UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State undergraduate students may now apply for admission to the Schreyer Honors College (SHC) for fall 2016 through the Gateway process. The top-ranked honors college opened its applications March 1 for highly motivated students who have demonstrated academic achievement and an aptitude for leadership, civic engagement and global experiences. Students who wish to engage in research or pursue creative projects, leading to the required completion of an honors thesis, will amplify their scholastic work.
Students entering the SHC through the Gateway process enjoy many benefits of SHC membership, including priority registration, a wide array of honors courses, the ability to earn honors credit through the honors option, enhanced access to research and scholarly opportunities, and travel and research support funding. Gateway Scholars are not eligible for the Academic Excellence Scholarship.
Information about the Schreyer Honors College benefits, requirements, selection criteria, eligibility and the admissions timeline is available here with the link to the Gateway application at the bottom of the page. The deadline for nursing majors is April 18 before 5 p.m. Students in all other majors have until May 12 at 11:59 p.m. to complete the application. Transfer applicants who have received their Penn State admission decision may request consideration based on their previous institution’s complete academic record.
The Gateway application is open to current Penn State students who have completed at least one full-time semester of study, though some majors and colleges require at least three complete semesters. Students must have a minimum of four full-time semesters of study remaining before graduation, a cumulative grade point average of 3.70 or higher at the time of application and an application semester GPA of 3.50 or higher for rising juniors and 3.70 for rising sophomores.The application differs slightly by major with a minimum of two essays required for admission consideration. A complete application must include contact information of a Penn State faculty member or adviser familiar with the applicant’s potential for honors work in his or her major. Students interested in applying may review the application form and prepare answers to the essay questions in advance, but a completed application must be submitted in one session. There is no fee to apply to the Schreyer Honors College through the Gateway process.Applications are reviewed in late spring/early summer and students and their department supporters will be notified as decisions are made. Students admitted in the spring become members of the college for the fall semester and are required to attend GO TIME, a SHC orientation session designed specifically to address their needs.
The Schreyer Honors College promotes academic excellence with integrity, the building of a global perspective, and creation of opportunities for leadership and civic engagement. Schreyer Honors Scholars, including Gateway Scholars admitted after their first or second year of enrollment, total more than 1,900 students at University Park and 20 commonwealth campuses. They represent the top 2 percent of students at Penn State who excel academically and lead on campus.
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