Admission to the Honors Program
Honors Admission for First-Time Freshman Applicants*
Consistent with its mission, the University Honors Program seeks to admit academically outstanding students who are interested in challenging themselves through a unique and stimulating curriculum that extends beyond traditional academic boundaries.
Admission to the University Honors program is highly selective and generally extended to less than 10 percent of students admitted to Stevenson. The fall 2007 incoming University Honors class had an average unweighted high school GPA os 3.832, an average weighted high school GPA of 4.090, and an average SAT score of 1290 (Critical Reading and Math sections only). All new freshmen admitted to the program receive a Stevenson scholarship that it renewable for a total of four years. The average scholarship for a University Honors freshman is approximately $9,000 per year.
Applying to Honors
First-time freshman applicants must complete the University Honors Program Application by February 1. In addition to basic demographic information, the application asks students to expand on their extracurricular activities, motivation for participating in the Honors Program, and to submit a two-page essay on the topic listed on the application.
The University Honors Program Application is separate from the regular Stevenson application for admission. Applicants must submit the regular application for admission prior to, or along with, the University Honors Program Application. Applicants will not be reviewed for Honors admission until after being accepted to Stevenson by the Admissions Office. Decision letters for regular admission and Honors admission are mailed separately. Honors decision letters will be mailed no later than March 1.
Admission Criteria
When reviewing applications, the Honors Admission Committee considers the applicant's high school academic record, including rigor of curriculum and academic performance, along with results of SAT or ACT testing, and the quality of the responses provided on the Honors application. Anyone is welcome to apply to the University Honors Program. The most successful applicants, however, have the following:
- A strong GPA (generally a 3.7 or above) in the most demanding curriculum offered by their high schools. Admitted honors students have generally taken at least 2 AP courses. If AP is not offered at your high school, you will be expected to have pursued coursework that is among the most challenging offered at your school
- At least a 1200 on the Critical Reading and Math sections of the SAT or a 27 composite on the ACT
- Evidence of motivation to pursue a challenging academic program in college
- Prose that is clear, organized, well-reasoned, and shows the capacity to write effectively at the college level
Please note that the above statistics for GPA and SAT/ACT scores are not minimums, but reflect the credentials presented by the majority of students admitted to Honors. An applicant whose academic record is not as strong as indicated above will have his/her application read with particular attention paid to extracurricular involvements, motivation for participating in Honors, and writing ability.
*Transfer students and current SU students who were not admitted to Honors as freshmen may apply if their current minimum cumulative GPA is at least a 3.3. These students will be required to apply in writing, complete an essay, and interview with the director of the program. Admission will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Contact the Director of the University Honors Program, Dr. Ora Freedman, at
ofreedman@stevenson.edu if you are a transfer or current SU student who would like to be considered for admission to Honors.
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