Ohio State welcomes one of its best-prepared freshman classes

COLUMBUS -- Ohio State University faculty and staff will welcome one of the best academically prepared freshman classes to the Columbus campus when a new academic year begins Wednesday (9/25) for approximately 48,000 students, including 5,900 freshmen and 1,850 first-quarter transfer students.

“We are extremely pleased with the high caliber of students we have entering Ohio State this fall,” said Mabel Freeman, assistant vice president for undergraduate admissions and First Year Experience. “One-third of the freshmen this fall ranked in the top 10 percent of their graduating class. Two-thirds ranked in the top 25 percent.”

The Class of 2006 shares its academic distinction with last year’s incoming class with an ACT average of 25.2. The national average is 20.8.

“For the past seven years, ACT scores among our freshmen have risen,” Freeman said. “To sustain that progress this year indicates we’re moving in the right direction.”

Freeman oversees specialized programming to help acclimate freshmen to college life and retain them through their first year. The First Year Experience Program, recently ranked No. 7 nationally by U.S. News and World Report, specifically addresses the academic, social and cultural needs and interests of incoming freshmen.

“Addressing the success of our students on a campus this size is truly a collaborative effort among our colleges, residence halls, academic advisors, student affairs offices and many other university departments,” Freeman said.

Components of the program include: Convocation, an introduction to university faculty and school tradition; the First Year Success Series, a lecture series featuring 128 life skills topics; the Buckeye Book Community, a campus-wide book club; Cultural Arts Packages, including discount tickets to Columbus arts performances; FYE-mails and Ask-FYE, email networks that target information to freshmen throughout the year.

According to recent statistics, retention for first-year students at Ohio State increased two percent to 86 percent.

“The complexities of college can be overwhelming,” Freeman said. “It is our mission to ensure that our students not only receive a quality education but also the information, resources and opportunity for personal growth and success.”