honors college essay

Albert Dorman Honors College

Tips for Writing an Honors College Essay

Writing an Honors College Essay (Max. 400 words)

A college essay is a chance for you to tell us what all your records cannot: who you really are, how you think, and how well you write. It is not an invitation to tell a story, write a novel, or write about other people's experiences. The main point of your essay is to tell us what you have to offer and how you will take advantage of what we have to offer .

• Write an essay that addresses the topic specified  on the application form. A general essay about yourself or an experience you had is not acceptable.
• Do not write your essay as if it were a novel. "The baby cried until it had to be comforted by its mother;" "I could not believe as I walked into my first class that this was the beginning of my engineering career." These tell us nothing about yourself. Regardless of what you may have been told in school, write a straightforward descriptive essay that directly addresses the question asked.
• Avoid clichéd, generic, and predictable writing, such as "I want to help people." This is particularly applicable to essays for accelerated program candidates.
• Do not quote our own description of our program. We know what we have to offer; we are interested in knowing what you have to offer and how you will use what we offer . Tell us about your interests and why the Albert Dorman Honors College is the right place for you.

• Have your assignments done by seasoned writers. 24/7
• Contact us:
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Honors College Essay: Tips, Prompt Examples and How to Write

Writing honors college essay

An honors college essay is an academic paper that students typically complete to establish entrance into an honors college, program, or division. An honors paper seeks to test students’ research skills and focus their analytical abilities on a subject of academic interest. 

Due to the specialized focus of the paper, students benefit from serious attention to the college essay topics, which are vital in developing the essay.

An Honors College essay is unique in terms of its requirements, structure, and background. The purpose of this article is to provide advice on writing and structuring an Honors College essay.

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Which Universities do Ask for Honors College Essay

1. uci (university of california irvine) .

The UCI has two programs, the Academic Honors Program and the Honors Program. Both are popular with many members. They are not mutually exclusive, but they have different requirements and different goals.

The Academic Honors Program is for students who want to get recognized by their professors for academic achievement. It does not require an essay but several letters of recommendation from faculty members.

You should not apply to either program if you are only interested in one or the other because there is no guarantee that either program will accept your application or that you will gain acceptance into either program.

2. VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University)

The applicants must complete the 500-word Essay on Honors. The essay should address the following topics:

• Your interests and goals, especially as they pertain to your intended major(s) and career path(s). How do you feel about being a lifelong learner?
• Your ideas about leadership, including h
• How you would define leadership, what your leadership style is, how you would use your abilities as a leader to positively impact your community in and out of college, and how you would lead if given the opportunity.

3. NJT (New Jersey Institute of Technology)

NJT requires you to write an essay and submit it along with your application.

These honors college essays usually focus on your intellectual interests and experiences, using specific examples to illustrate your points. It’s essential to select an area you are interested in and know about. 

You should also pick something that you can write about easily; it will be evident if you are writing a research paper or other academic work instead of an honors college essay, so don’t try to fake it!

4. Purdue University

Purdue University’s Honors College focuses on scholarship, leadership, research, and engagement by integrating residential and co-curricular learning opportunities with academic classroom experiences.

Your college application essay needs to breathe life into your application. It should capture your genuine personality, explaining who you are beyond a series of grades, test scores, and after-school activities. 

Take a minute and think about the college or university admission officers who will be reading your essay.

5. Stony Brook University

The Stony Brook Honors College provides an exceptional opportunity for students who want to pursue a challenging course of study in the company of talented peers. Your essay should be no longer than three double-spaced pages and should address certain questions.

It is an opportunity to explain an event that took place on any day in history; what would that event be? Discuss why you chose this particular day. Also, as this question, what do you hope to learn/experience by being present?

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How to Write a Good Honors College Essay

Honors college essays follow a formal style with a clear structure. To get your honors college essay, follow these tips:

• Think about the prompt and what you want to say.
• Brainstorm.
• Organize your thoughts into a logical outline.
• Write your introduction.
• End with a conclusion that sums up the main points of your argument and connects those points back to the prompt.

Technically, the honors college essay can be a five-paragraph essay, but it should be more than that.

It should be closer to a 10-paragraph essay, with an introduction and conclusion paragraph that are each about four or five sentences long.

The introduction and conclusion paragraphs should be about the same size. The middle of the essay should be about three paragraphs long, and each of them should be about four to five sentences long.

1. Introduction 

The introduction should have a hook which is a catchy sentence or two that gets the reader interested in reading your essay. Furthermore, it should have an explanation of why you want to go to Honors College: This is usually possible in one sentence. 

Also, there should be a thesis statement. This is usually evident in one sentence at the end of the paragraph. The thesis statement tells the reader what you plan to write about in your essay. For example: “I want to attend honors college because of their strong pre-med program.”

Write the body of your paper using transition words to connect your ideas and explain the connections between them.

The middle paragraphs should include an explanation of why you have chosen your career path and why you are interested. 

3. Conclusion

End with a strong conclusion that ties together everything you discussed within your paper, providing important takeaways for readers as well as leaving them feeling satisfied with what they just read.

Takeaways 

• You are writing an essay, not a text message. In other words, please use complete sentences and correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. If proper English is not your strong suit, enlist someone proficient at it to help edit your essay.
• Be specific about what you want to study and why. Do not just say that you want an education; tell the reader what kind of education you want and why. This is particularly important if you plan to study something that you did not find at your high school. 
• The readers do not expect you to know everything about the field you plan to enter. They expect that you give serious consideration to it and explain why you want to pursue it beyond the fact that “it sounds interesting” or “it pays well.”
• Proofread your essays before sending them in. Errors will distract from whatever else is in those essays and may give us a negative impression of your abilities.

Things to Remember about Honor Essays

The honors essay is one of your best chances to stand out in a meaningful way from other applicants, so be sure to invest time in crafting a great response.

The admission office is looking for the following:

• The office wants to know that you understand what makes the honors program special. We have a diverse group of students and faculty who are passionate about learning and interacting across disciplines.
• What do you think this will mean for you? How will you take advantage of being in an environment that values interdisciplinary thinking?
• Your accomplishments. Let the audience know your talents. Have you excelled academically? What leadership roles have you taken on, or awards have you won? They want to discover what drives your passion for learning, leadership, and service.
• Your plans for the future. The honors program will prepare you for success beyond your skills, whether that’s graduate school or medical school, or a career in a completely different field. 

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Examples of Honors College Essay Topics

• Considering your lifetime goals, explain how your present and future academic activities will assist you in achieving your goals. 
• Settle for an issue of importance to you, whether it is political, personal, local, or international related. Then, craft an essay to explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your community, and your generation. 

When not handling complex essays and academic writing tasks, Josh is busy advising students on how to pass assignments. In spare time, he loves playing football or walking with his dog around the park.

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• Essay Guide

Essay: In 500 to 600 words, write about  one  of the topics below.*

*An essay can tell us things about you beyond your academic background of grades, test scores, and courses taken in high school and/or college. Please consider this when choosing your essay prompt.

1) “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein

Write about an experience or social/political issue that has piqued your curiosity. What questions has this subject inspired you to answer? What actions have you taken to become more knowledgeable about the subject? What strategies have you used to address answers that you find unsatisfying?

2) Writing, painting, performing, debating, and designing solutions to complex equations are only a few of the media through which people convey their thoughts, emotions, and aspirations. How do you express the inner workings of your mind to the larger world? How does the world around you respond?

Tips for Completing Your Honors Essay

• Length: Approximately 500 to 600 words
• Your essay will be assessed on content as well as form (spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure). Take care when writing your essay; be sure to edit and proofread before you submit. It is an important element of your application to Honors.
• Make sure that you have actually answered the essay question. Your essay will be evaluated on your ability to express your thoughts clearly and think creatively and critically. Write your essay in a word processing program (e.g. Microsoft Word) and save it as a PDF document to submit as part of the Honors application.
• Eligibility
• Presidential Endowed Scholarships

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the University at Buffalo Honors Essay 2024-2025

The State University of New York at Buffalo (University at Buffalo) is a public university located in Buffalo, New York. It boasts a large, suburban campus and consistently ranks in the top 100 national universities. 

While there’s no supplement for all applicants, there is one for the Honors College. Any time you’re applying to a more selective program, you want to be sure your strengths come across clearly, so read on to learn how to write a standout response to this year’s prompt.

Want to get personalized odds of acceptance at UB? Calculate your chances for free right now !

UB Honors Supplemental Essay Prompt

Ub honors scholars are characterized by intellectual curiosity, a broad range of interests, and a commitment to a diverse and inclusive society. what experiences have helped to broaden your perspectives academically, socially and culturally what experiences do you hope to have that will enlarge your understanding of the cultural richness of america and the world please be as specific as possible in your answer. (650 words), understanding the prompt.

This prompt allows the admissions committee to get a sense of your values–and what you will contribute to the UB community. A prompt like this has no one “right answer”; your aim should be to find detailed, compelling examples that show : 

• Your understanding and appreciation of intellectual curiosity, diversity, and inclusivity
• What you will contribute to the UB Honors college community’s intellectually curious, diverse, and inclusive community

This means that the only “wrong” answer would be one that shows a lack of understanding of the values that the UB Honors College expressly prioritizes.

With this in mind, let’s take a minute to understand what each of these values means:

1. Intellectual curiosity

Most basically, intellectual curiosity means a desire to ask and answer questions—to learn. “Intellectual curiosity” is a broad enough term that it can fit many different kinds of people. For example:

• You can be intellectually curious by always having questions about everything you encounter in the world around you. Maybe you’re the person who is always eager to ask “why,” whether at a theater performance or in biology class.
• Or you can be intellectually curious by being passionate about a particular set of issues or questions. Maybe you care deeply about how humans can improve the standard of living of the poorest among us, and you are passionate about asking questions in many disciplines—economics, politics, agricultural sciences, sociology—to begin to solve this problem.

2. A broad range of interests

Though many programs encourage specialization (academically and professionally), the UB Honors College is not one such program. The honors college sees itself as a small liberal arts college within the large UB university. A liberal arts education fundamentally is centered on the idea of giving students a varied educational experience, exposing them to different areas of knowledge and inquiry. “A broad range of interests” does not have to mean that you’re interested in everything; it should, however, involve interests that go beyond one set professional or academic path. Consider these two cases:

• Narrow interests: Imagine that you are passionate about math and want to take as many math courses as possible and do as many math-related activities as possible, with the long-term goal of being an academic mathematician. If this is the case, you might not be a good fit for the Honors Program’s “broad range of interests.”
• Broad interests: Imagine that you are passionate about math (and plan to become a mathematician) but also want to understand history, economics, and the arts in order to be a more informed citizen. If you have these interests—and, ideally, a track record of participating in and exploring these non-math areas—then you might be a great fit for the Honors Program.

3. A diverse and inclusive society 

Diversity and inclusivity have become buzzwords; we all think that we know what they mean—and, to an extent, your understanding of these terms is probably right. Fundamentally, diversity and inclusivity have to do with valuing and celebrating the different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences that come with being part of a multicultural, multi-religious, multiethnic society. Inclusivity places particular emphasis on finding ways to draw in and celebrate those who have historically been excluded from or oppressed by society. 

However, keep in mind that diversity and inclusivity can also have to do with:

• Economic diversity: Including students from different economic backgrounds in an intellectual community.
• Intellectual diversity: Including students with varied political or ideological beliefs in an intellectual community. 
• Geographic diversity within the US: Though international students provide the most vibrant and obvious diversity at many US Universities, students from under-represented areas of the US can also contribute to a school’s diversity. 

Choosing Past Experiences to Write About

The key part of the prompt asks: 

What experiences have helped to broaden your perspectives academically, socially and culturally? 

