nondegree students follow the registration procedures and policies as outlined on the Office of the Registrar website . The Schedule of Classes is available online. Registering students are expected to obtain a student identification card through the ID Center.

Tuition and fees for nondegree students enrolled in 8 or fewer credits are assessed at resident rates based on undergraduate- or graduate-course level. Payment of the health service fee is optional. Enrollment in excess of 8 credits as an undergraduate non-degree student requires that tuition and fees be assessed at the same rates as regular students and requires full admission as a regular student.

Registration holds in place prior to applying for nondegree status must be satisfied before registration as nondegree student will be allowed.

Academic Regulation 1 relates to admission of non-degree students.

Admission for postbaccalaureate applicants is determined by the department, not by the Office of Admissions. If you are interested in pursuing postbaccalaureate coursework, please consult the major department before applying for admission.

Degree Seeking Postbaccalaureate

Students who would like to earn a subsequent undergraduate degree from OSU may apply for degree seeking postbaccalaureate admission through the Office of Admissions. Postbaccalaureate applicants are asked to select a major in the application and must submit official transcripts of all college work by the application deadline. Generally, applicants must meet the following admission requirements:

• Have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited institution
• 2.25 accumulated GPA requirements. The GPA is computed on the first baccalaureate degree plus any subsequent credit earned.
• Complete College Algebra and English Composition with a C– or better
• Submit Statement of Objectives of 150 to 200 words with their application
• Academic departments may impose additional requirements
• Nonrefundable $65 application fee 1

Please note that academic performance is not the sole criterion for admission to the university. The university may evaluate a person's behavior and background to determine their ability to maintain the standards of academic and professional conduct expected at the university.

You cannot earn a postbaccalaureate degree in the same field in which you earned your original degree. Students may change their major in consultation with an academic advisor.

Applicants wishing to be considered for admission to multiple programs must submit a new application and fee for each program.

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, as well as a scholastic record, background, or other evidence that indicates the ability to do satisfactory graduate work. See Graduate Admission Procedures in this Catalog.

International applicants should apply on the OSU Office of Admissions  international admissions page , where deadlines, test score requirements, and additional information can be found. Refer to the International Admissions page of this Catalog for additional information.

Students who wish to begin work on a degree during summer session at OSU must satisfy regular admission requirements and apply by the specified deadlines.

Professional programs are accredited according to requirements set by professional societies. These programs often have more rigorous requirements for admission, continuation in the program, and acceptance of transfer credit. Therefore, admission to OSU is separate from admission to a professional program and does not guarantee such admission.

OSU-Cascades provides students personalized instruction and OSU's excellence in both academics and innovative research, as well as the lifelong advantages of a premier research university. OSU-Cascades is the only baccalaureate and graduate degree granting institution based in Central Oregon. OSU-Cascades expanded to a four-year university when it welcomed its first freshman class in fall 2015.

Born out of a 30-year grassroots effort put forth by Central Oregonians to bring a university to the region, the university opened its doors in September 2001 on the COCC campus, offering upper-division and graduate coursework toward bachelor’s and master’s degrees. 

After record enrollment growth and demonstrated financial support from the surrounding community, in August 2012 the Oregon University System endorsed OSU-Cascades’ expansion to a four-year university. In July 2013, the Oregon State Legislature approved capital funding that enabled the branch campus to establish its own campus. The branch campus completed the first phase of campus development in 2016.

OSU-Cascades features outstanding faculty in degree programs that reflect Central Oregon’s vibrant economy, abundant natural resources and commitment to sustainability. Twenty-four undergraduate majors, sixty minors and options, three graduate programs, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy program include fields such as arts, media and technology, computer science, energy systems engineering, kinesiology, outdoor products, and tourism and outdoor leadership. Experiential learning options include faculty research, internships and study abroad programs in over seventy countries – all on a growing campus community of more than 1,300 students.

Refer to the Degree Partnership Programs page of this Catalog for detailed information.

Students are recommended to seek advice from their Academic Advisor prior to transferring in their Military Credits. Oregon State University grants up to 45 credits for military education as recommended by the American Council on Education's (ACE) Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services . This is in accordance with transfer credit policies at Oregon State University. Students may request evaluation of military credit by furnishing the Office of Admissions with a Joint Services Transcript, Navy SMART transcript, or U.S. Coast Guard transcript. Transcripts may be obtained through these homepages:

• JST : Some browser security settings may raise a caution message before entering these Department of Defense websites
• CCAF (Community College of the Air Force)
• Additional informational links to other service pages can be found on the ACE website

Oregon State University will grant 1.00 quarter credit for the course HHS 241 Lifetime Fitness Lab. For HHS 241 credit to be granted, please submit either the DD214 or an official ACE transcript. Credit will also be granted if one of the following military science courses has been completed successfully: Physical Fitness, Physical Education, or Physical Conditioning. To receive credit, please submit an official transcript from the institution.

Oregon State University will assess and award block transfer credit upon review of your military record. An evaluation report showing block transfer credits will be sent to you. For a better understanding of how the 45-credit block of general elective credits is applied, see the Military Experience Credit section of the Credit Opportunities page . In addition, if you believe a specific military course, training, experience, etc. directly relates to a university course, you can complete a form to petition for Military Credit Course Substitution .

Any student receiving GI Bill ® education benefits while attending Oregon State University is required to obtain transcripts from all previously attended schools and submit them to the school for review of prior credit.

