OSU has surveyed the entering first year student class annually since 2003 using the CIRP Freshman Survey administered during the summer START sessions. In 2007, the entering class of START participants were once again surveyed; however this time, a new instrument, the Entering Student Survey (ESS) was administered.

The Entering Student Survey (ESS) was developed by a team of OSU personnel commissioned by the Student Affairs Assessment Council. This group reviewed various theorists, survey instruments and the needs for information from entering students. The group determined that with some modifications, the ACT surveys, Entering Student Survey and Student Needs Survey, would meet the current need for information. Permission was gained from ACT and the Division of Student Affairs purchased the survey questions from ACT and made some modifications to fit OSU terminology.