Path to College

The process of stepping from the comfort of high school to the unknowns of college can be confusing — and even a bit daunting.

The following checklist is designed to take some of the mystery out of the process and prepare you for that day you arrive on campus and attend your first college class.

1. Fall of your junior year

  • Take the PSAT.
  • Start visiting campuses and attending college fairs.

2. Spring of your junior year

  • Take the SAT-I or ACT. List OSU as your first choice on the test form to ensure your scores are sent to OSU.
  • Contact universities for information and guidebooks. Be sure to visit the OSU Admissions or call the Office of Admissions, 541-737-4411 or 800-291-4192, for our OSU Student Viewbook.
  • Make a list of universities and colleges that interest you.

3. Summer before your senior year

  • Investigate university, college and departmental scholarship opportunities at OSU. For information about applications and deadlines, contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, the college of Agricultural Sciences, and the office of your academic program of interest.
  • Research scholarships in your local community or designated for students with your interests.
  • Prepare a list of grades, activities, honors, awards and work experience to use as a reference when completing scholarship applications.

4. Before Nov. 1 of your senior year

  • Apply for OSU Admissions to receive early consideration.
  • Apply for university-level scholarships by completing the scholarship section of the OSU application for admission.
  • Apply for the University Honors College to receive early consideration.
  • Apply for university housing. Housing applications are mailed once you’ve been admitted. The date your contract and application fee are received establishes your priority for housing assignment.

5. Before Feb. 1 of your senior year

  • Apply for college-level scholarships. Apply online, via e-mail casstudy@oregonstate.edu or call 541-737-2211.
  • Apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. FAFSA applications are available online or from your high school counselor.
  • Apply for admission, university-level scholarships, and the University Honors College if you haven’t already.

6. Spring of your senior year

Pay your Advance Tuition Deposit (ATD) after you have been admitted. That will enable you to register for START, OSU's summer advising and registration program. Information about START is sent in early May.

7. Summer before starting at OSU

  • Have an official final high school transcript sent to OSU’s Office of Admissions.
  • Attend START. During START, you participate in helpful workshops about college life, meet with an adviser and register for classes.
  • Confirm your living arrangements. If you have applied for university housing, you will receive assignment notification by mail.

8. Fall of your first year at OSU!

Attend CONNECT, OSU’s orientation week for new students. During CONNECT, you participate in helpful workshops about college life, take part in fun social activities, attend academic programs, make new friends and move into university housing. You will receive information about CONNECT during START, or you can learn about it online from the New Student Programs and Family Outreach website.

9. At any time

Visit the OSU campus and the College of Agricultural Sciences. Our student ambassadors are happy to answer questions or schedule a personalized campus visit for you. They make all the arrangements. Simply e-mail casstudy@oregonstate.edu, call 541-737-2467 or visit the ambassador Web site.

OSU also offers several campus visitation events, such as Beaver Open House and Preview Day. See the Visit Campus website for dates.

For more information

College of Agricultural Sciences
Academic Programs Office
Oregon State University
147 Strand Agriculture Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331-2002
541-737-2211
casstudy@oregonstate.edu
http://agsci.oregonstate.edu/