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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.

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?

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. 

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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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.

UT-Austin Honors Programs Essay Prompts and Application Tips

Completing 40 hours of introductory Bahasa Indonesia language class

FALL 2024 update: BHP, LAH, and Plan II have changed their essay topics. I’ve updated this post accordingly.

Many universities have an "Honors College" that houses their best students regardless of their major. UT-Austin instead has ten "honors programs" for students majoring in Liberal Arts, the McCombs Business, the Cockrell School of Engineering, the Moody College of Communication, or the College of Natural Sciences.

In this post, I cover the logistics of how to apply to honors, how the admissions process works, tips and strategies for each program, and a discussion of alternative pathways to honors programs.

Check out my new book Surviving the College Admissions Madness and Youtube Channel

How to apply to University of Texas at Austin Honors Programs

Applying to an honors program at UT doesn't require much extra effort. All programs, however, are highly competitive comparable with admission to most selective universities nationwide. My general rule of thumb is ranking in at least the top 5% of your class scoring a 1450 as a minimum to be competitive. Even then, most admits have nearly perfect academics in addition to outstanding essays and resumes.

You must first complete your Apply Texas application for regular admission and check the box "I am interested in applying for Honors Programs." A few days after submitting Apply Texas, you will receive an e-mail allowing you to access the Honors Application on your My Status portal.

One reason UT still has the first and second choice major selection system is to allow students to apply to multiple honors programs. What you select for your majors determine which honors programs you may be eligible.

All honors programs will consider heavily your regular admissions application, resume, and essays to help inform their decision. Because there isn't one Honors College but many different programs, the requirements for each differ some which you can view here.

Most programs require that you submit an expanded resume, some require a recommendation letter, and all except Engineering Honors requires one or more short answer responses.

Applying to an honors program in no way influences your regular admissions chances. Regular admissions decisions are made by the Office of Admissions while staff in each Honors Program reviews and determines who they accept.

Pick up your copy of the Definitive Guide to UT-Austin Admissions "Your Ticket to the Forty Acres"

Honors Writing Prompts Overview

The Honors Programs decide what prompts students must submit. You can visit this link to receive the most updated information on the writing requirements.

You can submit your essays directly into Common App/Apply Texas or after submitting your application and uploading onto your MY Status page.

In this section, I cover the prompts most applicants must submit. I cover program-specific prompts and advice under their headings.

For any Honors writing prompts, your submission should add new information to your application. Do not repeat content already discussed in your regular admissions essays.

Since reviewers will have access to your Apply Texas submissions, you don't want to repeat anything you've written in Essay A or the Short Answers.

Many prospective Honors students hire me to help. Interested in building your best application and maximizing your Honors admissions chances? Complete my questionnaire for a free consultation.

Canfield McCombs School of Business Honors Program (BHP)

I cover regular and honors admissions extensively in this post with both statistics and shining light on the process. For fall 2020, BHP received 1,828 applicants and admitted 244 students for an admissions rate of 13%. Approximately 500 applicants received phone interviews. These admissions numbers are mostly stable from year to year.

Here are my BHP client outcomes since 2017. 21 have received interviews and 6 have gained admission and 18 were denied without being interviewed. As you can see, to be competitive, it’s necessary to be in the upper left quadrant.

Check out these-five CBHP essay examples.

Applicants interested in applying to Business Honors should prepare their application early because the application requires both the expanded resume and one recommendation letter.

Reviewers are seeking students who demonstrate not only that they will be a leader in their program. They also want to know why you are choosing BHP. What makes it different from other top programs nationwide like Penn Wharton, NYU Stern, Michigan Ross, or Berkeley Haas?

It's especially important in your Honors essay to identify resources, student organizations, career counseling, and professors/courses/study abroad that will help you achieve your long-term academic and professional goals.

Canfield Business Honors Writing Prompt

All prospective BHP applicants must answer in 250 words or less the following:

Canfield Business Honors is more than a major and program at the university, it is a community. During the last four years of high school what community have you had the most impact in and how did you achieve that impact?”

After maintaining the same “Discuss a piece of business news and how a BHP education can give you helpful tools” topic for many years, BHP has changed its essay requirement. The previous topic wasn’t broken, yet BHP has fixed it anyway.

I’m not a fan of this new topic, not because it’s necessarily an ineffective question but because it overlaps considerably with the three regular UT-Austin essay supplements. Particularly with the Leadership and Change the World supplements, most applicants will have almost certainly written about a relevant extracurricular, community that they belong, a significant commitment, volunteering, a notable group project, or advocacy for an issue of importance, among others.

Like many instances in UT admissions, bureaucracies don’t seem to communicate with one another. I can’t imagine why BHP staff felt this a helpful topic for their review processes, given the overlap with the other essays. Inevitably, many students will regurgitate in their honors essay with what they have already shared in the regular admission essays.

Nevertheless, this topic is similar to Dean’s Scholars and Health Science Scholars that asks students to discuss community. It’s also similar to Michigan Ann Arbor’s Community question.

One challenge with these topics is how can you discuss contributing to a future community when you haven’t yet experienced it?

Your response should be largely you-specific and less about BHP opportunities, although including a few specific business organizations or BHP communities may be helpful to tie your recent experiences into potential future ones.

I expect BHP will receive many inferior responses to this question, so being a little bit better than average will give you an advantage.

Turing Scholars and CSB Honors

I discuss Computer Science and Turing Scholars Honors application tips and admissions statistics in this post.

Similar to BHP, competitive applicants for Turing Scholars rank at the very top of their class and score nearly perfect on the SAT/ACT. Turing denies 85% of valedictorian applicants. The combined BHP/Turing honors program CSB is basically the cream of the crop from both the BHP and Turing applicant pools. That means it's especially important that you demonstrate a breadth and depth of commitment in computer-related activities.

Turing requires you to submit a 500 word response on the following.

Describe your significant activities, employment, and achievements, particularly those relevant to the study of computer science. Also describe your educational and career goals.

Since UT regular admissions now requires students to both discuss why they’re applying for their first choice major and to share how their identity and talents will contribute to classroom discussions and campus life, I have a feeling many students will be challenged to find 500 more words to discuss their competencies and experiences in CS.

If you have a lot of experiences you haven’t already had the chance to share in your other essays, great! Elaborate and develop as much as possible to support your arguments that you’re deserving of a space in the highly selective Turing Scholars Program.

If you’ve already thoroughly discussed your academic and extracurricular CS interests in your regular essays, you could consider sharing a story from one of those experiences. It will be important regardless to identify specific and clear reasons why UTCS and Turing is your best fit.

Plan II Honors

There are two honors programs within the College of Liberal Arts: Plan II and Liberal Arts Honors. Each program has similarities but also crucial differences. There is a lot of useful information on each of their websites that will help you determine which program is the right fit for you. I entered into UT-Austin as a Liberal Arts Honors student.

You can apply and gain admission to both programs, but you can only participate in one. Many students in each pursue studies outside of Liberal Arts like Business, Communications, and Engineering. Indeed, these programs attract students from every academic discipline.

Unlike other honors programs, you do not need to select Liberal Arts as your first choice. Plan II even recommends putting Liberal Arts as your second choice, so you can have consideration for your first-choice major if it is something outside of Liberal Arts. Like Business Honors, each program recommends that you apply early since admissions decisions are rendered on a rolling basis.

Plan II Honors Program Five Sentences Prompt

Before, all Honors applicants needed to respond to this prompt, but now, only Plan II requires it.

"Help us get to know you better. Please write five sentences (numbered 1 – 5) that give us some insight into you, your life, your interests and your experiences. There are no right answers—feel free to be creative and think outside the box."

A lot of students overthink this one. Reviewers are giving you the opportunity to have fun and share something unique or interesting that doesn't fit elsewhere in your application. The number one piece of advice here is don't be boring . 

There are a lot of ways to approach this - five totally unrelated sentences, a poem, a few quotations important to you, "favorites" like food or hobbies, a unique or quirky talent, etc.

Here's an example: 1. Painting my nails with intricate designs releases senior year stress. 2. Classmates and teachers always ask me, “Lauren, when can we get more of your Cowboy cookies??” 3.  Stevie Nicks on vinyl > Spotify. 4.  Cardinals remind me of my grandmother. 5. On trips to Austin, we detour to Roundtop, Texas for its antique shops and eclectic knick-knacks.

Fall 2024 Plan II Honors Essay

All prospective Plan II students must answer in 250 words or less the following:

If you could add one required course—on any topic—to your high school’s curriculum, what would it be and why? What would you have liked to learn that wasn’t available to you?

Plan II changes their essay topic each year, but this question is similar to one asked at many other universities.

A straightforward way to address this question is to identify and expand upon an issue of importance: education policy, societal inequality, climate change, social justice, history, media literacy, cybersecurity, music appreciation, Japanese literature, etc. You could also emphasize a specific skill: writing and communication, conducting experiments, poetry, pottery, manufacturing, personal finance, gardening, etc. The wording of the question implies that the course needs to be something new or unique. I like that they frame the question as “a course in high school” rather than a course in college that you haven’t yet attended.

I don’t think you need to tie your response into explicit reasons for applying to Why Plan II, although it can help to look at Plan II’s curriculum and special electives to say “that course would have been cool to take in high school.”

Regardless of the topics you choose, I suggest examining Plan II’s curriculum closely. Identify a few courses or professors that you feel could help shine light on your issue of concern. Share your reasons for applying to Plan II directly and clearly.

Plan II Admitted Applicant Profile:

According to the 2016 incoming class profile accessed on Plan II’s website, they received 1473 applications with 484 admissions offers yielding a 32.9 percent admissions rate. Two-thirds of applicants are female, and 195 students enrolled.

Fifty-one percent of admits come from the top 5 percent of their class and 11 percent are valedictorian. The average applicant has 1386 on the SAT and the typical admitted student scores 1466. The middle 50 percent SAT score range for admits is 1410–1550. The ACT equivalent is a 32–35 for admitted students.

Plan II takes a radical approach to their admissions process. Successful applicants are superior academically; however, the program also heavily weights a student’s essay submissions.

From the Plan II website:

What is less cut-and-dried and will be evaluated on a more subjective level is the degree of sophistication and maturity we see in the essays of successful applicants. We also see a depth and richness in their non-academic activities and leadership experiences that combine to give an applicant an intangible ‘sparkle.’ Great essays and those intangible qualities are what set the successful applicants apart from the unsuccessful applicants who may have similar, perhaps even higher, grades, ranks and test scores.

Forty percent of Plan II admissions criteria are the essays, 20 percent examines the program fit through “Plan II-ness,” 20 percent is the Academic Index, and 20 percent is Personal Achievement and the resume.

They are looking for mature, quirky students with varied interests and dedication to learning for its own sake. Academically stellar students often do not gain admission while exceptionally talented students outside of the top 10 percent can find success.

Liberal Arts Honors (LAH)

Liberal Arts Honors (LAH) has a similar admissions process to Plan II with an emphasis on writing and leadership. LAH has recently released a helpful PDF sharing their admissions states, viewed here.

Approximately half of their admitted Texans come from the top 6% scoring an average of a 1390 on the SAT and 31 on the ACT.

An email from former LAH Director Dr. Larry Carver in November 2016 to alumni presents their student profile.

The LAH Class of 2020—155 students chosen from 1143 applications (our largest applicant pool ever!)—has just three more weeks in their first semester as Longhorns. Fourteen come from out of state, 111 are female, 44 male, and 8 are Valedictorians, 4 are Salutatorians. We have one set of twins and two siblings of current LAHers. Forty-five hail from non-ranking schools, 14 from private schools, and 95 from schools greater than 200 (Allen High School remains the largest High School with a graduating class of 1533). Fifteen are from schools smaller than 200. The average ACT is 31; the average SAT, 1355. Stacey, Linda, and I are delighted by their enthusiasm, energy, talent, and the many ways they are already participating in the LAH community.

Keep in mind that the 155 chosen students represent the enrolling freshman class. LAH admits about 400 students each year yielding roughly a 33 percent admissions rate. Admission to LAH is slightly less competitive than Plan II, but average LAH admitted student is substantially more credentialed than the typical admitted student to the College of Liberal Arts.

Keep in mind that LAH and Plan II are friendly rivals of sorts. It's possible to craft your Honors essay to fit both programs. Here, it is okay to leave open the question of which program is your best fit.

For me, when I was applying, LAH appealed more because it was less structured and had fewer rigid requirements. Since Plan II is a major, there are required courses each year. I knew I only wanted to pursue studies in the Liberal Arts, so Plan II's multidisciplinary emphasis on both the arts and the sciences wasn't a good fit.

New Liberal Arts Honors Essay Prompt

All prospective LAH applicants must answer in 250 words or less the following:

At the University of Texas at Austin, we say that what starts here changes the world.  The Liberal Arts Honors Program seeks change agents, students who are going to draw upon a liberal art education to make lifelong contributions to society that will make life better for their fellow citizens in the 21st century.  Please tell us succinctly and imaginatively how a liberal arts education will help you become such a change agent and what contributions you expect to make.

The new LAH question is a head-scratcher for two reasons. At first glance, there is significant overlap with the regular admissions supplement “Change the World,” which will cause confusion and misunderstanding. It frustrates me how the Cult of Branding filters down even to departments where “changing the world” may not be the key guiding criteria for pursuing the liberal arts.

The second concern is philosophical. When I was an LAH and Humanities Honors student fifteen years ago, their approach to the liberal arts concerned the nature of inquiry, living the good life, developing critical thinking and communication skills, and acquiring knowledge for its own sake. Baked into the new question is an emphasis on advocacy, i.e., “lifelong contributions to society” or “become such a change agent.”

Perhaps the topic change reflects our shifting political and cultural landscape. Maybe it’s to encourage students to consider the role of a liberal arts education in a society that celebrates science, engineering, and business. Even reflecting on the question’s message in my personal life, I don’t see myself as a change agent or contributing to society even if I can reasonably claim that my blog and free content presence clarifies misconceptions and alleviates student and family stress.

Frankly, I’ve accepted and feel content with my cosmic insignificance. I’m a good friend, partner, professional, and community member who enjoys reading, writing, and connecting with others. “Change agent” doesn’t factor into the equation, even if my pursuit of the good life has some socially desirable consequences. A problematic, implied assumption asserts a “social desirability bias” where studying the classics, history, linguistics, literature, and so on must have a consequentialist end goal. My humanities thesis was almost purely motivated by curiosity and not some social end, even if my genocide research and fieldwork had humanitarian implications. I assume many of my classmates had similar intrinsic, inward-focused motivations.

Setting aside the loaded and complex set of unwritten assumptions and unresolved questions, the danger with this prompt is to discuss an issue or experience abstractly, theoretically, or philosophically. Don’t be vague. Your audience is Liberal Arts Honors staff well versed in literature, philosophy, and history. It’s okay and potentially strategic to discuss and reflect on a favorite book, author, film, philosopher, and so on.

You should provide new information not mentioned elsewhere in your application. Do not repeat your submission from Change the World. I recommend exploring the contours of a Liberal Arts education ( this article may help ). Identifying and developing a particular issue of importance can help make this abstract question more concrete. Consider sharing a challenging discussion in class, a nuanced topic from speech and debate competitions, a time you held and then changed your belief, or a moment of realization.

Cockrell School of Engineering Honors

There is little information available publicly about how Engineering Honors admits their students or their admitted student profile. Competitive applicants to Engineering programs tend to come from the top 5% of their class scoring around 1500 on the SAT.

Some programs are more competitive than others, however, so what you select as your first choice will influence your regular admissions decision. I provide Engineering applicant and admitted student admissions data in this video.

Regardless of which program you wish to enroll, Engineering Honors admits students from all Engineering departments. I've been told, but I don't have any links to support this observation, that their admissions process is largely driven by a student's class rank and test score.

This chart shared recently from an Open Records Request on Reddit’s UT Austin Subreddit provides additional data that their process is driven largely by academics and the Personal Achievement Index score assigned by regular admissions. It is speculated a score of 21 or higher is a minimum requirement for admission.

They do not require an expanded resume or a recommendation letter. Unlike other honors programs that begin their review process as they receive their applicants, I'm informed that Engineering Honors waits until the Office of Admissions makes their decisions. Then, they select their honors students from the pool of admitted students.

In practice, admitted Engineering Honors students rank at the very top of their class scoring nearly perfect on the SAT/ACT especially on the math section. It also seems that, of the admitted Engineering honors students, the top third or quarter will also receive scholarships.

