UC Admissions Application Checklist
The information in this checklist is for prospective undergraduates. Prospective graduate students should visit the Graduate School Web site.
1. Get Ready
2. Explore Your Options
3. Apply to UC
4. Accept UC's Offer
5. You're In! Now what?
Things You Must Do:
- Begin taking college preparatory courses
Different programs have different requirements, but most will expect you to have taken these courses (known as Ohio Articulation Requirements):
- 4 units of English
- 3 units of math (4 is highly recommended)
- 3 units of science
- 3 units of social studies
- 5 units of electives*
- Pay attention to your GPA
From 9th grade on, it counts!
Things you should do:
Get to know yourself. Ask yourself: What are my special talents? What do I like to do? Where do I feel most comfortable? What do I want to be? How do I want to live?
Get involved. Take part in hobbies, community activities, theater or music groups, or sports. Do what you enjoy, not just what you think looks good on your record!
Test yourself. Take the PSAT or PLAN in the fall of your sophomore year.
Consider Post-Secondary Enrollment Option Programs at UC (PSEOP). As early as 10th grade you may qualify to take college courses – for college credit.
Learn about Advanced Placement courses your high school offers. Learn more about AP courses.
Things You Must Do:
- Take college assessment exams
UC accepts ACT and SAT scores. You may take the test(s) as many times as you want -- we do not penalize students for taking the test several times.
- Be sure to have your scores sent to the Admissions Office directly from the testing agency. UC no longer accepts test scores from high school transcripts.
- If you take the ACT, be sure to sign up for the writing portion of the test at least once. The writing section is requried on the SAT. This is used for English placement during your freshman year and is required of all applicants.
- Consider majors that might interest you.
- Learn about UC's admission process
- Explore admission criteria for the program you are interested in. (See Program Outlines.) Requirements vary by program.
- Begin exploring scholarship possibilities and other funding options.
- Locate the admission application on the Web. (CCM applicants must use the CCM online application.)
- Find out the application deadline for the program you are interested in. (Competitive programs close early!)
Things you should do:
Visit campus. UC offers daily tours throughout the year. This is a great way to get an overview of the opportunities and facilities we have to offer.
Take Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
Earn college credit through Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program (PSEOP).
Things You Must Do:
- Be aware of application deadlines
Your application must be complete before the appropriate deadline. A complete application means we have received all the required items. Only then can we offer you admission. It is in your best interest to provide these materials as early as possible -- no later than Dec. 1 to be eligible for the Cincinnatus Scholarship, but much earlier for more competitive programs.
Learn more about UC Application Deadlines.
- Prepare your supplemental information
UC requires all first-time college students applying to bachelor's degree (4- to 5-year) programs to submit an Essay, Personal Statement and a Co-curricular Activities List. It is not required for transfer students or students applying to associate degree (2-year) programs.
The essay prompts from which students can choose on the 2013-14 application:
- Define 'success' in your own words and explain how the college experience will help you to achieve it.
- What is your most memorable childhood moment and how does it affect you today?
- Discuss a time when you have failed. How did you react and what did you learn from the experience?
- What superpower would you most like to have and why?
- Topic of your choice.
Personal Statement
- Please provide a Personal Statement regarding how your academic achievements, personal interests and life experiences have helped prepare you to succeed academically and to be an active member of the UC community. Be sure your response addresses each of the three components. (Please limit your response to approximately 250 words).
Co-curricular Activities List
- Please list your principal activities outside the classroom (student organizations, sports, community service, work, etc.). Include a brief description of your role or distinguishing contributions for each activity.
- Submit your application for admission
- Online (preferred for all programs except CCM)
- Online CCM (required for all CCM applications)
- Pay application fee
UC's application fee is $50. Online applicants must pay by Visa, MasterCard or Discover card when submitting their application. Do not send cash. Be sure your name and Social Security Number are written on the check or money order. The application fee is not refundable.
- Have your transcripts sent to us
If you are a high school student, you must ask your guidance counselor to send us your transcript. If you are transferring from another college or university, you must request a transcript from each institution where you have completed college coursework.
Transcripts should be sent to:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0091
*Transfer students, please note:
If you have earned fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter college credits, you must submit high school transcripts as part of your transfer application. On rare occasions, the program you are applying to may require a transcript regardless of the number of college credits you've earned. Check the program requirements for this information. You are required to provide official transcripts from every college you have attended regardless of the number of credit hours you took or the grades you earned.
