university honors 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• Do not quote our own description of our program.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.

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Clark honors college menu, clark honors college, essay tips & prompt, the clark honors college essay requirements for admission .

Applying to the Clark Honors College requires two different essays:

• One using the Honors College prompt
• One from either the Oregon Application Personal Statement or the Common Application*

The UO general essay topic cannot be used to fulfill the Clark Honors College essay. You must complete both of them. 

(*Note: On the Common Application, the Honors College essay prompt will appear immediately below the honors question on your screen when you answer “yes” to apply.) 

Clark Honors College essay instructions: 

The Honors College strives to be a diverse, welcoming, and inclusive place. When faculty and staff review the applications, they are looking to see how you think and how your mind works. The best essays: 

• demonstrate effective storytelling 
• include thoughtful analysis 
• synthesize themes in a meaningful way 
• give a sense of your personality and unique perspective 

The CHC essay prompt:

Curiosity and breadth of interests are defining characteristics of Clark Honors College students. We value originality and want to learn more about your unique journey and the nature and breadth of your intellectual curiosity.

Please tell us about a specific enthusiasm that showcases your curiosity and intellectual engagement with the world. Your chosen enthusiasm or passion can be from any domain—academic, artistic, scientific, cultural, or any other area that has captivated your interest. Be thoughtful and provide concrete examples to support your response.

Please limit your response to a maximum of 500 words.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the University of Florida Essays 2023-2024

The University of Florida has one required prompt for all applicants that asks about your biggest commitment outside of the classroom. There are three prompts for all applicants that are only required if you answer “yes” to specific questions. It also has one required prompt for applicants to its Honors Program—this prompt asks about a subject or topic you find intellectually stimulating, and about how you think the program’s resources will support this interest.

Since UF receives thousands of applications from academically-strong students, your essays are your chance to stand out. In this post, we’ll discuss how to craft an engaging response to each of these options.

Read this UF essay example to inspire your own writing.

University of Florida Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants.

Prompt 1: Please provide more details on your most meaningful commitment outside of the classroom while in high school and explain why it was meaningful. This could be related to an extracurricular activity, work, volunteering, an academic activity, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity. (250 words)

Prompt 2: Do you have any employment or family obligations that limit your participation in extracurricular activities? If so, please describe. (250 words)

Prompt 3: Have you participated in or been assisted in your college preparation and search by programs outside of the classroom, such as Educational Talent Search, Take Stock in Children, Upward Bound, Boys and Girls Club, etc.? If so, please provide the name of the program, details/benefits of your involvement, and how long your experiences continued. (250 words)

Prompt 4: Is there any additional information or extenuating circumstances the Admissions Committee should know when reviewing your application? If so, please provide more information in less than 250 words.

Honors Program 

American novelist henry miller once said, “my hunger and curiosity drive me forward in all directions at once.” students in the university of florida honors program are known for pursuing multiple interests and passions., tell us about a subject or topic that you find intellectually stimulating and are curious to learn more about while in college. which direction(s) do you imagine your hunger for that subject or topic will take you while at uf how do you envision the honors program’s academic and extracurricular resources will support you along the way, please use a maximum of 400 words in your essay for full consideration., all applicants, prompt 1, please provide more details on your most meaningful commitment outside of the classroom while in high school and explain why it was meaningful. this could be related to an extracurricular activity, work, volunteering, an academic activity, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity. (250 words).

This prompt is a variation of the common Extracurricular Activity prompt since it’s asking you to write about a meaningful commitment you had outside of the classroom.

Brainstorming your topic:

First, you’ll need to narrow down your list of extracurricular activities to just one to write about. It’s important to choose an activity that you’re passionate about, that you’ve been involved in for a while, and that has helped shape you into the person you are today.

Here are some ideas of the types of topics you might write about:

• Activities where you’ve shown significant commitment
• Clubs or groups that you’ve created, or where you’ve had a leadership role
• Activities that have helped to shape a specific personal aspect of your life
• Experiences that relate to your future goals
• Unique extracurriculars that require an explanation for people to thoroughly understand them

Once you’ve chosen a topic, think about the following questions before you begin writing:

• What is the strongest emotion you feel about this activity?
• What do you think about when you participate in the activity?
• Has the activity helped you strengthen or develop any personality traits?
• Are there any specific skills you’ve developed from participating in this activity?
• How does this activity impact the rest of your life?