Unlike Plan II and Business Honors which are majors, Engineering Honors does not have many course requirements. Honors provides resources to supplement the Cockrell School's already extensive support services. 

Moody College of Communication Honors

Communication Honors is the newest program. They admitted their first class of students with Fall 2018. There is little information about how they admit their students. Similar to Plan II/Liberal Arts Honors, they are looking for diverse students who bring more than just strong academic credentials.

A high level of scholastic aptitude is beneficial, but far from the only trait that defines a Moody Honors student. We look for applicants who are capable of critical and independent thinking, with intellectual curiosity, creativity, and a variety of experiences and backgrounds. Preference is given to freshmen applicants who select Moody College as their first choice in their admissions application.

Even though it is a new program and Communications is a little less competitive than other colleges and schools, Moody Honors is highly competitive admitting less than 10% of their applicants. It's a small program so there are few spaces available.

Moody Honors requires students to take 15 hours of honors coursework , so it is more permissive than majors like Plan II or BHP. Honors students are required to have a Communications major like Public Relations or Corporate Communications, so honors supplements your main area of study, There is a capstone project requirement for graduation.

Moody Honors Communication Essay Prompt

Moody Honors requires a short answer submission on the following topic in addition to the Why Honors short answer prompt. This prompt is the same from Fall 2019.

"It’s been said that knowledge is power, but it could also be said that communication is power. Discuss an example from history, current events, a book or film, or from your own life that supports this perspective. Please limit your response to no more than 250 words."

This is undoubtedly a tricky prompt, and it's clear that the admissions committee put a lot of time and thought to crafting their question. It's critical that you submit a thoughtful response. Considering their cohort is so small and space is limited, this essay will play a role in your decision.

One way to approach this essay is to discuss an instance where you were involved in a conflict with a friend or group and how you resolved the issue through open and honest discussion. If there is a film, movie, or novel that you feel could answer the question, consider sharing.

Consider this example as one possible approach:

A plane dips from above the clouds and glides above a sandstone Gothic city where goose-stepping soldiers pack the streets. Adoring women and children greet a smiling Adolf Hitler, who is filmed from below. The chancellor’s descent from the heavens and arrival into Nuremberg reflect the Nazi narrative that through the Third Reich. Hitler was destined to restore Germany as a global power. Triumph of the Will , while cinematically crude, demonstrates how a film can influence mass opinion and collective behavior. Director Leni Riefenstahl considered herself a documentarian, but her works are now more widely considered propaganda because of the rehearsal and staging of scenes to create a reality that conformed to the Nazi ideology. The filmmaker, along with many others who participated in Joseph Goebbels’s propaganda machine, are complicit in the genocide of six million European Jews. As an aspiring filmmaker and grandson of Holocaust survivors, I’ve seen the abuse of visual storytelling in Riefenstahl’s work. Goebbels’s propaganda helps form the backdrop for my favorite movie, Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds , a kind of Jewish revenge fantasy. In a play within a play, a fictional Nazi soldier turned film star recreates a bloodbath from a sniper’s perch. Tarantino’s use of corny close-ups and unnecessary dutch angles to expose the absurdity of the period’s motion picture enterprise by presenting the serial slaughter of 250 Allied soldiers as entertainment. The abuse of propaganda underscores to me that the most important thing about being a filmmaker today is honesty.

College of Natural Sciences Honors Programs

There is little information about either their admissions process or admitted student data. I recall from my time at UT that some of these programs, especially Health Science and Dean Scholars, have the lowest admissions rates across the university. They are also the smallest honors programs.

Considering that over twelve thousand students applied for the College of Natural Sciences in 2016, you can imagine the selectivity of their process. There are no secrets to success other than being extraordinarily talented and a little bit lucky. 

Like Business Honors, Natural Science Honors programs require an expanded resume and a recommendation letter from a math or science teacher. Consider choosing a reference who you've taken multiple courses with or is also an extracurricular activity sponsor.

Natural Sciences Honors Writing Prompt

Applicants to Dean's Scholars, Health Science Honors, and Polymathic Scholars must submit a 350 word response to the following.

How will you benefit from participation in this community? How will you contribute to this community?

What’s interesting about this essay is their explicit desire for you to discuss community. Other prompts like Turing Scholars want you to discuss your skills, experiences and talents. CNS Honors Programs presume access to your extensive resume and essays discussing why you want to study the sciences.

I appreciate their invitation for students to think critically and forecast what it may be like to be in a community of other scientists and scholars. Science doesn’t happen in isolation. Reviewers will be interested in your character and what role you play in teams or group projects. You could also share student organizations that interest you and how you feel you could contribute. Check all of the out here.

Moreover, UT Honors students often spend their first and second years in the Honors Quad residence halls alongside Honors students from all programs. Plan II provides an honest overview of life in the Quad.

For what it’s worth, I spent my first two years at UT in the Quad. It’s where I made my closest friends. I loved meeting talented and fun people from other majors and programs.

Alternatives to Freshman Honors

UT-Austin Honors programs provide academic, social, and financial benefits to their students. Especially since neither of my parents are college-educated and I came from a high school where few of my classmates enrolled at four-year universities, the intimate Honors community provided the support I needed.

I enjoyed taking small courses starting my first semester in philosophy, politics, and history. My favorite part was living in an Honors Residence Hall, Blanton, with students from all of UT's honors programs.

Honors is just one way among many to succeed. Honors also isn't a guarantee of success. UT-Austin is a world class institution where you can receive a great education that opens doors for your future. The effort you put in, your motivation to push your boundaries, and the network you create matter more for your success and well-being than whether you're in honors or not.

If you are not offered admission to a Freshman Honors program, there are many options after you arrive on campus especially when you finish your first year.

Admitted Natural Science students can submit an application for the Freshman Research Initiative.

Depending on your first choice major and application, if you are admitted, you may be invited to apply for or join other programs that offer similar benefits to Honors. These are not things you can select on Apply Texas.

There are dozens of minors and certificate programs that offer small courses with highly talented professors. You can pursue coursework related to your major or something different. Check out this list.

One of my favorite programs,  Bridging Disciplines , was instrumental to my success as a student. It's open to any current student. It allowed me to combine interdisciplinary coursework with fieldwork.

All majors allow for research and the writing of a thesis. You can graduate with honors by completing a capstone project. There are also ways to complete Upper-Division Honors departmental coursework. Consider Sociology Honors , for example, open to all Sociology students with high grades interested in research.

There are a number of Honors societies and organizations open to all students, which you can view here.

Depending on how you progress in your studies, you may be able to take Graduate level coursework as a junior or senior.

All students should also consider studying abroad. Completing Business Law coursework in Scotland and Human Rights fieldwork in Bosnia and Rwanda were instrumental in informing my future goals.

As you can see, there are nearly limitless ways to have a productive and fruitful experience on the Forty Acres.

Many prospective Honors students hire me to help. Interested in building your best application and maximizing your Honors admissions chances?

Honors Theses

What this handout is about.

Writing a senior honors thesis, or any major research essay, can seem daunting at first. A thesis requires a reflective, multi-stage writing process. This handout will walk you through those stages. It is targeted at students in the humanities and social sciences, since their theses tend to involve more writing than projects in the hard sciences. Yet all thesis writers may find the organizational strategies helpful.

Introduction

What is an honors thesis.

That depends quite a bit on your field of study. However, all honors theses have at least two things in common:

• They are based on students’ original research.
• They take the form of a written manuscript, which presents the findings of that research. In the humanities, theses average 50-75 pages in length and consist of two or more chapters. In the social sciences, the manuscript may be shorter, depending on whether the project involves more quantitative than qualitative research. In the hard sciences, the manuscript may be shorter still, often taking the form of a sophisticated laboratory report.

Who can write an honors thesis?

In general, students who are at the end of their junior year, have an overall 3.2 GPA, and meet their departmental requirements can write a senior thesis. For information about your eligibility, contact:

• UNC Honors Program
• Your departmental administrators of undergraduate studies/honors

Why write an honors thesis?

Satisfy your intellectual curiosity This is the most compelling reason to write a thesis. Whether it’s the short stories of Flannery O’Connor or the challenges of urban poverty, you’ve studied topics in college that really piqued your interest. Now’s your chance to follow your passions, explore further, and contribute some original ideas and research in your field.

Develop transferable skills Whether you choose to stay in your field of study or not, the process of developing and crafting a feasible research project will hone skills that will serve you well in almost any future job. After all, most jobs require some form of problem solving and oral and written communication. Writing an honors thesis requires that you:

• ask smart questions
• acquire the investigative instincts needed to find answers
• navigate libraries, laboratories, archives, databases, and other research venues
• develop the flexibility to redirect your research if your initial plan flops
• master the art of time management
• hone your argumentation skills
• organize a lengthy piece of writing
• polish your oral communication skills by presenting and defending your project to faculty and peers

Work closely with faculty mentors At large research universities like Carolina, you’ve likely taken classes where you barely got to know your instructor. Writing a thesis offers the opportunity to work one-on-one with a with faculty adviser. Such mentors can enrich your intellectual development and later serve as invaluable references for graduate school and employment.

Open windows into future professions An honors thesis will give you a taste of what it’s like to do research in your field. Even if you’re a sociology major, you may not really know what it’s like to be a sociologist. Writing a sociology thesis would open a window into that world. It also might help you decide whether to pursue that field in graduate school or in your future career.

How do you write an honors thesis?

Get an idea of what’s expected.

It’s a good idea to review some of the honors theses other students have submitted to get a sense of what an honors thesis might look like and what kinds of things might be appropriate topics. Look for examples from the previous year in the Carolina Digital Repository. You may also be able to find past theses collected in your major department or at the North Carolina Collection in Wilson Library. Pay special attention to theses written by students who share your major.

Choose a topic

Ideally, you should start thinking about topics early in your junior year, so you can begin your research and writing quickly during your senior year. (Many departments require that you submit a proposal for an honors thesis project during the spring of your junior year.)

How should you choose a topic?

• Read widely in the fields that interest you. Make a habit of browsing professional journals to survey the “hot” areas of research and to familiarize yourself with your field’s stylistic conventions. (You’ll find the most recent issues of the major professional journals in the periodicals reading room on the first floor of Davis Library).
• Set up appointments to talk with faculty in your field. This is a good idea, since you’ll eventually need to select an advisor and a second reader. Faculty also can help you start narrowing down potential topics.
• Look at honors theses from the past. The North Carolina Collection in Wilson Library holds UNC honors theses. To get a sense of the typical scope of a thesis, take a look at a sampling from your field.

What makes a good topic?

• It’s fascinating. Above all, choose something that grips your imagination. If you don’t, the chances are good that you’ll struggle to finish.
• It’s doable. Even if a topic interests you, it won’t work out unless you have access to the materials you need to research it. Also be sure that your topic is narrow enough. Let’s take an example: Say you’re interested in the efforts to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s and early 1980s. That’s a big topic that probably can’t be adequately covered in a single thesis. You need to find a case study within that larger topic. For example, maybe you’re particularly interested in the states that did not ratify the ERA. Of those states, perhaps you’ll select North Carolina, since you’ll have ready access to local research materials. And maybe you want to focus primarily on the ERA’s opponents. Beyond that, maybe you’re particularly interested in female opponents of the ERA. Now you’ve got a much more manageable topic: Women in North Carolina Who Opposed the ERA in the 1970s and 1980s.
• It contains a question. There’s a big difference between having a topic and having a guiding research question. Taking the above topic, perhaps your main question is: Why did some women in North Carolina oppose the ERA? You will, of course, generate other questions: Who were the most outspoken opponents? White women? Middle-class women? How did they oppose the ERA? Public protests? Legislative petitions? etc. etc. Yet it’s good to start with a guiding question that will focus your research.

Goal-setting and time management

The senior year is an exceptionally busy time for college students. In addition to the usual load of courses and jobs, seniors have the daunting task of applying for jobs and/or graduate school. These demands are angst producing and time consuming If that scenario sounds familiar, don’t panic! Do start strategizing about how to make a time for your thesis. You may need to take a lighter course load or eliminate extracurricular activities. Even if the thesis is the only thing on your plate, you still need to make a systematic schedule for yourself. Most departments require that you take a class that guides you through the honors project, so deadlines likely will be set for you. Still, you should set your own goals for meeting those deadlines. Here are a few suggestions for goal setting and time management:

Start early. Keep in mind that many departments will require that you turn in your thesis sometime in early April, so don’t count on having the entire spring semester to finish your work. Ideally, you’ll start the research process the semester or summer before your senior year so that the writing process can begin early in the fall. Some goal-setting will be done for you if you are taking a required class that guides you through the honors project. But any substantive research project requires a clear timetable.

Set clear goals in making a timetable. Find out the final deadline for turning in your project to your department. Working backwards from that deadline, figure out how much time you can allow for the various stages of production.

Here is a sample timetable. Use it, however, with two caveats in mind:

• The timetable for your thesis might look very different depending on your departmental requirements.
• You may not wish to proceed through these stages in a linear fashion. You may want to revise chapter one before you write chapter two. Or you might want to write your introduction last, not first. This sample is designed simply to help you start thinking about how to customize your own schedule.

Sample timetable

Avoid falling into the trap of procrastination. Once you’ve set goals for yourself, stick to them! For some tips on how to do this, see our handout on procrastination .

Consistent production

It’s a good idea to try to squeeze in a bit of thesis work every day—even if it’s just fifteen minutes of journaling or brainstorming about your topic. Or maybe you’ll spend that fifteen minutes taking notes on a book. The important thing is to accomplish a bit of active production (i.e., putting words on paper) for your thesis every day. That way, you develop good writing habits that will help you keep your project moving forward.

Make yourself accountable to someone other than yourself

Since most of you will be taking a required thesis seminar, you will have deadlines. Yet you might want to form a writing group or enlist a peer reader, some person or people who can help you stick to your goals. Moreover, if your advisor encourages you to work mostly independently, don’t be afraid to ask them to set up periodic meetings at which you’ll turn in installments of your project.

Brainstorming and freewriting

One of the biggest challenges of a lengthy writing project is keeping the creative juices flowing. Here’s where freewriting can help. Try keeping a small notebook handy where you jot down stray ideas that pop into your head. Or schedule time to freewrite. You may find that such exercises “free” you up to articulate your argument and generate new ideas. Here are some questions to stimulate freewriting.

Questions for basic brainstorming at the beginning of your project:

• What do I already know about this topic?
• Why do I care about this topic?
• Why is this topic important to people other than myself
• What more do I want to learn about this topic?
• What is the main question that I am trying to answer?
• Where can I look for additional information?
• Who is my audience and how can I reach them?
• How will my work inform my larger field of study?
• What’s the main goal of my research project?

Questions for reflection throughout your project:

• What’s my main argument? How has it changed since I began the project?
• What’s the most important evidence that I have in support of my “big point”?
• What questions do my sources not answer?
• How does my case study inform or challenge my field writ large?
• Does my project reinforce or contradict noted scholars in my field? How?
• What is the most surprising finding of my research?
• What is the most frustrating part of this project?
• What is the most rewarding part of this project?
• What will be my work’s most important contribution?

Research and note-taking

In conducting research, you will need to find both primary sources (“firsthand” sources that come directly from the period/events/people you are studying) and secondary sources (“secondhand” sources that are filtered through the interpretations of experts in your field.) The nature of your research will vary tremendously, depending on what field you’re in. For some general suggestions on finding sources, consult the UNC Libraries tutorials . Whatever the exact nature of the research you’re conducting, you’ll be taking lots of notes and should reflect critically on how you do that. Too often it’s assumed that the research phase of a project involves very little substantive writing (i.e., writing that involves thinking). We sit down with our research materials and plunder them for basic facts and useful quotations. That mechanical type of information-recording is important. But a more thoughtful type of writing and analytical thinking is also essential at this stage. Some general guidelines for note-taking:

First of all, develop a research system. There are lots of ways to take and organize your notes. Whether you choose to use note cards, computer databases, or notebooks, follow two cardinal rules:

• Make careful distinctions between direct quotations and your paraphrasing! This is critical if you want to be sure to avoid accidentally plagiarizing someone else’s work. For more on this, see our handout on plagiarism .
• Record full citations for each source. Don’t get lazy here! It will be far more difficult to find the proper citation later than to write it down now.

Keeping those rules in mind, here’s a template for the types of information that your note cards/legal pad sheets/computer files should include for each of your sources:

Abbreviated subject heading: Include two or three words to remind you of what this sources is about (this shorthand categorization is essential for the later sorting of your sources).

