New Student Checklist

As a newly admitted graduate student, there’s a lot to do. Here’s a list of the most important things to do after you’re admitted. Please read the information below and complete all the items on the New Student Check List.

  1. Accept admission at appstatus.osu.edu
  2. Activate your BuckeyePass
  3. Activate your Ohio State email account (see below for full list)
  4. Complete the Financial Responsibility Statement (see below for full list)
  5. Submit final official transcripts (for provisionally admitted students) – contact Graduate and Professional Admissions
  6. Contact your Academic Advisor to receive your Course Planning Worksheet
  7. Schedule classes
  8. Pay fees (see below for full list)

Did you complete steps 1-8?

Click here for the complete New Student Checklist

Activate Your Ohio State Email Account

Activate your Ohio State username at my.osu.edu

Learn more about activating your account or forwarding your email to a commercial service (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.).

All university correspondence is sent to your osu.edu email address, and all email sent to faculty and staff should be sent from your osu.edu email address.

Ohio State will never ask for your Ohio State username or password. Do not reply to any email asking for your Ohio State username, password, or other personal information. Report such messages to report-phish@osu.edu.

Complete the Financial Responsibility Statement

You must complete the financial responsibility statement before you can register. Your record is updated immediately after you complete the financial responsibility statement.

  1. Buckeye Link → Student Center
  2. Under HOLDS, click DETAILS
  3. Click REGISTRATION LOCK and follow the instructions

BuckID Student Identification Card

BuckID, Ohio State’s identification card, can be obtained on the 3rd floor of the Ohio Union. Ohio State Online students can request a BuckID at myphoto.osu.edu, which will be mailed to their home/current address. To get your BuckID, you must have another valid photo ID, such as driver’s license, passport or state ID, and you must be enrolled in classes for the current semester.

For those who have been assessed the relevant fees, your BuckID serves as your COTA bus pass and membership card for the Recreation & Physical Activity Center.

Pay Fees

University Bursar, Office of Financial Services

All fees are due one week prior to the start of classes. Accounts not paid are assessed a late payment fee. You will not receive paper statements of account in the mail. You must check your statement of account online and meet all payment and registration deadlines.

Online: Buckeye Link → My Student Center → Finances tab → Make a Payment

In person: Office of the University Bursar, 2nd Floor, SAS Building, 281 West Lane Avenue

By mail: University Bursar, The Ohio State University, PO Box 183248, Columbus, OH 43218-3248

All students are assessed the student activity, student union facility, and COTA bus fees each semester. The recreation (RPAC) fee is assessed each semester or term for all students enrolled for 4 or more credit hours. Fee authorizations cover instructional and general fees only.

Regularly admitted graduate students registered at least half-time are automatically enrolled in student health insurance. If you choose to waive your student health insurance, you must provide proof of alternate coverage to Student Health Insurance (SHI).

Students admitted to a degree program on the Columbus campus are assessed a student legal services fee. You may waive this fee but cannot re-enroll later in the participation year if a legal issue arises. See Student Legal for more information.

 

Course Planning Worksheet

All students are required to complete a Course Planning Worksheet before or at the beginning of the semester in which they start the MSW Program (see note below*). This helps us to know your preferences so we may plan for course enrollments, but of greater importance, it gives you a planned schedule for completing your MSW degree.  This plan will guide you in the actual courses you will take throughout your program.  To see examples of different program options, please click here.

Appointments can be made for either in-person, virtual, or over-the-phone academic advising. Academic Advising appointments can be scheduled for evening hours to accommodate students who live in different time zones, and/or work during the day.

*You can schedule classes prior to meeting with an advisor, so please feel free to follow the course plan options listed on the link above.

Schedule an appointment:

To schedule an appointment with your academic counselor please contact him/her/they directly.

  • All currently admitted Online students with last names A-F should contact – Stephanie McGuire (mcguire.420@osu.edu)
  • All currently admitted Online students with last names G-Q should contact – Carly Zehr (zehr.8@osu.edu)
  • All currently admitted Online students with last names R-Z should contact – Carillon Young (young.3133@osu.edu)
  • All currently admitted On-Campus students with last names A-M should contact – Antwanette Brown (brown.4396@osu.edu)
  • All currently admitted On-Campus students with last names N-Z should contact – MSW Office (msw@osu.edu) 

Faculty Advisor

Faculty advisors are experts in their academic discipline, having taught, researched, and published in their field. Students will be assigned faculty advisors at the beginning of the term. Faculty advisors can answer questions regarding:

  • Research opportunities
  • Careers in social work
  • Independent studies
  • Thesis Option

Faculty Advisors and Academic Advisors

Each student consults with an Academic Counselor. Your Academic Counselor should be your first point of contact for questions regarding:

  • Curriculum
  • Connecting you to the resources on campus (e.g., Financial Aid, Student Wellness, Writing Center, Counseling and Consultation, Student Advocacy Center)
  • Adding or dropping classes, general scheduling questions, and making changes or substitutions in your program
  • Questions about academic program requirements

 

Graduate Non-Degree and Transfer Credit Information

Requests for acceptance of any graduate level course you have or will have completed prior to the beginning of semester in which you plan to start the MSW Program must be emailed to ward.787@osu.edu. Classes must be from an accredited institution from the last 5 to 6 years for transfer credit to apply toward the degree.

This includes Graduate Non-Degree and transfer courses from OSU or other institutions.  Depending upon the course and how you want to have it applied, you may be required to submit additional information including syllabi, reading lists, etc.  The Graduate School requires that requests for transfer credit be completed after the start of Autumn semester enrollment.

We may accept up to 18 quarter hours or 12 semester hours for transfer credit from another University, and up to 10 credit hours for Graduate Non-Degree students as transfer credits. Once the MSW Program Office approves your courses for transfer credit, students must complete a Transfer of Graduate Credit Form by logging into gradforms.osu.edu and selecting “View Enrollment Forms,” then selecting “Create New Transfer of Graduate Credit Form.” Follow the prompts from there to complete the process.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

(https://safeandhealthy.osu.edu/vaccine)

For questions regarding how the vaccine status might impact field education and course registrations please email (vaccination@osu.edu)

Once again, welcome to the College of Social Work, and please let us know how we can assist you in making this a rewarding and seamless experience.