- Submit your ACT and/or SAT test scores.
Test scores must be sent to UC directly from the testing agency (test scores are not accepted from the HS transcript). You may select UC as a recipient of your scores by using the codes below when you register for an exam, or you may send scores directly from the ACT website or the SAT website.
If you graduated from high school more than one year before admission, or if you will attend one of UC's open admission colleges (Clermont College or UC Blue Ash College) the test is recommended but usually not required.
Things you should do:
Make another visit to campus. Information Fairs, Career Days and campus events are a great follow up to your Preview UC visit.
Apply for Financial Aid any time after Jan. 1. We cannot offer you aid until you have been accepted to UC, but it is a good idea to get your aid application in as early as possible. Financial aid is awarded after you confirm your admission to UC.
When you receive your UC offer letter, you're just two simple steps away from becoming a Bearcat.
Things You Must Do:
- Confirm your admission
The May 1 priority deadline has passed for the fall semester 2013. Some undergraduate programs have exceeded enrollment targets and are no longer accepting applications and confirmations.
Check the list of programs no longer accepting confirmations.
Confirming your admission is an important step toward becoming a University of Cincinnati student. Students must confirm admission to access the housing application and register for orientation. (Please note that it will take a minimum of 48 hours to generate the accounts necessary to complete the housing registration.)
You can use the online confirmation form if:
- you are going to be an undergraduate student; (Graduate students contact the Graduate School for information about confirming your admission.)
- you have been offered admission to any of the University of Cincinnati campuses, including UC Blue Ash and Clermont College.
- Paying your matriculation fee
If confirmations have closed for your program and term, please contact the Office of Admissions at 513-556-1100 if you wish to be considered for admission to another term. To see if your program is closed visit the Closed Programs Page.
The Uptown (main) campus requires a $100 non-refundable confirmation fee to secure admission. UC Blue Ash and Clermont College require a $50 non-refundable fee.
If you are paying by credit or debit card,
- log in to the online Admission Confirmation Form.
- We accept MasterCard, Visa and Discover.
If you cannot pay by credit or debit card, please
- print the Admission Confirmation Form;
- complete the form and a $100 check or money order ($50 for UC Blue Ash or Clermont College) made payable to “University of Cincinnati;”
- mail to:
Office of Admissions
University of Cincinnati
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0091.
- mail to:
If your program is closed for confirmation DO NOT mail in a paper form - it will not be accepted.
Things you should do:
- Tell your friends and family!
- Connect with your future friends, classmates, and roommates on Facebook and Twitter!
- Get your Bearcat apparel from the UC Bookstore.
- Apply for housing and parking. All confirmed Freshmen can apply for Housing beginning February 1.
Once you're confirmed as a UC student, you're entitled to all the privileges, benefits and services that UC students enjoy. Here are the basics. You'll learn more as you go along.
Things You Must Do:
- Apply for Financial Aid
(on or after Jan. 1)
It is important to complete your FAFSA each year as soon after Jan. 1 as possible. Because some aid programs are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, an early application receives priority consideration for limited funding sources. Learn more about financial aid.
- Apply for Housing
(on or after Feb. 1 / Priority Housing Date - May 1)
For students who are required (permanent residence is greater than 50 miles from Uptown campus) to live on campus their first year or those choosing to live on campus, you’ll need to apply for housing using the Housing and Food Services Web site.
- Send final transcripts
Students who have earned credit through Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program, or a dual admission program, must send transcripts to UC to assist academic advisors in placing them in the correct courses. All final high school and/or college transcripts and credit documents must be submitted to UC for evaluation after the completion of these courses and prior to registering for classes at Orientation.
- Attend Orientation
(registration begins in March)
Bearcat Bound Orientation is designed to assist you in making a successful academic and social transition into the University of Cincinnati community. During Orientation, you will also meet with an academic advisor and register for classes.
Note: Students must confirm their admission prior to registering for Orientation and Housing.
Things you should do:
Relax! You did it! Now's a good time to learn more about Cincinnati or Visit UC again.
Get involved! UC has hundreds of student activities and organizations that provide social and leadership opportunities, experience and fun. Learn more about Student Life at UC.
Apply for a UC parking permit, if you need one.