Complete bibliographic citation:

• author, title, publisher, copyright date, and page numbers for published works
• box and folder numbers and document descriptions for archival sources
• complete web page title, author, address, and date accessed for online sources

Notes on facts, quotations, and arguments: Depending on the type of source you’re using, the content of your notes will vary. If, for example, you’re using US Census data, then you’ll mainly be writing down statistics and numbers. If you’re looking at someone else’s diary, you might jot down a number of quotations that illustrate the subject’s feelings and perspectives. If you’re looking at a secondary source, you’ll want to make note not just of factual information provided by the author but also of their key arguments.

Your interpretation of the source: This is the most important part of note-taking. Don’t just record facts. Go ahead and take a stab at interpreting them. As historians Jacques Barzun and Henry F. Graff insist, “A note is a thought.” So what do these thoughts entail? Ask yourself questions about the context and significance of each source.

Interpreting the context of a source:

• Who wrote/created the source?
• When, and under what circumstances, was it written/created?
• Why was it written/created? What was the agenda behind the source?
• How was it written/created?
• If using a secondary source: How does it speak to other scholarship in the field?

Interpreting the significance of a source:

• How does this source answer (or complicate) my guiding research questions?
• Does it pose new questions for my project? What are they?
• Does it challenge my fundamental argument? If so, how?
• Given the source’s context, how reliable is it?

You don’t need to answer all of these questions for each source, but you should set a goal of engaging in at least one or two sentences of thoughtful, interpretative writing for each source. If you do so, you’ll make much easier the next task that awaits you: drafting.

The dread of drafting

Why do we often dread drafting? We dread drafting because it requires synthesis, one of the more difficult forms of thinking and interpretation. If you’ve been free-writing and taking thoughtful notes during the research phase of your project, then the drafting should be far less painful. Here are some tips on how to get started:

Sort your “evidence” or research into analytical categories:

• Some people file note cards into categories.
• The technologically-oriented among us take notes using computer database programs that have built-in sorting mechanisms.
• Others cut and paste evidence into detailed outlines on their computer.
• Still others stack books, notes, and photocopies into topically-arranged piles.There is not a single right way, but this step—in some form or fashion—is essential!

If you’ve been forcing yourself to put subject headings on your notes as you go along, you’ll have generated a number of important analytical categories. Now, you need to refine those categories and sort your evidence. Everyone has a different “sorting style.”

Formulate working arguments for your entire thesis and individual chapters. Once you’ve sorted your evidence, you need to spend some time thinking about your project’s “big picture.” You need to be able to answer two questions in specific terms:

• What is the overall argument of my thesis?
• What are the sub-arguments of each chapter and how do they relate to my main argument?

Keep in mind that “working arguments” may change after you start writing. But a senior thesis is big and potentially unwieldy. If you leave this business of argument to chance, you may end up with a tangle of ideas. See our handout on arguments and handout on thesis statements for some general advice on formulating arguments.

Divide your thesis into manageable chunks. The surest road to frustration at this stage is getting obsessed with the big picture. What? Didn’t we just say that you needed to focus on the big picture? Yes, by all means, yes. You do need to focus on the big picture in order to get a conceptual handle on your project, but you also need to break your thesis down into manageable chunks of writing. For example, take a small stack of note cards and flesh them out on paper. Or write through one point on a chapter outline. Those small bits of prose will add up quickly.

Just start! Even if it’s not at the beginning. Are you having trouble writing those first few pages of your chapter? Sometimes the introduction is the toughest place to start. You should have a rough idea of your overall argument before you begin writing one of the main chapters, but you might find it easier to start writing in the middle of a chapter of somewhere other than word one. Grab hold where you evidence is strongest and your ideas are clearest.

Keep up the momentum! Assuming the first draft won’t be your last draft, try to get your thoughts on paper without spending too much time fussing over minor stylistic concerns. At the drafting stage, it’s all about getting those ideas on paper. Once that task is done, you can turn your attention to revising.

Peter Elbow, in Writing With Power, suggests that writing is difficult because it requires two conflicting tasks: creating and criticizing. While these two tasks are intimately intertwined, the drafting stage focuses on creating, while revising requires criticizing. If you leave your revising to the last minute, then you’ve left out a crucial stage of the writing process. See our handout for some general tips on revising . The challenges of revising an honors thesis may include:

Juggling feedback from multiple readers

A senior thesis may mark the first time that you have had to juggle feedback from a wide range of readers:

• your adviser
• a second (and sometimes third) faculty reader
• the professor and students in your honors thesis seminar

You may feel overwhelmed by the prospect of incorporating all this advice. Keep in mind that some advice is better than others. You will probably want to take most seriously the advice of your adviser since they carry the most weight in giving your project a stamp of approval. But sometimes your adviser may give you more advice than you can digest. If so, don’t be afraid to approach them—in a polite and cooperative spirit, of course—and ask for some help in prioritizing that advice. See our handout for some tips on getting and receiving feedback .

Refining your argument

It’s especially easy in writing a lengthy work to lose sight of your main ideas. So spend some time after you’ve drafted to go back and clarify your overall argument and the individual chapter arguments and make sure they match the evidence you present.

Organizing and reorganizing

Again, in writing a 50-75 page thesis, things can get jumbled. You may find it particularly helpful to make a “reverse outline” of each of your chapters. That will help you to see the big sections in your work and move things around so there’s a logical flow of ideas. See our handout on  organization  for more organizational suggestions and tips on making a reverse outline

Plugging in holes in your evidence

It’s unlikely that you anticipated everything you needed to look up before you drafted your thesis. Save some time at the revising stage to plug in the holes in your research. Make sure that you have both primary and secondary evidence to support and contextualize your main ideas.

Saving time for the small stuff

Even though your argument, evidence, and organization are most important, leave plenty of time to polish your prose. At this point, you’ve spent a very long time on your thesis. Don’t let minor blemishes (misspellings and incorrect grammar) distract your readers!

Formatting and final touches

You’re almost done! You’ve researched, drafted, and revised your thesis; now you need to take care of those pesky little formatting matters. An honors thesis should replicate—on a smaller scale—the appearance of a dissertation or master’s thesis. So, you need to include the “trappings” of a formal piece of academic work. For specific questions on formatting matters, check with your department to see if it has a style guide that you should use. For general formatting guidelines, consult the Graduate School’s Guide to Dissertations and Theses . Keeping in mind the caveat that you should always check with your department first about its stylistic guidelines, here’s a brief overview of the final “finishing touches” that you’ll need to put on your honors thesis:

• Honors Thesis
• Name of Department
• University of North Carolina
• These parts of the thesis will vary in format depending on whether your discipline uses MLA, APA, CBE, or Chicago (also known in its shortened version as Turabian) style. Whichever style you’re using, stick to the rules and be consistent. It might be helpful to buy an appropriate style guide. Or consult the UNC LibrariesYear Citations/footnotes and works cited/reference pages  citation tutorial
• In addition, in the bottom left corner, you need to leave space for your adviser and faculty readers to sign their names. For example:

Approved by: _____________________

Adviser: Prof. Jane Doe

• This is not a required component of an honors thesis. However, if you want to thank particular librarians, archivists, interviewees, and advisers, here’s the place to do it. You should include an acknowledgments page if you received a grant from the university or an outside agency that supported your research. It’s a good idea to acknowledge folks who helped you with a major project, but do not feel the need to go overboard with copious and flowery expressions of gratitude. You can—and should—always write additional thank-you notes to people who gave you assistance.
• Formatted much like the table of contents.
• You’ll need to save this until the end, because it needs to reflect your final pagination. Once you’ve made all changes to the body of the thesis, then type up your table of contents with the titles of each section aligned on the left and the page numbers on which those sections begin flush right.
• Each page of your thesis needs a number, although not all page numbers are displayed. All pages that precede the first page of the main text (i.e., your introduction or chapter one) are numbered with small roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, v, etc.). All pages thereafter use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.).
• Your text should be double spaced (except, in some cases, long excerpts of quoted material), in a 12 point font and a standard font style (e.g., Times New Roman). An honors thesis isn’t the place to experiment with funky fonts—they won’t enhance your work, they’ll only distract your readers.
• In general, leave a one-inch inch margin on all sides. However, for the copy of your thesis that will be bound by the library, you need to leave a 1.25-inch margin on the left.

How do I defend my honors thesis?

Graciously, enthusiastically, and confidently. The term defense is scary and misleading—it conjures up images of a military exercise or an athletic maneuver. An academic defense ideally shouldn’t be a combative scene but a congenial conversation about the work’s merits and weaknesses. That said, the defense probably won’t be like the average conversation that you have with your friends. You’ll be the center of attention. And you may get some challenging questions. Thus, it’s a good idea to spend some time preparing yourself. First of all, you’ll want to prepare 5-10 minutes of opening comments. Here’s a good time to preempt some criticisms by frankly acknowledging what you think your work’s greatest strengths and weaknesses are. Then you may be asked some typical questions:

• What is the main argument of your thesis?
• How does it fit in with the work of Ms. Famous Scholar?
• Have you read the work of Mr. Important Author?

NOTE: Don’t get too flustered if you haven’t! Most scholars have their favorite authors and books and may bring one or more of them up, even if the person or book is only tangentially related to the topic at hand. Should you get this question, answer honestly and simply jot down the title or the author’s name for future reference. No one expects you to have read everything that’s out there.

• Why did you choose this particular case study to explore your topic?
• If you were to expand this project in graduate school, how would you do so?

Should you get some biting criticism of your work, try not to get defensive. Yes, this is a defense, but you’ll probably only fan the flames if you lose your cool. Keep in mind that all academic work has flaws or weaknesses, and you can be sure that your professors have received criticisms of their own work. It’s part of the academic enterprise. Accept criticism graciously and learn from it. If you receive criticism that is unfair, stand up for yourself confidently, but in a good spirit. Above all, try to have fun! A defense is a rare opportunity to have eminent scholars in your field focus on YOU and your ideas and work. And the defense marks the end of a long and arduous journey. You have every right to be proud of your accomplishments!

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Atchity, Kenneth. 1986. A Writer’s Time: A Guide to the Creative Process from Vision Through Revision . New York: W.W. Norton.

Barzun, Jacques, and Henry F. Graff. 2012. The Modern Researcher , 6th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Elbow, Peter. 1998. Writing With Power: Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process . New York: Oxford University Press.

Graff, Gerald, and Cathy Birkenstein. 2014. “They Say/I Say”: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing , 3rd ed. New York: W.W. Norton and Company.

Lamott, Anne. 1994. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life . New York: Pantheon.

Lasch, Christopher. 2002. Plain Style: A Guide to Written English. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

Turabian, Kate. 2018. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, Dissertations , 9th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, what is an honors college should you enroll in one.

College Info

If you have great grades and high test scores, some of your prospective universities may invite you to enroll in their honors college. Generally speaking, honors colleges and honors programs at U.S. universities offer top-tier students rigorous academic programs, special scholarships, and better job prospects. 

But of course, there’s more to an honors college or program than that! We’re going to introduce you to honors colleges and honors programs so you can decide whether enrolling in one is right for you. This article will: 

• Answer the question, “What is an honors college?”
• Discuss what types of students might be a good fit for an honors college
• Explain the difference between an honors college vs honors program
• Take an in-depth look at real honors programs at two U.S. universities 
• List five pros and cons for enrolling in an honors college

Are you ready? Let’s get started!

Feature Image: slgckgc /Flickr

What Is an Honors College? 

What is an honors program in college? Now, don’t be misled by the name “honors college”—an honors college isn’t an independent university. Instead, an honors college is a program that exceptional high school students can apply to and enroll in while completing a traditional bachelor’s degree.  

Put another way, an honors college one of a number of colleges on a university campus. Just like the college of arts and sciences or the business college, an honors college is another on-campus school that forms part of the university’s educational system. 

While every honors college is different, many honors colleges offer enrolled students perks. Here are some unique opportunities that you can find at honors colleges and programs across the nation: 

Courses with more rigorous and/or specialized curriculum that are exclusively open to honors college students

Smaller class sizes that can be conducted seminar-style, allowing students to interact more meaningfully

A smaller faculty-to-student ratio, giving students the opportunity to interact more frequently with professors and advisors

Housing and/or housing amenities that are reserved for honors students, giving honors students the opportunity to form a close knit community

Priority registration, giving honors students a wider range of course options and the opportunity to curate a semester schedule that suits their needs

If these benefits sound great to you, then you might enjoy the experience of enrolling in an honors college. 

Graduating With Honors From an Honors College

Colleges want to reward students who graduate from their honors college, meaning that you’ll get a special distinction once you graduate. And that’s pretty great, especially since completing an honors degree takes a lot of hard work! 

While you don’t have to be in an honors college to graduate with honors, some universities reserve extra special distinctions for honors college graduates. Students who successfully meet the requirements to graduate from their honors college will usually have the distinction on their diploma, which indicates they’ve received an honors distinction. Honors college graduates may also receive a special medal or regalia to wear at their university’s commencement ceremony to set them apart from their peers.

At most universities, there are three tiers of honors you can receive depending on your final cumulative GPA. The better your GPA, the higher your distinction. Here’s a general range of how the distinctions break down, though your school’s honors college may do things slightly differently: 

Like we mentioned earlier, these distinctions are usually printed on your diploma as a sign of your hard work. For example, if you graduate with a 3.85 GPA with a degree in electrical engineering, your diploma may say you earned a “Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering, magna cum laude.”

Regardless of the tier, getting any version of cum laude on your diploma is a reward the hard work it takes to complete an honors program.

Who Should Enroll in an Honors College? 

So, how do you know if you’d be a good fit for an honors college? Ultimately, it comes down to two things: your GPA and your ambition.

In order to get into an honors college, you have to be an excellent student. In other words, you’ll need to have a high GPA and great test scores to qualify for admission. Most honors programs have minimum score and GPA requirements that you must meet in order for your application to be considered. For example, the honors college at Indiana University requires students to have a 4.0 GPA and either a 33 on the ACT or a 1500 on the SAT in order to be admitted. That’s well above the national average !

Besides having excellent grades and test scores, students who are good candidates for acceptance to an honors college are typically involved in intellectually rigorous or creatively oriented activities during high school, both in and out of the classroom. Students who excel in honors colleges enjoy learning and like an intellectual challenge. Additionally, candidates should also embrace hard work: the classes you’ll take as an honors student are usually a lot tougher! 

If you meet the academic requirements and are ready to be a focused, intellectually curious, hard working student, then you’re probably a good fit for a university honors college or honors program!

Honors Colleges vs Honors Programs: What’s the Difference? 

You may hear the phrases “honors college” and “honors program” used interchangeably, but there are actually some significant differences between the two. So, what is an honors college vs an honors program?

The key difference between honors colleges and honors programs in the United States is that honors colleges function as discrete schools within the larger university system, and honors programs aren’t separated into individual colleges within the university. Put another way, an honors college is a separate school within a university, while honors programs aren’t.

Because honors colleges are stand-alone schools on a university campus, they tend to require more resources. Consequently, honors colleges are more commonly found at big, public universities. On these campuses, honors colleges typically function like the other colleges at big universities, complete with their own on-campus facilities, academic advisors, student scholarships, study abroad opportunities, and course offerings that are open to honors students only.

In contrast, honors programs can often be found at smaller colleges and universities. Smaller institutions may have fewer or no individual colleges within the larger university system. At these smaller schools, honors students will not be a part of a separate college within the university but will follow a special honors curriculum and/or complete extra assignments, like an honors capstone project or honors thesis, in order to graduate with distinction.

Having said that, both honors colleges and honors programs provide academically ambitious students with an enriching educational experience that can give graduates a head-start in their future careers. 

Penn State University's honors college takes the top spot on our list.  ( George Chriss /Wikimedia)

In-Depth Guide to Honors Programs: Penn State Honors College and University of South Florida Honors College

Learning about two real honors programs can give you more insight into what it’s like to be part of an honors college. 

To give you a real sense of what honors colleges and honors programs are like, we’re going to take an in depth look at two honors programs : the honors college at Pennsylvan ia State University and the honors program at the University of South Florida.

Schreyer Honors College, Pennsylvania State University

The Honors College at Penn State is called Schreyer Honors College , and like most honors colleges, it’s a separate school within the Penn State system.

Schreyer prides itself in offering a “best of both worlds” experience to its students. Honors students have access to the cutting edge resources of a big, top-tier research institution, but they have the small class sizes and one-on-one learning experiences characteristic of a small liberal arts college.