Tips for writing your essay:

A good response will explain what your activity, responsibility, or experience is, what it entails, and why it is important to you. Make sure to address each of these points, as they are either stated in or implied by the prompt.

Here’s an example of an excellent response to this prompt from Sara, a prospective entrepreneurship major:

“During my sophomore year, I started creating charcuterie boards for parties, events, and other occasions for my friends and family. I loved finding the perfect assortment of crackers, fruit, cheeses and jams to arrange into beautiful boards, but more importantly, I enjoyed networking with people at each event I worked.

After a few months, I began to receive so many referrals that I decided to start a small business. Managing my schoolwork, sports schedule, leadership roles, and my small business required me to develop excellent time management skills. I also learned about the financial aspects of running a business—managing cash flow, balancing costs, and paying taxes—and the marketing aspects of running a business—leveraging social media, paying for ad space, and utilizing other channels to promote my business.

Prior to my sophomore year, I had dreams of becoming a doctor. However, after starting my charcuterie business, I realized that my interests in finance, marketing, and business lent themselves to a future in entrepreneurship. I’m grateful for the opportunities my business has given me, and I’m excited to watch my business—and other businesses I might start—grow in the future!”

This example is strong because it very clearly states what the activity is. It then branches off into a discussion of the student’s business, something that was created as a result of the activity. The student also describes her roles in her activity/business throughout the essay, and then ends with a strong argument as to why this passion has become so meaningful to her.

Mistakes to avoid:

Choosing the wrong activity. Don’t choose to write about an extracurricular just because you think it sounds impressive, or even just because you’re skilled at it. This essay is a chance to write about an extracurricular that is meaningful to you, so it’s important that you select an activity you’re really passionate about!

Writing a shallow response. ​​It’s not effective to give a detailed history of your participation, or to tell an enticing story about the extracurricular you’ve chosen if you forget to explain how the activity has affected or changed you. It’s crucial to explain your personal development from participating in the activity.

Listing your accomplishments. Simply listing out your accomplishments with no elaboration will make for an unengaging response that reads like a laundry list. Instead, provide a unique perspective by sharing how the activity impacts your current life as well as your aspirations for the future.

A Note About Prompts 2-4

You are only required to respond to each of the following all applicants prompts if you choose the “Yes” option offered in the first half of each prompt, respectively. If any (or all) of the prompts don’t apply to you, you can choose the “No” option for that prompt, and will not need to respond to it.

All Applicants, Prompt 2

Do you have any employment or family obligations that limit your participation in extracurricular activities if so, please describe. (250 words, optional).

This question is similar to the Additional Information section listed in the Common App, as well as the exceptional personal circumstances prompt you might see during the application process. Check out the linked guides for tips for writing an essay like this!

One quick tip: Be sure to at least explain what the employment/obligation entailed, and why you had to take it on, as well as the results of you taking on this extra responsibility. Obligations you might write about include working to contribute financially to your family, taking care of an ill relative, or frequently babysitting younger siblings.

Consider the following example to see what a good response might include:

“Last year, my single mother was let go from her job at an insurance company when it was struggling financially and going through a period of transition. As a result, we both had to take on additional jobs to make ends meet, so I briefly left my school’s robotics team throughout the second semester and summer following junior year. Instead, I worked at a local grocery store after school and on the weekends, learning how to work efficiently under pressure while supporting my family.”

All Applicants, Prompt 3

Have you participated in or been assisted in your college preparation and search by programs outside of the classroom, such as educational talent search, take stock in children, upward bound, boys and girls club, etc. please provide the name of the program, details/benefits of your involvement, and how long your experiences continued. (250 words, optional).

This prompt is straightforward and simple. It requires you to list your involvement in programs that have helped you with your college search (outside of school), and it also asks you to list the details and benefits of your involvement in the program(s).

Here’s a sample response:

“During my junior and senior years of high school, I participated in the Take Stock in Children Program. While I was involved in the program, I was paired with a volunteer mentor and received frequent college readiness coaching. My mentor, James, was an undergraduate student at the University of Florida. Before participating in the Take Stock in Children program, I wasn’t interested in attending college, and I was planning to work at my local grocery store after high school to support my hobby, music production. James helped me understand the importance of college and he encouraged me to pursue a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Florida. I am grateful for how my involvement with Take Stock in Children has impacted my future education and aspirations.”