GI Bill ®  is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government  website

New students are required to take an online Math Placement Assessment.

Students who enter the university with previous language training from another institution and who wish to continue their study of the language are required to take a language proficiency assessment  to determine placement level. Please call the OSU School of Language, Culture, and Society at 541-737-4603. Other placement assessments may be required in certain majors.

Once admitted to Oregon State University, students are eligible for course registration. Complete registration instructions, procedures, schedules and deadlines are detailed in the Schedule of Classes . A student is officially registered and eligible to attend classes only when all procedures have been completed. Students who make arrangements to pay outstanding university debts and who do not adhere to the agreed upon plan may be dis-enrolled.

In addition to the basic information regarding registration, the Office of the Registrar website is an essential resource to the student for the academic calendar, fee schedule, academic and other student regulations and procedures, final examination schedule, and listing of baccalaureate core courses.

Undergraduate students who wish to re-enroll in the university after an absence may do so providing they were eligible to re-enroll their last term of attendance. Students who have been absent four or more terms , not including summer terms, should contact the Office of the Registrar to reactivate their records, at which time the current catalog becomes their catalog of record for graduation requirements. The university reserves the right to consider a student's status with respect to voluntary or involuntary leave, as well as any existing student conduct issues when requesting to re-enroll. Students who have been absent less than four terms are still considered active and register following the registration instructions on the Office of the Registrar website . International students who wish to re-enroll after an absence should check with the Office of International Services (OIS) to make sure they have the required documents to return.

Re-enrolling students who have attended another college or university since their last term at OSU are required to report that enrollment at the time of re-entry. Official transcripts must be forwarded to the Office of Admissions. Returning students with an OSU cumulative GPA below or very near 2.00 are reminded of the OSU graduation requirement ( Academic Regulation 25e ), which stipulates 2.00 as the minimum OSU cumulative grade-point average required to earn a baccalaureate degree from OSU.

All re-enrolling students are reminded of their responsibility to update any outdated information, such as address, in their OSU records. Contact the Office of the Registrar to make changes.

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How to Make Your Admission Essay Memorable

• Post author By Ahmed Mohamed
• Post date November 2, 2023

Most learning institutions analyze high school grades, ACT and SAT scores, and extracurricular activities when assessing student’s admission credentials. However, recent admission committees are adopting the ‘test-blind’ to add more weight to the application process.

What does this mean for applicants? It means you must dig deeper into your writing skills to bring out an authentic and well-thought-out essay.  

The admission committee sorts through thousands of applications. Hence, standing out from the rest and leaving an impression takes effort. There’s much more to reveal to the admission committee than your test scores.

This post underlines the importance of crafting a stellar admission essay that evokes emotions for your audience.

What Is Important?

Part of your college application process involves delivering an essay that describes your persona. It is an opportunity for any applicant to showcase a different side to themselves far from their GPAs and test scores.

It gives the admission committee a glimpse into the applicant’s aspirations, objectives, and goals. An applicant must showcase their fortitude towards undertaking the applied course for study.

The content depends on the question posed by the admission committee. Most prompts involve divulging information about one’s past experiences. What drives you? What do you hope to achieve? Why choose this specific school?

These are some important questions an applicant must answer to the admission committee. Also, the admission committee likes it when applicants actively participate in the community. Remember to mention your work at the children’s home or community shelter for bonus points.

Professional Strategies to Employ

The high level of competition for application spots at the institution makes the writing process nervy. Here are professional tips from experts to carve a name for yourself with the admission committee:

1. Authenticity

Generic responses often bore the admission committee. They need something new and exciting that reflects their true self. Inauthenticity could be using overly flowery language with fluff that irritates your audience.

Choose an interesting subject about your life and naturally bring out experiences and how they shaped your current self. Ensure to highlight pan points that showcase your strengths and be vulnerable to note your weaknesses.

2. Attention-Grabbing Statements

The admission committee is probably accustomed to reading similar essays from other applicants. Take time to grab their attention within the first few sentences. Start with a bold statement or a quote that invokes curiosity.

Start with a clear and precise thesis statement that guides the rest of the essay. For storytelling purposes, start with an intro that naturally flows with the main agenda behind the writing.

Stay calm while trying to grab the attention. Could you keep it simple but unique? A good and solid introductory part will entice the reader to finish the rest of the document.

3. Be Unique

Imagine a thousand applicants thinking similarly about how to approach this essay. It means a thousand applications with similarities. It means your chances of acceptance get lower than expected.

Rather, try a unique approach to answering prompts. Adopt a new perspective on how to view the assignment on hand. Most applicants will choose to glorify their past life experiences and how they molded them. What about speaking about your losses and how they changed you?

The element of surprise is a rare talent most writers don’t possess. You can buy research papers online to find unique ways top writers like J.K Rowling, Leo Tolstoy, and Neil Gaiman brought out the element of surprise when reading a piece.

4. Avoid Common Themes and Topics

Over the years, most applicants have eaten into similar topics to get into the good books of the admission committee. Some exhausted topics and themes overly used include sports, immigration, obstacles/success, and volunteer stories.

It’s about more than avoiding these themes while writing completely. Moreover, it’s about avoiding the same trajectory used in these themes to drive home the message.

