Join STEP

How to Join STEP

1. Indicate Interest

First-year students indicate their interest in STEP during the spring semester. The process for indicating interest depends on their housing plans for their second year:

    Planning to live in the residence halls on campus

• Students participating in housing reselection can indicate their interest in STEP during Phase 1, which opens in February 2027.

   Not planning to live on campus in the residence halls

• Students who are not participating in housing reselection because they have an approved housing exemption on file with Student Life Housing and Residence Education will receive emailed instructions from STEP in February on how to indicate their interest in the program.

Housing reselection is used only to collect interest in STEP. Participation in STEP is not tied to where a student lives. Students may live in a residence hall, sorority or fraternity housing, or off campus and still participate in the program.

2. Confirm Participation

Following housing reselection, students will confirm their participation in STEP in spring semester.

3. Select Cohort Time

During the summer, students will select their weekly cohort meeting time for autumn semester.

Program Capacity and Waitlist Information

STEP has limited capacity. For the 2027-2028 academic year, the program will accommodate up to 2,400 participants on the Columbus campus. A lottery will be used to determine participation only if interest exceeds available space. Students not selected through the lottery will be placed on a waitlist and may be admitted on a rolling basis through the second Friday of autumn semester. 

Students who do not indicate interest during housing reselection but remain interested in joining STEP should contact step@osu.edu to inquire about available opportunities to participate.