This student does a great job at answering the prompt. He lists the program name (Take Stock in Children) and the duration (junior and senior year) that he participated in the program. He also includes the details of his involvement (volunteer mentor and college readiness coaching) and most importantly, the benefits of their involvement (how his relationship with James inspired him to apply for college as a music major).

All Applicants, Prompt 4

Is there any additional information or extenuating circumstances the admissions committee should know when reviewing your application (250 words, optional).

​​This also resembles the Additional Information section listed in the Common App and the exceptional personal circumstances prompt . This is essentially your shot to either explain a lapse in your performance somewhere or to introduce something new about yourself that isn’t evident elsewhere in your application. 

You may elaborate further upon an extracurricular activity you feel isn’t clearly explained throughout your application (For example, say you were a Head Designer for your town’s Environmental and Aesthetic Initiative, and admissions officers may not know what that is). You could also talk about a personal story or history that has affected you greatly. You may even discuss a previously unmentioned extracurricular activity that says a lot about you.

This is a wonderfully free space for you to dive into whichever information you feel will give the admissions team the most complete version of your identity. If you don’t think this space is necessary for you, that’s fine too! Just leave it blank.

Honors Program Applicants Prompt

This prompt is meant to gauge who you are beyond your grades and test scores. It’s primarily about a subject that interests you, but there are multiple parts of the prompt that you’ll need to address:

• Identifying the subject or topic of interest
• Describing the direction you imagine that interest taking at UF
• Detailing how you envision the honors program’s resources supporting the direction you just described

Before you begin writing, it’s important that you select a strong topic. Of course, you need to be sincere. Don’t write about a topic you’re not that interested in just because you think the admissions committee wants to read about it. Good essays are always about authentic topics rather than disingenuous ones. To help you think, make a list of your the subjects that are most interesting and meaningful to you, and consider the following questions:

1) Which subject on your list have you shown the most commitment to? Which has been most influential in your development?

2) What is the strongest emotion you feel about this subject?

• Why do you feel this emotion?
• Has that emotional response changed over time? If so, how and why?
• What emotions do you feel when you’re actively engaging with this subject?

3) What thoughts and feelings go through your mind when you’re actively studying or learning about this subject?

4) Have you developed or strengthened any personality traits as a result of your engagement with this subject? If so, what are they and how have they evolved over time?

5) Have you developed any skills while studying this subject? These can include soft skills such as critical thinking, public speaking, work ethic, and teamwork, or hard skills, which are specific to whatever domain your subject is a part of.

6) What impact has your interest in this subject had on the rest of your life (activities, social life, academics, etc.)?

Once you’ve chosen your topic, think about how you want to structure your essay. You have up to 400 words, and you’ll probably need that space to address each part of the prompt. The prompt specifically asks how you see the UF Honors Program fostering that interest, so you’ll definitely want to include a response to that question.

You have some flexibility in the way you respond to this prompt. There are a few ways to introduce the subject you’re interested in. You might explicitly state what you enjoy about the subject, or perhaps you’ll talk about some of the experiences or outcomes related to the subject that have brought you fulfillment. Consider the following examples of opener styles you might use:

• Stating the subject explicitly: “For the last three years, I have filled every moment of free time I’ve had with videos and books about psychology.”
• Beginning with an anecdote: “My eyes widened with fascination as the colors climbed my chromatography paper. This was my first chemistry lab, and a moment that would completely change my desired career path forever.”
• Describing an experience and delaying naming the subject: “ ‘So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.’ With that sentence, I finished The Great Gatsby, the fifth novel I read that month.”

Since you have some space to work with, you can be creative when describing the subject you’re writing about. Use imagery to your advantage, be specific when discussing your emotions, and try to describe your emotional response to the subject in a way that reveals something about your personality.

Next, you’ll want to describe the direction you imagine this interest taking at UF. There are really no wrong answers here, since you can’t exactly predict the future. Luckily for you, this question is less about what you actually imagine and more about what you plan. That’s where it ties into the third question, how you see the program’s resources supporting your interest.

To do this effectively, you need to do some research on UF and its Honors Program. To start, look around on the UF Honors Program website to find resources that are particularly appealing to you. These might include particular classes or professors, research groups, program traditions, and extracurricular opportunities or programs. Honors students also enjoy access to internships and research opportunities. For example, a student who is interested in homesteading might mention how they’re excited to take the Honors Program’s beekeeping classes to expand their knowledge and skills.