For example, facing life challenges such as poverty at a young age and growing up intending to change the scenario seems a sad topic. However, it’s a rerun strategy most applicants employ many times.  

5. Keep the Reader in Mind

Often, we get so engrossed with our writing that we need to remember our intended audience. Picture an admission board seated on a panel sorting through thousands of applications with tight deadlines. Picture the pressure they face turning down prospective applicants based on their writing.

It gives you an in-depth look at the intense vetting process the board goes through. Hence, make it easy for the board by ticking all the expected boxes within the application. Answer the prompt correctly, and edit for any grammatical or spelling errors.

Literary Devices to Add to Your Document

One new technique to freshen up your document is the addition of literary devices. Literary devices attract your readers and catch their attention. Here are some popular literary devices to include in your essay:

1. Symbolism

Symbolism is the usage of abstract concepts or objects to represent ideas. Adopt symbolism in your essay to represent the essay’s main theme. These symbols help in conveying your main message to your readers.

2. Flashback

Flashbacks are essential in transporting your reader from the present mode to past events. It helps the admission committee better understand yourself and your current personality. It helps them gauge your personal goals, motives, and objectives.

3. Dialogue

Incorporating dialogue into your essay creates a sense of suspense while transporting your main message within the essay. Adopt the technique strategically and avoid coming off redundant. Make it precise and ensure it fits the context within the application process.

Quotes are essential to catch your readers’ attention, especially during the introductory sentences. Use famous quotes from important people in your life. It can be idols, family, or friends. Make it powerful, original, and blend with the context of the document. However, avoid going overboard with overquoting.

Key Giveaway

The fear of failure often limits our creativity. Therefore, don’t think about the possible outcomes after sending your application. Countercheck each parameter and ensure you put your best foot forward. Other opportunities are available, which should encourage you to try again. 

• 01 Academics & Faculty Affairs
• 02 Student Life
• 03 Business & Finance
• 04 Governance & Administration
• 05 Human Resources
• 06 Research
• 07 Risk Management, Safety & Facilities
• 08 Information Technology
• Other Policies

1. Policy Statement

1.1. Admissions Standards

1.1.1. The university sets standards for admission to first-year, advanced undergraduate, and graduate standing at the university. Standards may include such criteria as high school graduation, subject requirements, prior college-level coursework, standardized test scores and grades. Additionally, the university has a holistic admissions process and may consider alternatives and exceptions to stated standards if it believes the intent of those standards are met and the student can be successful if admitted.

1.1.2. The university may establish enrollment limitations and set higher and additional standards for admission to designated academic courses and programs.

1.1.3. The university shall periodically review admission standards and provide at least one year's notice of any change in standards used in determining admissibility.

1.2. Recruitment Practices

1.2.1. University employees, students, alumni, and contractors operating on behalf of the university, must engage in ethical practices when recruiting students to attend the university. High pressure recruitment tactics for the purpose of securing enrollments are prohibited.

1.2.2. The university does not provide commissions, bonuses, or other incentive payment programs to university employees, students, alumni or contractors for the purpose of securing enrollments of domestic students.

2. Reason for Policy

2.1. The university has a holistic admissions process which looks at multiple items for each applicant, with the goal of identifying and admitting students who have the skills, abilities, and drive to succeed at the university. These items include grades, class rank, personal statements, responses to application essay questions, letters of recommendation, and any required external examinations, among others.

3. Scope & Audience

3.1. This university policy applies to students who have been admitted to the university and individuals who are seeking to enroll, employees, alumni, and contractors operating on behalf of the university.

4. Definitions

5. responsibilities & procedures, 6. forms & tools.

6.1. Admissions requirements, deadlines, and decisions: https://admissions.oregonstate.edu/admission-requirements-1 .

6.2. Undergraduate and graduate admissions forms: https://admissions.oregonstate.edu/publications .

6.3. Student health history and immunization forms: https://studenthealth.oregonstate.edu/students/policies-and-guidelines/… .

7. Frequently Asked Questions

7.1. Admissions FAQs may be found here: https://admissions.oregonstate.edu/faq

8. Related Information

8.1. University Policy 04-100 Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment , prohibiting discrimination against applicants for admission.

9.1. Adopted: Oregon State University adopted University Policy 580-010 Admission Requirements, Residence Classification, and Payment of Student Fees from Oregon Administrative Rule 580-010 Admission Requirements, Residence Classification, and Payment of Student Fees on July 1, 2014.

9.2. Revised: The admission requirements sections of University Policy 580-010 Admission Requirements, Residence Classification, and Payment of Student Fees were updated and renumbered as University Policy 01-100 Admissions on January 24, 2023.

9.3. Next scheduled review date: January 2028.

10. Website

10.1. https://policy.oregonstate.edu/policy/admissions

11. Contacts

Enrollment Management 541-737-6166 https://enrollmentmanagement.oregonstate.edu/

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The Honors College is a diverse community of about 1,800 students across three campuses, all working toward an Honors Baccalaureate degree in their academic major. The HC offers the benefits of small engaging classes, a collaborative learning community, personal advising and unique access to research opportunities that culminate in the honors thesis. While admission to the Honors College is competitive, the selection process is holistic. We value a broad definition of achievement, which considers not only GPA, but also coursework, extracurricular activities and service to community, and responses to the Honors College essay prompt and short-answer questions. 

To apply, students must complete the appropriate HC application.  