In an essay like this, it can be tempting to go for quantity over quantity—if you have many experiences that seem to fit the prompt, including as many of them as possible can seem like the right way to go. However, the strongest responses to a prompt like this will focus on just one or two (three at the most) related experience to weave a detailed, compelling picture of how your values fit with those of UB.

When writing about your experiences, your aim should be to show not tell . This means picking specific “moments” from each experience to bring the experience to life. Here’s a mini example:

Telling: During my exchange trip to Italy, I spent as much time as I could talking with the locals and learning about their cultural practices. 

Note that this is a very general summary of the writer’s experience; vivid details do not shine through, and the reader does not get much of a sense of what the writer saw, felt, or did. 

Showing: One morning, I looked up from my customary espresso to find a friendly, wrinkled face across the table from me. My new friend, patient with my imperfect Italian comprehension, told me stories about her farm where she had lived as a child, before poor economic conditions forced her family to sell their land and move to the city.

This little anecdote puts the reader “in the moment”; it clearly conveys that the writer spoke with locals and learned their stories, but it does so through one engaging story, rather than through general summary.

With this point in mind (about “showing not telling”), consider these examples of experiences someone might write about. They demonstrate the variety of experiences that could fit this part of the essay prompt:

A student who did an exchange trip to Japan and also worked at a Mexican restaurant could write about these two very different experiences. 

• The student could pick a “moment” from their experience in Japan that shows how they encountered different academic and social norms in Japan.
• Then, they could describe different specific aspects of their work in a Mexican restaurant, showing what they learned about food and culture. 
• Zooming out, the student could give examples of how these experiences have helped them connect with those who are different from them in their daily life. 

A student whose parents got divorced while she was in middle school could write about this experience and about how, around the same time, she began volunteering at a nursing home in her community. 

• Using vivid, detailed “moments” (for example, a specific moment when she could not focus), the student could explain how her parents’ divorce was socially and academically difficult for her, since it distracted her from friends and school. 
• Then, she could show how this experience motivated her to develop specific new study habits and social skills, and to volunteer at the local nursing home. 
• Next, the student could describe how this volunteering experience exposed her to elderly people of varied cultural and economic backgrounds, allowing her to put aside her own personal turmoil and focus on listening and learning. The writer could pick one or two specific friends from the nursing home to write about in detail.

Choosing Future Experience to Write About

The second part of the prompt asks:

What experiences do you hope to have that will enlarge your understanding of the cultural richness of America and the world? 

This is what we call a “forward-looking” question. By asking both this question and one about your past experiences, the admissions committee is trying to understand not only who you are now, but how your past experiences have shaped your future goals. 

This part of the prompt is a key place to pivot to think specifically about the Honors College and your goals for college. In other words, college is a great time to enlarge your understanding of the country or world’s cultural richness. Here, your goal should be to still stay specific and to create continuity between the past- and forward-looking parts of your essay. 

What to Avoid

Writing about very vague or generic experiences (meeting other students, talking with your peers)

Engaging with other students in college is a critical and fruitful part of the college experience; however, you should do your best to identify a forum for engagement that will show the specificity and sincerity of your hopes. This could mean extracurriculars, discussion groups, or even just shared, informal activities like cooking or game nights.

Writing about the exact same experiences that you’ve already had

If you’ve done an exchange in Japan in high school, writing that you want to go back through a similar program in college will likely not show growth or a desire to push your understanding further.

However, you could instead write about how you want to pursue an internship in Japan or go there for research or another experience that is meaningfully different (presumably more in-depth) than the experiences you’ve already had.

Writing about experiences just because they seem “impressive”

Many college applicants feel pressure to express interest in activities that are competitive or come with high prestige. However, a prompt like this one is all about understanding your values and how you connect with other people. This means your priority should be authenticity. 

For example, you have not demonstrated any interest in Model UN or international relations more generally, it would not feel cohesive if you wrote about how you plan to broaden your cultural perspective by joining Model UN in college (unless you are able to come up with a compelling, personal reason for branching out into this entirely new field). 

Aside from these common pitfalls, there is, again, no one “right” way to answer this prompt. However, here are two ways that the examples above could answer the second question in the prompt:

• The student who wrote about his experiences in Japan and working in a Mexican restaurant could write about how he hopes to get involved in the UB Honors College’s international cafe, which exposes students to food and practice from different cultures. 
• He could also write about how he hopes to travel back to Japan to learn more about Japanese culinary traditions, which were not his focus during his first (academically-focused) visit.
• The student who wrote about her parents’ divorce and her work in a nursing home could write about how she hopes to study different models for caring for the aging in different cultures.
• The writer could explain how her experiences have showed her that how a society treats its oldest citizens offers key insight into social and cultural values and norms. 
• She could cite specific UB courses and resources opportunities that would allow her to study this topic, such as the Gerontology minor, which focuses on the study of aging.

Where to Get Your UB Essay Edited For Free

Do you want feedback on your UB essay? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

Need feedback faster? Get a  free, nearly-instantaneous essay review  from Sage, our AI tutor and advisor. Sage will rate your essay, give you suggestions for improvement, and summarize what admissions officers would take away from your writing. Use these tools to improve your chances of acceptance to your dream school!

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Purdue Supplemental Essay 2022-2023

Purdue supplemental essay: quick facts.

• Purdue University acceptance rate: 67%— U.S. News ranks Purdue as a more selective school.
• Purdue application: Purdue only accepts the Common Application , not the Coalition Application.
• 2 (100-word) required essays
• 2 (500-word) Purdue Honors College essays (required if applying to the Honors College)
• Purdue Essay Tip: We recommend answering both Purdue University supplemental essays comprehensively and thoughtfully, highlighting in each of your Purdue essays why Purdue is the perfect school for you.

What are Purdue University’s essays?

In addition to the Common App essay , students must also complete the Purdue supplemental essay prompts. 

Required Purdue supplemental essay prompts:

• How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (100 words)
• Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected. (100 words)

Required Purdue supplemental essay prompts for Honors College applicants are:

• One Purdue supplemental essay about your vision for your honors experience at Purdue (500 words)
• An additional Purdue supplemental essay about the interdisciplinary nature of your chosen field of study (500 words)

These Purdue application essays represent the final step in the Purdue application process. Strong responses to the Purdue supplemental essays can help your Purdue application stand out among the almost 60,000 applications the university receives each year.

So, if you want to get into Purdue, it’s important to spend time on your responses to the Purdue essay prompts. A solid set of Purdue application essays can make a major difference in the Purdue admissions process.

In this guide, we’ll break down each of the Purdue essay prompts and provide expert tips on how to make sure your Purdue application essays shine. Keep reading to learn how to approach your Purdue University supplemental essays!

Purdue application essay requirements

Many selective colleges require supplemental essays beyond the standard Common App essay, also known as the Personal Statement . The Purdue application requirements are no exception to this. 

There are two Purdue essay prompts required of all applicants. Additionally, Honors College applicants must complete two additional Purdue University supplemental essays. Pay close attention to which Purdue supplemental essays you should complete, as it varies by program. 

So, if you are applying to Purdue University, you must complete at least two 100-word Purdue essay prompts. Each Purdue supplemental essay is designed to give you a chance to show Purdue admissions officers who you are, beyond the rest of your application. You should treat each Purdue supplemental essay as an opportunity to showcase a part of yourself that isn’t highlighted elsewhere within the Purdue application requirements.

Honors College essay requirements

Like many schools, Purdue has additional requirements for the Purdue Honors College. If you apply to the Purdue John Martinson Honors College, you must complete two more 500-word Purdue Honors College essays. These additional prompts help Purdue Admissions ensure that Purdue Honors College applicants go above and beyond the typical Purdue application requirements. 

You should be sure to set aside more than enough time to craft strong Purdue Honors College essays and Purdue supplemental essays.

Purdue Supplemental Essay- Prompt 1 ( Required )

How will opportunities at purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom (100 words maximum).

The first Purdue essay asks applicants to reflect on their academic and personal interests. Then, it asks them to explain how Purdue will help them pursue those interests. In other words, the first of the Purdue essay prompts asks why you want to attend Purdue over any other school. 

You’ve probably encountered similar “why this college?” essay prompts on other applications. So, as you might expect, this Purdue application essay must be specific to Purdue. You won’t be able to copy and paste another school’s essay to answer this Purdue supplemental essay. 

Brainstorming your topic

Before starting to write this Purdue supplemental essay, think about your interest in Purdue. Write down a list of reasons why Purdue made your college list. Does Purdue offer a particular program that interests you? Or does Purdue’s campus culture fit your vision for your college experience? The best responses to the Purdue essay prompts will include specific details.

Building your narrative

Once you have created your list of interests, identify several that you would like to write about in your Purdue supplemental essays. This Purdue supplemental essay doesn’t give you much space; picking one or two interests, therefore, will help you stay within the word count and give your essay some structure. 

When deciding which interests to focus on, remember your other Purdue essay. You can discuss your intended major in the second of the required Purdue essay prompts. With this in mind, make sure you don’t delve into topics better suited for other Purdue essay prompts. Instead, use this Purdue supplemental essay to talk about interests that you have not discussed in other areas of your application. After all, you want each Purdue supplemental essay to showcase a different part of your identity.

Making it specific

Next, research Purdue to see how your interests overlap with opportunities Purdue offers. The Purdue essay prompts are a chance to show off the research you’ve done; for example, talking to Purdue admissions representatives or visiting campus. If any of these interactions relate to one of your chosen themes, mention them in this Purdue supplemental essay. This shows your knowledge of Purdue’s strengths as a university. 

For example, a prospective student could use this Purdue application essay to discuss the state-of-the-art kinesiology labs she visited and how they would help her pursue her interest in physical therapy. Make sure you discuss what you experienced along with how it relates to your interests. Once again, the best Purdue University supplemental essays will use specific details to show why you belong at Purdue.

Writing your essay

Now that you’ve done the brainstorming and research for this Purdue supplemental essay, you can start writing. Because you only have 100 words for this Purdue supplemental essay, you need to make each one count. Avoid unrelated topics, vague wording, and forms of “to be.” Instead, use clear language and strong action verbs in each Purdue essay. Compare these two sentences below:

“There is no school that is a better fit to support my interests than Purdue University.” (16 words)

“Purdue possesses the resources to support my interests.” (8 words)

The second sentence conveys the same message as the first, but it uses much stronger language and fewer words. Specific details and short, powerful sentences will help your Purdue essay stand out. 

Purdue Supplemental Essay Reflection Questions:

• Does your Purdue essay refer to 2-3 strong interests from your list?
• Do you present information not found in other areas of your application?
• Does your Purdue supplemental essay contain specific information about Purdue based on your research?
• Do you clearly explain to Purdue admissions how Purdue will help you pursue your interests?

Purdue Supplemental Essay — Prompt 2 ( Required )

Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected. (100 words maximum).

The second of the Purdue supplemental essays is the typical “why major essay.” The “why major essay” is a common supplemental essay question that many schools require. Purdue is no different—they want to understand why you aim to pursue the field you’ve indicated on your application. 

The reality of the “why major essay” question is that schools want to know you’ve done your research on their programs. As a result of this, your “why major essay” for each school must relate to that school’s unique offerings. While you can include some general details, you should make sure this essay remains school-specific. 

Not all students know what they plan to major in. Choosing your college major is a big decision, and it requires plenty of forethought. This Purdue supplemental essay can be especially daunting if you’re unsure of your major, so let’s explore how to get around that. 

Brainstorming your major

Before starting to write this “why major essay,” think about the school subjects you enjoy. You may already identify as a lover of math or know you have the most fun in English class. However, Purdue University offers more than 200 different undergraduate majors across their 11 different colleges, so check the full list for options. This research will also help you show demonstrated interest in this Purdue supplemental essay.

