Nomination, Selection, and Induction

Each spring, teachers, principals, and guidance counselors nominate sixth-grade students from the nine largest urban school districts in Ohio: Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Lorain, Toledo, and Youngstown. Students are interviewed and selected on the basis of academic performance, test scores, leadership, community involvement, family circumstances, and other factors. All of the students are from low income families. In addition, a potential Young Scholar must be in the first generation in his or her family to graduate from a four-year university or college with a bachelor’s degree or beyond.

Public school officials, representatives from Ohio State, and members of the student’s community make the final selection of the Young Scholars. The students are formally inducted as Young Scholars in the ninth grade. As part of the induction process, Young Scholars are encouraged to attend Ohio State and along with their parents must make a commitment to participate in the facets of the program. Young Scholars must also enroll in college preparatory courses in high school and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA. Young Scholars who successfully complete program requirements are guaranteed admission to Ohio State as well as a financial aid package based on their individual need.