Minimum Requirements for HC Admission

Hc-grads.jpg.

3.75  cumulative unweighted high school GPA. Students who don't meet the GPA minimum can qualify with a test score of 1300 SAT or 27 ACT.

Students transferring to OSU from another college or university (applying to the HC at the same time as they apply to Oregon State)

3.5  Cumulative transfer GPA

Current OSU Students  (students who have completed at least one term of classes at Oregon State as an undergraduate student)

3.5  Cumulative Oregon State GPA 

The Honors College is currently allowing applications from students who do not meet one of the HC minimum criteria. If you have been impacted by circumstances that affected your ability to meet the HC GPA or test score minimum but wish to apply, you should complete all sections of the Honors College application and ensure that you have provided relevant information on the additional information/circumstances question of the Oregon State application. All applications will be reviewed holistically and fully considered.   

How to Apply

Students applying to the HC directly from high school apply by filling out the Honors College section of the Oregon State undergraduate application  for admission on Oregon State's website or on the Common App .

*Note:  First-year applicants who applied to Oregon State without filling out the Honors College application section and now wish to apply can do so by submitting the first-year Honors College application found in the Oregon State Beaver Basecamp Portal (where students log in to check on the status and materials of their Oregon State application after they've submitted it). All information must be filled out, even if the questions also appeared on the Oregon State application.

The deadlines for first-year students to apply to the Honors College are November 1 (early action) and February 1 (regular decision).

If you have missed those deadlines but plan to attend Oregon State, you can apply to the HC after you complete one term at Oregon State University as an undergraduate student. Please see the section for "Current Students" for more information. 

Students transferring to Oregon State from another college or university  who wish to apply to the HC should apply by filling out the Honors College section of the Oregon State undergraduate application  for admission on Oregon State's website or on the Common App . Transfer students who applied to Oregon State without filling out the Honors College application section and now wish to apply can do so by submitting the Honors College application found in the Oregon State Beaver Basecamp Portal (where students log in to check on the status and materials of their Oregon State application after they've submitted it). All information must be filled out even if the questions also appeared on the Oregon State application.

The deadlines for transfer students to apply to the Honors College match OSU's deadlines for transfer applicants .  If you are a transfer student who did not apply to the Honors College prior to your first term at Oregon State but are interested in the HC, please see the section for "Current Students" to learn more about how you can apply to the HC after your first term at Oregon State . 

Students who are already attending Oregon State  and have completed at least one term of classes at Oregon State University as an undergraduate student can apply to the HC by filling out the Honors College current OSU student application .

Applications may be submitted at any time during the academic year. Applications will be considered for entry terms based on the submission deadlines listed below. 

*Note: Although the final deadline to apply for fall entry term is August 1, if you want to be able to register for honors classes for fall term, you must submit your application by the Monday of Week 2 of the Spring term prior to the fall in which you would join the HC (if admitted) . If you submit your application after the Monday of Week 2 of Spring term, your application may not be processed before registration for fall term begins, and fall honors classes may be full at the time you receive your HC admission decision.  

If you are an incoming first-year or transfer student who will be attending Oregon State in an upcoming term and you did not apply to the Honors College before your appropriate deadline, you can fill out this application after you have completed at least one term at Oregon State University as an undergraduate student. 

International students who meet HC application eligibility will be invited to apply to the Honors College when they are offered admission to Oregon State University by the Office of International Admissions. Incoming international students who plan to attend Oregon State and are invited to apply to the Honors College should apply at least 4 weeks prior to their first term at Oregon State to ensure their application can be processed before their first term at Oregon State. The link to the application will be available in the email students receive inviting them to apply to the Honors College. 

International students who do not apply to the Honors College before they attend Oregon State can still apply as a current Oregon State student after they complete one term at Oregon State University as an undergraduate student. See the section titled "Current students" for more information about applying to the HC after you have completed one term at Oregon State. 

Honors College Tuition and Financial Aid

Honors College students are assessed Honors College differential tuition each term. The HC differential tuition enables the Honors College to provide small honors classes, academic advising, co-curricular activities and other core elements of the Honors College student experience. HC differential tuition is currently $520 per term for full-time students (enrolled in 12 or more credits that term) and $260 for part-time students (enrolled in less than 12 credits that term) and will appear on each student's billing account for each fall, winter and spring term that the student is enrolled at Oregon State based on their enrollment level that term.   

The HC recognizes that the HC Differential Tuition associated with enrollment in the Honors College can present a financial challenge for some students. The Honors College offers a limited number of  need-based scholarships , emergency grants and experiential learning awards to students each year to support full engagement with the HC experience. 

Important Information

Though similar, the selection process for HC admission is separate from admission to the university.  Due to enrollment constraints,  HC selections are competitive . While many applicants meet the minimum criteria for application consideration, not all applicants will be offered admission.

Selection criteria for an incoming first-year student is based on cumulative un-weighted high school GPA and the response to the essay question. SAT or ACT scores ( optional ), The strength of courses taken in high school, as well as personal or academic attributes that will enrich the Honors community, are also considered.

For college transfers or current Oregon State students, selection criteria are based on the applicant's college GPA and the essay response. Personal or academic attributes that will enrich the Honors community are also considered.