When selecting a major for this Purdue application essay, think about the career you might want to pursue. You might consider the topics you have liked learning about, both inside and outside the classroom. If you’re having trouble selecting one major for this Purdue supplemental essay, choose the major you have the most compelling reasons to pursue.

Selecting a field of study for this Purdue supplemental essay might feel daunting. However, don’t be stressed about choosing a major. Instead, as you write your Purdue supplemental essay, focus on showing your intellectual curiosity and engagement with your studies. You can always change your major once you arrive on campus.

Using details

In order to write the best essay possible, include experiences that have made the biggest impact on your academic career. Have you had a teacher who drove you to explore more about their subject? Have you had work or volunteer experience that inspired you to pursue a particular major? Do you have a burning passion to support a specific cause? 

Your Purdue application essay should tell a story. So, highlight stories where you’ve engaged deeply with your chosen subject, whether directly or indirectly. In doing so, you’ll help readers understand why your chosen major excites you. This can help your Purdue supplemental essay showcase your intellectual curiosity.

Whatever major you choose, don’t just discuss the basic reasons why you enjoy it in this Purdue essay. Instead, go deeper. Think of this Purdue essay as a short narrative where you share moments in your life that have influenced you. A student who wants to major in electrical engineering might talk about getting a circuitry kit for Christmas and watching his dad repair wires around the house. She might then share how she helped the school robotics club win a competition. Find those formative moments in your life and use them as the foundation of your Purdue supplemental essay. Again, the best Purdue supplemental essay will be the most specific!

• Does your Purdue essay focus on the major that most interests you?
• Do you use specific details about how you came to love that major?
• Does your Purdue supplemental essay help your reader learn something new about you?

Purdue Honors College Essay Requirements

The Purdue Honors College is a separate program within Purdue University specifically designed for high-achieving students. Recently, the Purdue Honors College became formally known as the John Martinson Honors College. According to their website , “Martinson supports new programmatic initiatives which promote undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity, leadership and professional development, global and community engagement, and innovative pedagogies.” 

You should research the Purdue Honors College thoroughly before deciding if you want to apply. Once you make the decision that the Purdue Honors College is right for you, it’s time to crack down on the Purdue Honors College essays.

The Purdue Honors College supplemental essay requirements are:

• 1 (500-word) Purdue supplemental essay about your vision for your honors experience at Purdue
• 1 (500-word) Purdue essay prompt about the interdisciplinary nature of your chosen field of study

Now, let’s break down each of the Purdue supplemental essays for the Purdue Honors College and talk about strategies to tackle each one. 

For more help on writing supplemental essays, click here . For help standing out in the college admissions process, read this article .

Purdue Honors College Essays- Question 1 

Explain your vision, ideas, or goals for how you hope to shape your honors experience while at purdue. please put this in the context of the four pillars which are the foundation of the john martinson honors college. (500 word maximum).

In order to answer the first of the Honors College Purdue essay prompts effectively, you need to reflect on your reasons for applying to the Honors College. Then, you need to connect those reasons to the four pillars that express the Honors College’s values. The best Purdue application essays will directly connect an applicant’s academic goals with the four pillars of the Purdue Honors College.

Understanding Purdue

Before starting this Purdue supplemental essay, you need to have a firm understanding of the four pillars mentioned in the prompt. These pillars are: community and global engagement, undergraduate research, leadership development, and interdisciplinary academics. Reviewing the Honors College mission statement will give you more information about the four pillars. You do not need to reference all four of these pillars in your Purdue essay; instead, focus on whichever ones best fit with your future plans.

Researching the Honors College beyond the four pillars can also help strengthen your Purdue supplemental essay. Start by browsing this year’s Honors College course list . Review some of the research projects done by past Honors students. As you brainstorm for your Purdue admissions essays, look for programs and projects that connect to your interests. You might see a course or research project that lines up with one of your passions. You can use that as evidence in your Purdue essay that the Honors College will provide an ideal learning environment to nurture your interests.

Making it about you

This Purdue essay prompt asks you to imagine how you would spend your time as a Purdue Honors student. That future will likely be rooted in your past experiences. Strong Purdue application essays, therefore, should use the four pillars of Purdue Honors to connect your past experiences to your future at Purdue. 

When you talk about your future, try to be as specific as possible. For instance, saying that you want to travel to India to study their culture is not as powerful as saying that you want to travel to India to research how native fashions have changed due to modern technology in this Purdue essay.

You can begin brainstorming for this Purdue supplemental essay by doing a fr e e-write based on this prompt: “If I could have any academic experience I want in college, what would it be?” Think about the questions you might explore or problems you would like to solve if you had the freedom to choose. Don’t limit yourself—the best way to start writing is to free yourself from any perfectionism. 

Use this Purdue admissions essay to share the subject that you could stay up all night researching or the idea you cannot get out of your head. Let your ambition come across in your writing, using the four pillars of the Honors College as the foundation for achieving your goals. Finally, help your reader envision how you would contribute to the Honors College in this Purdue supplemental essay.

• Does your Purdue essay clearly describe your goals for attending the Honors College?
• Do you include references to at least one of the four pillars of the Honors College?
• Does your Purdue supplemental essay indicate specific projects you might undertake or resources you might use as an Honors student?

Purdue Honors College Essays — Question 2

Please describe the interdisciplinary nature of your chosen field of study and how it complements or supports other fields. (examples: you might describe how your work in a liberal arts career may impact or inform the work of an engineer.) (500 word maximum).

The second of the Purdue application essays asks how your chosen subject connects to other fields. At first, this Purdue essay can seem daunting. After all, most high school classes are separated by subject without much room for interdisciplinary work. However, with a little creative thinking, you can develop relationships between just about any set of subjects and use those relationships to write a strong Purdue essay.

Finding an intersection

To get you started, here are a few examples of interdisciplinary study that would make good material for Purdue application essays:

• Creating a business plan for a health care clinic combines medicine with economics
• Volunteering at a music therapy provider combines Psychology and Music into an interdisciplinary field grounded in helping those with mental illnesses
• A project about the evolution of manufacturing technology combines history with engineering

These example topics for a Purdue supplemental essay represent a tiny fraction of the ways you could answer this prompt. Each of these potential Purdue application essays could also tie in with some of your activities from high school. 

You might also use your Purdue essay to consider what you have learned working with people who have different interests than yours and how you could bring that knowledge to your studies. Strong Purdue admissions essays can come from anywhere, so don’t limit yourself. 

Getting creative

If you struggle to form connections between academic fields based on your personal experience, you can use your imagination to come up with hypothetical situations that might foster collaboration across fields. These imaginary situations can still make for a great Purdue supplemental essay. 

For instance, as a lover of computer science, you might imagine its applications in the world of digital art to create vivid settings for a video game. The best Purdue supplemental essays will be unique and creative. Additionally, strong Purdue application essays will tell a story. The more you can use narratives to illustrate the wide range of uses for your discipline, the more successful your Purdue admissions essay will be.

Essays Reflection Questions for Purdue Honors College :

• Does your Purdue supplemental essay demonstrate your enthusiasm for your chosen field?
• Do you include a variety of possible connections between your chosen fields and other fields?
• Does your Purdue admissions essay use stories and examples to illustrate the connections between fields?

Want more helpful tips on how to approach your Purdue supplemental essays and other aspects of Purdue University’s application process? Check out this video below from Purdue’s senior assistant director of admissions! 

What does Purdue University look for in essays?

Your Purdue supplemental essays help the admissions team get to know you beyond your demographics, transcript, and activities list. Each Purdue essay also provides valuable insight into what kind of student you would be.

These specific Purdue essay prompts help the Purdue admissions committee understand how you will use your education at Purdue. Purdue looks for students who can articulate their interests and describe how Purdue’s resources will help them pursue these interests. Your Purdue application essays, then, should show the Purdue admissions team how Purdue would help you meet your goals.

Demonstrated Interest

The committee wants to see you show demonstrated interest (DI) in Purdue. DI is a gauge that universities use to determine how interested a student is in attending their school. To take advantage of this, use your Purdue application essays to explain exactly what about Purdue interests you. You don’t need to physically visit the campus to write strong Purdue supplemental essays. However, if you don’t visit , it helps to find other ways of showing your interest. These include contacting admissions officers, reviewing the school’s website, or attending a virtual information session/webinar.

The Purdue admissions team also wants to know if you can write clearly and concisely—an important skill for succeeding in college. So, ensure your writing is strong, clear, and free of any errors. Your Purdue application essays also show your attention to detail and passion for learning. Students who use the Purdue essay prompts to showcase their passions will definitely impress the admissions team.

How do I get into Purdue University?

Getting accepted into Purdue starts with filling out the Common Application and meeting the Purdue application requirements. On the Common Application, you will report your GPA, list your high school activities, and write a 250-650 word Common App essay. 

For the fall and spring of 2023, Purdue is test flexible . This means if you have the opportunity to take the SAT or ACT, Purdue admissions would prefer you do. This is different from test optional because test optional schools truly have no preference for test scores. Purdue, however, makes it clear that they would like to review test scores as part of your application if possible. Strong scores will only enhance your application . 

Purdue application requirements

Your GPA , course schedule, test scores, Common App essay, letters of recommendation , supplemental essays, and extracurricular activities comprise the Purdue application requirements and will all factor into the committee’s decision.

Last year, approximately 60,000 students applied to Purdue University. The median GPA range of accepted applicants was 3.5-3.9, the median SAT was 119-1410, and the median ACT was 26-33. As you can see, Purdue admits students with high scores, which contributes to the U.S. News Purdue University ranking.

Purdue University Application

In 2022, U.S. News assigned its Purdue University ranking among national universities at #51 overall. US News also named Purdue as one of the Top 10 most innovative universities in the last four years. Among public universities , the Purdue University ranking is #18 in the country. Purdue University’s top academic programs include Aerospace Engineering (where the Purdue University ranking is #5) and Biological/Agricultural Engineering (where the Purdue University ranking is #2). This makes Purdue a great fit for students specifically interested in those fields.

Finally, the Purdue University ranking attracts many applicants who view Purdue’s rankings as a sign of prestige. This means that Purdue supplemental essays will be used to determine which students are interested in attending for reasons beyond the Purdue University ranking. Remember, your Purdue supplemental essays are your chance to show the admissions team your genuine interest in the school. 

Looking to put your best foot forward when filling out the Common Application and writing the Common App essay? Check out this guide for helpful tips.

Top 5 Purdue Supplemental Essay Tips

How to write an outstanding purdue supplemental essay:, #1 – start early.

Be sure to leave yourself time to edit and revise each of your Purdue University supplemental essays. You don’t want to be drafting and editing a Purdue supplemental essay down to the wire.

#2 – Look at the big picture

When writing your Purdue supplemental essays, consider your application as a whole. Make sure that each Purdue supplemental essay explores something new about you. 

#3 – Be authentic

Don’t lie or exaggerate on your Purdue University supplemental essays. Each Purdue application essay is a chance for you to showcase who you are.

#4 – Show your unique self

These Purdue supplemental essays are an opportunity for you to stand out to Purdue admissions. Don’t generalize in your responses to the Purdue essay prompts. Instead, get specific about your experiences. Use the opportunity to not only demonstrate who you are, but also to show off your writing style.

#5 – Proofread, proofread, proofread!

Edit your essays . You don’t want to craft a stellar Purdue supplemental essay, only to have it marred by poor grammar or a spelling mistake. Have another person look over each Purdue supplemental essay before you submit it. 

Purdue Supplemental Essay — Final Thoughts

Although each Purdue supplemental essay is short, they are also incredibly important. Don’t think that a short essay will take you less time to write—often, short essays are the hardest to write. Given the Purdue University ranking, you should use every chance you get to stand out. This includes crafting strong Purdue supplemental essays.