So if you’re a student who wants to be part of a community where you know your professors and classmates but you don’t want to miss out on a “big university” experience, then an honors college like Schreyer at Penn State can provide that for you. 

The Admissions Process 

In order to apply to Schreyer Honors College, you’ll need to complete the Penn State undergraduate application and then complete the separate Schreyer Honors College application . 

There are several components to the Schreyer application . You’ll have to answer three essay questions and a handful of short answer questions, submit two letters of recommendation, and self-report your high school academic record. 

You might notice that standardized test scores and high school transcripts aren’t included in the list of application components. That’s because unlike many honors colleges, Schreyer doesn’t take SAT or ACT scores into consideration as a part of its application process! Part of Schreyer’s philosophy is that test scores and high school GPA aren’t the best predictors of academic success . Instead, students have to explain their high school course load as part of their application. 

Schreyer applicants who submit their application materials by November 1 are invited to an optional Admissions Interview with a Scholar alumnus. If you aren’t able to submit your application early it won’t negatively impact your application, but landing an interview gives you a chance to make a case for yourself in person. (If you want to know more about what a college interview is like, be sure to check out our article that demystifies the college interview process .) 

The Honors College Experience

Now you know what to expect from the Schreyer application and admissions process, but what’s the student experience like?  

Along with the excellent research opportunities and intimate classroom environments we mentioned earlier, Schreyer students also have unique opportunities to learn the soft skills they’ll need to be successful in college and beyond. 

When you’re a Schreyer honors student, you have access to an on-campus community, various academic and student life programs, and career development opportunities that non-honors students don’t. In addition to providing on-campus housing for honors college students, Schreyer has several leadership opportunities for its honors scholars, including a student council, a residence hall Scholar Assistants (SAs) program, Orientation Mentors, and Scholar Ambassadors. The skills you learn in these programs will give you a huge leg up when you embark on your career after graduation. 

Along with a phenomenal academic experience, these community activities give Schreyer students the chance to network with fellow honors students and honors college alumni ...which can translate to better career opportunities after graduation, too.  

Graduation 

To remain in good standing as a Schreyer Scholar, you’ll have to meet certain requirements as outlined by the college , including a minimum GPA and completion of honors courses and credits. Scholars are also required to complete an honors thesis in order to graduate from the honors college. Usually, honors theses require students to conduct independent research and present it to a committee of professors. 

Honors students who complete the requirements for an honors distinction will graduate with honors and receive a Scholars Medal to wear at Penn State commencement as well as have honors conferred on their diploma . Schreyer also hosts a separate Honors College Medals Ceremony prior to commencement, during which the Scholars Medals are presented to graduating Scholars. 

( Simon Kellogg /Flickr)

University of South Florida Honors College

Like Shreyer at Penn State, the Judy Genshaft Honors College is its own school on the USF campus. 

The honors college at USF offers the rigorous academic experience of a top-tier research university with the close-knit community that smaller, private institutions are typically known for. That means you’ll have more demanding classes, smaller class sizes, one-on-one interaction with your professors, and unique opportunities only available to honors students. 

The Admissions Process

To become an honors student at USF, prospective students must apply to the University of South Florida before applying to the Judy Genshaft Honors College . While all interested high school students are encouraged to apply, the honors college does take high school GPA and SAT/ACT scores into account . The Honors College has an automatic admission policy for students who meet the following criteria: 

• Score 1400 or higher on the SAT, or score 31 or higher on the ACT 
• Have a recalculated USF GPA of 4.0

The recalculated GPA portion of USF’s honors college admissions process takes your high school GPA and then adjusts for difficulty. To figure out your recalculated GPA, the honors college does the following : 

• Adds one-half point for honors courses
• Adds one point for AP , IB, AICE , or Dual Enrollment courses
• Removes any non-academic courses (i.e. P.E., Band, etc.)

The university points out that most students’ recalculated GPAs are lower than their high school GPA . But don’t worry: while your recalculated GPA might not qualify you for automatic admission into the honors college, the admissions committee places more emphasis on the other aspects of your application than your recalculated grade point average. 

In addition to evaluating applicants based on GPA and test scores , the honors college at USF evaluates applicants based on two other criteria: involvement in high school activities and a 500-750 word essay response. For the essay response, the honors college provides six essay prompts that address the three core honors college values. Applicants are encouraged to choose to respond to one essay prompt that speaks to them! (Be sure to check out this article for expert advice on how to write a killer admissions essay .) 

There are many benefits for students in the Judy Genshaft Honors College . USF’s honors college offers small, discussion-based classes that give students the opportunity to interact closely with faculty and fellow honors students from different majors. This lets honors students receive lots of personalized attention to help them reach their academic and career goals, which is probably why USF honors grads have gone on to do amazing things, like become CEOs and work for NASA . 

USF honors students are able to register for classes on the day registration opens, which means they get first pick of course choices every year. Honors students also have special academic advisors that help students plan class schedules, make decisions about their majors, and even search for internship opportunities. Another perk of being in the Judy Genshaft Honors College is that students are also eligible to live in a special Honors Living Learning Community (LLC) , which is on-campus housing option only available to honors students.

Additionally, the honors college offers a unique program called the Provost’s Scholars Program . This program helps students graduate in three years rather than four , and it provides students the chance to study abroad, learn leadership skills, and gain professional development. The Provost Scholars Program allows high-achieving students to save money on their education while simultaneously helping them jumpstart their future careers. 

As is typical of honors college, the Judy Genshaft Honors College requires its students to complete a research track consisting of either an honors thesis or capstone project . The thesis track is recommended for students who want to go into research-based fields or academia, and the capstone project is for those interested in conducting research with their fellow honors college peers. Capstone projects happen in a classroom-style setting, and the topics vary from semester to semester. 

Like Penn State’s honors graduates, USF honors grads also receive special recognition for their accomplishments on their diplomas and on graduation day. Judy Genshaft Honors College graduates are invited to attend a special graduation ceremony for all graduating honors students . Family and friends are invited to the ceremony, and each graduating honors student is recognized individually during the ceremony. At the university-wide commencement ceremony, Judy Genshaft Honors College graduates wear special honors college regalia to signify their successful completion of the honors program.

5 Pros and Cons for Enrolling in an Honors Program

There are a lot of perks to enrolling in an honors college, but before you decide that being an honors student is the best choice for your academic career, it might be helpful to weigh a few pros and cons that come with honors colleges. After all, participating in an honors program can be a pretty big time commitment! 

Check out our list of five pros and cons for enrolling in an honors college below to help decide whether an honors program is the right choice for you. 

Pro: You Can Get an Elite Education at an Affordable Price

Honors colleges are a more equitable alternative to elite colleges and universities. It’s no secret that most premier universities in the U.S. come with a hefty price tag —one that many hardworking families simply can’t afford to pay for. 

One of the benefits of an honors college is that most provide funding opportunities for both incoming and current students. For example, the University of Utah’s honors college offers scholarships that are only available to honors students , and some of the awards are as high as $10,000. Even better: because there are fewer honors students, you have a better shot at actually winning a scholarship. 

Additionally, enrolling in an honors college at a public school gives high achieving students the opportunity to receive an elite education they can actually afford. Honors colleges offer the kind of highly specialized, rigorous academics that are the hallmark of the most selective college s. That means that at some schools, you can get an Ivy-style education for a fraction of the price. 

Pro: You’ll (Probably) Get to Register for Classes Early

One of the biggest recurring perks of being an honors student? A little thing called priority registration. Priority registration allows honors students to attend academic advising sessions to plan their semester schedules and register for classes before all non-honors students. 

So, how does priority registration work out in the honors student’s favor? When enrollment periods open for different groups of students at colleges and universities—especially big universities—classes fill up fast. The later you enroll, the less likely you are to get into the courses you need to take, and the less likely you are to come out with a schedule of classes that you find appealing (7:30 a.m. class on Mondays, anyone?). When you get to register for classes before everyone else, you’re much more likely to get into the classes you want, at the times you want!

Pro: You’ll Be Around Other High-Achieving Students

A key feature of honors colleges and programs is that they offer courses—“honors courses”—that are exclusively available to honors students. These honors courses usually have limited enrollment so that the class sizes are small. This means that you’ll probably be seeing the same students over and over again in the classes you take. On top of that, many universities have special housing, classrooms, and study spaces reserved especially for honors students. 

The honors college can form a close-knit community of students, since honors students spend so much time in the same spaces doing the same things . That can be a really good thing: not only will you be more connected to your honors college community, you’ll have the opportunity to make friends, too. Whether they become a consistent study partner or your BFF, your honors college peers can be one of the biggest pros of the honors college experience. 

While there are some pretty big perks to being in an honors college, there are some downsides, too.

Con: Honors Students Do More Work

In general, honors college students are going to be doing more work than their non-honors schoolmates. In general, honors courses require more studying, more homework, and more writing. 

For example, an honors history class may require you to read more than just a textbook. Your professor may give you academic articles, history books, or even a novel to complement what you’re learning in class. And you can expect for your tests and papers to be graded on a tougher rubric, too. That’s because your professors know that as an honors student, you’re the best of the best. It’s their job to push you to expand your skills...which can translate to a heavier workload. 

Honors students also have to do extra work if they want to graduate with distinction. Both Penn State and USF require students to write a thesis or complete a capstone project. This involves (you guessed it!) more research and writing, much of which has to be done on your own time. That means you’ll have to fit the extra work in around your already busy schedule. So if you aren’t ready to take on a heavier workload—or if you’re not great at juggling multiple projects at once—an honors program may not be the best fit for you.

Con: The Perks Can Vary

We’ve mentioned several perks of being an honors college student, like priority registration, select student housing, smaller class sizes, and special on-campus facilities. But before you decide to apply to an honors college, it’s important to recognize that the nature of these perks will vary from school to school. Most often, the resources and opportunities available to honors college students depend on how well-funded the honors college or program is. 

If you want to know exactly what you can expect your experience to be like as an honors student at a particular school, it’s important to ask a lot of questions about the program before you make any kind of commitment. One easy way to find out all the things you want to know about a specific honors college or program is to get connected with a current honors student at the university you’re interested in. Whether it’s through email, social media, or an in-person campus visit, talking with a student who knows the ropes of a university’s honors program can give you the perspective you’re looking for. 

Next Steps 

If you’ve decided that you want to be an honors student but your high school GPA isn’t high enough, it’s time to get to work. Start by reading through this guide to raising your GPA fas t, then check out this guide to getting 4.0s or higher in your classes .

Many honors colleges and programs look at your weighted GPA when determining whether you meet the minimum admission requirements. But what is a weighted GPA? Learn about the difference between weighted GPAs and unweighted GPAs , then make sure you’re calculating your weighted GPA accurately . 

Another good way to get admitted into an honors college is to take advanced courses in high school. (The Penn State honors college we talked about is actually more interested in your high school course load than your GPA and test scores!) Start by learning more about what AP classes and IB classes are, then check out this guide to determining which advanced classes will work best for you . 

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We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools .

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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Plan II Essay Info

Guidelines and prompts for freshman applicants.

Plan II must often deny applicants with excellent grades and test scores who submit mediocre essays.  A great essay can sweep us off our feet and perhaps make up for somewhat lower scores or relatively lackluster grades. These are the writing samples you will submit for the ApplyTexas (or Common Application) portion of the application and your Plan II Honors short answer response.  Instructions on how to submit your essays can be found on the Texas Admissions page

What NOT to Do

• Choose a very complicated and involved topic that you think will impress us
• Choose a very safe subject
• Make the essay brief and superficial
• Fill it with clichés
• Make unsubstantiated assertitions
• Throw in broad generalizations
• (Over)use a thesaurus.

To write a good essay for Plan II: Express yourself

• Use your own voice
• Write about something you know or something that is truly important to you (as much as possible within the confines of the prompts)
• Give us a clear impression of who you are, providing your admission evaluators a view of an interesting individual is what gets applicants admitted
• Appeal to the senses when you write:  show us what is beautiful, sad, impressive, scary, confusing, frustrating or comforting.  Don't just tell us that it was so.
• To make your story resonate employ detail, description and precision rather than pretense and melodrama.
• Don't simply tell us what you think or what you feel in abstract terms. Describe it. Make it real.

What do we want?

• Sophistication
• Strong command of language
• Good variety in sentence structure
• Clarity of development and thought
• Flow from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph and idea to idea
• Introduce the topic, develop the topic, and move on to a clear conclusion
• Great essays may be quite creative or they may exhibit very straight-forward narrative/expository writing

Take your time, but beware over-editing

Spend plenty of time writing and fine-tuning your essays. Ask for feedback from people you trust before submitting your essays.  But be careful.  Don't allow helpful editors to edit you out of your own essay .  Stay true to your original idea.  Stay true to your voice.  If your essay sounds as though your father, your AP English teacher or your older sister wrote it, it's not likely to earn you admission to Plan II Honors. 

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Honors College Essay: Tips, Prompt examples and How to Write

Writing honors technical essay

An praises your dissertation is an acadamic paper that students typically complete to establish entrances into any prizes college, program, or line. An honors color seeks to test students’ research skills and focus their analytical abilities on a subject of academic interest.  Check exit 4 do’s also 5 don’ts on how in write an honors application composition. Contact SolidEssay.com if you need professional get.

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

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

Which Universities do Ask to Honors College Essays

1) uci (university of california irvine) .

The UCI holds two programs, the Scholarly Honors Program and this Honors Select. Both are popular with many members. They are not mutually exclusive, but her have different requirements the different goals.

That Academic Honors Program is for students who want to get recognized by their professorships for academic achievement. E does not require with essential but several letters of recommendation from faculty members. As an active member in both mysterious school and community I have taken member in much extracurricular activities and receipt many honors. I find it to be very ...

You should not application into either program if you are only involved is single or and other cause there is does guarantee that either program will accept respective application or the you wills gain acceptance into either program.

2) VCU (Virginia Federation University)

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

• Your interests plus goals, especially as they relating to our intended major(s) and jobs path(s). How do you feel about being a lifelong learner?
• Your ideas about leadership, including h
• What thee become defined leadership, what respective leadership style is, how you could use your abilities as a conductor to positively impact your community for and out of college, and instructions you would lead if specified the opportunity.

3) NJT (New Jersey Institut regarding Technology)

NJT requires thee to write an essay and submit it all with your application.

These honors college essays usually focus on your spiritual interests and experiences, using special examples to illustrierend your points. It’s essential to choose an area you are interested in and understand about.  Tips for Writing an Honors Seminary Essay | Albert Dorman Honors ...

You should also pick something the 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, hence don’t try to fake items! Thinking of applying to Penn State? Check out this single example to give yourself ideas of what to letter about!

4) Purdue University

Purdue University’s Glories College focuses on scholarship, leadership, research, and engagement by integrating residential and co-curricular learning opportunities includes academic classroom experiences. Honours Institute Application Essay Examples | ipl.org

Your college registration essay needs to breathe living into your application. It should capture your genuine personality, describe any you be beyond a series on grades, test scored, and after-school activities.  How to Write an Honors Request Essay

Take a minute and how over the university or university admission officers who will be reading your essay.

5) Stony Brook University

The Stony Rinnsal Honors College provides an exceptional opportunity for students who like to pursue a challenging course of study in the company of talented peers. Own essay should be no longer better three double-spaced pages and require address certain questions. An honors your essay can an academic paper that students typically finished in established entrance inside an honors college, program, or division. An awards paper seeks […]

It is an opportunities to explain an create that stole place on any day by history; what wants that special live? Discuss why your chose this particular day. Also, as this question, which do you hope to learn/experience by being present?

How to Record a Good Honors College Essay

Honors college essays follow a formal manner with a clear structure. Go get your honors college essay, follow these show:

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

Engineering, the honors college essay can been a five-paragraph writing, not it should been more than that.

It should be closer to a 10-paragraph essential, with can introduction and conclusion paragraph is are respectively about four button five sentences long.

The introduction and conclusion paragraphs should be nearly the same size. Of middle of the essay should be about threes paragraphs long-term, and every of them should may about four to five sunday long.

1. Introduction 

The insertion should have a hook which are a catchy sentence or deuce that gets the card interested in reading your single. Furthermore, it should have an explanation of why you want for go to Honors College: This is usually possible in the sentence. 

Also, there should be a proposition statement. This will normally evident in one sentence at the end of the paragraph. The thesis statement say the reader what you plan to write about inside your essay. For example: “I want into attend honors college as of their strong pre-med program.” Share a story from your everyday lifetime that reveals something about autochthonous character, values, furthermore curiosity. Remember, the Honors essay is single part of unsere holistic ...