The Honors College is currently allowing applications from students who do not meet one of HC the minimum criteria. If you have been impacted by circumstances that affected your ability to meet the HC GPA or test score minimum but wish to apply, you should complete all sections of the Honors College application and ensure that you have provided relevant information on the additional information/circumstances question of the Oregon State application. All applications will be reviewed holistically and fully considered.   

First-Year Applicants

Early Action application submission dates: August 1st - November 1st (11:59 p.m. PST) 

• Early Action HC admission decision date: December 31st*

* HC admission decisions will be posted in Beaver Basecamp and sent via email no later than December 31st. 

• Regular Decision application submission dates: November 2nd - February 1st
• Regular Decision HC admission decision date: March 31st*

* HC admission decisions will be posted in Beaver Basecamp and sent via email intermittently between February 1st and March 31st. 

Note: if you are a first-year student planning to attend Oregon State and have missed the deadlines to apply to the Honors College, you can apply to the HC after you complete one term at Oregon State University as an undergraduate student. Please see the section above for "Current Students" for more information. 

Transfer Applicants

Applications may be submitted by the deadlines for OSU Transfer Applicants  (within your Oregon State application or in Beaver Basecamp after you have applied to Oregon State). Admission decisions are posted in Beaver Basecamp and sent via email on a rolling basis.

International Applicants

International students who meet HC application eligibility will be invited to apply to the Honors College when they are offered admission to Oregon State University by the Office of International Admission. Incoming international students who have been invited to apply to the Honors College may submit applications at least 4 weeks prior to your first term at Oregon State. Admission decisions are sent via email. 

Current Oregon State Students (students who have completed at least one term of classes at Oregon State University as an undergraduate student)

HC Essay Prompt for students applying for Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Winter 2025, or Spring 2025 entry terms:

Making connections between multiple subjects or perspectives and then drawing insights from those connections is the basis of interdisciplinary thinking, a central part of the Honors College curriculum.

For your essay, choose an interesting or unique connection: explain the connection, why it interests you, and why it is meaningful or significant. Be creative! You can choose from activities, academic subjects, concepts, natural or human phenomena, etc.

You must clearly and completely address this specific prompt with a 450-500 word essay for your Honors College application to be considered. Keep in mind:

Make sure you address the entire prompt.

We are looking for evidence of your original thinking and individuality – avoid generalities.

Essays should showcase your best writing and attention to detail; they will be evaluated on your demonstrated ability to think deeply and creatively and to write effectively.

Please do not write about your accomplishments (academic, athletic, or extracurricular). The HC admissions committee will review all your other application materials and responses.

If you have questions about the HC application essay prompt, please contact Honors College Admissions at [email protected]  or  541-737-6400

HC Essay Prompt for students applying for Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026, or Spring 2026 entry terms:

For your essay, choose a specific connection that you consider interesting or unique: describe and explain the connection and its parts and why that connection is meaningful or significant. You can choose from activities, academic subjects, concepts, natural or human phenomena, etc.

Write an original essay that clearly and completely addresses the prompt above in 450-500 words in order for your Honors College application to be considered. Making connections and drawing insights from those connections is a central part of the Honors College experience.

When writing your essay:

• Clearly identify the specific connection you have chosen to write about.
• Avoid generalities -- we are looking for evidence of your original thinking and individuality.
• Showcase your best writing and attention to detail ; essays are evaluated on your demonstrated ability to think deeply and creatively and respond effectively to the prompt above .
• Avoid writing only about academic, athletic, or extracurricular accomplishments . The HC admissions committee will review all your other application materials and responses.

Contact Info

Honors College Learning Innovation Center 450

Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331 541-737-6400

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The scholarship cycle .

Important Dates - 2024-2025 Application Cycle 

November 1 

Early action deadline for  OSU undergraduate  admission

OSU ScholarDollars applications  available online for all students

OSAC scholarship application  available online for Oregon residents

December  

FAFSA  (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) &  ORSAA  (Oregon Student Aid Application) available online

Winter Break  - A great time to work on scholarship applications!

February 1 

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February 15 

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February 29 

• OSU's FAFSA & ORSAA priority filing deadline  
• OSU transfer undergraduate admission application  priority deadline for admission-based scholarship consideration 

April 1 

• OSAC scholarship application deadline  

Scholarship Application Materials

Writing a scholarship essay .

Most scholarships receive more applications than the number of awards available. A strong essay can help your application stand out to scholarship reviewers and improve your chances of being selected for an award.

Tips for writing your scholarship essay:   

Learn about the scholarship and read the essay prompt carefully 

Outline your essay before you start writing 

Write your essay in a word processing software (for example, Microsoft Word) first so you can save it and return to it later 

Check your spelling and grammar carefully, either in the word processing software or by using a program like Grammarly 

Read your essay out loud or ask someone else to read it to you to make sure it is clear and easy to read 

Before you submit your application, make sure you have answered all parts of the essay prompt 

Most of your scholarship application essays will be read by review committees made up of faculty members, so avoid typos, emojis, slang, and grammatical errors

Sample Essay 1 -  Please describe your educational and career goals, how you plan to accomplish them, and how your program(s) of study will facilitate those accomplishments. Please limit your response to no more than 300 words. 

I am a first-year student at Oregon State University, getting a bachelor's degree in Human Development & Family Sciences with a Child Development option. I love working with children and have volunteered to help kids learn how to read at Corvallis Elementary School and co-led a literacy group. Myself and other high school students talked about ways to better help kindergarten kids struggling with reading and writing. It was a hard challenge, but we gave it our all. This project made me realize I want to work with kids in the future.  

