Student Success Services

Orientation:
SOAR (Student Orientation, Assessment, & Registration) Program

Welcome to Ohio State ATI!

Attending college is fun, exciting, and challenging. It is a time of new beginnings and may create a variety of changes in your life. Some changes may be easy while others may be more difficult. The collegiate experience will give you the opportunity to expand your personal, academic, and professional horizons, meet new people, establish your own identity, and set new goals.

For more information about Ohio Statae ATI's SOAR programs, contact:
Nancy Brooker
Student Success Services
Mid-Level, Skou Hall
(330) 287-1302
(800) 647-8382, ext. 1302 (Ohio only)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Am I required to attend a SOAR Program?
2. Why is it important to attend a SOAR Program?
3. Are transfer students required to attend a SOAR Program?
4. Am I required to attend the entire SOAR Program?
5. Should my parents, spouse, or family member attend the SOAR Program with me?
6. Will I be required to take placement tests?
7. What do I do if I have not taken the ACT or SAT during a national testing date?
8. I am a transfer student. Who can I speak with if I have questions or concerns about my transfer credit evaluation?
9. Durings SOAR, what will I have the opportunity to do?
10. What should I bring to the SOAR Program?
11. How will me SOAR date be assigned?
12. If the SOAR date does not fit my schedule, is it possible to attend on an alternate date?
13. Am I required by Ohio State ATI to live on campus?
14. Can I visit the Ohio State ATI Residence Hall or Applewood Village during the SOAR day?
15. When will I receive my roommate assignment?
16. How do I request services from the Office for Disability Services?
17. When will I need to return to the Ohio State ATI campus?
18. How will I receive Ohio State University information in the future?
19. How do I get directions to Ohio State ATI?
20. I have additional questions about Ohio State ATI. Who should I contact?

1. Am I required to attend a SOAR Program?
All new degree-seeking students are required to attend a SOAR Program. There are NO exceptions to this rule. This includes all new first year students, transfer students, and intra-university transfers.

2. Why is it important to attend a SOAR Program?
The SOAR Program provides an opportunity for you and your guests to visit Ohio State ATI to complete placement testing, attend orientation sessions, meet with your academic advisor to schedule classes, complete University business such as getting your BUCK-ID, visit University Housing, and visit the Financial Aid Office. It also gives you and your guests an opportunity to meet Ohio State ATI faculty and staff. The SOAR Program is an important part of the orientation process and provides information to help you make a successful transition to the college environment.

3. Are transfer students required to attend a SOAR Program?
All newly admitted degree-seeking students are required to attend a SOAR Program. This includes all transfer students which includes students that are transferring from another Ohio State University campus. It is important that every new student has the opportunity to visit the Ohio State ATI campus, meet their advisor, attend orientation sessions, and schedule and register for classes. These activities are completed at the SOAR Program.

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4. Am I required to attend the entire SOAR Program?
It is important that newly admitted students attend every SOAR session. You are encouraged to adjust your personal schedule so you can attend the entire SOAR Program (8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) If you have conflicts with your scheduled SOAR date or you can not attend the entire program, please contact the SOAR Office as soon as possible and every effort will be made to find an alternate SOAR date.

5. Should my parents, spouse, or family member attend the SOAR Program with me?
We highly encourage students to bring parents, a spouse, or a family member to the SOAR Program. We realize that this might not be convenient for family schedules, so their attendance is not required but highly encouraged. During the SOAR Program, there will be activities for family members to attend. This includes a family member orientation session, campus tours, a financial aid session, and time to talk to various Ohio State ATI faculty and staff members.

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6. Will I be required to take placement tests?
Ohio State ATI students will be involved in placement testing during SOAR. Ohio State ATI gives placement tests in English, Math, and Reading to help determine appropriate course placement. Your individual placement testing will be determined using several criteria, including ACT or SAT scores for traditional college freshmen and applicable transfer credit for transfer students.

All Ohio State ATI students will complete the Math Placement test unless they received applicable transfer credit. The Ohio State University Math department provides information on their website, www.math.osu.edu, about math placement testing. At this website, select Counseling Office, then Math Placement, then Math Skills Assessment Test information. Sample problems are available along with information about topics covered on the Math Placement Test.

The English Placement Test is a writing sample which will be used to determine your composition skills and familiarity with “Edited American English”. All Ohio State ATI students will complete the English Placement Test unless they received a score of 18 or higher on the ACT English Section, or received a score of 450 or higher on the SAT Verbal Section, or have applicable transfer credit.

All traditional students who are required to complete the English Placement Test will also be required to complete the Reading Test.

Placement test scores will be shared with students during the advising sessions at the SOAR Program

7. What do I do if I have not taken the ACT or SAT during a national testing date?
ACT or SAT scores are not required for admission to Ohio State ATI, but are required for Ohio State ATI course placement purposes. Students who are 18-21 years of age, have been out of high school for less than 2 years, and are not transferring from another college are required to complete the ACT or SAT test prior to attending a SOAR Program. Students are encouraged to complete the ACT or SAT test during a national testing date. ACT and SAT information concerning national testing dates is available at their websites:

ACT

SAT

Students should provide Ohio State ATI with ACT or SAT score(s) by May 1, 2008. If ACT or SAT scores are not provided by this date, students will not be eligible to attend a SOAR Program until late summer 2008. At that time, the student will attend a two-day SOAR Program. During the first day, the student will complete the ACT test (cost is $30) and then return the second day to participate in the SOAR Program (cost is $100).