Be yourself

The Purdue essay prompts help the admissions committee get to know the person behind the grades and test scores. Make sure that your Purdue supplemental essays are full of anecdotes and stories that show why you will succeed as a Purdue student! Let your readers know in each Purdue supplemental essay that you have done your research and thought about why you want to attend Purdue.

Ask for help!

And finally, seek help from trusted sources with editing your Purdue supplemental essays; sometimes a second opinion can help you improve your Purdue essays in unexpected ways.

This Purdue supplemental essays guide was written by Laura Frustaci.   Looking for more admissions support? Click  here  to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how  CollegeAdvisor.com  can support you in the college application process.

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Questions & Tips

Access the application.

To access the Honors College application, log into your  goBAYLOR account . Scroll towards the bottom of the page. Under "Academic Program Information," click "Apply to the Honors College" and follow the instructions.

Honors College Application Questions

After you apply to Baylor, you may submit responses to these Honors College supplement questions in your goBAYLOR account. Consider preparing your answers to these questions ahead of time. Departments will thoroughly review your responses, with emphasis placed on question number one below.

• A highlight of the University Scholars program is the opportunity to design your own course of study. If you could create your own curriculum, what areas of study would be included and why?  Suggested Length: 100 Words
• Describe a cultural experience you have had and explain how it impacted you. This could be through travel, class, relationships, etc.  Suggested length: 250-300 words  
• Describe any important honors or awards you earned in high school; focus especially on any that relate to your interest in research and/or in study connecting different academic subjects.  150 word limit

Application Tips

The Honors College seeks academically driven and ambitious students, utilizing a holistic student review process and considering all application materials that are available. Students are welcome to apply test-optional to Baylor University and the Honors College. The Honors College welcomes all applicants, regardless of whether or not students submit test scores.  Learn more about Baylor's test-optional process via Baylor admissions.

Remember to select “Save for Later” if you have not completed your application. Otherwise, the information will be lost. To ensure that you are prepared to complete the application,  review the essay questions below. You can compose your answers ahead of time and copy and paste them into the application later.

• You can apply to and participate in more than one Honors College program/major. In the Honors College portion of the goBAYLOR application, students should select all programs/majors of interest.  If, at a later time, the student wishes to apply to another program, simply login to  goBAYLOR  to select the additional programs/majors of interest. The Great Text major does not require an application; you may simply select this as your major in your goBAYLOR account.
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Join Us First-Year Students

Thank you for your interest in the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State!

The Honors College promotes achieving academic excellence with integrity, building a global perspective, and creating opportunities for leadership and civic engagement . Our student body is dynamic, diverse, and driven to change the world for the better.

We offer highly motivated high school students a rigorous undergraduate academic experience that combines all of the resources of one of the country's largest research institutions with all the benefits of a small liberal arts college.

• MyPennState Application
• Common Application

More Than A Test Score Application Components

Application.

• Short Answers

Recommendations

• Academic Record
• Alumni Interview

To apply to the Schreyer Honors College, you'll need to complete two separate applications: the Penn State undergraduate application and the Schreyer Honors College application. We suggest you work on both applications at the same time, submitting the Penn State application first, and the Schreyer Honors College application second.

You can find the short answer and essay question prompts for the Schreyer application in the corresponding tabs above.

Application Platforms

The link to the Schreyer Honors College application will be displayed in the application portal once you indicate your interest in the Honors College. If you have already submitted your Penn State application via the Common Application platform and then wish to apply to the Honors College, you must log into the MyPennState portal to see and fill out the Schreyer application.

Your Penn State and Schreyer applications are evaluated separately; decisions are made independently on the two applications.

Use whichever application platform you prefer, just remember to leave enough time to submit by the deadline!

Essay Questions

The Schreyer Honors College first-year application will have two essay questions, in addition to several shorter prompts. These questions change on a yearly basis and are meant to elicit well-written, comprehensive responses. Each essay response has a maximum word count of 800 words.

The essay questions are an opportunity to present your best self to the review committee, and there is no right answer to the prompts. Rather, reviewers will consider how or why you take a specific approach to each question looking for well-reasoned, consistent, and persuasive responses.

2025 Essay Questions

• Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
• One of our values is Empowered Growth. What values, beliefs or experiences have empowered you to grow intellectually and/or personally?

Get started on your essays early — they are released on our website in July.

There is no right or wrong essay answer — just answer the question to the best of your ability. Our questions are designed to push you to think, do some research, and apply your knowledge. Be honest, be genuine, and allow your character and personality shine through your writing.

Short Answer Questions

The Schreyer Honors College asks a handful of short answer questions to obtain information regarding honors and achievements, leadership positions, activities and service. These questions have a 200 word limit and may change without notice, so please be sure to check back before starting your application.

2025 Short Answer Questions

• What do you hope to get at Penn State as a Schreyer Scholar to help you accomplish your future goals and aspirations?
• If you were able to go anywhere in the world, outside of the country you currently reside, where would you go and why?
• Tell us about your leadership experiences and why leadership is important to you. This could include community roles, family contributions, research, clubs and organizations, etc. Describe challenges you've faced and successes you've had in these roles.
• List awards or other recognitions you have received in or outside of school over the last 4 years. Which award or recognition means the most to you and why.
• Tell us about a book or other media that has made you think about something in a new way.
• Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups, including shared geography, faith, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities or groups to which you belong and describe how it has influenced your life over the last four years.
• Please use this space to share information you would like us to consider that has not been discussed elsewhere in your application.

Want to share your creative talents and accomplishments? You're welcome to submit this information electronically via the last short answer question.

As with the essay questions, we want to get to know who you really are. Let the true you shine through.

As part of the Schreyer Honors College application process, potential Scholars are required to submit a minimum of two and a maximum of 4 letters of recommendation. Recommendations can be from a teacher, a guidance counselor, a coach, or club advisor.

If your school uses a system that connects to the Common App and you applied to Penn State through the Common App, your letters of recommendation that you submitted through your school's system or via the Common App will be sent to the Honors College. No further action is necessary.

If you are working with a recommender who is not affiliated with your school and they cannot submit a letter of recommendation through your school's system, please follow the directions below.

Alternate Instructions

If one of your recommenders is unable to submit their letter of recommendation via the Common App, Naviance or SCOIR, please follow the instructions below.

• Print the Letter of Recommendation Cover Sheet
• Fill out the cover sheet completely
• Give the cover sheet to your recommender.
• The recommender should include both the completed cover sheet and their letter of recommendation in an e-mail to [email protected]

Please be considerate by giving your recommender ample time to complete and submit recommendations on your behalf. Also, please do not ask recommenders to upload recommendations via multiple methods as this will greatly slow down the processing of your application.

The methods outline above are the only methods through which letters of recommendation will be received. Please do not send recommendations to the Penn State Undergraduate Admissions Office as doing so will delay processing of the documents.

Note: It is solely the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all required documents are received by the final deadline of December 2 at 11:59 PM EST.

Schools that participate with Naviance or use The Common Application may upload recommendations to Penn State through these portals.

Alternatively, letters may be sent via e-mail to [email protected] .

Self-Reported Academic Record

Your Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) must be submitted as part of your Penn State application. This process replaces having school counselors send academic transcripts for each applicant.

The Schreyer Honors College will review and rate your academic record as it relates to the opportunities offered at your particular high school.

We do not use standardized test scores in our evaluation as we've found them to be an inaccurate predictor of student success. In our opinion, one of the best predictors of future performance is prior performance; therefore, your course load and academic rigor in high school are the most important pieces of information we review.

Make sure to enter your grades exactly as they appear on your high school transcript.

If you are offered admission to Penn State, your final high school transcript will be sent to the University.

Optional Alumni Interview

If we receive your application by November 1, you will be invited to participate in an optional interview as part of the selection process.

The goal of this interview is to have a comfortable conversation with one of our alumni volunteers. They are eager to meet you, learn more about your interest in the Schreyer Honors College and share with you some of their Penn State experiences.

Please note that as this is an optional interview, your application will not be negatively impacted if you are not able to participate.

Our admissions interview is not intended to make you nervous or afraid — our alumni just want to have a conversation with you and get to know you better.

Interviews usually last half an hour, keep that in mind and use this time wisely.

Stay on Track First-Year Admission Checklist

Use this at-a-glance checklist to keep your Schreyer application on track.

June & July

October & november, march & april, visit penn state & the schreyer honors college.

There is no better way to see if a college is right for you than by setting foot on campus and getting a feel for the place. Not able to visit in the summer? Don't worry — Penn State has visitations year-round!

Begin Working on Your Essays

The Schreyer Honors College essay questions are posted in mid-July to give you plenty of time to craft well-written, comprehensive responses by our application deadlines.

Create a MyPennState Account

Create a MyPennState account, and explore the Penn State University undergraduate application website. Learn about application requirements, academics, student life, and costs. Plus, you can chat with a current Penn State student.

Schreyer and Penn State Applications Open

The Penn State undergraduate admissions application and the Schreyer Honors College application open on August 1. There are two portals available through which you can apply to both Penn State and the Schreyer Honors College — MyPennState and the Common Application. Students are encouraged to indicate their interest in applying to the Schreyer Honors College on the Common Application. If a student indicates they are not interested in applying or would like to apply at a later date and have submitted their Penn State undergraduate admissions application they can still access the Schreyer Honors College application through MyPennState.

Attend Scholars Day

This annual fall open house gives you a comprehensive look at what Penn State and the Schreyer Honors College have to offer.

Penn State Early Action & Optional Interview Deadline

The early application deadline for Penn State is November 1. Students who apply by this date will receive a decision from the University by December 24.

If you submit your application by 11:59 PM EST on November 1, you will be eligible to schedule an optional alumni interview. Please note that only your application is due by this date; your letters of recommendation may come later.

Note: All the materials for the Schreyer Honors College application must be submitted online. If you wish to submit applications that are audio or visual representations of your work, publish them online and include links in the appropriate section of the Honors College application. No offline material will be accepted or reviewed.

Admissions Interview Signup Opens

The Admissions Interview portal will open for students who have submitted their Honors College application. Interview spaces are limited and assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. All interviews must be scheduled between November 1 and January 24. Interviews must be completed between November 10 and January 25.

Final Application Submission Deadline

If you weren't able to finish the application by the priority deadline in November, our final submission deadline is 2. In order to meet this deadline, you must have submitted an application for both Penn State and the Schreyer Honors College and have submitted all of the required documentation for both applications by December 2 at 11:59 PM EST .

Recommendation Letters

All letters of recommendation must be submitted online by December 2 at 11:59 PM EST .

Admissions Decision

Look for your Schreyer Honors College admission decision online in mid February to early March . We'll notify you in advance by e-mail of the date and time our admissions decisions go live. Good luck!

If you have been accepted to Penn State, consider waiting until you have your Schreyer decision to schedule your accepted student visit.

Accepted Student Receptions

If you have been accepted to the Schreyer Honors College, consider attending one of our many Accepted Student Receptions held in March and April. Information regarding these events will be posted online.

Offer Acceptance and Housing Selection Deadlines

The deadline for accepting a Penn State and Schreyer Honors College offer is May 15 at 11:59 PM EST . Incoming Scholars also need to select their on-campus housing option by May 20.

New Student Orientation

Information about New Student Orientation (NSO) for incoming first-year Scholars will be posted soon.

What We Look For Application Review Process

While the Penn State Undergraduate Admissions Office will evaluate your credentials for admission to the University, the Schreyer Honors College will conduct its own evaluation. These evaluations are conducted completely independently of each other, however, your entrance into the Honors College depends on receiving an offer of admission from Penn State.

The Schreyer Honors College is ultimately looking for well-rounded students that excel both inside and outside of the classroom. We pride ourselves on fostering a diverse community of difference makers here in the Honors College and keep that in mind as we review applications.