To achieve my goal of helping kids, I will work hard every day. By doing well academically, I plan to learn knowledge to be a better professional.  Having a college degree will enable me to be a teacher or work at a higher position in a school. I am not exactly sure if I want to be a teacher, so the HDFS degree is better for me to have more options after I graduate than an education degree. 

Also, during high school, I was named Most Helpful Volunteer by Key Club, and my fluency in Spanish will help. I will use my language skills to communicate with and support Spanish-speaking kids and their parents. It’s good for people working with children to be bilingual.  

I want to help positively impact the lives of children and their families. I am confident that I am on the right path to make a difference in the lives of children. I am grateful for the opportunity to be considered for this scholarship. 

Scholarship reviewers want to learn about you as a unique individual, so consider sharing more of your  personality through your essay: 

Include examples or stories that will help reviewers connect with you and your experiences 

Ask people who know you well for suggestions 

Be authentic in your answers—reviewers want to get to know the real you  

Sample Essay 2 - A revised version of Sample Essay 1 that includes more stories and examples

Volunteering with the literacy initiative at Corvallis High School has inspired my future career goals. Through this volunteer work, I realized my goal of helping children throughout my life and chose to earn my degree in Human Development & Family Sciences (HDFS), with a Child Development option. While I was co-leader, we brainstormed ways to support the kindergartners we worked with. One of the kids was having a very hard time reading aloud if anyone was listening. We knew about therapy dogs who help give children confidence while reading. After extensive research, I found a therapy dog handler who was willing to help. We brought the dog in, and that child read aloud for the first time that whole year! He was so proud of himself, and I felt so rewarded by his success. This is why I’m so focused on supporting children. While I’m not sure if I want to be a teacher or work with children in another way, my HDFS degree will give me many options after I graduate. 

Through my HDFS bachelor’s degree, I will learn about different stages of a child’s development and build a strong foundation for my future career. An internship with OSU’s Child Development Center will help me gain experience with children and allow me to recognize milestones. In addition to my HDFS degree, I will also minor in Spanish. I already speak Spanish fluently, but I plan to improve my written communication skills. Many of the families in this area speak Spanish, and being bilingual will allow me to connect with parents on a deeper level. I am confident that I’m on the right path to making a difference in the lives of children, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be considered for this scholarship. 

Writing a Scholarship Resume 

Submitting a resume as part of a scholarship application is an opportunity to show the scholarship committee how you spend time outside of school. Be sure to include any experiences that give the scholarship reviewers a sense of who you are and why you are a strong scholarship candidate.

A strong resume is:

• Uses accessible formatting and fonts
• Highlights your most important accomplishments
• Includes your experiences in addition to school and work, including family responsibilities, honors and leadership, extracurricular activities, etc.

See a  sample resume  for a scholarship application here. 

Writing a Scholarship Thank You Letter

Many OSU scholarships are made possible by the generosity of our donors, and it is incredibly meaningful for donors to learn about the students their gifts support! We hope that you will help us thank them and encourage them to support future OSU students by submitting a thank you letter if one is requested.

• Tips and examples for writing thank you letters will be posted soon!

External Scholarships 

External scholarships can be a great way to increase your funding options, but you will want to be careful to avoid scams.  OSU ScholarDollars  is a safe option to search and apply for external scholarships because all the opportunities included in the system have been researched and vetted for you. For more information about avoiding scholarship scams, we recommend visiting the link below from the Federal Trade Commission. 

How to Avoid Scams

Information about avoiding Financial Aid and Scholarship Scams   

How To Avoid Scholarship and Financial Aid Scams  

Reporting Suspicious Activity in Your OSU Student Email

Forward any suspicious emails as an attachment to  [email protected] . Do not open any attachments or click any links on a suspicious email. Contact the Information Service Desk at 541-737-8787 if you need additional assistance. 

If you have other questions, please contact the OSU Scholarship Office at  [email protected]  or 541-737-1125.

Writing & Supplemental Essays

Items marked with a red asterisk * are required. Students are not required to complete items that do not have the red asterisk.

Introduction

Some colleges have additional “supplemental” essays in their section of the My Colleges tab. In this section of the AXS Companion, you will learn more about supplemental essays, including:

• Where to find prompts for supplemental essays
• How to approach the “Why do you want to come here?” or the “Why Us?” essay
• How to approach the disciplinary history essay
• Resources with advice about how to write supplemental essays

This is an example of the supplemental Writing section for a specific college found within the My Colleges tab of Common App.

In this video, we discuss why supplemental essays are an important part of your application and where to find them in Common App. This video should take approximately 4 minutes.

In this video, we discuss the most common supplemental essays and how to use supplemental essays to tell colleges more about you. This video should take approximately 5 minutes.

In this video, Timothy Brunold, Dean of Admission at the University of Southern California, makes suggestions of how to write the “Why Us?” essay. This video should take approximately 4 minutes.

In this video, we provide a more detailed explanation of how to write the “Why Us?” essay. This video is for students who want more advice on how to write a thorough, authentic “Why Us?” essay. This video should take approximately 5 minutes.

In this video, we discuss how to approach questions about disciplinary or criminal history. The purpose of this section is for you to understand how to write about your disciplinary history, if you have one. If you have to write about a disciplinary history, this section should take approximately an hour.