Write the body of your paper exploitation change words to connect your ideas and explain the connections betw them.

An median paragraphs should include an notes about why you have chosen your careers path and why you are interested. 

Exit with a persistent final that ties together everything you discussed within your paper, providing important bring for readers as well like leaving them feeling satisfied with where yours only check. Rookie Admission - University of Washington Honors Program

Takeaways 

• You be writing an essay, not a read message. Is other lyric, please use complete recordings also proper check, grammar, and usage. Provided proper English will not your robust suit, enlist someone skills at thereto to help edit your writing. Emerson College
• Be specific over what you wanted to study and why. Do not easy tell that you want an schooling; tell the reader about kinde of education you want and reasons. The be particularly important if you plan to study bit that you did not find in your high school. 
• The readers execute not expect you to get everything about the field you plan on enter. They expect that you deliver serious consideration to it and tell why i require to verfolgen 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 or may give us one negative impression by your abilities.

Thingies to Remember around Respect Essays

This honors essay will one of your best chances to stand out in a meaningful way since other applicants, so being sure on investment time in crafting an great response. Interdisciplinary Honors’ autumn 2023 admissions decisions If you applied to UW’s Versatile Honors Program for college record and exist inquiring about your Honors admission decision, click here for info on our chronological additionally notification treat. Current UW freshmen can apply for second-year admittance to IHP, and is stimulated to learn more and complete the application...

One admission office is looking for the following:

• The office want to how that your understand what makes the honors programmer specialty. We have a diverse select of students and faculty who are passionate about learning furthermore interactions across disciplines.
• What do yourself think dieser will despicable for you? How will you take advantage of being within an environment that values interdisciplinary thinking?
• Their accomplishments. Let the community knows my talents. Have you excelled academically? What leadership roles have you taken switch, or awards have you won? You wants to uncover what drives your affection forward learning, leadership, and service. Tips available Writing an Honors College Topic · Write an essay so addressing the subjects specified on the application form. · Do cannot write your essay as wenn it be a ...
• Your plans for the future. The honors program will prepare you for success beyond your skills, or that’s graduate school or medical school, or a company in a completely different field. 

Examples of Honors Higher Essay Topics

• Considering your lifetime goals, explain how your present real subsequent academic activities will assisted you in achieving own goals. 
• Settle for an issue of importance to you, determines it is political, personal, local, or international relate. Following, craft an essay up explain the significant of that issue to yourself, thy community, and your generation. 

Whereas not running complex essays and academic handwriting tasks, Young shall busy advising students for how to pass assignments. In ersparen time, fellow loves playing football or walking from his dog around the park. A Great Pit Honors College Essay Example

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How to write the National Honor’s Society Essay

Being recognized as a member of the National Honor Society (NHS) is a testament to a student’s academic achievements, leadership, and service in their community. The NHS recognizes outstanding high school students for their dedication and challenges them to develop further. An important component of the application process is the NHS essay, which is an opportunity for candidates to detail their accomplishments and explain how they align with the NHS’s core values. This essay plays a significant role in the selection process, as it allows the applicant to showcase the individual behind the grades and other achievements on paper. This blog post aims to demystify the writing process by providing step-by-step guidance on crafting a strong NHS essay. 

Understanding the NHS Essay

4 pillars of nhs, scholarship, polishing your essay, common mistakes to avoid with the national honor’s society essay, wrapping up.

Before diving into the pillars that form the backbone of the National Honor Society (NHS), it’s crucial to grasp what the NHS essay entails and what it aims to achieve. The NHS essay is more than just a writing sample; it is a narrative that encapsulates your journey, achievements, and the alignment of your personal values with the core principles of the NHS. This essay is your opportunity to communicate directly with the selection committee, offering a glimpse into who you are beyond your academic scores and extracurricular activities. The prompt for the NHS Essay is to detail how you represent the Four Pillars of NHS Membership: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character in 300-500 words. In doing so, here are some key components that are good to include:

Personal Introduction: Begin with a brief introduction of yourself, highlighting your academic and personal background. This sets the stage for a deeper dive into your achievements and how they reflect the NHS values.

Impact and Personal Growth: Discuss the impact of your contributions on your community and personal growth. Reflect on how your actions have made a difference and what you may have learned from them. This will show the selection committee your potential for future leadership and service.

Future Plans and Contributions: Briefly outline how you plan to continue your commitment to the NHS’s principles by contributing both to the organization and to your community. This will underscore your dedication to the NHS’s mission.

Staying Authentic: Your essay should reflect your own authentic voice and perspective. The selection committee is solely interested in understanding who you are as an individual.

Alignment with NHS Values: It is important to explicitly detail how your experiences embody the NHS’s core values of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Rather than simply listing your accomplishments, delve deeper into how these experiences have shaped you and prepared you to contribute to the NHS while remaining as concise as possible.

When addressing the pillar of Scholarship in your National Honor Society essay, it is important to go further than just listing your academic achievements on paper. This section should detail your personal affinity for learning and intellectual growth. Highlight your areas of curiosity, your passion for gaining knowledge, and how you have been able to apply your knowledge outside of the classroom. Obviously you should discuss any academic awards or recognitions you have received, but also delve into how these accomplishments reflect your attitude towards learning.

In demonstrating Leadership, your writing should detail both formal leadership positions and informal leadership roles you have taken. Leadership is not just about being the head of a club or student organization: it is about influencing others positively, driving initiatives, and setting a good example in your community. Share specific instances where you led by example, overcame challenges, or motivated others toward a goal. Whether it’s captaining a sports team, leading a group project, or taking the initiative in organizing an event, include any instances that highlight your ability to lead.

The Service section of your essay is your chance to show how you have contributed to your community through volunteer work or service projects. Describe the types of service activities you have experience in, the impact these activities had on your community, and any other insights or knowledge you gained in the process. 

Reflecting on Character involves a deep dive into your the ethics and moral principles that guide you. The NHS values members who exhibit a strong character in both their personal and academic lives. Discuss situations where you’ve had to make difficult choices and/or stand up for what you believe in in the face of challenges. Your character is at the center of your personality, so share anecdotes that best illustrate how you personally embody the values the NHS holds dear ( like honesty, respect, and responsibility).

Crafting a strong conclusion for your essay is crucial in reinforcing your case for membership. This final section should serve as a summary of your narrative, reiterating how you align with the NHS’s core values of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Begin by concisely restating the key experiences and achievements you’ve discussed throughout the essay. Then, synthesize this information and emphasize your readiness to take on the responsibilities of NHS membership. Articulate a clear vision of how you intend to contribute to the NHS, drawing on specific examples from your past experiences to illustrate your capacity for leadership, service, and continued personal and academic growth.

Revision is a vital step in crafting a good NHS essay. It is imperative to revisit your essay with a critical eye, assessing the coherence of your writing and ensuring that each paragraph flows logically and smoothly to the next one. We recommend doing at least two drafts, and the more the merrier. Make sure your essay comprehensively details your achievements and character, and make adjustments to enhance your message’s delivery and effectiveness.

Simply Reiterating Your Resume: One of the most common mistakes is simply listing your academic achievements and other roles as one might on a resume and not delving into the experiences. Your writing should go beyond listing accomplishments, explaining how these experiences have effected you and/or how they might align with the NHS values.

Lack of Personal Reflection: Not including enough personal reflection on how your experiences have contributed to your growth or demonstrated your alignment with NHS values is a missed opportunity to show your unique perspective. Share insights into your personal journey, any challenges overcome, and how these experiences impacted you.

Ignoring the NHS Core Values: Each section of your essay should clearly relate to one or more of the NHS pillars: Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. Failing to explicitly connect your experiences to these values will weaken your essay. Make sure to keep in mind how your experiences and actions embodied these core principles while you are writing.

Overlooking the Importance of Character: While it’s crucial to highlight your leadership, service, and academic achievements, neglecting to adequately address your character and personal ethics is a mistake. The NHS values integrity, honesty, and respect, so be sure to reflect on moments that have shaped your character.

Neglecting the Essay Structure: A well-organized essay that flows logically and linguistically from section to section is essential for clarity and impact. Jumping randomly between topics or cluttering your essay with too much information will confuse readers, and ultimately weaken your essay. Use a clear structure, with each paragraph smoothly transitioning to the next, ensuring your essay is coherent, and in turn, compelling.

Failing to Proofread: Grammar mistakes, typos, and awkward phrasing can distract from the content of your essay and give the impression of carelessness. Take the time to thoroughly proofread your essay, and write multiple drafts. Consider asking a teacher, parent, peer, or other mentor to review it for errors you might have missed.

Not Showing Authenticity: Trying to fit a perceived ideal or exaggerating experiences will come off as insincere. Be authentic in your writing. The NHS values honesty!

In conclusion, when writing your NHS essay, embrace the opportunity to not only detail your accomplishments but to give readers an understanding of what makes you unique. This essay is your stepping stone towards becoming a part of a community that values not just academic excellence, but the development of character and the commitment to making a difference in communities. Through your words, make it clear that you embody 4 central tenets of the NHS, but also document your unique perspective and how you personally will contribute to its mission. If you follow these steps and proofread effectively, you should be well on your way to producing an excellent NHS essay! Good luck!

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Writing Fellowship Essays

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

Write for the general audience

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

Overview of YOU

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

Read other material

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

Start early and revise

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

Ask others to read  your essays

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

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

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

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, rutgers honors college essay examples.

Hey everyone, I'm applying to Rutgers Honors College and I'd like some help with the essay. Any examples of successful essays or tips on writing them would be super helpful! I really want my application to be strong. Thanks a lot!

Hi! It's great that you're aiming to make your Honors College application as strong as possible. While I can't share specific examples of successful essays (partly because sharing someone's unique essay may breach their privacy), here are some general tips on writing a stand-out Honors College essay for Rutgers. Keep in mind that the purpose of the essay is to showcase your abilities, accomplishments, and depth of thought in a way that separates you from other applicants.

1. Read the prompt carefully: Ensure you understand what the prompt is asking of you. Address all aspects of the prompt and use it to shape your essay’s narrative.

2. Be genuine: Be honest about your experiences, goals, and passion. Your genuine voice will resonate with the admissions committee, making your essay more memorable.

3. Show, don't tell: Instead of listing your accomplishments, delve into one or two meaningful experiences and describe them in detail—what happened, your role, and how it impacted you. Use descriptive language and examples that paint a vivid picture for the reader.

4. Connect your experiences: Draw connections between your achievements, experiences, or skills, and the values or qualities required for success in the Honors College. Demonstrate how these experiences have prepared you for the challenges and opportunities within the program.

5. Keep it concise: While you may have a lot to share, focus on the most relevant examples and ensure that you maintain a clear structure throughout the essay. You want the reader to easily follow your thoughts and grasp the key points you’re making.

6. Proofread and revise: Allow yourself enough time to revise your draft multiple times. Ask friends, family, or teachers to review your essay, provide feedback, and check for errors. This will not only help you polish your essay, but it will also demonstrate your commitment to submitting a quality application.

Remember to maintain your unique voice while writing and focus on demonstrating your genuine interest in the Honors College at Rutgers. By showcasing what makes you stand out and connecting your experiences to the program, you'll build a compelling essay that will leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee. Good luck!

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Clemson University Supplemental Essays 2022-23

Clemson Essay Prompts 2022-23

Most of the top colleges and universities in the country require applicants to complete additional essays beyond the regular Common Application or Coalition Application essay. Clemson University , located in the Northwest corner of South Carolina, is no exception. The Clemson essay prompts help the admissions committee get to know applicants better. And, of course, they can see their writing ability firsthand. Furthermore, the admissions committee uses the Clemson essays to determine placement for their honors college. This makes those Clemson supplemental essays even more important!

In this guide, we will examine the Clemson supplemental essays, including the Clemson optional essay and the Clemson honors essays. Both essays are required for admission to the Clemson honors college. We’ll go over each of the Clemson essay prompts in detail. And, we’ll show you how to craft the best possible response to each one! In addition, we’ll provide some general tips for writing college essays that will help strengthen any application you submit, not just your Clemson application.

Clemson Essays: Quick Facts

• Clemson Acceptance Rate: 49%— U.S. News rates Clemson as a “more selective” school according to its 2022-2023 rankings.
• Common or Coalition Application Essay (Optional)
• Honors College Supplemental Essays (2 Required, 1 Optional) 
• Clemson University Application: Students can apply to Clemson via the Common Application , Coalition Application , or the Clemson Application . Students should have all materials ready before the application deadline. This includes Clemson supplemental essays and optional SAT/ACT scores.
• Early Action Deadline: October 15th
• Regular Decision Deadline: January 2nd
• Clemson University Essay Tip: The Clemson essay prompts require sustained time and attention. So, it’s important to start working on your Clemson supplemental essays early! Also, starting early will give you time to have your Clemson essays reviewed by your counselors, advisors, or other trusted editors.

Does Clemson require the Coalition essay?

No, it’s not technically required. One of the ways students can apply to Clemson is through the Coalition Application. However, there are no required Clemson supplemental essays when applying through the Coalition Application. 

Students can find the Clemson optional essay prompts on the Coalition Application website. In order to access the essay prompts, students must first create an account, then add Clemson to their college list . Even though the Clemson application does not require any Clemson essays, we recommend that students complete the Clemson optional essay anyway. A Clemson application that includes a well-written essay can stand out from the rest of the pool. In addition, students can use their Coalition essay prompt on their Clemson honors college application as one of their Clemson honors essays.

Does Clemson have supplemental essays?

Yes, Clemson does have supplemental essays. However, they are not required. In fact, the Clemson application does not require any Clemson supplemental essays. That being said, Clemson is a more selective school. Students should take advantage of the Clemson optional essays as part of either their Coalition or Common Application. Although not required, students can gain an advantage over other applicants by completing this Clemson optional essay.

The Clemson honors college application, however, does require students to complete two Clemson supplemental essays. Plus, students have the choice to share any additional details with the admissions committee in a Clemson optional essay. These Clemson supplemental essays help distinguish candidates for the Clemson honors college from other applicants. Even if you are not intending to apply for the Clemson honors college, it still helps to answer the Clemson essay prompts in order to help your application stand out . 

Clemson Honors College Essay Prompts

This next section will cover the specific Clemson essay prompts for the Clemson honors college. The first prompt is unique to Clemson. The second prompt asks students to complete one of the Common Application essay prompts. These questions are designed to help the admissions committee evaluate applicants for the Clemson honors college. So, it’s important to put your best foot forward when writing these Clemson supplemental essays. Let’s take a deeper look at each of the Clemson essay prompts and talk about how to write each one

Clemson Honors College Essay #1

Tell us about your academic interests and professional goals (to the extent that you have identified them at this point). what inspired these interests and goals what experiences, talents, accomplishments, identities, and/or personal qualities can you see influencing your college career and beyond.

The first of the Clemson honors college essays asks students to reflect on their academic interests and personal goals. In addition, the prompt asks students what inspired those goals and how those goals might influence their college experience and future career. Although these Clemson supplemental essays have lengthy prompts, the question often boils down to a very simple premise: What do you want to achieve with your education and why do you think this school is the place to achieve those goals?

In other words, this first prompt wants students to identify their goals and connect those goals to both their past experiences and their desires for their college education. For example, an aspiring engineer might talk about their time in their high school robotics club . Or, an aspiring journalist might describe writing a powerful story in their high school newspaper. 

No matter what your future goals are, articulate them clearly and show how you have already taken steps toward achieving them. Your Clemson honors college application is your opportunity to show the admissions committee what you have achieved and how those achievements will affect your future.

The second part of this Clemson honors college application essay gives students the opportunity to explain how being a part of the Clemson community will help them achieve the dreams they mentioned earlier in the essay. Strong Clemson supplemental essays will show evidence of research into the college. Naming specific majors, programs, study abroad trips, or internships in your Clemson honors essays shows the admissions committee that you have researched the school. This, in turn, illustrates why you would be a good fit for Clemson and why Clemson would be a good fit for you!

Clemson Honors College Essay #2

The second essay is based on your response to one of the common application essay prompts . if you have already written a response to one of these prompts in your common application, that response is considered your second honors application essay. if one is not on file, you are required to submit a response to one of the seven prompts..

