Join STEP

How to Join STEP

First-year students indicate their interest in STEP during the housing reselection process that occurs during the spring semester. Note that the housing reselection tool is used solely to collect interest in the program – there is no residency requirement to join STEP, and participants can live in campus housing, live in sorority and fraternity housing or commute from off campus.  

Students who do not participate in housing reselection, or who have an approved exemption on file with Student Life Housing and Residence Education, will be contacted by STEP via email to indicate their interest in the program. Following the housing reselection process, students will confirm their participation in STEP in spring semester and select their cohort meeting time in summer.   

STEP has limited space available. For the 2025-2026 academic year, STEP will accommodate up to 2850 participants on the Columbus campus. Should interest exceed space in the program, STEP will conduct a lottery process to determine participation. Students not initially selected for the program through the lottery will be placed on a waitlist and offered admission on a rolling basis through the second Friday of fall semester. 

Students who did not indicate an interest in STEP during housing reselection and are still interested in joining the program should reach out to step@osu.edu.