Graduate/Professional Student Recruitment Initiative (GPS)

Latine PhD student at Ohio State graduation

Graduate and Professional Student Recruitment Initiative (GPS)

For students considering graduate studies at The Ohio State University, the Graduate/Professional Students Recruitment Initiative (GPS) serves as the premier diversity recruitment program. GPS plays an integral role in contributing to the ethnic, cultural and academic diversity within Ohio State's Graduate School and Professional College programs.

The Graduate and Professional Student Recruitment Initiative (GPS) is hosted and coordinated out of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in collaboration with The Graduate School and academic units (including Professional colleges).

Applying for GPS

To qualify for an invitation to attend:

  • Be a rising senior eligible to graduate by June 2025
    (Post-baccalaureate and/or graduate students are also eligible to apply)

  • Be a U.S. citizen (or Permanent Resident or DACA recipient)

  • Demonstrate serious consideration to attend Ohio State

  • Submit the GPS application including:

    • One unofficial transcript

    • A short statement (250 words or less) indicating your research and/or professional interest and why you want to pursue these interests at Ohio State

      • Hint: Be sure your statement focuses on your academic / research goals, and if applicable, reference the faculty member you would like to work with

    • Letter of support from a faculty member from your current or past institution (or contact email for faculty member)

    • CV/resume

Competitive applicants for this program will have a GPA of 3.5 or higher for all college work, be a participant of one of the targeted pipeline programs, or be nominated by an Ohio State academic unit. However, all applicants with a 3.0 or above GPA will be given consideration.

Final invite decisions will be made by Ohio State University departments. Students will receive decision notification via email.

*Depending on the individual academic unit review process, you may receive your invite decision as early as two weeks following your GPS application submission or as late as two weeks following the GPS application deadline (September 17, 2024).

GPS Program can include

  • Departmental visits with faculty members, administrators and graduate/professional students

  • Workshops regarding essential Graduate/Professional school components

  • OSU Student Roundtable Discussion - hear first hand from current grad/prof students about the student experience at Ohio State!

  • Meals according to the GPS schedule

  • Hotel accommodation at the Blackwell Inn on the Ohio State campus

  • Up to a $300 honorarium

Have questions or need accommodations?

If you have questions or have a disability and require accommodations to fully participate in this activity, please send an email to gps@osu.edu or contact us or via phone at 614-247-9159. You will be contacted by someone from our staff to discuss your specific needs.