Admissions
What is Olin's accreditation?
We’re accredited by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Do you have any full-tuition scholarships?
Yes, we have both full- and partial-tuition scholarships. Please visit the
Office of Undergraduate Admissions to find out more about Financial Assistance and Academic Scholarships for Washington University undergraduates.
Career Services
Does Olin have a career resource center that helps students find internships and full-time jobs?
The Weston Career Center is the part of Olin Business School that is dedicated to helping Olin students with all of their career planning and employment needs. You should think of the center as a part of your overall education at Olin and as a place with which to be involved throughout your time here. While it's true that many employment-related activities focus primarily on juniors and seniors, there are many things students can do in the freshman and sophomore years to prepare themselves for internships and full-time jobs (see the
Weston Career Center site).
Curriculum
Can I get credit for internships as a student at Olin?
For students interested in pursuing business careers, internships are among the most valuable experiences you can have; however, the faculty of Olin does not automatically award academic credit for an internship experience. In order to earn academic credit for something involving an internship experience, students are required to complete an independent academic project related to their internship experience, under the guidance of a member of Olin's faculty.
Does Washington University award transfer credit for college-level work students do while they are still in high school?
Yes, under certain circumstances. First, the course work has to be taken at a college or university with that institution's regular students. Credit will not be given for work that is done within a high school where all of the students are high school students. Second, the work has to be similar to a course that is offered at Washington University.
However, no one wants you to take course work to learn something you already know. Thus, even if we aren't able to award transfer credit, you may be able to start in a higher-level course to gain even more flexibility for your eduation at Washington University.
General Questions
What scholarship money is available to incoming undergraduate freshmen, and what are the average requirements to receive such funding?
Olin Business School awards one full-tuition scholarship to an incoming first-year student for undergraduate study leading to the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree. The Dean's Scholarship is awarded for four years of study as long as the student is making satisfactory progress toward the degree. The Dean's Scholarship recognizes applicants who demonstrate outstanding character, academic achievement and promise for a career in business. High school seniors who possess outstanding academic records, have pursued very challenging courses of study in high school, and score in the upper ranges of the SAT I and/or ACT are encouraged to apply. Application materials are available through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The deadline for application is January 15.
So, has the Olin Business School been in existence only since 1988?
Oh, no, Olin has been around much longer than that, just not with the name "John M. Olin" attached. Actually, the School was founded at Washington University in 1917 as an undergraduate school of commerce and finance. We were accredited by the AACSB, the international accreditation agency for business schools, in 1921 as a charter member of the first group of accredited schools. Olin has held continuous accreditation ever since.
Program Structure / Resources
Do you offer classes via the Internet?
No.
Study Abroad
I'm interested in international business. Can I participate in a study abroad experience in Olin's program?
Absolutely. We strongly encourage Olin students to participate in study abroad programs, and we have those programs available in numerous places around the world (see Olin's
international programs). The study abroad programs sponsored by Olin Business School directly are only the tip of the iceberg of all the places around the world where it is possible to study. A much larger list of programs is administered by Washington University's Office of Overseas Programs, and Olin students are eligible to participate in any of the Overseas Programs Office's study abroad opportunities. In total, approximately one-third of all Olin students participate in a study abroad program somewhere along the road to graduation.
Is studying a foreign language a degree requirement or a requirement for studying abroad?
Olin undergraduates are strongly encouraged to include foreign language study in their overall program, but there is no foreign language requirement for graduation. Foreign language study may be a requirement for participation in certain study abroad programs in countries where the first language is not English. For example, some proficiency in French or German would be required to participate in Olin's programs in those countries. There is no language requirement for Olin's program in London, of course, and there also is no language requirement to participate in Olin's programs in Hong Kong because English language proficiency is so common in that location.