Everything just mentioned is a good way to establish a tangible connection to the program, but you might also try to establish an intangible connection as well. An intangible connection involves discussing how the program’s values might align with your own.

You want to craft an effective essay, so you should note a few common mistakes to avoid:

• Don’t pick the wrong topic! Bad subjects include: those you’ve already written about somewhere else in your application, impressive-sounding subjects you don’t actually have experience or an interest in, and subjects you haven’t actually put that much time into.
• Don’t just describe your interest without elaborating on its impact on you. You might get caught up in an anecdote when writing, but don’t forget to explain the subject’s significance.
• Don’t just list your accomplishments within the subject. You shouldn’t simply provide a list of things that make you look good superficially. You want to show your personal perspective and growth by discussing your emotional response to your chosen subject and the ways in which the subject impacts your life.
• Don’t forget to answer each part of the prompt. You are asked to discuss a subject that you’re curious about, the direction you see that interest going in at UF, and the ways in which UF’s Honors Program will help you along the way.

Structurally, take a reflective approach and really analyze your thoughts and feelings about the subject. You have 400 words to work with, so you can really get into detail about each part of the prompt. As long as you can provide a good reflection, describe your subject well, and detail the role the UF Honors Program will play in fostering your interest, you will be fine.

Where to Get Your University of Florida Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your University of Florida essays? 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. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools.  Find the right advisor for you  to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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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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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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University honors program.

The University Honors Program promotes the intellectual and personal development of undergraduate students through an enrich​ed academic experience and integration of curricular and co-curricular programming.

• Take advantage of Honors status in 200+ majors across campus.
• Choose from more than 350 sections of Honors classes, averaging fewer than 25 students each.
• Pursue original research and write an Honors thesis under the guidance of a faculty member.
• Graduate "with Honors" and/or "with Honors Research Distinction" on your diploma.
• Opportunity to live in three designated Honors learning communities.
• Receive university-level priority course scheduling to meet your Honors requirements.

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Apply to the University Honors Program

The University Honors Program looks for students who aspire to expertise and interdisciplinarity, respond creatively to pressing questions, and feel called to build healthy, inclusive communities.

To apply, upload your honors materials while filling out KU's general application.

Application materials.

Through your application, we want to get to know you and understand your hopes for your college education. You will primarily do this with the inclusion of two components beyond those generally required by KU: an essay and short response to three questions.

Essays should be intellectually curious, thoughtful, well-organized, proofread, and limited to 500 words. We will evaluate the quality of your writing and your ability to provide an expansive yet focused response to one of these three prompts:

• Option 1: Physicist Albert Einstein said: “It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education.” Drawing from your formal and informal educational experiences, assess the truth of Einstein’s statement, then discuss how you plan to nurture your curiosity at KU and in the honors program.
• Option 2: KU graduate and NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara shared that seeing the planet from the International Space Station gave her “a sense of urgency to come back down to Earth and play a part in making it better.” What plans for college and beyond do you have for making our planet or society better? How have your experiences and background helped to ignite these aspirations?
• Option 3: The University Honors Program highly values interdisciplinarity. Tell us about two of your contrasting academic interests or passions and the ways they interact. How do you plan to continue exploring and interweaving them at KU as a member of the honors program?

Short answers

Please upload your responses to all three questions as a single Word or PDF document and limit your total word count to 1,200 words combined. Convey the factors that shaped you and demonstrate skills of clarity and brevity when you answer each of these three questions:

• Question 1: List no more than five items — clubs and organizations, employment, community service, awards and recognition, extra-curricular interests, personal or family obligations — in descending order of significance, with the most significant item first. For each, explain your role, time commitment, length of involvement, and responsibilities.
• Question 2: How have your experiences affected your sense of who you are and what you hope to accomplish in college? There are no wrong answers.
• Question 3: Honors students make the most of available opportunities. Based on course availability at your school, how did you select the classes you took? Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know about your transcript?

Fall application deadlines

Application review.

We evaluate applications across four main criteria:

• Leadership potential

We seek applicants who took full advantage of the courses and opportunities available to them at their high school, in addition to demonstrating academic excellence, an interest in interdisciplinary connections, and a commitment to community. 

Our individual and holistic review process considers responses to essay and short answer prompts, along with GPA, high school transcripts, and any ACT or SAT scores provided. No minimum GPA or test score is required for admission. Submitted test scores will be considered, but applicants will not be penalized for a lack of scores.