Selection Committee

As part of your evaluation, your application will be read by at least two members of our Selection Committee. Applications are assigned to these readers randomly and are anonymized as much as possible. Selection Committee members will read and rate (via a norming process) all of their assigned applications. These ratings, along with reader comments, are used to help determine your admissions decision.

Optional Admissions Interview

If you apply by the optional interview date (November 1), you will have the opportunity to request an optional admissions interview with a Scholar alumnus/alumna. Interview availability is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so please register as soon as possible if you are interested. Every attempt will be made to match alumni volunteers with applicants, but due to alumni availability, the College cannot guarantee that every request will be honored.

Alumni interviewers are asked to submit ratings and comments based on the conversation they have with you. Just be yourself and let your passion shine through. The interview is also an opportunity for applicants to learn more about life as a Scholar at Penn State.

Please note that alumni interviews are completely optional. The applications of students who do not select or were unable to participate in the optional alumni interview are not negatively impacted. Final admissions decisions are based on the material submitted as part of the student application.

My favorite part of Schreyer is all the connections I've established and made. I've met so many awesome people. I feel like I fit in here. Blake Greenspan ' 22 Premedicine, Political Science

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Below, please find answers to the questions we most frequently hear from prospective students and their families who are considering the Barrett Honors College experience at any of the following ASU locations: Downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic, Tempe, West Valley or Online. Information shared here addresses ASU and Barrett requirements, ASU Barrett deadline and specific ASU honors college requirements.

Don't see the answer to your question? Contact us .

General FAQs

What is barrett.

Barrett, The Honors College is an umbrella college within ASU, meaning undergraduate students in any of ASU’s 400+ degree programs across the four Phoenix metropolitan campuses and ASU Online can potentially join the honors college.

Barrett is designed to complement and enhance, not replace, the overall ASU experience. Students complete a portion of the credits required for their university bachelor’s degree as honors credits, which can be earned in the classroom through required major courses or electives, and outside of the classroom through internships, research and study abroad. 

Additionally, Barrett offers three-tiered advising support, dedicated faculty mentorship, unique honors opportunities, and distinctive honors residential communities at each of ASU’s four Phoenix metropolitan campuses (Downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic, Tempe and West Valley).

How will Barrett benefit me?

Barrett students get the best of both worlds - access to the massive resources and opportunities of ASU, while enjoying the close, personal attention of the dedicated Barrett faculty and staff. The customizable honors college curriculum allows students to delve deeper into their interests and helps our graduates stand out when applying for jobs, graduate programs, medical, or law school.

It is impossible to list every benefit students with different goals for college who are in various majors will find with Barrett. Therefore, we encourage prospective students and their families to spend some time exploring this website, including the Benefits of Barrett page, and join us for an in-person visit  or virtual session  visit to learn about the nuanced and many benefits our students receive.

When can I join Barrett?

For students who plan to attend Barrett in person at one of ASU’s four Phoenix metropolitan campuses (Downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic, Tempe or West Valley):

• Entry Point 1: High school seniors apply for Barrett Lower Division consideration. Lower Division is a four-year honors college experience. Students who took time off after high school, did not attend another college or university, and are entering ASU for the first time are also eligible for this entry point.
• Entry Point 2: Students in their first semester at ASU (or at another college or university) may join Barrett for their second semester via Lower Division application. Students must have at least three and a half academic years remaining in their ASU undergraduate degree program to be eligible for Barrett Lower Division consideration.
• Entry Point 3: Students who have completed approximately half of their undergraduate degree at ASU (or at another college or university) apply for Barrett Upper Division consideration. Students must have at least two academic years remaining in their ASU undergraduate degree program - approximately 60 credits - to be eligible for Barrett Upper Division consideration.

For students who plan to attend Barrett in person at one of ASU’s four Phoenix metropolitan campuses (Downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic, Tempe, or West), find application information for your student type:

• First-year student
• Current ASU student
• Transfer student

For students who plan to attend Barrett as an ASU Online student:

• Barrett Online is for students in an ASU Online undergraduate degree who have completed at least 24 college credits after high school graduation, have met ASU’s first-year composition requirement , and have at least 60 credits remaining until intended ASU graduation.
• Find application information on the Barrett Online Student  page.

How can I schedule a visit?

Prospective students can visit Barrett, The Honors College in person or virtually. First, determine which campus houses your intended major . Then register for a visit that works with your schedule at that campus.

In-person visits are scheduled through the ASU visit site . Students are encouraged to include both a general ASU tour and Barrett-specific session in their campus visit.

Live-hosted virtual Barrett visits are offered periodically each month. Register for a virtual session .

Is Barrett extra work?

Barrett strives for its students to be challenged in ways that enrich the ASU experience, as opposed to simply adding more work and calling it rigor. Rather than just adding classes, honors college students take honors options in place of other classes required for their ASU degree program.

Honors credits still count as ASU credits toward the undergraduate degree(s) a student is pursuing. Students can earn honors credits by opting for honors versions of classes, working closely with professors on special projects, participating in research, holding internships, studying abroad, and more. Attend a Barrett Information Session and explore the Academics tab of our website to learn about the ways Barrett students customize their academic experience.

How are honors classes different from regular ASU courses?

Honors classes encourage faculty mentorship and a deeper investigation into the topics of the course. There are many different types of honors classes with varying structures. Some honors classes are smaller than their regular counterparts, others are discussion-based rather than lecture-style, and some will incorporate elevated topics into the curriculum. Learn more about the various types of honors classes in a Barrett Information Session .

As a Barrett student, can I double major or add a minor?

Absolutely! It is common for Barrett students to pursue multiple majors, minors, and/or certificates at ASU. Priority class registration for all Barrett students makes it easier to create the perfect class schedule each semester. Students select their primary major when applying to ASU and can add a second major, minor or certificate through their academic advisor.

When should I meet with my academic advisors?

First-year ASU students  First-year students first meet with their major advisor during New Student Orientation Experience , and will then meet with their honors advisor during their first semester of enrollment. Throughout their time at ASU, Barrett students will be contacted by both their major and honors advisors to schedule appointments appropriate to their progress towards degree completion. Prior to arriving on-campus, any questions should be directed to your ASU Admissions Representative or the Barrett Recruitment Office ( [email protected] ).

Transfer students Transfer students to ASU are expected to complete the New Transfer Student Orientation Experience. The program guides new university students through their enrollment steps, essential tasks, and includes academic advising. Transfer students also attend a special Barrett orientation and welcome, with information about the program provided in their honors college admission materials.

ASU Online students ASU Online students receive a Success Coach – part personal advisor and part motivator. Your Success Coach provides a one-to-one coaching experience to guide you through balancing life, work and school. There is a special honors college orientation and welcome for Barrett Online students, with information about the program provided in their honors college admission materials.

What are the Barrett graduation requirements?

There are three Barrett enrollment options, each with a specific set of graduation requirements.

Lower Division Curriculum  Barrett students at one of the four ASU campuses in the Phoenix metropolitan area, who are pursuing the 4-year (Lower Division) honors experience, must successfully complete:

• 36 honors credits
• The Human Event sequence of courses
• An honors thesis
• And have a 3.25+ cumulative GPA at the time of graduation

Upper Division Curriculum  Barrett students at one of the four ASU campuses in the Phoenix metropolitan area, who are pursuing the 2-year (Upper Division) honors experience, must successfully complete:

• 21 honors credits
• The History of Ideas course

Online Curriculum  While the eligibility requirements are different for ASU Online students interested in Barrett enrollment, for those who apply and are accepted the graduation requirements currently mirror those of our physical campus Upper Division students.

Even if a student does not graduate from Barrett, they can still graduate from ASU.

How do I apply to Barrett?

First, students must apply to ASU . After receiving and activating their ASURITE ID, students can then access the separate and free Barrett application. ASU admission is not necessary to start the Barrett application, but a student’s Barrett application will not be considered complete until ASU admission is conferred. For this reason, we strongly encourage prospective students to apply to ASU 4 - 6 weeks before their preferred Barrett deadline. All complete Barrett applications will move into review at the next available deadline. Application deadlines vary based on fall or spring semester interest and student type:

• Incoming first-year students
• Current ASU students
• Transfer Students
• ASU Online students

What does Barrett look for in an application?

With each incoming class, the Barrett admissions committee strives to create a dynamic and well-rounded group of students who will contribute to every aspect of the honors college experience and benefit from this strong community.

In addition to the academic record, the admissions committee looks for students who exhibit leadership qualities, have special talents (e.g. musical, athletic, scientific, artistic), pursue interesting hobbies or avocations, enjoy unique personal achievements, have unusual life experiences and/or display community involvement.

We also have a deep interest in knowing why each applicant is interested in Barrett, The Honors College, including the ways they will both benefit from and contribute to the honors college community.

May an applicant appeal their decision?

Only high school seniors with a complete honors college application in the Early Action or Regular Decision pools may request a re-review of their released Barrett decision. (Many students refer to a re-review request as an “appeal.”)

Successful re-review requests - those that result in the change of the original Barrett admissions committee decision - are rare and almost always present substantive new information that was not a part of a student's initial application materials. For example: since applying, you have improved your grades, seriously committed to a new activity you plan to continue into college, received recognition for a noteworthy achievement, etc.

Additional information regarding the fall 2024 request for re-review process is provided in the student's decision letter.

Does Barrett require a minimum GPA or standardized test scores for admission?

There is no minimum GPA requirement for admission. The Barrett application is quite comprehensive, allowing many different facets of each individual to be considered. The average GPA for transfer or continuing ASU students admitted to Barrett is a 3.60. For high school seniors, the average unweighted high school GPA is 3.81. The Barrett admissions committee always considers GPAs in the context of the program of study in which they were earned. Applicants should take great care to articulate their educational background on the application. The numbers provided above are averages. A GPA or test score at or above the average is not a guarantee of admission, nor does a GPA or test score below the average necessarily preclude a student from receiving an admission offer.

Barrett is ACT/SAT test blind for current ASU students and transfer students . This means Barrett will not consider ACT or SAT scores for these students even if they have score results they would like to use.

Barrett is ACT/SAT test optional for incoming first-year students applying while in high school/home school. Scores reported to the university will not be considered. Instead, prospective students will have the opportunity to self-report results on their honors college application.

Students share their Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test results on the Barrett application, as well as indicate instances where test-sitting cancellations impacted their plans to complete an AP or IB examination.

International students applying to Barrett whose native language is not English and who did not attend a high school where the language of instruction was English must self-report the results of an English Proficiency examination to ASU. The TOEFL , IELTS , PTE and the Duolingo English test all satisfy this requirement.  Once on file with ASU, the results will be shared with the Barrett admissions office for consideration during the review of a submitted honors college application.

What is the primary Barrett application essay for 2025?

The Barrett application essay allows you to address our admissions committee in your own voice. We have a deep interest in knowing why you are considering Barrett, The Honors College, and your essay will let us better see you as a future scholar in our community.

Keep the following in mind:

• Your essay may take creative and intellectual risks, but be sure to address and integrate all elements of the prompt.
• Your essay should give the admissions committee insight into how you reason and what you value.  

The essay will also contribute to our assessment of your ability to write effectively and think critically, key skills for success in the honors curriculum.  Essays that are general or impersonal are less successful.  There is never a correct answer nor a preferred response to a prompt.

Applicants choose from one of three essay prompts to compose a 300 - 500 word essay.

• Barrett's core values are Community and Belonging, Leadership and Agency, and Courage and Curiosity.  All three pairs are important to who we are, but which of these couplings most resonate with you and why?  In answering the why, be specific by reflecting on both your lived experiences and the ways Barrett will be foundational to your time at ASU and beyond.
• Briefly tell us about something you enjoy and why.  This can be an organized activity or something you informally pursue in your free time.  The bulk of your essay should then be spent speaking to how this interest makes you a good fit for Barrett (not college in general, but specifically the honors experience at ASU).
• Identify a local, national, or global challenge – big or small – that you intend to play an active role in resolving.  Be specific in explaining why this challenge is important to you, how it informed your selection of a field of study at ASU, and in what ways joining Barrett will prepare you to address this issue.

