Frequently Asked Questions
- I'm getting ready to submit my application online. Can the application fee be waived?
- What are my chances for being admitted?
- Can I be admitted conditionally?
- My degree is in a non-engineering field. What should I do to prepare for graduate school prior to applying?
- Where can I find information about the cost to attend Ohio State?
- How do I apply for financial aid consideration?
- What is the likelihood that I will receive funding for my graduate studies?
- What type of information should be included in my letters of reference?
- My entire education was in English. Must I take the TOEFL test?
- I have been in the Nuclear Navy. Can I transfer my credit to Ohio State?
- How do I remind or change a recommender?
1. I'm getting ready to submit my application online. Can the application fee be waived?
Neither the University nor the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering will waive the application fee. Highly qualified U.S. Citizens who have participated in the Summer Research Opportunities Program or a similar program may qualify for a fee waiver and can submit a request for consideration through the CIC FreeApp.
2. What are my chances for being admitted?
Due to the large number of such requests, we do not make any evaluations of an applicant’s chances of admission. Our admission criteria and average GPA and test scores are available here if you would like to get an idea where you might stand. Please note that GPA and test scores are only one component of the review process and decisions are based on the entire contents of the application.
3. Can I be admitted conditionally?
No. We do not consider any students for admission unless they have met the minimum admission criteria and completed all of the application requirements.
Students whose backgrounds are not in engineering, physics, or chemistry should strongly look into taking courses or earning an undergraduate degree in those fields prior to applying to the program. Students should contact a faculty advisor with whom they might work in order to find out which courses they should take to be prepared to start graduate study.
5. Where can I find information about the cost to attend Ohio State?
A breakdown of the various tuition and fee costs per credit hour for one semester is available at http://go.osu.edu/feetables. An estimated budget for Graduate study is available at http://go.osu.edu/gradbudget. On the page, click on the dropdown box and select "Graduate Students" for a display of the estimated expenses to pursue graduate studies at Ohio State for two semesters.
6. How do I apply for financial aid consideration?
All students who have been recommended for admission to our department are automatically eligible for financial aid consideration. There are no additional forms that need to be submitted for financial aid consideration.
7. What is the likelihood that I will receive funding for my graduate studies?
Students pursuing a Master’s or Doctoral degree in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering are eligible for financial support; however, Ph.D. students are offered such opportunities preferentially. Students applying to the Master’s program should plan to support themselves for the duration of their Master’s degree, though they are eligible for financial support should funding become available.
8. What type of information should be included in my letters of reference?
If an individual asks you this, you can suggest things like how you've done in a class, any extracurricular activities they know you've been involved in, how they think you'll be suited for graduate study etc. Submit a résumé to your recommender as that will often times help give them a little more background when writing your letter.
9. My entire education was in English. Must I take the TOEFL test?
You are exempt from taking an English proficiency test, such as, TOEFL, MELAB, or IELTS, if you have established citizenship in one of the following countries or if you are eligible to receive a 4 year bachelor’s degree or higher from an institution in one of the following countries: Australia, Belize, British Caribbean, British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Scotland, Wales, and The United States. US Green Card holders are exempt from taking an English proficiency test if they have held the Green Card at least one year prior to their semester of enrollment.
Please note: It is not required that you must have your degree completed from one of the exempt countries at the time you are applying for admission. However, you must have completed your degree prior to your semester of enrollment.
If your country is not listed as any of the exempt counties, you must take one of the aforementioned English proficiency tests.
10. I have been in the Nuclear Navy. Can I transfer my credit to Ohio State?
Credit for Navy courses does not typically transfer to Ohio State. However, we have found that students in the Nuclear Navy are usually very disciplined, motivated, and are quite successful in our engineering programs.
11. How do I remind or change a recommedner?
Non-Ohio State students, must activate their Ohio State Username, (sent to you after you applied) at my.osu.edu. Log into your Application References Summary using your Ohio State username and password at go.osu.edu/lor. From go.osu.edu/lor you can remind a recommender to write a letter. You can also edit, add or delete a recommender from your application.