Autumn quarter classes begin Wednesday at Ohio State

Autumn quarter classes at The Ohio State University begin Wednesday (9/24) for approximately 37,000 undergraduates, including approximately 6,300 first-year students. Mabel Freeman, assistant vice president for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and First Year Experience (FYE), said the size of the incoming class represents a 7 percent increase over last year (5,888) and ranks as the university’s best academically prepared freshman class.

“The academic profile of our first-year students has improved significantly over the past nine years,” Freeman said. “We are extremely pleased not only with the level but also with the depth of preparedness this freshman class has achieved. Our enrollment with regard to diversity remains strong, particularly among African American and Hispanic students.”

Approximately 50 percent of the incoming freshmen at Ohio State scored between 23 and 28 on their ACTs, improving the entering class average to a high between 25.3 and 25.4, compared to 25.2 last year. The 2003 national ACT average is 20.8.
Overall, approximately 33 percent of Ohio State’s first-year students graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school classes and nearly 70 percent ranked in the top 25 percent.

Freeman added that enrollment among Honors and Scholars students is also on the rise.

“The number of freshmen enrolling as Honors students has increased almost 25 percent from last year,” Freeman said. “Scholars students will represent an increase of approximately 21 percent.”

Freeman said that the quality of the enrolling students is just one part of Ohio State’s ultimate goal to cultivate a diverse class of students who will benefit from the university’s academic rigor and educational diversity.

The goal of the FYE program, noted recently by U.S. News and World Report as an outstanding example of a program that leads to student success, is to provide targeted communications and specialized programs that help connect first-year students to the university community and to greater Columbus. Components of the program include the President’s Convocation, Buckeye Book Community, the Distinguished Speaker Series and First Year Success Series, cultural activities, living-learning residential programs and significant academic advising.

The first to second year retention rate for Ohio State students continues to improve. Ten years ago, the retention of Ohio State freshmen was 78 percent compared to 87.5 percent in autumn quarter 2002. The national average for public universities is 74 percent.

Freeman anticipates an increase in retention for students returning this week and said the progress is due to a university-wide effort and commitment to make sure that the students who are being admitted to Ohio State will be the students who graduate from Ohio State.

“Helping students make a successful transition from high school into Ohio State, a major research university, is truly a collaborative effort,” said Freeman. “It requires a cooperative spirit and willingness among our administrators, academic colleges and departments, student affairs, residence hall staffs and so many more university faculty and staff members,” said Freeman.