Application Preparation Timeline

Familiarize yourself as soon as possible with the CSDCAS suggested application timeline.

All application materials, including transcripts and letters of recommendation (LORs), must be received by CSDCAS by 11:59pm EST on Dec. 15, 2025.

Application Status

Applicants are responsible for monitoring the status of the CSDCAS application before and after submission.

Applications that have not reached a COMPLETE or VERIFIED status by the application deadline will not be reviewed. Refer to the CSDCAS Application Status Guide. 

It is the applicant’s responsibility to contact CSDCAS if there are any questions about application status. 

Applications in the following status after the application deadline will not be reviewed: IN PROGRESS, RECEIVED, ON HOLD, or UNDELIVERED. 

Coursework Entry

• Failure to report and submit transcripts to CSDCAS for ALL college-level coursework, such as college credit earned while in high school, even if it appears as transfer credit on another institution’s transcript, will result in significant delays and may result in your application not being reviewed.
   
• When entering coursework in CSDCAS, if an in-progress or planned course is listed on the transcript, do not leave the grade blank, but do enter the “in-progress/planned” option. CSDCAS will be comparing your transcripts to your entries. Any discrepancies will likely result in a problematic application status.
   
• Refer to CSDCAS for entering coursework from a non-U.S. institution.
   
• If you opt to use the Professional Transcript Entry (PTE) service, you must approve the work completed by the service. Failure to do so will result in an incomplete application, which will not be reviewed. Also, using this service will add up to 10 additional processing days.
   
• You are strongly encouraged to complete an academic update after your autumn 2025 grades are posted. This update allows you to update planned or in-progress coursework that has been completed since your application was submitted. This will provide OSU faculty with a complete and updated picture of your academic progress as they consider your application. 

Thoroughly review CSDCAS instructions and resources before applying:

CSDCAS Applicant Help Center
 

CSDCAS Application Fees and Waivers

Letters of Recommendation (LORs) 

A minimum of 3 LORs is required to complete your application.

It is strongly recommended that letters be written by faculty members and/or instructors who can speak to your academic abilities and potential success as a graduate student. 

Letters are requested and submitted electronically through CSDCAS. You will list your references in the Evaluations section. LORs must be received by recommenders by 11:59pm EST on the application deadline.

Transcripts

Official transcripts for ALL college-level coursework completed in the U.S for which college credit was awarded must be received by CSDCAS by the application deadline.

Failure to report and submit transcripts to CSDCAS for ALL college-level coursework, such as college credit earned while in high school--even if it appears as transfer credit on another institution’s transcript--will result in significant delays and may result in your application not being reviewed.

Short Essays

We consider our short essays to be in lieu of a personal statement. A strong applicant’s responses will fully address the essay question, demonstrate originality, and reflect strong writing skills. 

GRE and English Language Proficiency

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required and will not be a factor in admissions decisions. TOEFL, Duolingo or IELTS Academic test scores are required for most international applicants. 

Visit OSU Graduate and Professional Admissions for more details. 

Decision Communications

All communications regarding admission decisions will be sent to the email address associated with the CSDCAS application. Monitor that email account frequently so you do not miss any important messages from us. 

The OSU supplemental application is much briefer than the CSDCAS application and focuses on bio-demographic data. 

Once your CSDCAS application has been submitted and reaches a VERIFIED status, you will receive access to OSUs supplemental application via the email address associated with your CSDCAS account. VERIFIED status does not occur until:

1. The CSDCAS application has reached a COMPLETE status
    
2. CSDCAS has determined that no issues have been identified with your CSDCAS application. 

If your application has reached a VERIFED status and you have not received an email to access the OSU supplemental application by Jan. 1, 2026, please contact OSU Graduate and Professional Admissions for assistance. 

OSU Supplemental Application Deadline:

• January 15, 2026
   

OSU Supplemental Application Fees:

• $60 for domestic applicants
• $70 for international applicants

Fee waivers may be available for qualifying applicants. Waivers must be requested well in advance of the supplemental application deadline.