The second of the Clemson essay prompts is not unique to the Clemson honors college application. Students have the choice to submit a response to any of the seven essay prompts from the Common Application. Although these are not specific Clemson essay prompts, they do help the admissions committee get to know you better. That means that your response should be well thought out, carefully edited, and full of reasons why you would be a good fit for Clemson. 

If you have used the Common Application to apply to other schools, you may already have an essay written that would fulfill the Clemson honors college requirements. However, it is important that you choose a prompt for the Clemson honors college essay that highlights your best qualities and achievements. You may even need to edit your existing essay to make sure it showcases your qualifications for the Clemson honors college.

Choosing a topic

When selecting a topic for your Clemson supplemental essays, there are many options. Each of the Clemson essay prompts asks about different aspects of a student’s academic or personal life. And, none of the prompts are given any more weight than the others. Therefore, you should choose the topic that you resonate with the most. Before sitting down to actually write this essay, narrow down the list of topics. Do this by identifying the ones that you can tie to your interests and experiences. Then, once you have narrowed down your list, create outlines of a few different Clemson essay prompts. Finally, decide which one you feel best about.

The most important aspect of your Clemson essays, and your overall Clemson application, is that they showcase you as an individual. Your Clemson essays should include specific details about your life and experiences. Avoid vague statements, like “I always strive to do my best in class” or “My work in the community means a lot to me.”  Instead, use more specific sentences that could only have been written by you. There is no single formula for writing perfect Clemson supplemental essays. The best thing that you can do is showcase your individual strengths.

This section of the Clemson essays is so closely related to the Common Application personal essay. Therefore, you may benefit from additional resources related to the Common Application personal statement. Our blog has several example personal statements that can give you inspiration for writing your own. In addition, you can check out our essay guides for more tips on writing any college essay, including the Clemson supplemental essays.

Optional Clemson Essay Prompt

Please use this space to share any special circumstances affecting your application that warrant consideration by the selection committee..

The Clemson honors college application also includes a Clemson optional essay. The prompt for this Clemson optional essay is vaguer than the other two required prompts. It asks students to share any special circumstances or life experiences that have affected you or your Clemson application. There are many possibilities for what to write about relating to this topic. But, it should be used to talk about something new rather than something you have already discussed. 

Not every student will need to complete this Clemson optional essay. But, if you have any extenuating circumstances that might benefit from some context or explanation, this may be the place to give it. For example, you may not have many extracurricular activities because you spend your time after school caring for younger siblings. This would be the place to explain how that responsibility has impacted your life and your application. Or maybe you moved schools in the middle of your junior year and that transition affected your grades in a negative way. This Clemson optional essay can be used to explain that dip in grades. Whatever your circumstances, use this essay to show why you still make a strong applicant.

How hard is it to get into Clemson Honors College?

The Clemson honors college, otherwise known as the Calhoun Honors College, only accepts a select group of applicants each year. A total of 4,588 students enrolled in the first-year class at Clemson this past year. However, Clemson honors college only accepts around 400 students each year. This means that while the regular Clemson acceptance rate is around 49% , the Clemson acceptance rate for the honors college is less than 10% . 

U.S. News does not assign a specific Calhoun Honors College ranking. However, Clemson overall received a top-20 ranking for its co-op and internship opportunities, many of which are exclusive to honors college students. In addition, among public universities with honors colleges , the Calhoun Honors College ranking was third highest. It only ranked behind Purdue’s (#53) and the University of Maryland’s (#58) honors colleges.

Priority admissions deadline

Applications to the Clemson honors college must be submitted by November 1st in order to be considered for priority admission. Additionally, students must submit their regular Clemson application by the Early Action date of October 15th. That’s more than two months ahead of the Regular Decision Clemson application deadline. Along with the two required Clemson supplemental essays and the Clemson optional essay, students must also include two letters of recommendation with their Clemson honors college application.

Although admission to the Clemson honors college is extremely competitive, the benefits are great. Students in the Clemson honors college have access to special courses that other students don’t. In addition, honors students have access to special facilities and research opportunities both inside and outside their major. Students interested in applying to the honors college should start their applications early to complete all required materials by the deadline. See our resources on application deadlines for assistance on how to manage these tight timelines!

5 Tips on How to Write the Clemson Essays

Tops tips on writing the clemson essays, 1. start early and make a plan.

Students who begin their Clemson supplemental essays early have a much easier time completing them than those who start later on in the process. The Common Application opens on August 1st. So, students can get started with the Clemson essay prompts as early as then. Once the application opens, create a calendar so you can set aside time to work on your Clemson supplemental essays. Writing the essay gradually over several weeks helps prevent burnout and gives you a chance to refine your ideas.  Make sure you leave enough time to revise your Clemson essays after you draft them.

2. Brainstorm ideas before you start writing

It’s tempting to start writing the essay as soon as you see the Clemson essay prompts. But, brainstorming can really help improve your Clemson essays in the long run. A good place to start with any of the Clemson essay prompts is to write down a short list of adjectives that you want the Clemson admissions committee to associate with you! After that, you can write down events or accomplishments in your life where you have demonstrated these qualities and look for common themes that align with one or more of the potential essay topics. Then, when you’re ready to sit down and write your Clemson essays, you already have a bank of ideas ready to incorporate into your writing.

3. Make it about you

Many students find it uncomfortable to brag about or even write about their own accomplishments. However, the purpose of the Clemson essay prompts is for the admissions committee to get to know you. They can’t do that if you spend your essay talking about what other people have done. This doesn’t mean you can’t mention others’ names in your Clemson essays or that you should inflate your own accomplishments. Just try to use as many “I” statements as possible and focus the narrative on what you have done or experienced.

4. Use specific examples wherever possible

Good answers to the Clemson essay prompts will be full of specific details that can transport the reader into the writer’s life and mindset. You want your essay to contain information that allows the reader to get to know you personally. Instead of simply describing the events of an important game you played for your basketball team, let the reader know how it felt to score that game-winning basket and receive the MVP award. Instead of just describing yourself as a lover of community service, show the reader your devotion by sharing moments when you volunteered at your local homeless shelter. Your essay should not read like it could have been written by anybody. It should celebrate your unique experiences and passions.

5. Get help from trusted sources

Even though the primary voice of your essay should be your own, you can, and should, still get help with your Clemson application and Clemson essays from others. Trusted family members, teachers, counselors, and friends can help you develop your essay’s central ideas and make sure you are staying on topic. Try to find two or three editors that you trust and share your Clemson supplemental essays with them early on in the writing process to allow for multiple drafts and rewrites. Plus, if you sign up for CollegeAdvisor.com, you’ll get personalized essay suggestions from your advisor and our Essay Editing team to make sure you write as strong of a response to the Clemson essay prompts as you can.

Clemson supplemental essays and the admissions process

Writing the Clemson supplemental essays is just one part of the larger Clemson application process. Clemson reviews applications using a holistic process. This means there are a wide variety of factors the admissions committee looks for when reviewing each application. 

While your academic record, test scores, and grades are important data points in your application, the Clemson admissions committee knows that each applicant is more than just numbers on a page. In fact, the Clemson admissions website states , “We want to hear your story.” The Clemson essay prompts, therefore, give students the chance to provide context for the other parts of their application. Any additional information you provide gives the admissions committee more insight into who you are as a person.

Colleges like Clemson use essays to get to know candidates for admission beyond what they see in other parts of the application. For this reason, you should not use the Clemson essay prompts or the Clemson honors essays to restate your academic accomplishments or extracurricular involvement. Those already have a place in other parts of your Clemson application. 

Tell your story

Instead, use the Clemson essay prompts to tell a story about yourself that the rest of your application can’t tell! This is particularly important if you have potential red flags on your application, like a semester of poor grades in an otherwise good transcript. The Clemson essays give you a chance to tell the story behind the numbers and explain why you should be admitted to the school.

Because these essays are such an important part of any college application, it is important to take the time to do them well. Even with optional essays, like the Clemson supplemental essays, you should plan to work on and revise your essays over the space of several weeks or even months. You also want to tailor your essays to suit each college’s prompts. This will require taking the time to research each school to see what they are looking for in their applicants. 

Clemson Essay Prompts – Final Thoughts

As we have seen, the answer to the question, “Does Clemson have supplemental essays?” is “Yes!” However, unless you’re applying to the Clemson honors college, you do have the option to avoid the Clemson essay prompts. But, if you’re looking to make your application stand out amid the competitive Clemson acceptance rate, you’ll want to write those essays! Thoughtful responses to the Clemson essay prompts make a difference. Well-written essays improve your admissions chances, which is important given the competitive Clemson acceptance rate. Additionally, impressive Clemson essays could open the door to scholarship opportunities.

Therefore, regardless of whether you intend to apply to the Clemson honors college, we recommend that you include the optional Common Application personal statement along with your Clemson application. And if your GPA is high enough and you have a strong slate of extracurricular activities, make sure you complete the Clemson honors college application as well!

Writing top-notch college essays can be intimidating. We get it! If you need a little extra support with writing your Clemson essays, we’re here to help. Sign up for a CollegeAdvisor.com account to access personalized one-on-one advising with our experts. They can help you with your Clemson supplemental essays every step of the way. Plus, gain access to our vast library of webinars, essay guides, and additional resources whenever you want! Register here to get started!

Senior advisor, Alex Baggott-Rowe wrote this article . 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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March 28, 2024 | Estimated Read Time: 8 Minutes

By Alexandra Koktsidis

Think undergraduate college honors programs are just about extra reading assignments and more paper-writing? Think again. As you look at colleges and honors programs opportunities , it helps to understand the benefits. It’s time to explore what honors colleges are and how honors programs can enhance your undergraduate experience.

An honors program is not the same as being on the high school honor roll. It doesn’t involve advanced or AP classes. An above-average GPA up is important, but college honors programs involve more than academics.

Let’s dive into what an honors program is like, weigh the pros and cons of a college honors program, and discuss what the major benefits are.

What Is an Honors Program?

A college or university honors program is a specialized academic pathway designed to challenge students beyond the conventional curriculum. The honors opportunities available vary from school to school. Depending on the college’s program, it may involve small or specialized classes, one-on-one mentorship, and the opportunity to conduct an independent research study. Some universities have specific honors colleges, while smaller schools may call it a program. Ultimately, the top honors colleges and programs will go beyond good grades.

“The honors program creates a community of scholars who want to contribute to a body of research in their own meaningful way,” says Sabrina Stehly, the associate director of the Honors Program at Babson College.   Honors programs typically result in the writing and presenting of a senior thesis or capstone project. A few senior thesis examples from Babson College’s honors program students include:

• “AI and Consciousness” Ryan Combes, December 2022  
• “Comparing the Loss Aversion of Fantasy Sports Players & Sports Card Traders” James Truslow, May 2022  
• “Double Deprivation: The Privilege of Race and Education” Tyler Patterson, December 2019  
• “ Serving Realness in Reality: Drag as a Culture in American Television Media” Maria Herwagen, May 2023

These are all business capstone project examples from a school known for entrepreneurship . If it sounds like a chance to pursue a topic of interest and outside your general course of study, you’re right. But what exactly does it mean to be an honors student?

Who Is an Honors Student?

“Being an honors student means more than being academically talented,” Stehly says. “It’s also about being an exemplary student in the greater community.” Honors students show passion and curiosity for learning and enjoy research and writing, she adds.   Being a self-motivated student is a key trait among honors program students. For example, a student who can “ask a research question and follow through to find the answer,” according to Stehly, is something honors program directors look for in applicants.

The Benefits of an Honors Program

The best honors programs will provide more than just a title or graduation citation. Several benefits come with being part of an honors program. Because it affords you the chance to conduct independent research, you can follow your passions or interests to a deeper level.

This alone is a worthwhile benefit to some, but the perks don’t stop there. Being part of an undergraduate honors program can help build the vital skills employers look for , forge meaningful and lasting relationships, and bring you the confidence to thrive in life after college.

A Competitive Edge

Graduating from an honors program can set you apart from other applicants in the job market.

Employers who value a commitment to learning and being a self-starter will find those qualities in honors program students. Plus, it can be a great way-in to speak about your skills , passions, hands-on learning, and achievements.   “Many of our students have reported back that their honors project was a great conversation starter during job interviews or at networking events,” Stehly says.

Faculty Mentorship

One great benefit of the honors program is the close mentorship students receive from notable faculty who are leaders in their field. At Babson College, faculty members are award-winning experts and business leaders who draw from tangible, real-world business experience.

In the business honors program at Babson , students work one-on-one with a faculty advisor to help guide them through the research process. This added support and mentorship often extends beyond graduation, creating lasting professional relationships that endure for years.

Skills For Work & Life

Being part of the honors program is not all academics: it also involves honing time and project management skills that are crucial to professional and personal life. Independent research often demands a high-level of organization with multiple priorities to juggle.

After all, as Stehly says, an honors program is not about synthesizing research: it’s about “contributing to a body of research in a unique, meaningful way.” And that takes a dedicated effort.

Goes Beyond Your Coursework 

Another non-academic benefit of the honors program is getting involved with activities exclusive to the program. This way, students in the program can bond together and form lasting, meaningful friendships.

At Babson College, as part of the business honors program, students attend a wide range of programming, including social events, community-building activities, and arts and culture performances in the Boston area.

Growing Outside Comfort Zones

One feature of the Babson College honors program is that students must present their findings out loud, in front of faculty. After all, public speaking is one of the top fears for college students in the United States.

This can be a daunting task, but one that builds inner confidence and presentation skills. Students can also participate and present their material at academic conferences. Stepping outside of your comfort zones in this way cultivates personal growth.

Gaining Resilience

In the face of academic challenges, students in honors programs develop the ability to persevere, adapt, and ultimately succeed despite challenges during the process.

“Nearly all of our students have expressed that completing their honors project gave them a deep sense of accomplishment after overcoming any obstacles that they faced during the process,” Stehly says. A rigorous program leaves a sense of resilience and ability to face future challenges with confidence.

Are Honors Programs Worth It?

Being part of an honors program enables self-motivated students to get the most out of their college education. It involves deep diving into your chosen field and contributing your findings to a greater body of research.

Students become a “resident expert” in their chosen field, which often expands beyond the scope of the traditional curriculum. At Babson College, all undergraduate students —honors program included—have the benefit of graduating with a business degree .

If that’s something that resonates with your goals and aspirations, an honors program may well be worth it.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/student-resources/what-is-honors-college/  

Journal of Further and Higher Education 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0309877X.2021.1948509

About the Author

Alexandra Koktsidis has a background in journalism and copywriting, and over a decade of professional writing experience. She is based in the Boston area. 

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College Writing

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ENGLWRIT 112 (College Writing) is a first-year college-level writing course designed to help students expand their ability to write essays for academic, civic, and personal purposes and to develop their rhetorical awareness to write effectively in new social contexts. Based on the assumption that writing is a social activity, this course requires active engagement in the writing process, including pre-writing, peer review, revision, and editing. Students write five essays. This is the only course at UMass Amherst which satisfies the General Education College Writing (CW) requirement. Prerequisite: Placement into ENGLWRIT 112 through the Writing Placement Exam or a passing grade in ENGLWRIT 111 Basic Writing. May not be taken Pass/Fail. (Gen.Ed. CW)

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Open to Freshman and Sophomore students in the Commonwealth Honors Program only.

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Barrett, The Honors College at ASU announces its 2024 outstanding graduates

7 graduates will be recognized for their achievements at honors college convocation may 6.

Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University has named seven outstanding graduates from the spring 2024 graduating class who will be recognized for their academic prowess, leadership, service, community involvement and creativity at the honors college’s convocation on May 6. ASU photo

Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University has named seven outstanding graduates from the spring 2024 graduating class who will be recognized for their academic prowess, leadership, service, community involvement and creativity at the honors college’s convocation  set for 2 p.m. on May 6 at Desert Financial Arena on ASU's Tempe campus.

“Barrett Honors College’s core values are community and belonging, leadership and agency, courage and curiosity. These outstanding graduates are exemplars of the values in action and represent the excellence of all honors students. We’re confident they’ll all take these values into whatever they do next, including careers, graduate and professional schools, and public service,” said Barrett Honors College Dean Tara Williams. 

The spring 2024 Barrett Honors College Outstanding Graduates are recognized in the categories of Outstanding Graduate, Outstanding Research, Outstanding Leadership and Outstanding Creativity. They are:

Outstanding Graduate

Sadaf Asadifar

Asadifar is receiving Bachelor of Science degrees in neuroscience and psychology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in global health from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her goal is to become a cardiothoracic surgeon.