Incoming first-year students should allow up to eight weeks for a decision.

International applicants

Students from outside the U.S. applying to KU as incoming first-year students should complete the general KU application along with their honors application by March 1 for fall admission.  Students must also demonstrate English proficiency as defined by KU International Admissions . Students who are not yet proficient in English are invited to apply to the University Honors Program after successfully completing their Level 5 coursework in the Applied English Center. (Current international KU students: Please refer to the section above for current KU students.)

• University Honors College
• Application & Eligibility

How to apply to the Honors College

Why honors.

The Honors College opens the door to the best of the Northern Arizona University experience. You’ll be surrounded by a community of like-minded, ambitious, and curious students; welcomed into conversations with groundbreaking scholars and innovative artists; and encouraged to pursue projects that genuinely excite you.

We know you’re ready to climb higher. Seize your opportunity today.

All applications to the Honors College received by 11/15/2024 at 11:59pm will be considered for the Honors College Merit Scholarship for Fall 2025.

2025 Admission prompts are posted below.

Applications  for spring and fall 2024 honors college admission closed..

All student applicants to the Honors College must:

• first be admitted to NAU
• have an NAU user ID and password
• have a unweighted HS Core GPA of 3.0 or higher ( What is a HS Core GPA? )
• online Honors Application (link at bottom of page)
• two Honors admissions essays (minimum and maximum word requirements for each essay)
• resume or list of activities and accomplishments

Please have your essay and resume ready to submit before clicking the application link below. Documents are accepted in .doc, .docx, and .pdf formats only .

A confirmation email will be sent to the NAU email included in the online application, and all future correspondence from Honors is directed to that email.

Please note that if you are interested in applying for Spring or Fall 2024 admission, our application is now closed. The 2025 Honors Application is available September 3. The essay prompts have changed for Spring and Fall 2025 admission. Please see below button link for current essay prompts.

Application policies

How we evaluate applications accordion closed.

Admission to Honors is based on an evaluation of the student from a multitude of perspectives. We do take test scores and HS Core GPA into consideration for new freshmen (minimum transfer college or current NAU GPA required) if submitted, but that criteria is not exclusively used to admit to Honors. Honors applicants for Fall 2024 average 27 on the ACT and 1189 on the Math and Reading portions of the SAT, and a 3.81 HS Core GPA. Honors College applicants must have a 3.0 Core HS GPA.

Please note that if you started an application for 2025 PRIOR to August 15, you will need to start an entirely new application as the 2024 applications that were noted as “started” in our system will be deleted.

Important dates Accordion Closed

We accept applications to the Honors College all year (Sept 1 ->August 15), but we strongly encourage you be admitted to Honors prior to February 1 if you would like to live on campus and in the Honors Campus Living Community (this date allows you to ensure room placement in the Honors College); and April 1  is our priority date to ensure enrollment in our first year Honors seminar. Admission to Honors will continue through the Summer on a space available basis . Our application closes each year on Aug 15 for maintenance.

Honors College Campus Living Accordion Closed

The Honors CLC is available on a space-available basis. Students who secure Honors College Admission will live in the Honors College Campus Living Community(CLC) until space is filled.  Also note that application to Honors does not guarantee admission to Honors, nor is application to Honors considered for hall placement in the Honors CLC.

Admission to Honors does not guarantee placement in Honors College CLC, so please plan your campus living application submission accordingly. Applications are prioritized by date of application as space is limited.

See our Applying for Honors housing page for details. Any questions about the Honors College Campus Living Community should be directed to Campus Living .

Learn how to apply for Honors CLC

Scholarship consideration Accordion Closed

Submitting an application for Honors on or before November 15, will consider you for one of our limited Honors Merit Scholarships for the following Spring or Fall enrollment term. Notification of this award will be made in late December. We will consider applications after this date on a “funds available” basis.

Your “essays”  will be evaluated both on your content and ideas as well as on writing conventions such as thesis, supporting evidence, organization, grammar, spelling, parallel construction, style, and mechanics.

Prompts for Spring or Fall 2025 Honors College Admission Accordion Closed

DO NOT START YOUR HONORS ONLINE APPLICATION until 9/1/2024, when the 2025 application becomes available.

