Southern Connecticut State University
HONORS COLLEGE:
AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS AND LEADERS
2017 FRESHMEN APPLICATION
Deadline for Application: January 3, 2017
The Honors College, a learning community of scholars and leaders, invites applications from incoming freshmen who are committed to the pursuit of excellence. The students we seek have a history of academic success and an inclination for leadership. We provide a distinctive and exciting learning environment for well-prepared students who seek to excel, who are willing to explore new ways of thinking, and who expect to engage the world as citizen scholars. To enable our students to focus on these goals, all incoming freshmen who apply by the January deadline and who are accepted into the program are awarded a Presidential Merit Scholarship that covers a minimum of 50% of the cost of tuition and university fees, renewable for four years.
Incoming freshmen applicants should have a minimum combined SAT score (Verbal and Math) of 1080, or the ACT equivalent. While we consider SAT scores in our evaluation, these scores represent only a fraction of what we look for in applicants. We use the Honors College application to give us a clearer understanding of your writing skills, your creative and critical thinking skills, your academic achievements, and your leadership potential. The best candidates have excellent academic preparation, a commitment to service, and a strong desire to participate in the opportunities for learning and leading that are available to students in the Honors College.
Applicants must submit the application form below (including item 2, the Honors College essay) to the Honors College no later than January 3, 2017 in order to be considered for the program. You should also complete and submit SCSU’s undergraduate application for admission to the University by December 20, 2016. (The undergraduate application for admission, including the Common Application, can be found at https://www.southernct.edu/admissions/application. ) Students with the highest scores will be invited to participate as finalists at Honors College Essay Day scheduled for Saturday, February 4th, during which we make our final evaluations. At Essay Day, you will engage in discussions with Honors College faculty and students, and you’ll have the chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities offered through this unique and dynamic program.
INSTRUCTIONS: complete the items below and return to the Honors College by January 3, 2017.
To submit this application via e-mail, save your responses as a document and send to:
If you prefer to mail your application, send to:
Honors College
ATTN: Dr. Terese Gemme
Southern Connecticut State University
501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515
You will receive a notification via e-mail when we have received your Honors College application.
If you have any questions, please contact the Honors College Office at 203-392-5499.
1. STUDENT INFORMATION
Name:
Address:
Phone:
E-mail:
2. HONORS COLLEGE ESSAY QUESTION:
Choose ONE of the following two questions and write an essay of approximately 750 words. Indicate at the beginning of your essay which question you have chosen to answer.
Option 1: What can students realistically do to help make the world a better place for all people and to help prevent social injustice? Give specific examples and describe obstacles that need to be overcome. Cite evidence to support your claims.
Option 2: You have the Ring of Gyges for 24 hours. What do you do? Be specific in describing your activities. Include reasons and cite evidence to support your claims.
All essays must be typed and double-spaced. Be sure to indicate any references used in your essay.
3. ACTIVITIES AND HIGH SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT:
NOTE: If you would like us to use the same résumé that you submitted as part of your University application, you do not need to complete this step. If you wish, you may provide an additional résumé or list of achievements highlighting your leadership potential and academic achievements. Include extra-curricular activities (athletics, creative activities, involvement with the arts, etc.), community service, and awards. Also list any academic accomplishments, including Honors and AP classes, National Honors Society memberships, and other educational distinctions.
4. LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION:
We will review the letter of recommendation submitted with your University application. You may submit additional letters of recommendation that highlight qualities specific to the Honors College: academic achievement, leadership ability, potential for growth, and other personal characteristics that make you a good candidate for this program. If you would like us to review additional letters, they should be received by the Honors College no later than February 7, 2017 in order for them to be considered as part of your application to the Honors College. Letters may be sent electronically to or by mail to the Honors College address listed above.
5. Signature of Applicant: Please verify that this information is correct by typing your name below.
(Electronic Signature)