Admission to the Medical Laboratory Science program is based on a combination of the following:
- Overall academic achievement (cumulative GPA)
- Strong academic performance in math, chemistry, and biology (science GPA)
- Knowledge of the field with a strong personal statement
- Completion of program prerequisites
Admissions
Admission and Application Procedures
Students are required to have a minimum GPA of 2.50 to be considered for admission into any undergraduate track. Graduate applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and GRE scores that are competitive for admission into the Ohio State Graduate School. Any questions regarding GPA calculation and/or transfer credits should be directed to the Professional Admissions Office at (614) 292-9444.
Some of our course prerequisites must be completed prior to starting the program. There is a place on the application to indicate if you plan on completing them between your application submission and the start of the program. In these instances admission will be conditional pending their satisfactory completion. All other prerequisite courses are not mandatory for admission, but the more you have completed the better your chances for admission. It is highly recommended that you complete as many as possible in advance to avoid scheduling conflicts with your MEDLBS courses that may result in a delay in graduation.
Program Prerequisites
Program Prerequisites
Students who wish to apply to the MLS program must have completed all of the prerequisite course equivalents or their equivalent with a C- or higher. Most of the prerequisites must be completed by the end of summer term prior to enrollment in the professional program. However, the number you have completed is considered in the admissions process. Please select the appropriate curriculum guide for the list of prerequisite courses.
Medical Laboratory Science GEL*
Medical Laboratory Science GEN*
MLS Coordinated Graduate
*If you are not sure which guide to follow, visit our Curriculum Guide page for additional guidance.
Application Deadlines
Application Procedure
Those interested in any of our four tracks should read this entire section regarding the application process.
Our application process is done through the Professional Admissions office. Please visit their website or contact them with questions about transcript evaluation, the actual application, fees, language tests, etc. You can click on the link at the very bottom of this page to be taken to the specific directions and actual online application.
Certification Track
Autumn Admission Deadline - January 31
Medical Science Track
Students interested in the medical science track are welcome to apply any semester. HOWEVER, it is strongly recommended that you apply for autumn semester admission. Our MEDLBS courses are highly sequenced and are tailored to those beginning in autumn. Students starting in other semesters may expect to need more than the typical number of semesters to graduate. You should apply to the semester in which you plan on starting actual MEDLBS coursework (our program does not currently offer any summer coursework). Application deadline for this track is May 15 for the following autumn. Deadlines for other terms can be found on the Professional Admissions website.
For the medical science track the admissions committee will evaluate all applications as they arrive and make admissions decisions throughout the application period. In order to assure that your application is processed prior to the beginning of your semester of desired enrollment you MUST apply and submit all necessary materials by the date posted on the Professional Admissions website. Any applications not received in the MLS Division for review at least 90 days prior to the beginning of the semester is NOT guaranteed to be processed in time for the first day of class.
MLT Articulation Track - In-person and Online
Students interested in the MLT to MLS track are welcome to apply any semester. However, it is strongly recommended that you apply for autumn semester admission. Our MEDLBS courses are highly sequenced and are tailored to those beginning in autumn. Students starting in other semesters may expect to need more than the typical number of semesters to graduate. You should apply to the semester in which you plan on starting actual MEDLBS coursework (our program does not currently offer any summer coursework). Please check the application deadline on the Professional Admissions website.
In order to assure that your application is processed prior to the beginning of your semester of desired enrollment you MUST apply and submit all necessary materials by the date posted on the Professional Admissions website. Any applications not received in the MLS Division for review at least 90 days prior to the beginning of the semester is NOT guaranteed to be processed in time for the first day of class.
Coordinated Graduate Track
Each year the Medical Laboratory Science application windows for the graduate programs open on September 1 for admission the following autumn. The MLS program will accept all applications for graduate track until December 1. If the division feels that we have not received enough qualified applicants from this initial applicant pool, the applicant window MAY be re-opened beyond that date. Please check the Professional Admissions website to view the current closing date for this application cycle. Applicants for the coordinated graduate track should not complete an application to The OSU Graduate School Admissions at this time. You will need to complete the application provided by The Professional Admissions office like our other tracks.
Post-Bac Certificate
For information on our post baccalaureate, please visit our Medical Laboratory Science Certificate website.
Contacts
For admission questions please contact our Admissions Coordinator by email or call (614) 366-7677.
For questions regarding the actual application process and transfer credits contact the Professional Admissions office at (614) 292-9444.
Learn more about Graduate and Professional Admissions.
Early Admissions
Early Admissions
Early admission pathway into Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) is available for to outstanding students directly out of high school and who are admitted to Ohio State as pre-major MLS students. This pathway is only available for those interested in the Certification and Medical Science tracks.
Eligibility for the Medical Laboratory Science early admission pathway:
- high school senior who’s been admitted to Ohio State’s Columbus campus as a pre-major Medical Laboratory Science student
Selected students will be offered early admission by the Medical Laboratory Science program in writing by April 1. Eligible students admitted to Ohio State after the initial review may be considered for early admission if the student contacts the Medical Laboratory Science program director requesting a review.
There are distinct advantages to early admission to the Medical Laboratory Science program. Early admission provides students with better access to scholarships, student employment and enrichment opportunities, as well as earlier direct contact with Medical Laboratory Science faculty to explore future academic and professional career goals.
In addition, students bypass the secondary admission selection process and are assured a seat in the admission cohort for their preferred track if they maintain academic eligibility requirements.
The first two years of an early admission student’s college experience will include completing general education requirements and program prerequisites. Students are not permitted to begin Medical Laboratory Science program-specific coursework until all prerequisites are completed successfully.