Essay 1 instructions:

This essay is a chance to see how you think through a problem in writing. Like many problems you will encounter in college classes, this one has no single or simple right answer . Your response should have a  main point that you support through a discussion of examples and other kinds of evidence. A successful essay may also recognize the value of different views on the subject. Finally, we will look at your command of basic academic writing conventions, including organization and paragraph structure, spelling, usage, style, and mechanics. Your response should be at least 500 and no more than 800 words in length.

In developing your response, you may want to discuss examples with which you are familiar. Try and think of two to three examples, but please note that this is not a personal essay, so please do not rely heavily on “I” statements.

Community engagement is the act of making an impact at the local level, often through volunteer work, but also through other efforts and activities. Write an essay in which you consider the nature and impact of community engagement. What is it designed to accomplish or, perhaps, prevent? How do you see community engagement providing solutions beyond more traditional civic acts such as voting or running for political office?

“Essay” 2 instructions and prompt: Please write five sentences describing yourself, your life, and your experiences that, taken together, form an accurate view of who you are.  Be creative!  List more than 5 and we will only read and consider the first 5.Do not list information provided in your résumé.  This is not a rehash of what you’ve already submitted telling us about yourself. These five sentences should be “little nuggets” of information that give us insight into who you are.  It’s information that you couldn’t work/sneak into an essay or onto your résumé, but information you feel is really important in showing us just who you are, “where you come from.”  The sentences should not simply reiterate information from your résumé, but they may enhance information mentioned on your résumé.  Smart applicants will make good use of this opportunity and make each of the five sentences about something different.  Think of these sentences as showing us aspects of who you are, including what you do, what you love, your favorite things, your deepest desires, your most grandiose dreams…..  These are snapshots, not short stories, that give us a view of you and your unique perspective.

Respond to both prompts for consideration. Please have your Honors College Essays of Admission (prompts above) and resume ready to submit before  clicking the “Apply to Honors on-line” link below. This link is only accessible to prospective Honors students who have first been admitted to NAU who have a 3.0 HS Core GPA or higher. Essays should be submitted in .doc, .docx, or .pdf formats ONLY. Not submitting in one of these three formats will delay your admission decision. You are also asked to copy and paste your resume and essays into text boxes. Formatting will not be preserved in the text box, which is why we ask for an uploaded document. The evaluation of the essays and resume will not be affected by the appearance of the text box submission.

Your resume

Please consider this an opportunity for you to describe yourself to us in ways beyond a record of your employment. This document should help us find answers to questions like:

• What things are you interested in?
• What student or community groups or organizations are you a member of?
• What do you do with your spare time? Do you play club/school sports? Do you volunteer? Where? How often?
• What leadership positions do you have?

Please note that we do deny student admission to Honors. Should you wish to have your application re-opened for a second review, we ask that you submit a new essay and a new resume along with a completed teacher evaluation (send teacher evaluation to [email protected]).

Other admissions policies

Transfer student requirements accordion closed.

Incoming students to the Honors College are considered “transfer students” when they are transferring 24 or more semester credit hours (earned post-HS graduation) into NAU and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or above. Transfer students must submit an application, resume, and essay for consideration. Transfer transcripts must be on file at NAU for consideration.

Current student requirements Accordion Closed

If you are not admitted for new or transfer admission, you may apply for the Honors College after completing 12 credit hours of letter-graded coursework at Northern Arizona University. Current NAU students must submit an application, resume, and essay for consideration. The coursework to be considered for admission must count toward liberal studies and/or toward major or minor requirements.

Reminder: to be eligible for admission as a current NAU student, you must have a cumulative Northern Arizona University grade point average of 3.30 or above.

Admission to Honors does not guarantee placement in Honors College CLC, so please plan your campus living application submission accordingly. Housing applications are prioritized by date of application as space is limited.

All applications to the Honors College received by 11/15/2024 at 11:59pm will be considered for the Honors College Merit Scholarship for Fall 2025 enrollment. 

Honors College

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Expand your experience 

The UW Honors Program is a curriculum, a community, and much more! Our students are enthusiastic learners from all backgrounds and majors seeking to expand and deepen their education.

Honors options

Learn more about UW Honors

Who are Honors students?