She was an undergraduate research assistant in the Behavioral Neuroscience of Memory and Aging laboratory, where her research focused on the effects of sex hormones on cognitive and brain changes during aging using rat models.

For her Barrett honors thesis, titled “How many new friends can a menopausal rat remember? Developing a new task of social recognition with an increasing working memory load,” Asadifar and a graduate student developed a novel test of memory in rats.

Asadifar received many scholarships, including the Wahl Family Scholarship, HonorHealth Foundation Advisory Council Scholarship, Dariel Overby Memorial Scholarship, Dean’s Council Scholarship, New American University Scholar President’s Award, Austin James Service Scholar Award, Smith Marshall Scholarship, President Barak Obama Scholar Award and Mak Pak Chiu and Mak Soo Lai Hing Memorial Scholarship.

She was a first author and presenter on three presentations about hormone therapy and menopause effects on memory, including one as a Banner-ASU Neuroscience Scholar and another at the Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium.

With her family, as a youngster, Asadifar left her home country of Iran, sought asylum in Turkey for two years and ultimately came to the United States and became a citizen. She told her story at an Ignite ASU event last year.

She has been active in community service, running classes focusing on empowerment for children of Baha’I Faith, serving as an Arizona Refugee College Success mentor for high school students, and volunteering at the International Rescue Committee Welcome Center Asylum Seeker Shelter.

She served as financial advisor to the Global Women’s Health Initiative, a Barrett Honors College Peer Academic Leader, and a Civitutors tutor for an elementary school student. In addition, she worked as an aide in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering student services department and in ASU Financial Aid Services.

Outstanding Research

Rafael Ortiz III

Ortiz is receiving a bachelor’s degree in astrophysics from the School of Earth and Space Exploration.

He received the New American University President’s Scholarship, the 2020 Gold Medal in Science, and the 2023 Barrett Honors College Award for Innovation. He was also a finalist for Outstanding Undergraduate Student of the Year in 2023.

Ortiz worked on the School of Earth and Space Exploration’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) PEARLS project, during which he used two-dimensional light profiling methods and spectral energy distribution modeling codes to study the point spread functions in local active galactic nuclei.

He was co-author of six publications in the Astrophysical Journal, a leading journal for astrophysics. As an ASU NASA Space Grant recipient and intern, Ortiz assisted with the processing of JWST cosmic ray rejection data, which cleans JWST images by identifying and removing stray cosmic rays from images.

He conducted original research as an intern at the Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory during the summers of 2019 and 2022, during which he contributed to the development of code designed to analyze real data from the Muon g-2 particle physics experiment. He later launched a prototype of distributed tracing software for optimizing simulations in the Compact Muon Solenoid experiment . In 2019, he received the Fermilab Science Award for his work there.

Ortiz served as a Barrett Honors College teaching assistant and completed an honors thesis titled “Why Do We See Beauty?” that included a self-published 51-page book of poems and a 96-page paper on the interdisciplinary interaction between Taoism, philosophy, Buddhism, spirituality and art.

For four years, he was a member of Honors Devils, a student organization that assists with recruiting honors students by giving informational tours. He served as a student body senator and as the director of student affairs for Undergraduate Student Government on the Tempe campus. He was chief of staff of the Leadership Forum at ASU and president of the Order of Omega Leadership Honors Society.

As an ASU Space Student Ambassador, Ortiz worked with SESE, the ASU Fulton Schools of Engineering and representatives of private industry to support student initiatives and research projects.  

Jaira Mu ñoz Zavala

Mu ñoz Zavala is receiving a bachelor’s degree in forensic science from the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences and a bachelor’s degree in sculpture from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.

She was the recipient of the ASU STEM TRAIN Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences Scholarship, the Buzz Sands Chevrolet Endowment Scholarship, the J.R & B. Nelson Scholarship and the Ridgway Scholarship.

Mu ñoz Zavala worked in the ASU Forensic Entomology and Wildlife Laboratory, where she participated in four different research projects. She completed five oral presentations, including with the North American Forensic Entomology Association and the Entomological Society of America – Pacific Branch, and two poster presentations.

She won third place in the student oral presentation competition at the 2022 Entomological Society of America – Pacific Branch meeting for her project titled “Outside of colonization: An analysis of initial insect arrival and other insect interactions with decomposing remains throughout the year in Arizona.”

She won second place for her research poster presentation on an analysis of flies’ arrival to decomposing remains during winter in Arizona at the 16th annual WAESO Student Research Conference in 2022. She also won third place in the student poster competition at the 2023 NCUIRE Research Symposium.

Muñoz Zavala gave a talk at the 2023 Entomological Society of America – Pacific Branch conference titled “A new perspective on death: Combining art and science.” She defended her honors thesis, titled “Initial insect arrival to decomposing remains in Phoenix, Arizona,” in English and Spanish. 

Outstanding leadership

Orchee Syed

Syed is receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in sociology from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

She has been a leader inside the classroom, showing a collaborative attitude toward her peers by engaging them in class conversations and doing outstanding work, such as a nine-page essay about capitalism during pandemics titled “400 Years of Eating the Rich.”

Since fall 2020, Syed has served as a writing tutor at the Barrett Writing Center, mentoring other students in writing argumentative essays and honors theses, promoting the center at orientation events and through social media, hosting writing workshops, and helping recruit and interview new tutors.

Syed helped run the Barrett Writing Center, led writing tutor staff meetings and trained tutors to give feedback on honors theses. She contributed to Barrett curriculum by helping redesign the required Barrett thesis workshops to be more equitable and student centered, and contributed to panel discussions and small group facilitation.

Syed served as an undergraduate teaching assistant in the ASU Department of Psychology and worked as a research assistant in the Lifespan Development Lab. She also worked as a data collector and analyst for the ASU Community Energy Engineering Initiative focused on incentivizing middle and high school students from low-income neighborhoods in Phoenix to get involved in STEM.

She interned at an outpatient clinic serving Indigenous Valley residents, contributed to a STEM and community service program at Phoenix public schools, advocated for marginalized students of color to be involved with research in the ASU Department of Psychology, and was a member of the Barrett Choir. She also received the New American University Scholarship and Psychology Scholar Award.

Her honors thesis focused on examining similarities and differences in historical change reports of pain in middle-aged adults across 16 nations. Syed plans to pursue a doctoral degree in psychology.

Raka is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical informatics from the College of Health Solutions.

As an ASU Undergraduate Student Government senator, he led mental health initiatives, such as keeping counseling free for all ASU students. As a student ambassador in the College of Health Solutions, he represented students in monthly meetings with the dean and coordinated biweekly presentations at high schools across Arizona to inform students about the benefits of pursuing a university education.

He volunteered as an instructor in the ASU Prison Biology Initiative, where he worked with students studying introductory biology at the Eyman-Florence prison complex. As a group facilitator at the New Song Center for Grieving Children, he assisted support groups for children aged 8–10 who lost loved ones.

He was a research fellow in the ASU School of Life Sciences, conducting research on Zika-carrying mosquitos, analyzing the impact of fungicide on honeybees, and modeling honeybee heat stress to predict the effects of global warming on beehives.

He worked in the ASU Luminosity Lab implementing moonshot solutions and mapping hospital inequity distribution using geographic information systems. He was a health project fellow at the ASU Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, where he founded the Mental Health Equity Symposium, and a clinical research intern at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in the summer of 2022.

He co-authored two research articles — one on oncology patients and another on the impact of fungicide exposure on honeybees. He won first place in the Mayo Clinic Health Futures + CHS Clinical Solutions Competition in April 2023 and was an honorable mention in the National Academy of Medicine STI Hackathon last October.

Outstanding creativity

Lyndsey Anderson

Anderson is graduating with a bachelor’s degree kinesiology from the College of Health Solutions.

For her honors thesis, Anderson created a physical therapy program for under- and uninsured children with Down syndrome. The program features a game called “Rainbow Monster Madness” and is available online . She hand-drew the characters for the game, which combines fun play with physical therapy.

Anderson served as president of the ASU Kinesiology Honors Society in the College of Health Solutions and was a Barrett Academy of Excellence Scholar. She received a Certificate of Recognition and Outstanding Service from the Kinesiology Honors Society, an ASU Award of Excellence in Chemistry, an ASU Sun Devil Football Athletic Training Intern Scholarship, the New American University President’s Award and the Townsend Family Scholarship.

She worked as a physical therapy technician at a clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, a youth tutor and mentor in Paradise Valley, Arizona, and as a student athletic trainer for the ASU football team.

She will pursue a doctorate of physical therapy at the University of Colorado in Denver Anschutz Medical Campus.

Morgan Cywinski

Cywinski is receiving a bachelor’s degree in social work from the ASU School of Social Work in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.

 For her honors creative project, she researched the concerns and needs of young hospitalized children and designed and developed “The Bedside Box of Play,” a box with play activities geared toward 5- to 11-year-old children experiencing hospitalization. 

She procured funding to create 30 boxes, with materials in English and Spanish, which she donated to a children’s unit at a local hospital. The boxes help children and their families by providing an easy way of incorporating play into the hospital environment while promoting healthy child development and coping skills.

Cywinski interned at A New Leaf East Valley After School Program for school-age children and Everybody Matters, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching lifelong coping and social skills to children. She was a counselor for Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times and volunteered at Banner Hospice Dottie Kissinger Bereavement Camp, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and Helen’s Hope Chest.

She received the ASU New American University Scholarship and the Garcia Family Foundation Scholarship.

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ComArtSci and MSU Museum Elevate Honors Option with Fusion of PR and History

Leading this initiative are Dr. Ed Timke, Assistant Professor in Advertising + PR, and Lynne Swanson, Collections Manager of Cultural Collections at the MSU Museum. They guided five Honors students—Ainsleigh Kubicki, Ella Mott, Tatum Fettig, Maisie Dufour, and Megan Mato—in the meaningful task of helping decommission the Crossroads General Store Exhibit, which has been a fixture of the MSU Museum since the 1960s.

These Honors College students undertook the responsibility of photographing, cataloging, sorting, and packing up many of the exhibit’s artifacts. Their efforts helped determine which items would be retained by the Museum’s Cultural Collections and which would be sent to other units on campus for teaching, research, and exhibition purposes. This process not only deepened the students’ understanding of museum exhibitions and the history of advertising, but it also allowed them to apply and enhance their public relations skills by brainstorming strategies on how to communicate the significance of material culture studies of advertising and consumerism. Below are quotes from students about what they learned from this experience as well as how they see this Honors Option helping them in their personal and professional development.

Collaborative Honors Option projects like this provide a comprehensive platform for students to immerse themselves in material culture and preservation while honing their public relations and outreach capabilities. Additionally, this work highlights the importance of storytelling and preservation in both historical and contemporary settings, equipping students for various career avenues.

As Dr. Timke continues to conduct research in material culture, he will keep collaborating with the MSU Museum to deliver experiential learning opportunities for students to see how various disciplines can come together to preserve and share histories of advertising and public relations. Dr. Ed Timke

STUDENT QUOTES

Ainsleigh Kubicki What I’ve learned: One really interesting thing I learned about during this honors option is how different medicine and other supplies were years ago compared to now. For example, there was white led paint stored in the museum that may be illegal now, but was perfectly legal years ago. Or, there were certain medicines that were thought to treat diseases back then, but have now been disproven.

A fun item: During this honors option, I saw tons of incredibly interesting packaging designs. Especially concerning metal tea boxes. The designs tended to be very bright, fun, and intricate. As a graphic design minor, it was interesting to see the differences in how product packages are designed today vs years ago.

How this honors option is different from other honors options: This honors option has been incredibly different than my other ones. Normal ones include essays, slide shows, and projects; but this honors option has been interactive and fun!

How this honors option will help us in the future: This honors option has helped me to further look for the little details in objects, has helped me to gain new skills to organize and catalog more efficiently, and has helped me to connect different faucets of public relations to real life scenarios.

• With this H option I learned a lot about museums and the preservation of historical items. I learned how much care it takes to handle these items and the great amounts of history behind each and every item. I also learned how much time and dedication it takes to run a museum like this one. I even learned a lot about the importance of preserving historical items and learning a lot from them.
• An item that I found specifically interesting and think it would be very interesting to share is the old medicine that is on display here. I found it so interesting to see how much we have developed in the medical field since then. Some of the things being sold as medicine are mind blowing to me knowing what we know today.
• This honors option is definitely very different than the other h options i’ve done. It is very interactive and much more exciting and interesting than simply writing a paper or doing a project. I feel like a learned a lot more being hands on with the museum and all of the items we’ve worked with than if I had just written a paper about it.
• I will definitely use this h option in the future. Its interesting that helping at a museum and PR actually go hand in hand quite well. As someone who will use PR on my career this is definitely a learning experience for me how I can incorporate PR into things that I didn’t expect. It shows how Pr is everywhere and in everything. I also now value the importance of organizing and preservation much more.

Tatum Fettig

• This experience taught me a lot about preservation of historic materials. I really enjoyed getting to visit the central services building where the MSU Museum keeps a lot of collections. I also thought it was interesting how well kept the items were in the central services building, where they keep the rooms at a specific temperature and humidity for preservation.
• I think the most interesting items were items that were from Michigan. I enjoyed seeing things that were produced in places like Battle Creek and Grand Rapids, and things that had Michigan or great lakes on the packaging. I also was interested by the different types of medicine we encountered. Seeing these items for ailments I’ve never heard of demonstrated how much the pharmaceutical industry has changed over time.
• I really enjoyed doing this honors option. It was great to do something different from writing an essay, and getting to work with my peers each week. We had the opportunity to learn a lot from Lynne, who works at the museum, about historic material preservation, cataloguing items, and the different museum exhibitions.
• I enjoyed getting to learn about how to promote museums and historic materials through Public Relations. I also learned a lot about preservation and museum systems. This project also helped me to develop my organization and communication skills, because we had to make sure we were always on the same page as a group in order to work efficiently.

Maisie Dufour (Public Relations Major, Business Minor) Over the past few weeks looking at different items in the MSU museum general store collection I found it extremely interesting how packaging has changed since the items in the store were really for sale. I loved looking at familiar brands and how they’ve changed from then to now. 

My personal favorite item was a tin of lip balm that the brand actually still uses the same packaging to this day.

In the past for honors options I’ve done papers and slide shows and this is the first time I’ve done a hands on project and actually worked face to face with my classmates and my professor so this was interesting in the sense that I actually interacted with others and also because I got to go into the MSU museum.

It would be awesome for the museum to advertise more around campus what they have going on and what different exhibits and experiences could be used to play into research and honors options similar to this one.

Megan Mato (Marketing Major) -Through this project I learned a lot about how museums work and operate. I did not know about the cataloging system for items that are not on display anymore or about the building where all of the old items are stored. 

-My favorite item I saw was a tube of ointment. It was in really good condition and had a cool orange floral wrapper. It looked like something you would find in a store today.

-This H option was really fun and hands on. I enjoyed being able to look through all of these products and see what products they were using back in the 1960s.

-Going into the future, this experience has taught me a lot about organization and documentation. I will be able to use these skills to make sure that any projects I take on in the future are well planned out and properly documented.

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How to Get College Transcripts and Why You Might Need Them

When you need to show someone proof of your college career, getting your transcripts is a must. Explore how to get college transcripts, why you may need to do so, the purpose of this document, and the steps you can take to obtain it.

If you attended college for any period, you may find yourself tasked with proving that attendance—and even your performance—to someone. Perhaps you're transferring or finishing that degree at a different school or applying for a job or grad school. Or you may want to keep a copy on hand for reference. Essentially, your transcript is a permanent record of your college career.

Whatever your reason for needing a copy, this guide will explain how to get college transcripts, why you might need them, and other details you may need to know about these critical documents.   

What is in your college transcript?   

Your college transcript is the official record of your college career. Depending on the school you attend, your transcript may include:

Personal information, like your name, birth date, and permanent address 

Information relevant to your school, like your ID number and the type of learner you are (undergraduate, graduate, etc.)

Major(s) and minor(s) 

Any degree you obtained from that school 

Dates that you attended the school 

Date that you graduated, if applicable 

Information that may be relevant to your specific school career, like whether you graduated with honors or the title of your thesis   

Classes you took, including those from which you withdrew before completing 

Grades received for each class and your grade point average (GPA) 

The semester for each class taken 

Academic status and any record of past issues, like academic probation or honors code violations 

Awards and accolades for your academic performance 

Why you might need your college transcript

Several scenarios may require you to obtain your college transcript, whether you've graduated or not. For example, if you're currently enrolled or a former learner who wants to transfer to another school, you'll need the transcripts from any school you've ever attended. Providing this document helps your new school verify your academic record for admissions purposes, and it will help your academic advisor determine which courses you still need for your degree. 

