Preparing for your Orientation program

Travel arrangements

Check-in locations
Routes to Columbus and your arrival and parking locations for orientation

Airline flights to Columbus
Commercial flights will arrive at Port Columbus International Airport (CMH). Taxi, shuttle, and limousine service to the campus area is available.

Airport Information: (614) 239-4083      port-columbus.com

If you have any trouble, call (614) 292-4161 (2-4161 if you're calling from a campus phone) for assistance.

Housing and meals

We strongly encourage all students to purchase the orientation meal package (and guests to purchase the lunch) as there are few convenient options and the lunch on Day One is very much a part of the orientation program.

We also encourage all students, even those from central Ohio, to stay overnight in a residence hall so they can gain firsthand experience of student life at Ohio State and be fully involved in the orientation program.

Staying in a residence hall during your two-day orientation is convenient and allows you to be fully involved in the orientation program.

Each residence hall suite has four bedrooms. Two students will be assigned to each bedroom. The suite of eight people will share the bathroom and living room facility.

Family members should contact one of the hotels near campus which offer special room rates for orientation participants.

Helpful residence hall information:

• Bring clothes hangers and alarm clocks, as they are not provided.
• Bed and bath linens are provided.
• All residence hall suites are air-conditioned, but windows do not open.
• Smoking and alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the residence halls.

Reserving housing and meals
After you have reserved your orientation date, there will be a link on your confirmation page leading to the housing and meal reservation site. Full package information described below, meal only information available on the reservation website.

Orientation Student Package (includes housing, 1 lunch, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast): $50
Parking: $12

Additional nights in the residence halls
The rate for additional nights in the residence halls is $30 per person, per night.

Items to bring

• Money (cash, check or credit card) for orientation housing, meals, and parking ($12 for 2 days)
• A battery-operated calculator, if taking the math assessment (Programmable calculators and calculators using computer symbolic algebra or QWERTY keyboards are not permitted.)
• A picture ID (driver's license, state ID or passport), required to get your university ID card
• A transcript of any college course work taken during high school, in case your official college transcript hasn't arrived
• A backpack or bookbag, as you will receive a number of materials
• An alarm clock, pillow, and extra blanket, if staying in the residence halls
• A sweater or light jacket (Some rooms are air-conditioned and may be unusually chilly.)
• Inclement weather gear such as umbrellas and raincoats
• Ohio State Username and password
• Comfortable shoes and casual clothing, as you will do extensive walking and some stair climbing
• Student-issued copy of AP scores (Note: original copies must be sent directly from AP to Ohio State.)

Financial aid

File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) yearly at fafsa.ed.gov. The Financial Aid priority deadlines adhere to when the FAFSA was actually received, not when it was mailed.

Check your current Financial Aid status at sfa.osu.edu/status. This site will indicate your award status and any additional documentation that may be required for verification.

If you need to submit any verification documents, you may bring them with you to your orientation session. You may meet with a financial aid representative to answer questions and submit your documents.

There are three initial requirements to activate an awarded Federal Direct Loan:

1. Accept the loan in full or part. To do this, view your status page at sfa.osu.edu/status and use the prompt in the What's Needed column of your electronic Financial Aid Award Package.
2. Complete online entrance counseling. Ohio State reserves the right to cancel all or part of this loan if you do not fulfill this requirement.
3. Compete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). Access and complete your electronic MPN at dlenote.ed.gov. You will need to have your Federal Personal Identification Number (PIN). If you do not have a PIN, you may register for one at pin.ed.gov.

Please refer to sfa.osu.edu to answer any additional questions that you may have, or contact our office.

Requesting disability services

Most of the academic accommodations and services available to students during the academic year through the Office for Disability Services (ODS) are also available to you during orientation. Students with disabilities can receive support services that include test-taking assistance and adaptive transportation. Disability documentation must be presented to ODS for determination of eligibility prior to your orientation session. If arrangements are made in advance, ODS will help ascertain needs and arrange appropriate services during orientation for students. Arrangements for family members are also available. We cannot guarantee that services will be available at orientation if arrangements are not made in advance of the program. Request disability accommodations here.

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