Quick facts

• There are three Honors options to choose from: Interdisciplinary, College, and Departmental Honors.
• Honors courses fulfill the UW general education requirements.
• The Honors curriculum integrates research, leadership, community service and reflection.
• $1.2 million annually in resident and non-resident scholarships.
• Honors floors in the residence halls.
• Students take ~one Honors class per quarter.
• There is no one type of Honors student. Honors student majors range from English to computer science, psychology to biochemistry, engineering to public health.

How to join Honors

Freshman admission.

Second Year Admission

2nd Year Apply

Transfer Admission

Transfer Apply

Departmental Honors

Interdisciplinary Honors Freshman admissions

If applying to the UW as a freshman, you will find the Honors application — consisting of an additional Honors-specific essay — within the UW application. 

The 2024 Honors application essay prompt

Respond to the prompt using no more than 450 words .

We want to understand your desire to learn new things and to push your education outside of the areas of learning that you are most familiar with. Tell us why this type of learning interests you and which subjects you’re excited to explore in college.

Tips for applying

Scholarships, freshman admissions process and timeline:.

• Apply via the UW application by the UW application deadline.
• The Honors Program reviews applications separately from UW Admissions.
• You must be admitted to UW to be admitted to the Honors Program.
• In recent years Honors has received 5,000-7,000 applications per year, admitted approximately 1,100 applicants and enrolled approximately 230 students.
• Honors holistically evaluates applications.
• The Honors admission decision has no bearing on the UW decision.
• The Honors Program sends a separate decision email after you are officially admitted to the UW. Expect to receive a decision email from Honors between March 15 and April 15.

Applying to the Honors College

First-year students, apply to washington state university, complete two essays using the prompts below,      writing prompt 1:.

Imagine you are putting together a team to work on an issue that is important to you. Briefly describe that issue and what skills, experience, and expertise you would seek in your team members and why.

     Writing Prompt 2:

At the WSU Honors College we realize that applicants cannot be reduced to their academic transcripts. Pick one activity or experience and explain how it illustrates an important aspect of who you are and how it reflects on your own values or those of your community.

Submit Your Essays for Review Here

Transfer students, have a cumulative college gpa of 3.5 or higher, schedule an honors advising appointment.

Students who are coming to WSU with college credits earned after high school are considered Transfer Students. If you have earned college credits while in high school, you are still considered a first-year student, please follow the incoming freshmen instructions.

Current WSU Students

Frequently asked questions.

• How long should my essays be? Each essay should be about one page each ( ~400-500 words per essay
• What format should my essays be? There are no strict guidelines on the format, but when in doubt, Times New Roman size 12pt. We do request that you label your essays ( essay 1 and essay 2). Please save your essays as one document or PDF with your name as the title like this: “Last Name, First Name” (eg. Smith, Mary.pdf or Patel, David.docx).
• What is the minimum high school GPA for applicants to be considered? We will consider all applications, regardless of high school GPA.
• How are the admission decisions made for the Honors College? Each essay is evaluated by members of our faculty. We use a standardized rubric that assigns a score to your essays as well as your unweighted HS GPA, and we make our decisions based on the combination of those scores.
• What Kind of things are you looking for in the essays? We look for normal things like spelling, grammar, and continuity of thought, but we are also looking for critical thinking and creativity in your problem-solving. We also will evaluate your essays as they relate to the prompts, so please read the prompts carefully.
• What if I don’t hear back within a month of applying? The Honors College receives many applications throughout the year, please be patient. If you do not receive a response within 30 days, please feel free to email  [email protected] , and we can check the status of your application.
• What if I/my student receives a denial letter from the WSU Honors College? Please  schedule an advising appointment  and we would be happy to explain your options to you.

If you have any other questions about the application, please feel welcome to contact us directly at  [email protected].

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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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George Washington University honors students are

Intellectual Omnivores

The George Washington University (GW) Honors Program  helps students hone their analytical and expressive powers, deepen their understanding of complex issues and questions, and broaden their perspectives. Built upon an interdisciplinary honors experience, the program is fully aligned with the highest academic aspirations of GW’s schools and departments. Honors students are intellectual omnivores who know that you can’t be interested in one thing without being interested in all things.

Fully aligned with the highest academic aspirations of GW’s schools and departments 

Prospective Students

Available Courses

Class Visits around the Community!

Many of our UHP faculty members enjoy taking students on visits around the community to explore relevant course topics! Read about Professor Moreira's Fall 2023 'Nature Appreciation" Capstone experiences in the blog linked below!

