Requirements for Admission

Requirements for Admission into the University Honors Program

There are three manners in which an incoming ESU student or a current ESU student can be invited to join the program:

1. All incoming freshmen who possess any two of the following qualifications, or who possess all three of the following qualifications, will automatically be sent an invitation to join the Honors Program:
   1. a high school cumulative grade point average (GPA) of, at minimum, 3.5 on a 4.00 scale, or its equivalent
   2. a high school class rank in, at minimum, the top 15% of one’s graduating senior class
   3. An ACT Composite score of 25 or above, or a combined SAT Score of 1220 or above on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section plus the Math section
   Possessing only one of the above qualifications is not sufficient for an automatic invitation to join the program. No incoming freshman will be automatically invited who does not meet at least two of the above qualifications.
2. Any currently enrolled ESU student who displays extraordinary academic talent and who possesses a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 at the University and who has not yet begun his/her third semester of college may be nominated for the program by any current member of the ESU faculty. Upon such nomination, the student will be sent an invitation.
3. Any currently enrolled ESU student who possesses a GPA of at least 3.5 at the university and who has not yet begun his/her third semester of college may apply for admission to the program; upon such an application, the student will be sent an invitation.

Note 1: Under no conditions can an ESU student join the program if he/she has already begun his/her third semester of college. A student transferring to ESU and who has been involved in an honors program or honors college at his/her previous college(s) may petition the Director for entry into the program.

Note 2: A student who achieves only one of the criteria for admission into the program may petition the Director for entry into the program, and this request will be evaluated in a timely manner by the Director; such a request must be received electronically by Director (Marianne Cutler) at least 90 days before the start of the petitioner’s third semester of college.

Note 3: The University Honors Program is an undergraduate program. ESU graduate students cannot be members of the program.

Note 4: The GPA requirements are inflexible. No exceptions can be made.