Tips & Reminders

• Don’t wait until the last minute to scroll through the My Colleges tab. Essays can appear in different places depending on the information you enter regarding your college choice.
• Supplemental essays are a good opportunity to tell a college more about yourself. If a college has several supplemental essays, think about how the essays can work together to tell more about you.
• Additional Information
• After you indicate your intended major or college choice
• When writing a “Why Us?” essay, your goal is to tell the college how you will pursue your academic interests there and why you are genuinely a good fit for the college. WOW provides detailed advice for how to write this essay in the WOW – Writing The “Why Us?” Essay Guide .
• WOW provides detailed guidelines for how to approach other supplemental essays in the WOW – Writing Supplemental Essays Guide .
• WOW also provides detailed advice for how to write about academic challenges in the WOW – How to Write About Academic Challenges Guide .

AXS Companion Copyright © 2022 by IECA & Oregon State University Ecampus is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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The personal statement.

Your Personal Statement should narrate your personal and intellectual development. It should illustrate how the proposed experience is the next logical and necessary step in your life, and how you are qualified to carry it out. It is your opportunity to illustrate what a unique and exceptional individual you are. Here are questions to consider while writing:

• Overall, is your Personal Statement interesting and easy to read? Does it show, rather than tell, who you are?
• Does your Personal Statement demonstrate your motivation and ability to work independently?
• Does your Personal Statement show who you are, and make the reader want to know you better?
• Do you demonstrate your experience and interest in becoming a leader and innovator in your field?
• Will the reader feel confident you would represent the funding agency well?
• Do you maintain a theme or connecting concept throughout your Personal Statement?
• Does your Personal Statement explore connections between your academic life and the rest of your life?
• Do you repeat information included in other parts of your application? Omit repeated information unless it is absolutely necessary, e.g., further explanation or emphasis.

Mistakes often made by applicants when writing a Personal Statement:

• Turning the Personal Statement into an extended version of a resume. Applicants often ask how they should incorporate activities into their essay when they have already listed them separately on the application. Leave out less important things (or limit items that ate not critical to the Personal Statement to other portions of your application—there are sections in the scholarship application for listing honors, awards, and activities).
• Exaggerating your history and situation. Do not believe that all applicants expand on the truth. Experienced interviewers often uncover exaggeration during interviews. This can be embarrassing and disastrous for an applicant.
• Being overly clever or cute in writing the Personal Statement. Selection committees have read quite literally hundreds of essays, and they find overly clever essays annoying. This reaction can do nothing but harm the future of your application.

writing_a_personal_statement_handout.png

Additional Resources for Writing a Personal Statement: 

• How to Write an Excellent Personal Statement in 14 Days - 2 pager from our office 
• Write a Great Personal Statement  - 2 pager from OSU's Career Development Center 
• Tips for Becoming a Strong Applicant  - 1 pager from our office 
• Shitty First Drafts - Essay by Anne Lamott  

The Statement of Purpose

Statements of Purpose are usually limited in length.  Use your space wisely to fully describe your project or purpose. You should cover the essential details of your project or purpose within the first or second paragraph.

The Statement of Purpose should demonstrate that you are able to plan and implement a successful research project or course of study. Statement of Purpose is your guide to completing your study and meeting your objectives. The Statement of Purpose should be as specific as possible, while also being flexible enough  to allow for adjustments in response to unanticipated circumstances.

Ask yourself the following questions during your writing and editing processes:

• Overall, is the Statement of Purpose persuasive, direct, concise, and easy to read? Short (three or four-sentence) paragraphs can be very effective.
• Does the Statement of Purpose emphasize the relevance and significance of the project from start to finish?
• Does the first paragraph answer who, what, when, where, why, and how?
• Do the subsequent paragraphs detail what you propose to do and how you will do it?
• Is the timeline realistic, specific, acceptable, and appropriate? Does it include any pre- and post-grant plans?
• Are there clearly defined, achievable goals and objectives (the activities/steps to reach your goals), concrete outcomes, and measurable results?
• Does the proposal fit within the context of your academic experience and skills?
• Are the methodology and activities comprehensive, relevant, appropriate, feasible, and approved/approvable, if necessary?
• Does the proposal include an explanation of your field of study and the context of the project?
• If applicable, does the proposal describe with whom you will work, the support that they have offered to give you, and the significance of this assistance?
• Does the proposal demonstrate why the project or study needs to be at the proposed location/university, the resources provided, and how your collaborators will benefit from your work there?
• Does the proposal demonstrate that you have the academic background necessary for your project?
• Does the proposal clearly explain your future plans (immediate and long-term) and how your work will help further your academic and/or professional development?
• Does the proposal leave the reader with a sense of why your project should be supported?
• Does the closing paragraph of the proposal reemphasize what you will achieve and what makes your project exciting, necessary and unique?

