The Ohio State University

Admission to major in Mechanical Engineering is by application only and is in accordance with the College of Engineering enrollment management plan approved by the University Council on Academic Affairs.  The Department of Mechanical Engineering limits major enrollment to 200 new students per academic year. 

Deadline for Submitting Application

Pre-mechanical engineering students need to apply to the major no later than the quarter before they wish to start their required major courses (typically, a student's first required major course is ME 250).  

           To BEGIN Required Major Courses:                            Submit Application By:

                        Autumn Quarter                                                 2nd Friday of Spring Quarter

                        Winter Quarter                                                    2nd Friday of Autumn Quarter

                        Spring Quarter                                                    2nd Friday of Winter Quarter

Students are eligible to apply during the quarter in which they are enrolled in the final courses which make up the secondary point-hour ratio (SPHR).  A student's SPHR is his/her cumulative grade-point average in the following courses:

Chem 121 & 125, Physics 131 & 132, Engineering 181 & 183, Math 151 - 153 & 254, ME 410 (or eqivalents)

In addition, English 110 is also a pre-requisite for admission to the major.  Students must pass English 110 with a C- or better to be eligible for admission to the major. 

Criteria for Admission

All applicants must have a cumulative point-hour ratio (CPHR) of 2.00 or greater and an SPHR of 2.00 or greater in order to be considered for admission to the ME major.  If demand for admission exceeds 200 students per year, admission to the major will be competitive and based on a student's SPHR.  Admission to the major can be conditional based on successful completion of any "in progress (IP)" SPHR courses.  The department deems successful completion to be a 2.0 point-hour ratio in IP SPHR courses. 

Admission to the major is currently competitive.  The SPHR cutoff varies every quarter based on the academic strength of the students who apply during that quarter. 

During the 2007 - 2008 academic year, the SPHR cutoff ranged from 2.4 (AU07) to 2.68 (SP08).  Our recommendation to students is to aim for an SPHR of 3.0, or a "B" average in the SPHR courses, in order to be competitive when they apply to the major.  Students should monitor their SPHR closely by checking their degree audit after every quarter and see an advisor if they have concerns.  Note that we cannot predict where the SPHR cutoff will be in future quarters, but give you this information so that you can be aware of past trends. 

Notification

Students will be notified of their acceptance/denial to the major no later than the third Friday of the quarter via email.  This is the official notification of acceptance/denial to the major. 

Students denied admission may reapply subsequent quarters .  There is currently no limit to the number of times that a student may apply to the major.  Applications will not be retained, so a new application form will be required each time a student applies to the major.  Students re-applying ot the major should first meet with one of the undergraduate advisors to discuss their situation.