You'll also need a college transcript if you want to apply to graduate school to get your master's or doctorate or if you want to attend law school or medical school. The school you apply to will ask for a copy of your transcript from every undergraduate school you attended to verify that you obtained your bachelor's degree.

You may need a college transcript when you apply to specific jobs. While this is not as common, and many employers will take your word for it, they may want proof that you graduated. Some may even want to see your GPA, mainly if you apply for an entry-level job and have little previous work experience. Your GPA can serve as proof that you are a hard worker. Employers may also want to see your transcript to verify your skills and background, to determine if your area of expertise fits their needs, to understand how you deal with challenges, and to verify the claims on your resume.

Government agencies, in particular, may want to see a transcript. Keep that in mind if you apply to organizations like NASA or the US Department of State. You will also likely need a transcript if you attended college before joining the military.

How to get college transcripts 

The process of getting college transcripts will vary from school to school. Your school’s registrar's office is an excellent starting point. Usually, you can visit the school's website and make a formal request online. The registrar's office may require you to fill out some personal information, like your name, college ID number, social security number, address, email address, phone number, and the dates you attended the school. They may also allow you to have the transcript sent to another school or a potential employer, so you'll need their address and contact information. Some schools may even require that an official transcript go to a school or employer rather than directly to the learner. 

Some schools use third-party services, like Parchment or CertiFile, to deliver transcripts. You can typically find instructions for using these digital programs on the registrar's office's website. If your school doesn't offer an online option for ordering your transcript, you may need to submit a written request or visit in person. 

Remember that you'll typically have to pay a fee to get a copy of your official transcript. You can usually do this online, but the school may allow you to mail in a check instead. Receiving your transcript may take many weeks, so avoid waiting until the last minute to order your copies, especially if you have admissions deadlines.

Can a college withhold your transcript?  

If you provide the correct information and pay the fee, getting a copy of your college transcript is a fairly straightforward process. However, in the past, many schools could withhold your transcript if unpaid balances were owed to the school or if you defaulted on your student loans. That is now changing after the US Department of Education recently passed new regulations that prevent that practice. Starting July 2024, most schools will no longer be able to withhold transcripts from students who used federal financial aid to pay for course credits. Even if there was an unpaid balance on the account, those students can still receive their transcripts.

According to an October 2020 report from Ithaka S + R, roughly 6.6 million students have unpaid balances that would affect getting their transcripts [ 1 ].

Do you need an official or unofficial transcript?  

Both official transcripts and unofficial transcripts provide you with information about your college career, but they do have differences. You can usually go online to your school's website and print an unofficial transcript. An official transcript must come from the registrar's office and will have an official seal or signature to verify its authenticity. 

For career and educational purposes, it's generally best and often even required to use an official transcript. If you just want one for your records or to plan your next educational move, an unofficial transcript will usually work. However, you should be aware of the minor differences between the two.

Getting started with Coursera 

Obtaining a college transcript is just one part of the process of transferring to another school, returning to school, or getting a job. Take even more steps to prepare for your future by taking online classes on Coursera. You'll find offerings from top education institutions, like Getting Started with Essay Writing from the University of California, Irvine; Applying to US Universities from the University of Pennsylvania; and How to Write a Resume from The State University of New York. 

Article sources

Ithaka S+R. " Solving Stranded Credits , https://sr.ithaka.org/publications/solving-stranded-credits/." Accessed April 1, 2024.

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3 Strong Boston University Essay Examples

Boston University is a top research university in the heart of the city. With a fairly low acceptance rate, admissions is pretty selective, and writing strong essays is essential to standing out.

BU requires one essay for all applicants, and has an additional information prompt that is optional. Applicants to the Accelerated Program in Liberal Arts and Medicine have another essay, and Honors College applicants have two additional essays.

In this post, we’ll then go over example essays from a real applicants, analyzing what they did well, and what could be improved.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our BU essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts. 

Essay Example #1

Prompt: What about being a student at Boston University most excites you? (250 words)

I am most excited by Boston University’s Societal Engineer vision. As an aspiring engineer with a strong interest in government, I love that BU encourages engineering majors to strengthen their communication skills and global awareness. 

Academically speaking, I would explore political science courses through BU Hub requirements like Historical Consciousness and Ethical Reasoning. In addition, I would explore the world through the semester-abroad programs offered by BU for engineering majors. If admitted, I would love to study in Grenoble (and brush up on my French!) as a sophomore.

Beyond academics, BU’s student groups also align with the Social Engineer vision. BU’s Engineers Without Borders mission spans both engineering and communication, as their project in Zambia involved both in developing sanitation systems and presenting posters on these systems to the community. Given my strong desire to help others through engineering, I would devote my time and energy to EWB’s projects at BU. 

I am also intrigued by BU’s political student groups, and I appreciate that BU’s student government offers students from all colleges leadership as Senators. I work closely with my high school’s administration as the vice president of our honor society and the overseer of student elections, and I would enjoy doing something similar at BU.

At BU, I can see myself tinkering with Autodesk Inventor late into the night and petitioning legislatures to fix gerrymandered districts. Because BU’s Societal Engineer vision would encourage both my STEM and humanities interests, I am very excited about being a student at BU. 

What the Essay Did Well

This essay is a strong response that adequately conveys what the student hopes to obtain from an education from Boston University. The applicant begins with a straightforward statement that expresses their interests in engineering and government.

Establishing this cross-disciplinary interest immediately sets the candidate apart from other engineering majors and makes their response more unique. By mentioning the intersection of engineering and government, the candidate hits upon a rare niche that demonstrates a willingness to bridge two seemingly disparate subjects. 

The student also mentions a study abroad opportunity specific for those within their major. They mention a specific study abroad destination, which further underscores their interest in this offering. The inclusion about brushing up on their French establishes a personal connection to their location choice, which also strengthens this portion of the response.

Next, the applicant discusses BU’s relevant extracurricular opportunities:

This inclusion is a good example of taking a BU-specific offering and expanding on what specific project the author intends to work on. They do a good job of connecting an engineering-related club to their humanities-related passions. 

The applicant then concludes with the following: 

These final sentences do a nice job of wrapping up the response in a way that allows the essay to flow smoothly until the end. The mentions of Autodesk Inventor and petitions provide readers with specific details that corroborate the points made earlier in the response. The applicant ends with a forward-facing sentence that solidifies their desire to attend BU. Similarly, you should aim to wrap up your response with a final statement that encapsulates your essay thus far and also points ahead to your future at the university.

What Could Be Improved

This essay could be strengthened in that the candidate does not necessarily establish a personal connection to BU’s Societal Engineer vision. To improve this, they could briefly elaborate on what drew them to this academic intersection. Perhaps volunteering at a homeless shelter opened their eyes to housing inequalities, which stem from issues with both finding cheap building materials and their city’s budget. Or, perhaps their interest in creating sustainable plastic substitutes drew them to explore both materials engineering and environmental policy. This personal connection would strengthen the overall authenticity of this essay and provide a flow for admissions officers to follow. 

The next portion of this response could also be improved. It centers on BU’s academic opportunities:

The applicant demonstrates that they have researched their major and mention a specific requirement. This is a good start; however, they should elaborate more on why they chose to mention this specific category. They can talk about how they hope to learn more about specific courses within this category. 

For instance, maybe they want to learn about security in America to inform their sense of national politics, or delve into the representation of the Holocaust in film, as they feel current policies on religious diversity should consider this topic. This further elaboration will round out this portion of the response rather than leaving it underdeveloped.

Essay Example #2

Prompt: What about the Kilachand Honors College resonates with you, and how would Kilachand’s curriculum fulfill your academic, creative, intellectual, and/or professional goals? (600 words)

I am an example of societal rejection. My lack of adherence to gender constructs breaks traditional expectations as my queerness takes over any sense of “normality” that society could see in me. As a queer, nonbinary person of color and an Indian immigrant, I’ve moved away from expectations that demand a definition of my characteristics and have begun to explore who I am on a profound level. It’s this concept of exploration that I aspire to integrate into my education so that I can learn more about others and understand the incomprehensible by any means, whether it be through interacting with different aspects of humanity, connecting with new communities, or increasing my knowledge on a topic. 

I’ve found this same ring of curiosity and educational passion that distinguishes Kilachand Honors College and have come to resonate with it, whether it be through the different community based circle meetings, the dissimilar seminars focused on developing critical and creative thinking, or the focus on experiential learning. However, Kilachand takes this interest for learning one step further, adding another dimension to the challenging liberal education through building on layers of global, social, corporate, and geopolitical challenges within the classes. This interdisciplinary aspect of the Kilachand curriculum provides me with the chance to understand issues from different perspectives, which I’d take advantage of to fulfill my professional goal of directing a human rights campaign. 

Specific classes like KHC HC 401: Epistemologies and the Process of Inquiry and KHC HC 301: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Global Challenges offer new intellectual opportunities I have been seeking while also supporting me in utilizing my education in a way that benefits my community. The emphasis placed on exploring the real life impact of students’ work in Kilachand’s integrated curriculum is empowering and would help me use education as a tool to build on my global perspective and make a meaningful difference.

It is my goal to learn more about the unfamiliar so that I can apply that knowledge to “unsolvable global issues” that are only labeled as such because of a cultural disconnect or societal difference. Kilachand supports this goal through offering co-curricular events and residencies where I can connect with other cultures through visiting different cultural institutions or having enlightening discussions with leading professionals. I am inspired by the passion behind the Kilachand community; events such as the POC and LGBTQIA+ Circle meetings are features of the Kilachand community that I hope to contribute to and learn from. By learning about others’ experiences and sharing my own, I aspire to be a part of the intellectual curiosity that is shared among Kilachand students.

The copious academic, cultural, and social opportunities at Kilchand all connect back to the same pillar of change that I have continuously been drawn to. Even though my interests are diverse and follow multiple tracks, the diversity of opportunities at Kilchand resonate with my varied passions and offer an accepting community connected through curiosity, which I hope to contribute to. 

The essay starts out with a bold, unexpected first sentence that hooks the audience into continuing to read the essay. This well-crafted writing seamlessly leads into an introduction about the writer, their values, and what they are looking for in a college education. The following paragraphs show how the Kilachand Honors College is an ideal fit for them.

The key to writing any “Why This College?” essay is to highlight specific resources that the college offers. This essay does that well by mentioning a wide range of BU resources by name, including classes, the integrated curriculum, the interdisciplinary educational philosophy, and extracurricular activities. By directly stating that they want to take “specific classes like KHC HC 401: Epistemologies and the Process of Inquiry,” the writer shows that they have done thorough research into the Honors College. More than anything else, evidence of this research demonstrates interest in the offerings of the Honors College and a strong “why” for applying.

The writer has not created a laundry list of resources with their essay either. They show that they have a personal interest in each resource by using “I” statements and explaining their ideas for making the most of the Honors College in the future. Instead of simply stating “I am looking forward to joining clubs related to social justice at BU,” the writer presents a much clearer and more confident vision for their academic future with the phrase “…events such as the POC and LGBTQIA+ Circle meetings are features of the Kilachand community that I hope to contribute to and learn from.”

Though the essay is highly specific with the resources it mentions in most parts, several sentences in the second paragraph could be strengthened:

However, Kilachand takes this interest for learning one step further, adding another dimension to the challenging liberal education through building on layers of global, social, corporate, and geopolitical challenges within the classes. This interdisciplinary aspect of the Kilachand curriculum provides me with the chance to understand issues from different perspectives…

Many other colleges offer an interdisciplinary curriculum, so the writer should write additional details here about Kilachand’s “interdisciplinary aspect.” They should ask themselves, is there a specific university value which encourages professors to tie many academic disciplines together in the classroom? Does BU require Kilachand students to take an honors core curriculum that covers many areas? Answering these questions would add the right level of specificity to the writer’s point about Kilachand’s educational philosophy. 

The essay would also be stronger if the writer explained exactly how Kilachand fosters curiosity. If curiosity were a core value of the Honors College, the writer could clarify by changing part of the essay’s last sentence to “an accepting community connected through the value of curiosity.”

Essay Example #3

Prompt: Describe a time when you felt out of your comfort zone or marginalized in a situation. How did you respond to that moment and how has it informed your actions moving forward? (600 words)

“The last 10% is 90% of the work.”

It was written on a small, ripped-off piece of yellow legal paper in fading blue ink. And now, it still sits in my desk drawer, four years after it was given to me by my band director, Mr. Laghari. It was one day in ninth grade, about two weeks before I was to perform my very first audition, that Mr. Laghari strolled over to where I was sitting.

“Alright Kat, let’s hear this district piece!”

What followed, looking back, was absolutely the most mediocre performance you’ve ever heard.

“Well done! I have a few comments for you though. Mainly, it seems like you have the notes and rhythms down, but you gotta add some musicality!”

I had no clue what he was talking about; it showed in my face.

“Expression! Dynamics! You know!”

But I didn’t.

“Oh come on! It’s the last part, right before the audition, the hardest part. You know, my high school band director once told me…”

He took out his yellow legal pad and began writing.

“The. Last. Ten. Percent. Is. Ninety. Percent. Of. The. Work.”

He ripped it off, and gave it to me. And I took it to heart. I looked up musicality, expression, dynamics, and worked to map out phrases in the music. I recorded myself to see what I could add to make it musical .

When the audition came around, I was ready. When they called euphoniums, I enthusiastically left my school’s group and walked with the rest of the auditionees to the holding room. But it was a long walk. Not only did I start to miss the safety of my school group, I started to get in my own head. What if I put in all my hard work for nothing? What would people think? My parents? Mr. Laghari? In the holding room, I squirmed in my seat, waiting for my name to get called. The clock on the wall ticked and ticked, my anxiety building all the while. Finally, my name was called, second-to-last, and as I followed the volunteer to the audition room, I suddenly remembered Mr. Laghari’s slip of paper. I just needed to give my ninety percent. I focused myself, and did just that.

So it came as a surprise to me when Mr. Laghari told me that I placed seventh, and they took the top six players, on the bus ride home. Not only was I surprised, I was crushed. “We’ll get ‘em next year!” he said. But all I heard was “You didn’t make it this year.” It was a bitter trip.

It took me about a week to realize what he said, and that I would crush it next year. I told myself it wasn’t a matter of auditioning to see if I could make it. I told myself auditioning was a formality. And as I looked at the blue ink on that slip of paper, with all of those crushing memories now attached, I told myself that I would give my ninety percent not just on the last ten percent of the work, but on all of it: every year. And with that mindset, I’ve not only placed first in All-Districts on trombone and euphonium, but have made it all the way to All-State. 

So, whenever I need inspiration for a project, motivation to finish my homework, determination not to give up, I just open up my desk drawer. And one day in the near future, when I move off to Boston University, that slip of paper is what I’ll be taking with me.

This essay is a moving example of how to tell a story with dialogue. Beginning the essay with dialogue is unexpected, which automatically makes for a gripping hook. At the same time, dialogue is an excellent way to organize the essay and convey main ideas in a succinct, yet creative way. The one-sentence introduction of the essay summarizes its entire message more effectively than a paragraph.

The writer then shows how they felt out of their comfort zone and responded by focusing on several specific moments of their journey to become a better musician. Writing about a few parts of a story with vivid detail will result in stronger narrative than a more general, big picture account. 

Lastly, the essay is cohesive and moving because of its motif, or recurring theme, of Mr. Laghari’s slip of paper. This one detail ties the whole essay together from start to finish. The motif makes the essay flow well and stay on topic, which are among the greatest challenges for any college essay writer. Of course, the motif makes for an awe-inspiring concluding sentence as well!

The writer could strengthen their essay by responding further to the last question of the prompt about how their moment of discomfort informed their actions moving forward. The writer certainly touches on this, but only talks about working harder as a musician and high school student. Adding a few more sentences to the second-to-last paragraph about their plans for the far future would answer the prompt more completely. For example, they could expand the final sentence of that paragraph to the following:

And with that mindset, I’ve not only placed first in All-Districts on trombone and euphonium, but have made it all the way to All-State. I’m now inspired to put 100% into my dream of becoming a professional musician in a philharmonic orchestra.

Where to Get Your BU Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your BU 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. In fact,  Alexander Oddo , an essay expert on CollegeVine, provided commentary on the essays in this post. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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