Overall, the Statement of Purpose should be compelling and easily understood by both an educated “lay” person and an expert in your field. Since you do not know exactly who will read your application at the national (and/or international) level, write a proposal that is clear and comprehensible to someone who knows nothing about your subject, while also specific and detailed enough to convince an expert. Do not be afraid to use language or concepts specific to your field and to reference the work of other authors. If your project is highly technical, about 75% of your proposal should be easily understood by all readers

Links to Essay Writing Tips

500 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing

How to Win a Graduate Fellowship

Writing Personal Statements Online

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National and Global Scholarships Advising  Director, LeAnn Adam [email protected] 541-737-1996

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The Oregon Board of Bar Examiners (BBX) administers the Uniform Bar Examination as a part of the Oregon bar examination. This includes six essay questions – the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), 200 multiple-choice questions – the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), and two 90-minute performance items – the Multistate Performance Test (MPT).  The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) scores the MBE component of the UBE.  The BBX grades the MEE and MPT components.  The MEE and MPT scores are scaled to the MBE and UBE total scores are calculated by NCBE. The MBE is weighted 50%, the MEE 30%, and the MPT 20%. Materials and resources to better understand the various components of the exam, as well as sample MEE and MBE questions and summaries of recent MPT items, can be found on the website for the NCBE:  www.ncbex.org/exams

The following areas of law that may be tested on the MEE include Business Associations (Agency and Partnership; Corporations and Limited Liability Companies), Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts (including Article 2 [Sales] of the Uniform Commercial Code), Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Real Property, Torts, Trusts and Estates (Decedents’ Estates; Trusts and Future Interests), and Article 9 (Secured Transactions) of the Uniform Commercial Code. Some questions may include issues in more than one are of law. The particular areas covered vary from exam to exam.

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Test Optional Admissions

Oregon State University has a test-optional admissions policy for first-year students.

You can decide to submit standardized test scores if you think they add something of value to our review, or you can choose not to submit them if you want us to focus more intently on your high school record and other supporting documents.  The choice is yours.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the factors/items that osu considers in its admission review.

Oregon State University has a holistic admissions process which looks at the following items for each of our applicants, with the goal of identifying and admitting students who have the skills, abilities, and drive to succeed at OSU:

• Your high school grades
• Rigor of coursework, considered in the context of options at your school
• Grades in any college or dual-credit courses
• Information provided in your personal statement on the application
• Your responses to one of our available application essay prompts

Test scores, if submitted, are never the sole or primary reason for an admissions decision; they are always considered in context and as supplemental information.

OSU does not require letters of recommendation except when a student is appealing a denial, but will consider any recommendations provided.

When do I need to indicate if I plan to submit test scores as part of my application file?

You’ll be asked to tell us whether or not you will supply a test score at the time you apply for admission. This allows us to wait on making an admission decision until we’ve received a score, should you decide to submit, or to proceed once the other materials in your application have been received if you decide to apply test optional.

If you decide to submit an SAT or ACT score you’ve already taken, we prefer that you self-report them on the application, as this saves you time and money.

If you apply test-optional, but you’ve already sent us a test score, or they are included on your transcript, we will remove them from our review process.

We do ask all students who have taken a test to submit it if they decide to enroll.  This is simply for research purposes and cannot affect admission or financial aid. The SAT college code for Oregon State University is 4586. The ACT college code for Oregon State University is 3482.

What if I change my mind about submitting a test score after I apply?

If you indicated you would not be sending a test score and decide to do so before we’ve made an admission decision, you can let us know in your application portal. You may decide to add a test score during the appeal of a decision.

How will I be considered for scholarships without test scores?

Oregon State University is committed to making scholarship opportunities available to students who qualify, whether they apply with or without test scores. Like the admissions decision-making process, test scores will not be used to disqualify students from scholarships unless otherwise indicated in our scholarship application system.

Are test scores required for scholarship or Honors College consideration?

Scholarship opportunities  are available to students who qualify, whether they apply with or without test scores. Applying test-optional will not be disqualify students from scholarships unless otherwise indicated in our scholarship application system.

Admission to the Honors College  is competitive. Selection criteria for an incoming first-year student is based on cumulative unweighted high school GPA and the response to the essay question. SAT or ACT scores are optional but can be used to apply if students do not meet the minimum GPA requirement. The strength of courses taken in high school, as well as personal or academic attributes that will enrich the Honors community, are also considered.

Are test scores required for admission to specific programs?

Test scores are not required for admission to any programs at OSU. Your intended major is just for advising purposes and is not considered as part of an admissions decision.

If I apply test-optional, is there an essay or explanation required?

Students who apply test-optional will not be required to provide an additional essay or explanation. OSU only requires students to respond to one of the seven standard essay prompts. The Personal Statement is optional for all applicants.

How should I report my scores? Are official score reports required?

If you decide to submit an SAT or ACT score you’ve already taken at the time you apply, we prefer that you self-report them on the application. You can add or update test scores in your application portal after you apply as well.  OSU will validate self-reported scores.  Once an admission decision is made and before you enroll, we do ask for official score reports to be provided. This is simply for research purposes and cannot affect admission or financial aid. The SAT college code for Oregon State University is 4586. The ACT college code for Oregon State University is 3482.

Do you superscore ACT or SAT results?

We will consider the best composite score from an individual test date. We will not recalculate a new composite score from multiple test dates.

Do you require SAT Subject Tests?

SAT Subject Tests are not required for admission to Oregon State or any of our academic programs. Graduates of  non-standard or unaccredited high schools , or home-schooled students may decide to provide SAT subject tests for us to evaluate as part of their file, particularly if they do not have transferrable college credit.

Who do I contact if I have questions about this policy?

We invite you to reach out to your  admission counselor  or to contact the Office of Admissions at  541-737-4411  or  [email protected]  with any questions regarding the application process.