One thousand of the top prospective freshmen will come to Ohio State to compete for scholarship funds.About 250 applicants, designated as University Scholars, will come each day of the testing, said Nina Hoppes, assistant director of the University Honors Center. Students will be at OSU on Feb. 20, 21, 27 and 28 for the scholarship competitions.University Scholars students are ‘those in the top 3 percent of their class and who have a 1300 SAT or 29 ACT or better,’ she said.Applicants will compete for 120 four-year scholarships. Ten winners will receive Presidential Scholarships, a ‘full-ride;’ 30 will receive Medalist Scholarships, equal to in-state tuition; and 80 will receive Traditional Scholarships, equal to half of in-state tuition, Hoppes said.The competitors have already been offered a $1,200 renewable scholarship with the designation of University Scholars, she said.The applicants will be given seven questions, said Mabel Freeman, associate director of the University Honors Center. They must answer two of them during the two-hour exam to determine the recipients of the 120 scholarships.’This is a university where we expect students to have strong verbal skills,’ Freeman said.The questions, written by a committee of faculty from various academic areas of OSU, will cover a ‘broad set of knowledge,’ Freeman said. At least one will deal with math and science.In the seven-year history of the test, the highest percentage of winners are those who identify themselves with science and engineering, Freeman said.’Often times, they communicate the most clearly of anyone,’ she said.The concise writing involved with math and science often helps students write clearer essays, she said.A panel of 70 faculty members from all branches of OSU will judge the essays, Freeman said. Two or three faculty members will look at each essay, and student names will be removed.Before competing, the students must meet admission requirements.’The Admissions Office identifies the students that are University Scholars,’ said Paula Compton, associate director of the Office of Admissions.Applicants who wish to compete must apply by December, she said. The Admissions Office will give the names of those that meet the University Scholar requirements to the Honors Center, she said.At the competition, the office and the center work together to welcome the prospective students and their parents, Compton said.The students haven’t committed to enrolling at OSU before the testing, but 60 to 65 percent will, Freeman said.