8. I am a transfer student. Who can I speak to if I have questions or concerns about my transfer credit evaluation?
Ohio State ATI’s Records Manager will evaluate all transfer credit for students who are transferring from another college or university or from another Ohio State University campus. It is important to keep in mind that this evaluation may be slightly different than the initial evaluation you received on your Notice of Admission from The Ohio State University. You will receive your approved Ohio State ATI transfer credit evaluation at your assigned SOAR Program. At that time, if you have questions concerning the transfer credit that you received, you will have an opportunity to discuss it with the ATI Records Manager.

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9. During the SOAR day, what will I have the opportunity to do?

• Learn about Ohio State ATI’s expectation of students both in and out of the classroom
• Take campus tours
• Complete required placement testing
• Meet with your academic advisor
• Schedule and register for classes
• Complete Ohio State ATI business (get your BUCK-ID card, consult with the offices of Financial Aid, Housing, Office for Disability Services, visit the campus bookstore)
• Visit the SOAR Resource Tables and learn about various Ohio State ATI programs and services
• Meet Ohio State ATI’s Orientation Team (O-Team), a group of returning students who assist new students and their families with the orientation process
• Meet other in-coming Ohio State ATI students
  

10. What should I bring to the SOAR Program?

• $100 required SOAR fee (cash, money order, or check made payable to Ohio State ATI)
• Calculator for the math placement test (all new students will take the math placement test unless approved transfer credit has been awarded)
• Picture ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport)
• Selective Service number (if you are a male between the ages of 18 and 26)
• Questions that you would like to discuss with an ATI faculty or staff member
• A sweatshirt or jacket as some rooms may be cooler than you prefer

11. How will my SOAR date be assigned?
The SOAR Office will assign all new degree-seeking Ohio State ATI students a SOAR date based on availability of student spaces per technology and the date of the returned and completed SOAR Reservation Form and Student and Parent Assessments. Official SOAR invitations will be mailed to the student’s home address. For students who have been admitted to Ohio State ATI, have submitted ACT or SAT scores or previous college transcripts, and have completed and returned all of the SOAR information, official SOAR invitation will begin to be mailed in early May 2008.

12. If the SOAR date does not fit my schedule, is it possible to attend on an alternate date?
If the date on your SOAR invitation is not convenient for you, please contact the SOAR Office as soon as possible at 1-800-647-8283, extension 7-1302 to discuss an alternate SOAR date. The SOAR Office will make every effort to find another date that will fit your schedule.

13. Am I required by Ohio State ATI to live on campus?
All new students are required to live on campus unless they meet one of the following exceptions and complete a request for exemption available through ATI’s Office of Housing:

• the student is living with an immediate relative that is located within a 25-mile radius of Ohio State ATI
• the student is married
• the student is over the age of 21
• the student has completed enough college course work to be considered a second year student.

To discuss specific housing needs or requests, contact the ATI Office of Housing at 330-287-7506.

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14. Can I visit the Ohio State ATI Residence Hall or Applewood Village during the SOAR day?
The Ohio State ATI Office of Housing will have one room in the Residence Hall and one apartment in Applewood Village open for you to visit during the SOAR day. Feel free to visit these residence facilities as your SOAR schedule permits. During the SOAR Program, the Office of Housing will be open during regular business hours to answer your questions.

15. When will I receive my roommate assignment?
The Office of Housing will e-mail you information concerning your housing and roommate assignments just prior to the beginning of your first quarter on campus. If you have specific questions, concerns, or requests about your roommate assignment or residence facility, please contact the Ohio State ATI Office of Housing at 1-330-287-7506. Additional housing information can be found here.

16. How do I request services from the Office for Disability Services?
Most of the academic accommodations and services that are available to students who qualify through the Silvia Henriss, Coordinator for Disability Services, Student Success Services, Ohio State ATI at 1-800-647-8283, extension 7-1253 (in Ohio only) or 1-330-287-1331, extension 7-1253 for information.

17. When will I need to return to the Ohio State ATI campus?
After you complete the SOAR Program, you will not need to return to campus until the beginning of the new academic quarter. These dates will be discussed at the SOAR Program. You can also refer to the official Ohio State University academic calendar.

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18. How will I receive Ohio State University information in the future?
After a student completes the SOAR Program, The Ohio State University and Ohio State ATI communicates with students directly through their Ohio State University e-mail account. Ohio State ATI sends most campus information via e-mail. It is important that once you receive your OSU e-mail account information and password that you check your e-mail frequently.

19. How do I get directions to Ohio State ATI?

Directions to Ohio State ATI can be downloaded from the Ohio State ATI website.

Check-in will be located in the Student Lounge, first floor, Skou Hall. Once you arrive on campus, there will be signs and Orientation Team members to help direct you to the appropriate building.

For more specific directions, you may want to use another web service such as:
www.mapquest.com

The Ohio State ATI address is: 1328 Dover Road, Wooster, Ohio 44691.

20. I have additional questions about Ohio State ATI, who should I contact?
Please feel free to contact the SOAR Office at 1-800-647-8283 (in Ohio only), extension 7-1302 or 330-287-1302 if you have questions concerning your enrollment at Ohio State ATI. If you have specific questions concerning the admissions process, financial aid, or housing, please feel free to contact those offices directly:

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