Pictured to the left: Students in Professor Kirwin's 'Identity Politics in Africa" course attend a concert by Niger’s guitar maestro, Bombino, at the Hamilton Live in Washington, D.C.

AY 2019-2020 STATS

Academics 

• 68 honors courses taught by 36 Honors dedicated professors
• 43 credit-bearing research projects or internships
• 2/5 of UHP students choose to take more than the required number of Honors courses

 UHP Facts

• 9% of honors graduates graduated early in 2018
• 25% (approx) of your total course-work will be UHP curriculum
• 61 students studied abroad in 2018-2019 academic year

“While your major often teaches you how to work, the UHP teaches you how to think.”

Jacob Garber , English and Creative Writing, Class of 2014

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Nursing BS Honors Program

The goal of the honors program is to develop the next generation of nursing scholars. The honors program features seminars and independent study experiences that promote scholarship, intellectual and personal development, and challenge student to grow and excel to the fullest potential. Students will explore research based on individual interests, needs, and goals.​​

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Students meeting the criteria, who apply by the application deadline and provide all application materials, will be considered for selection. A committee will select students based on the following:

• Acceptance into the Traditional Pathway Baccalaureate Program.
• 1-page resume or curriculum vitae.
• Honors program questionnaire.
• Two letters of reference from former faculty and/or research supervisor.
• Submission of an essay describing your interest in the honors program and research, what you bring to the honors program, how you expect to benefit by participation in the program and how participation might influence your career trajectory.
• In-person interview.

Students in the program take six additional credits of electives*, above and beyond the traditional baccalaureate requirements. These credits focus on research and scholarship and include

• Four one-credit honors seminar courses, two taken in the junior year and two in the senior year
• Independent study in research for two credits during the senior year under the guidance of the student’s research faculty mentor
• A scholarly thesis and a poster.

*Note: Honors Program students are responsible for covering the first semester of additional tuition costs associated with the program; after the first semester in the Honors Program, additional tuition costs are covered by the College of Nursing.​​​​​

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Great Lake State Weekend October 17-19 2024! Learn more

• News & Events

Lake Superior State University Honors Graduates at 2024 Commencement Ceremony

Recent articles.

• LSSU President Dr. David Travis Launches Campus and Community Partnership Fund with $10K Annual Gift
• Investiture of Dr. David Travis as the 11th President of Lake Superior State University
• Advancing Public Health: LSSU’s SEWER Grant Renews Vital Wastewater Epidemiology Initiative

Contact:  Sheridan Worth, Director of Marketing at Lake Superior State University,  [email protected] , 906-635-2689

(Sault Ste. Marie, MI)  — Lake Superior State University proudly celebrated the outstanding academic accomplishments of its graduating class during the 62nd annual Commencement Ceremony, held on May 4, 2024.

The ceremony, which brought together graduates, their families, and guests, honored students from fall 2023, winter 2023-24, spring 2024, and summer 2024, serving as a testament to their unwavering dedication and perseverance throughout their academic journeys.

The event commenced with a grand procession featuring faculty, Golden Graduates, and administrators, as they cheered on the entering graduates, accompanied by traditional music performed by the Duncan Pipes and Drums of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Dr. Lynn G. Gillette, Interim President of LSSU, warmly welcomed the audience with opening remarks, setting the stage for an inspiring and memorable ceremony.

The graduating class was represented by Emilee Nicole McDaniel, who delivered a heartfelt speech on behalf of her fellow graduates. McDaniel, a Biology major from Manistique, Michigan, reflected on her academic journey and expressed gratitude to her mentors, peers, and family for their support.

Dr. Kimberly O. Muller, Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, announced the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award, Dr. R. Adam Mosey, recognizing his excellence in teaching at LSSU.

A notable highlight of the ceremony was the address by Claude H. (Bud) Denker III, President of Penske Corporation and LSSU alumnus. Denker III shared insights from his career and spoke about the importance of perseverance, support, time, and kindness.

In a gesture to complement his words, he presented each graduate with a Mega Millions Powerball ticket, symbolizing his encouragement for their future endeavors. He emphasized the value of perseverance alongside the occasional stroke of luck.

The ceremony concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Gillette, followed by a recessional featuring a traditional “Honor Song” performed by Aabizii, Native American Drummers, symbolizing the unity and resilience of the LSSU community.

Lake Superior State University extends its heartfelt congratulations to all graduates and wishes them continued success in their future endeavors.