Note: Barrett Upper Division and Barrett Online applicants write one and two additional 250-word essays, respectively.  These are posted to the application itself.  You may also email [email protected] to request the prompts for the additional Online and Upper Division essays.

Barrett Online

What are the eligibility requirements to apply for barrett online.

To apply for Barrett Online admission, students in an ASU Online undergraduate degree program must meet all three of the following criteria.

• 24 Credit Minimum – Earned a minimum of 24 credits post high school graduation and before Barrett enrollment. These can include in-progress credits at the time of Barrett application submission. The 24 credits can be a combination of ASU and transfer units.
• Composition Requirement – Completed the ASU first-year composition requirement before Barrett enrollment. Students may be currently enrolled in first-year composition classes at the time of their Barrett application. The requirement simply must be satisfied before Barrett enrollment.
• 60 Credits Remaining – Have a minimum of 60 credits remaining until intended ASU graduation at the time of Barrett enrollment. It is also required that applicants have a minimum of four semesters remaining until their intended ASU graduation. This time remaining can include summer semesters.

Are letters of recommendation required to apply?

The Barrett Online application does NOT include letters of recommendation. Instead, Barrett Online applicants compose an additional essay, for a total of three short writing submissions.

Are Barrett Online courses all live, synchronous courses?

There is only one required Barrett Online course called HON 370 History of Ideas. This course is a 15-week, live, synchronous class that requires Zoom attendance during a designated class time and is completed during your first semester in Barrett. All other credits required for Barrett Online can be completed asynchronously.

Can I participate in student events/activities or even attend graduation as a Barrett Online student?

Yes! Barrett Online students are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities specifically designed for our Online community . All Barrett Online students receive a biweekly email newsletter, the Honors Online Digest, with numerous updates and opportunities for Online students. There is also a Barrett Online Canvas page that shares resources, advertises upcoming events and helps you track your Barrett Bucks (the honors college currency you’ll collect by engaging with the Barrett community that can then be spent on Barrett merchandise). Additionally, Barrett Online students created The Forge, an official student organization that provides a relaxed environment for Barrett Online students to come together through conversations, games and virtual gathers.

If you are interested in participating in Barrett events in-person, you are encouraged to do so! Some Barrett Online students choose to participate in Barrett travel programs for immersive learning experiences with peers, attend in-person Barrett activities if they happen to be in Arizona, and walk at graduation ceremonies on campus.

Can a veteran or active member of the military be a part of Barrett Online? How about the Barrett fee?

The Barrett fee is covered by military benefits for veterans and their dependents. Active members of the military are responsible for paying the Barrett fee, it is not covered by military benefits. All applicants affiliated with the military are encourage to connect with the Pat Tillman Veterans Center to discuss your individual benefits and what they covers.

I’m a part of SCAP, Uber or another of ASU’s corporate partners, is my Barrett fee covered?

The Barrett fee is currently covered by SCAP and Uber. Although no other corporate partners presently address the Barrett fee, you are encouraged to continue checking on fee coverage since this could change in the future.

Cost and aid

Does barrett cost more.

ASU tuition is the same for Barrett students. Like most colleges at the university, Barrett charges a fee which goes directly toward developing and supporting the unique honors experience of each student. Currently, the Barrett fee is $1,000 per semester. Your housing and meal plan costs may differ as a Barrett student, depending on which options you select. Barrett offers a variety of scholarships , most of which have deadlines on February 1 for the following academic year (e.g. February 1, 2025 for 2025 - 2026). We do not want the additional cost of the Barrett fee to be a hindrance to any student with financial need, so be sure to carefully review all available funding opportunities and contact us for questions.

When can I apply for scholarships?

There are essentially three types of scholarships:

• Offered by the university
• Offered by the academic colleges at ASU which house each student’s degree programs
• Barrett scholarships

Scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year will open on November 1, 2024, and close on February 1, 2025. In addition to submitting the appropriate scholarship applications by the deadline, students must be admitted to Barrett by March 7, 2025 (not by February 1). Be sure to apply to Barrett accordingly to ensure an admissions decision by March 7.

Does my ASU scholarship apply to Barrett?

Yes! ASU automatically awards many incoming students merit scholarships through the New American University ( NAMU ) scholarship program. These awards are available to students regardless of their participation in Barrett.

What is the FAFSA and should I submit it?

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid , a tool that assesses a student’s financial need. ASU will offer students a combination of grants, work-study funding, and loans each year based on demonstrated need from the FAFSA. The FAFSA opens on October 1 and ASU’s priority filing date is January 15 each year. Aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis so students are encouraged to apply early.

Barrett recommends all students to submit a FAFSA for each academic year. Some ASU scholarships require that a FAFSA is on file with the university for scholarship consideration. Students can always choose to decline funding offers.

Am I required to live on campus?

Unless they receive a housing exception to live at home for a unique circumstance (financial, health, etc.), ASU first-year students live on campus regardless of whether they are in the honors college or not. Barrett offers a distinctive four-year residential experience. Barrett students live in the honors community at the ASU campus of their major for their first two years, and many choose to stay all four years to take advantage of the world-class amenities and on-campus convenience. 

Barrett students who enroll in the honors college through the Upper Division pathway (2-year honors experience) or who are ASU Online students have the option to live in the honors college community, space permitting. 

Is housing guaranteed?

ASU guarantees housing for all incoming first-year students and for all second-year Barrett students, so long as the housing application is submitted by the posted priority deadline. On-campus housing is available on a first-come, first-served basis for Barrett students after their second year of college.

Where do Barrett students live?

There is a unique Barrett residential community at all four of ASU’s Phoenix metropolitan campuses. Incoming first-year Barrett students live in the honors community at the ASU campus of their major for their first two years:

• Polytechnic
• West  

Does Barrett housing cost more?

There are several housing options for Barrett students at each campus. Your housing and meal plan costs may be different as a Barrett student, depending on which option you select within Barrett compared to the non-honors options available to your major.

Student life

Can i still participate in student organizations, sports, multiple academic programs, etc. if i’m in barrett.

Yes! Barrett does not prevent students from participating in other opportunities on or off campus. It is common for honors college students to be involved in student organizations, work part-time jobs, hold leadership positions and pursue multiple academic programs. You can participate in any of the larger ASU extracurricular activities, choose to be a part of the smaller Barrett organizations or both.

Fun fact: Over 60 Barrett students participate on Sun Devil Division I athletic teams, which represents roughly 10% of the university’s student-athletes, and the same percentage of Barrett students as non-honors ASU students participate in social, business, and service fraternities and sororities.

How do off-campus students stay connected to the Barrett community?

Off-campus Barrett students are encouraged to enjoy the unique honors college communities across all four ASU campuses. Deans, staff and faculty offices are conveniently located to promote student success through advising, mentoring, engagement and support services. With the exception of the residential space where students live, off-campus students have access to all of the available Barrett amenities during business hours. We invite you to visit the “Life at Barrett” area of this website to learn more about these distinctive and welcoming spaces constructed specifically for honors students.

Barrett also builds a strong community of support and connection for honors college students pursuing their ASU degrees virtually. The Barrett Online experience features exciting virtual events, special opportunities for travel and global engagement, service, and student organizations such as The Forge and the Barrett Honors College Council. View these and other student groups on Sun Devil Sync .

Off-campus Barrett students, whether Online or at a physical campus, will also receive the Honors-L email digest and should join the Barrett social media platforms to stay on top of all the exciting things happening!

How do I meet other students and get involved?

There are all sorts of ways to engage with the Barrett community. There is not just one type of student in Barrett, so the college mindfully offers a wide array of honors-only resources and opportunities. For example, Barrett supports over 30 student organizations. Whatever your interests might be, you will find other honors college students who share your passions!

The Barrett community is also rich with events centered on wellness, arts, culture, academic success, building connections, and community action. As just one example, through the Barrett Explores travel program students can travel with classmates to Great American Cities, National Parks, and unique parts of Arizona. Challenge yourself to attend an event, join a club, or travel with Barrett to create unforgettable memories and forge new friendships.

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Clark honors college menu, clark honors college, how to apply.

Thank you for your interest in the Clark Honors College! Applying is simple. Here's a  checklist to stay on track and you can also follow the application timeline .

Essay Tips & Prompt

AP, IB & Transfer Credits

Transfer Students

What We Look For

We seek bright, thoughtful, and academically motivated individuals to bring diversity to our community of scholars.

There are no minimum requirements for admission to the Clark Honors College. We do not believe that your past success, and potential future accomplishments, can be embodied in a test score—which is why we conduct a holistic portfolio review for each applicant. 

Each application is evaluated to establish its strength with respect to:

• Creative Potential : Creativity and critical thinking
• Academic Performance : The extent to which you have challenged yourself by taking diverse and rigorous courses in high school
• Potential Contribution : The ways in which you have contributed to your family and your community

Typical Clark Honors College Incoming Students

Application checklist.

Apply to the University of Oregon.

Choose either the Oregon Application  or the Common Application . The requirements are the same, and your application will be treated no differently regardless of which option you choose. Official transcripts are required only when a student is admitted to the UO and accepts admission. On your application, you will self-report your high school academic record.

Write your Clark Honors College Essay.

The formal essay is an important component of your application to the Clark Honors College. Think ahead on this one. Read our Essay Tips & Prompt .  

Optional: Send test scores.

Test scores, including SAT and ACT, are optional. If you choose to submit, send these directly to the UO as part of your application.  

Application Timeline

Early action: application due.

This deadline is universal, whether you choose the Oregon Application or the Common Application.

november 15

EARLY ACTION: Supporting Documents Due

If you choose to send test scores or an official high school transcript prior to acceptance, those are considered supporting documents. 

December 15

EARLY ACTION: Notifications Sent

To check the status of your application, visit your  Application Status Portal .

REGULAR DECISION: Application Due

February 15

REGULAR DECISION: Supporting Documents Due

Regular decision: notifications sent.

Have Questions?

We've got answers. Read the Frequently Asked Questions about admission to Clark Honors College. You can also email us at  [email protected]  or call 541-346-7600.

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70+ Academic Honors Examples for Your College Application

College applications are all about showing off to the admissions committee, and what better way to do so than to lead with your most impressive academic awards.   What are the best academic honors and awards to put on a college application?

In this guide, we give you 7 0+ academic honors examples to give you an idea of what types of achievements colleges like to see most on applications.   In addition, we explain what counts as an academic honor or award, go over different impressive academic honors and awards examples you can get, and give you useful tips for effectively talking about awards on your application.

What Is an Academic Honor or Award?

First things first, what counts as an academic honor or award?

Generally speaking, an academic honor or award is any major achievement you’ve made and been recognized for in some way.   The form of recognition can range from an actual object, such as a trophy or plaque, to prize money, a title, or verbal recognition.

Typically, an academic honor will fall into one of the following categories:

• Distinction, honor, or honorable mention  for which you won’t usually receive a physical object or award—just the title
• A diploma or certificate indicating the completion of a program or recognizing an accomplishment in a program or other activity
• Prize or award won from a contest, competition, or tournament
• Scholarship given in recognition of an outstanding (academic) accomplishment
• Membership in a highly selective and competitive group or society

If you’ve won any awards for specific activities such as a sport you play or a club you’re part of, it’s better to list these in the extracurricular activities section of your application instead of in a separate awards section.

So what are some honors and awards to put on a college application? Up next, we'll take a look at more than 70 academic honors examples.

Academic Honors and Awards Examples

Here, we give you a list of 70+ academic honors and awards examples you could include on your own college application, from prizes won in national and international contests to school-based distinctions and awards.

All the academic honors examples below are grouped by category and listed alphabetically.

Note that this is not an exhaustive list of all academic honors and awards you could possibly have, so if you have an achievement that doesn’t exactly match one of the examples below, don’t worry—you can still put it on your college application!

Advanced Placement (AP) Awards

• AP International Diploma (APID)
• AP Scholar with Distinction
• AP Scholar with Honor
• DoDEA AP Scholar
• International AP Scholar
• National AP Scholar
• State AP Scholar
• IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) Certificate

National Awards

• Governor’s Volunteer Award
• National Student Volunteer Award
• President’s Award for Educational Achievement
• President’s Award for Educational Excellence
• President’s National Service Award

PSAT Awards

• National Hispanic Scholar
• National Merit Commended Student
• National Merit Finalist
• National Merit Scholar
• National Merit Semifinalist
• School-based National Merit Scholarship winner

School-Based Awards

• Foreign language award
• High class rank (e.g., top 10%)
• Honor roll/GPA award
• National Honor Society membership
• Perfect Attendance Award
• School-specific award
• School subject-specific award
• Student of the Month/Term/Year
• Subject-specific Honor Society membership (e.g., Science Honor Society)

Competitions and Contests

• AAN Neuroscience Research Prize
• Academic Decathlon
• Academic Triathlon
• American Regions Mathematics League (ARML)
• B.E.S.T. Robotics Design contest
• Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge
• Davidson Fellows Scholarship
• Doodle 4 Google
• Google Science Fair
• Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
• International BioGENEius Challenge
• International Chemistry Olympiad
• International Mathematical Olympiad
• International Photography Awards (IPA)
• Kids Philosophy Slam
• Microsoft Imagine Cup
• MIT INSPIRE
• MIT THINK Scholars Program
• National Academic League
• National Academic Quiz Tournament
• National Economics Challenge by CEE
• National Geographic Bee
• National Geographic Student Photo Contest
• National High School Mock Trial Championship
• National Science Bowl
• National Science Olympiad
• PhysicsBowl
• Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)
• Regional/National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium
• Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
• Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards
• University Interscholastic League (UIL)

Miscellaneous Awards

• Boy Scouts/Eagle Scouts awards
• Employee of the Month
• Girl Scouts awards
• Merit scholarships for college
• Musical performance award
• National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) winner
• National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo) winner
• Publications (such as short stories, art pieces, essays, etc.)
• Volunteer award
• Work award or promotion

The Best Honors and Awards to Put on a College Application

Of the dozens of academic honors examples above, which ones will look the most impressive on a college application?  Here, we explain the top four qualities a truly impressive academic honor will have. 

Note that an honor doesn’t need to have all  these qualities, though if it does, then it is definitely an excellent one to put on your application!

#1: It’s Highly Selective

One quality you want to highlight on your application is the selectivity of the award or honor you’ve won.  In other words, the academic award will be one that a lot of students try to win, making it difficult to achieve.

For example, because national and international contests and competitions draw so many student competitors, winning an award like these would certainly impress the admissions committee.

The more selective an academic honor or award is, the more impressive it’ll look on your college application.

Academic Honors Examples of Highly Selective Awards

• Google Science Fair winner

#2: It’s Unique

Admissions committees see a lot of honor roll and National Society honors on college applications (not that these are bad — they’re just fairly common). So if you've won a particularly unique or rare award, definitely include it on your application, as this will  help you stand out from the crowd.

A unique award can be highly selective; it can also be one that is less well known or that highlights something creative, surprising, or impressive about you.

For instance, maybe you won the Most Innovative Employee award at your part-time job after you pitched the idea to create and manage a social media page for the company.

Academic Honors Examples of Unique Awards

• Specific school-based awards (e.g., Most Confident Speaker in Chinese Class)
• Local or community-based awards 

#3: It’s Relevant to Your Academic Interests and Strengths

Another academic award or honor that's  great to include on your college application is one that’s relevant to your academic interests and strengths.  These are typically subject- or field-specific awards, such as English or writing awards, math awards, etc.

For example, if you’re planning to major in engineering, you'd want to detail any awards you might have won in science, math, or engineering contests.

Relevant awards indicate to the admissions committee not only that you’re truly committed to the field you want to study, but also that you’re one of the most promising students in your field.

Academic Honors Examples of Relevant Awards

• Writing award or publication (if you’re an English or creative writing major, for example)
• STEM award (if you’re a STEM major)
• Model UN (if you’re a political science or IR major, for example)

#4: It Highlights Your Leadership Potential

An impressive academic honor or award will also emphasize your leadership potential.  These are typically   awards that involve group or collaborative work.  S o if you ever led others to success — as a captain or president, for instance — this kind of honor would look great to potential colleges.

Just make sure that you explain on your application what kind of role you had and how your leadership specifically led your team to success.

Academic Honors Examples of Leadership/Group Awards

• Volunteer awards
• Girl Scouts or Eagle Scouts awards

How to Talk About Honors on Your College Application: 4 Tips

Since you likely won’t have a lot of room to write about academic honors and awards on your application, it's important that   you present your academic achievements in an effective, impressive way.  Here are some tips on how to talk about the awards you've won.

Tip 1: Open With Your Most Impressive Awards

Admissions officers don’t usually spend a lot of time with each application they get, so you want to make sure that you’re catching their eyes right away by starting with your most impressive honors and awards.  These will generally be awards that are highly competitive and required a lot of work and commitment on your end.

Tip 2: Focus on Your Spike

A "spike" is a particular academic passion you have.   For example, if you’re a science buff who plans to major in chemistry, you'd want to emphasize your spike on your application by focusing primarily on your chemistry- and science-related activities and awards.

Having a spike will ultimately help you stand out from other applicants.  To learn more about how you can develop a spike, check out our guide on how to get into Harvard and the Ivy League .

Tip 3: Describe Awards That Are Vague or Unclear

Not all academic awards and honors are well known or obvious, especially if they’re unique to your school or area. Therefore, m ake sure that you’re using the space you have in the awards section of your application to describe any academic honors that the admissions committee is probably unfamiliar with.

The last thing you want an award to do is confuse admissions officers, so be clear about what it is, how you won it, and what makes it impressive.

Tip 4: Explain the Competitiveness of the Award

For each academic award or honor you’ve won, you want to clarify its level of competitiveness by explaining the scope of the competition.  For example, was the science tournament you won a national one? A local one? A school-based one?

Note that if the award has the word "national" or "international" in it, you shouldn’t have to add much explanation to its description since it'll be obvious that the award is fairly selective.

The overall point here is to show off!

Recap: Honors and Awards to Put on a College Application

As you can see, there's a huge variety in the types of academic honors and awards examples you can put on your college application. The 70+ academic honors examples listed above are just some of the possible honors you could include.

In general, the best academic honors to include on your application will have some or all of the following qualities:

• They’re highly selective/competitive
• They’re unique
• They highlight your academic interests and strengths (your "spike," that is)
• They emphasize your leadership skills/potential

You won’t have a ton of space on your application to explain the academic awards you’ve won, so it’s important to use the room you have wisely. To reiterate, h ere are our four best tips for how to talk about your academic awards and honors on your application:

• Open with your most impressive awards and honors
• Focus on your spike —i.e.,  your biggest academic passion and commitment
• Describe any vague, unclear, or lesser-known awards/honors you've received
• Explain the competitiveness of the award

Now get out there and win some awards!

What’s Next?

Lots of colleges use the Common App . If you're going to be using this platform to apply to college, make sure you know what to expect with the Common App honors section .

Planning to take AP tests in the spring? If you're hoping to snag a distinguished AP award , read our guide to get tips on how you can do this.

Honors can prove that you're a serious and ambitious college applicant.  Check out our expert guide to learn what high school honors is and how you can achieve honors status at your own high school.

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Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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Writing Fellowship Essays

Your application essay is part of a complete portfolio that includes recommendation letters, transcripts, resumes, and other supporting documents. This application package should give a complete overview of your academic, service, and leadership qualities, as well as an insight into your personality, character, interests, and skills. Note that some fellowships require more that one essay, with each discussing a particular aspect of your interests and goals.

Write for the general audience

Most review committees are not specialists in the particular academic or professional field in which you are applying for graduate study and fellowship support. Thus, you should write for an educated, intelligent, and general audience, not a panel of specialists. Use terminology that can be understood by someone outside your field; avoid professional jargon and the academic passive voice; don’t over‐use rhetorical devices.

Overview of YOU

Your presentation should present a direct, honest, and enthusiastic overview of you, your interests, and your goals. Your essay should create an image of you that closely relates to the criteria stated in the fellowship description.

Read other material

Read the published application materials carefully and highlight points that you can emphasize in your essay. Your essay is an opportunity to demonstrate your writing skills while subtly revealing your personality and positively distinguishing yourself from the many other applicants.

Start early and revise

Note that most essays are limited in length, so plan on many revisions and re‐writes. Start early and allow yourself to write at least three versions, then combine, edit, and revise to arrive at a final essay that conveys your distinctive voice.

Ask others to read  your essays

Ask your friends to read and comment on your essays, then re‐write and edit based on their critiques. Your faculty advisors and recommenders, as well as professional contacts, can be an important resource of advice and critiques on these essays. Comments from several readers will also help you prepare for interview questions that you might be asked based on your essay.

• Make sure that your essay is accurate and that you will be able to elaborate and intelligently discuss anything mentioned in your essay and supporting materials. • Committees seek unique, outstanding candidates; be diplomatic, but not overly modest in your writing. • Don’t guess at unstated criteria that a selection committee might seek; certainly, do not fabricate a personality to meet stated (or assumed) criteria. • Your essays are samples of your writing, thinking, and communication skills. All the rules of good writing (clarity, conviction, grammar, rhetoric) apply.

When you have a strong initial draft, review your writing with an advisor at the Texas State Writing Center; the writing advisors there, with experience in essays from many disciplines, can give you solid, helpful critiques. Make an online appointment at http://www.writingcenter.txstate.edu or by phone at 512‐245‐3018.

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Application Information

Admission to the Honors College is competitive for first-year, transfer, and current student applicants. Simply meeting the academic invitation criteria will not guarantee admission. When crafting each class, the Honors College considers program space and applicants’ fit. Selection criteria may include but are not limited to overall fit within the Honors College to create a well-rounded class, content and quality of the Honors essays, academic achievement, academic program of study, and extracurricular, employment, or leadership activities.

Honors Application Activities and Involvement

Applicants are asked to highlight their involvement in up to four extracurricular, employment, service, or leadership activities. We encourage applicants to select activities demonstrating a depth of involvement, highlighting their contributions to the organization, or connecting the activity to their academic or professional goals.

Honors Application Essays

The Honors College application essays allow you to address the admissions committee in your own voice. We have a deep interest in knowing why you are considering joining the Honors College, and your essays will let us better see you as a future scholar in our honors community. The essays will also assess your ability to write critically and effectively, which are key skills for success in the Honors curriculum.

Keep the following in mind:

• Exceptional responses will go above and beyond answering the prompt. They may include and reflect on personal experiences to support the applicant’s desire for Honors membership and demonstrate a researched understanding of the Honors College benefits, values, or program outcomes.
• Your essay should closely examine your ideas about your education and the Auburn Honors College experience.
• Your essay may take creative and intellectual risks but should address and integrate all prompt elements.
• Your essay should give the admissions committee insight into how you think, how you reason, and what you value.
• Be succinct, but make sure you thoroughly address the prompt.
• Proofread your submission. You may want to consider drafting your essays in a Word document first so that you can review and revise if necessary.

2025 First-Year Essay Prompts

Answered by each applicant, 600-word limit.

The Honors College aspires to provide Auburn students the means to experience, explore, engage, and elevate their dreams. Describe an academic dream you hope to achieve. How has this dream shaped your educational or professional goals? How will the Honors experience, benefits, and resources help you accomplish this dream? How will you contribute to the community of Honors scholars?

Each applicant will choose one prompt, 600-word limit

• “ I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious .” – Albert Einstein. Write about a philosophical or ethical question, scientific theory, literary text, work of art, performance, or something else that piqued your curiosity. What questions has this inspired you to answer? What actions have you taken to become more knowledgeable about the subject? What strategies have you used to address answers that you find unsatisfying?
•  Sometimes food gains a seasoning of cultural meanings. People crave hot dogs at a ballpark who might otherwise disdain them. In the 1970s, one company tried to identify their brand with patriotic Americanism using the jingle “Baseball, Hotdogs, Apple Pie, and Chevrolet.” Marcel Proust wrote his seven-volume novel  Remembrance of Things Past  (the English title) to probe a whole cultural experience and the idea of involuntary memory, for which the emblematic example early in the first volume was a powerful reaction to the taste of a madeleine (a small cake) that called forth a rush of memories from his childhood. Is there a food in your personal experience or in the larger communities of which you are a part that carries important cultural meaning for you or for your networks? Why? What is involved in such a connection? What meaning could you attribute to it that reaches beyond an individual experience? Be bold and speculative in thinking about what that food connection might embody.
• Describe a time you were faced with a challenge or hardship. What steps did you take to face this challenge? Were you successful? What did you learn from this experience?

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Admissions Decisions

All students must first earn admission to Kennesaw State University for KSU Journey Honors College consideration. KSU Journey Honors College admissions decisions are released separately from Kennesaw State University admissions decisions. After earning admission to Kennesaw State University, honors applicants can expect to receive their honors admissions decision in 6 - 8 weeks. All honors admissions decisions are communicated via KSU student email. 

To ensure quality of experience, KSU Journey Honors College is unable to serve strictly online learners at this time.

Please direct honors admissions questions to: [email protected] . 

Which Type of Student Are You?

First-Year Students

First-year students applying for admission to KSU Journey Honors College must have a KSU-calculated high school GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Admission to the KSU Journey Honors College is competitive. The essay portion of your application is given particular attention. The honors essay demonstrates your writing, your interests, and overall fit for the KSU Journey Honors College. Selection committee members are looking for:

• Originality and creativity.
• A strong argument.
• Demonstration of curiosity and potential for engagement.
• Evidence of care, effort, and clarity.
• Appropriate essay organization, grammar, and language.

The use of ChatGPT or any other AI technology is strictly prohibited. 

How to Apply

Incoming First-Year Students may apply directly through their application to Kennesaw State University in CommonApp. 

If you do not indicate interest in Honors via CommonApp, you may apply via the Honors internal application linked below:

The Honors internal application will launch on October 1, 2024. Please refer back to this page in October for more information.

*First-year students who do not meet the minimum criteria for admission or who are not accepted based on their initial application may apply to KSU Journey Honors College after their first semester at KSU. See "Current KSU Students" eligibility tab below.

**The Department of Psychological Science has specific eligibility criteria for honors students. Please review these criteria here .

Dual Enrollment Students applying for Undergraduate Admission

Current KSU Dual Enrollment students who are graduating from high school  must have a KSU-calculated high school GPA of 3.5 or higher.

• Evidence of care, effort, and clarity. appropriate essay organization, grammar, and language.

*The Department of Psychological Science has specific eligibility criteria for Honors Students. Please review these criteria here .

High School Students applying for Dual Enrollment

High school junior and senior Dual Enrollment Program (DEP) students are eligible to apply to KSU Journey Honors College based on the following:

• KSU-calculated high school GPA of 3.5 or higher.
• demonstration of curiosity and potential for engagement.

*Please note:

• All courses taken by DEP students must be approved by a DEP advisor and their high school counselor.
• If an honors section of an approved course (e.g., ENGL 1101/H01 or HIST 1111/H01) is available, then the student may take the honors section rather than a regular section.
• Honors sections are smaller and are typically seminar-style. (The "H" in the section number code designates that it's an honors section.)
• Courses with a HON prefix (e.g., HON 3000: Honors Colloquium) and the HON 1100: Introduction to Honors courses are not covered by Dual Enrollment funding.
• DEP students may participate in non-course related Honors Discoveries (book clubs, etc.) to meet the Honors Learning Experience requirements. Any associated fees are not covered by Dual Enrollment funding, and the student would need to pay these expenses out of pocket.

*The Department of Psychological Science has specific eligibility criteria for honors Students. Please review these criteria here .

Transfer Students

Transfer students are eligible to apply based on the following:

• fewer than 70 credit hours.
• transfer GPA of 3.5 or higher.

*The Department of Psychological Science has specific eligibility criteria for honors students. Please review the criteria.

Current KSU Students 

Current KSU students are eligible to apply based on the following:

• KSU Institutional GPA of 3.5  or higher.

The use of ChatGPT or any other AI technology is strictly prohibited.  

*The Department of Psychological Science has specific eligibility criteria for honors students. Please review these criteria here .

Honors Reinstatement

If you have previously been a KSU Journey Honors College student and have either withdrawn or been dismissed, you may apply for reinstatement .

Consider a First-Year Cohort!

First-year students from any academic major can apply to one of our prestigious cohorts, where communities of like-minded learners progress together through common coursework and rigorous learning experiences that foster collaboration, academic success, and professional aptitude. All cohorts students receive scholarships. 

Ancient and Modern Classics Cohort (AMC)

President's Emerging Global Scholars (PEGS)

Wellstar Tom and Betty Phillips Elite Honors Nursing Scholars

2025 Honors Application Deadlines

STUDENT TYPE APPLICATION DEADLINE APPLICATION First-Year Students            December 15, 2024

Return to this page in October to access the Honors Internal Application.  Dual Enrollment Students December 15, 2024

Return to this page in October to access the Honors Internal Application. 

Transfer Students December 15, 2024

Return to this page in October to access the Honors Internal Application. 

Current KSU Students December 15, 2024 Return to this page in October to access the Honors Internal Application.  STUDENT TYPE APPLICATION DEADLINE APPLICATION First-Year Students     May 10, 2025

Return to this page in October to access the Honors Internal Application. 

 

Dual Enrollment Students May 10, 2025

Return to this page in October to access the Honors Internal Application. 

 

Transfer Students May 10, 2025

Return to this page in October to access the Honors Internal Application. 

 

Current KSU Students May 10, 2025 Return to this page in October to access the Honors Internal Application. 

Honors 2025 Essay Prompts

Honors General Essay

Please reflect upon the theme of inspiration. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. What actions were you inspired to take? How have you built upon your sense of inspiration? 

The suggested word count for this essay is 700 words.  

Ancient and Modern Classics 

Students applying to Ancient and Modern Classics will respond to the Honors General Essay with the addition of a cohort-specific question. The full essay question for consideration within this cohort is: 

Please reflect upon the theme of inspiration. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. What actions were you inspired to take? How have you built upon your sense of inspiration? Consider the theme of ancient and/or modern literature in your response for Ancient and Modern Classics (AMC) Cohort consideration. 

President's Emerging Global Scholars

Students applying to President's Emerging Global Scholars will respond to the Honors General Essay with the addition of a cohort-specific question. The full essay question for consideration within this cohort is: 

Please reflect upon the theme of inspiration. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. What actions were you inspired to take? How have you built upon your sense of inspiration? Focus your essay on examples of personal leadership and civic engagement for President’s Emerging Global Scholar (PEGS) Cohort consideration. 

WellStar Tom and Betty Philips Elite Honors Nursing Scholars

Students applying to the WellStar Tom and Betty Phillips Elite Honors Nursing Scholars cohort will respond to the Honors General Essay with the addition of a cohort-specific question. The full essay question for consideration within this cohort is: 

Please reflect upon the theme of inspiration. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. What actions were you inspired to take? How have you built upon your sense of inspiration? Consider the theme of care and concern for others in your response for Wellstar-Phillips Elite Honors Nursing Cohort consideration.

  The suggested word count for this essay is 700 words.  

Accepted to KSU Journey Honors College? 

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Honors College

Incoming freshmen.

The Honors College offers opportunities for you to discover your passions and connect with a diverse student body to develop a standard of excellence. We encourage students from all disciplines and backgrounds to apply to the Honors College.

Admission Guidelines

Admission into the VCU Honors College is competitive, and all applicants are expected to have challenged themselves in high school through their course selections. The Honors College conducts a holistic review on all applicants with the following recommended admission guidelines:

• Unweighted high school grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Combined SAT score of at least 1330 (writing not included) OR an ACT composite score of at least 29.

Students who do not meet these criteria but feel an exception should be made remain eligible to apply as other components (extracurricular, honors, leadership, etc.) will be used in the holistic review and may offset lower quantitative scores.

Please note : For the 2024-2025 application year, test scores will not be required for general admission into the Honors College. Applicants who are able to take a standardized test and would like the scores to be used in our holistic application review may still submit scores. Students without test scores will receive a holistic review on all other portions of the application. Submission of test scores remains a requirement for all Guaranteed Admission Programs. 

If you are a high school student interested in joining the Honors College, consider registering for an information session via Zoom. Questions about the information sessions can be directed to the Honors Recruitment and Enrollment Counselor, Will Gilbert ( [email protected] ). 

Register for an Info Session

Application Process

In addition to the submission of your VCU Common Application, prospective students must submit an Honors College application. As a first-time user, you will be prompted to create a username and password on the Honors College website. Once you have created a username and password, your application can be saved and completed at a later time. Upon submission of your Honors College application you will receive a confirmation email.

The Honors College will confirm your test scores and grade point average through the materials sent in with your Common Application. You do not need to send additional transcripts or scores to the Honors College.

As you prepare to apply, please consider these application components:

Submission of VCU Honors College application. You will need the following information to complete the application:

• Your unweighted high school GPA.
• Date(s) and score(s) for your SAT and/or ACT (optional for 2024-2025 admissions cycle).
• Date(s), subject(s) and score(s) for any Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate tests you have taken or plan to take.
• List any extracurricular involvement (leadership, service, honors, awards, etc.).
• Major influences on your intellectual and personal development, such as curricular and extracurricular experiences, community service or important people, events or ideas
• Your immediate educational goals and plans for achieving them
• Your goals and dreams for the future

Honors Application Portal

Important Dates & Deadlines

The VCU Honors College application will be available in early August.

Applications to the Honors College from incoming freshmen are accepted through April 15 of the senior year in high school. However, students are encouraged to apply by our priority deadline of February 1 . All prospective freshmen who apply to the Honors College by February 1 will be notified of our admissions decision by April 1.

Applications received after the priority deadline of February 1 will be considered on a space-available basis. All admissions decisions will be made no later than June 15. Applications received after 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 15 will not be considered.

Incoming Freshman Honors students are also eligible to apply for Honors College scholarships. Honors College scholarships require a supplemental application. Students will be emailed more information regarding scholarships. Students who wish to be considered for the University-wide scholarships from the Office of Admissions must also submit their Common Application by November 1.

Are you applying for an Honors College Guaranteed Admission Program?

Students interested in applying to the Honors College Guaranteed Admission Programs should begin the Honors College incoming student application and select which Guaranteed Admission Program they are interested in when prompted. Selecting a Guaranteed Admission Program will open the second half of the application, which is only for students applying to a Guaranteed Admission Program. This application must be completed in full with supporting documents by November 1  for consideration for the Guaranteed Admission Program. Students will be evaluated for both admission into the Honors College as well as into the selected Guaranteed Admission Program. Incoming freshmen who are interested in Guaranteed Admission do not need to complete a personal education paper. To learn more about the Guaranteed Admission Program requirements visit the link below.

Honors Guaranteed Admission Program