Current TU Student Applicants
Already a TU student and want to join the Honors College?
The Honors College accepts applications from current 缅北禁地 University students with 60 or fewer completed or in-progress college credits through December 20 for spring entry, and March 1 for fall entry.
About Admission to the Honors College
Admission to the Honors College is competitive. The approximately 800 active Honors students represent just under four percent of all undergraduate students at 缅北禁地 University. Our application looks holistically at an applicant's experiences and considers quality of engagement over sheer quantity, self-awareness and reflection of involvement, and authenticity.
While most Honors students apply in high school and are admitted for their freshman year or apply as transfer students, current TU students may also apply to the Honors College. To be considered, an applicant must complete the Honors College application for admission. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Enrollment is not available to students who are pursuing second bachelor's degrees at TU. Students must complete Honors seminars at the main 缅北禁地 University campus in 缅北禁地, MD.
Internal transfer applicants with more than 60 completed or in-progress college credits at the time of application will not be considered for the Honors College. Options for TU students with more than 60 credits include departmental honors programs and the campus chapter of the .
Admission Requirements for Current TU Students
Current 缅北禁地 University students may apply to the Honors College as internal transfers if they have been enrolled at 缅北禁地 University for no more than four semesters and will have 60 or fewer completed college credits after the end of the term during which they will apply. Applicants with more than 60 completed or in-progress credits are ineligible except in extraordinary circumstances.
Applicants are evaluated on:
- course selection and the rigor of the student's curriculum at 缅北禁地 University
- academic performance at TU
- strength and clarity of ideas and writing demonstrated in an essay
- engagement and demonstrated leadership in co-curricular and extracurricular involvement
- an optional letter of recommendation from a major subject teacher or college professor
Current TU Student Honors Admissions FAQs
Application Process
How will my Honors College application be reviewed?
A panel of Honors College faculty and staff review each application on the basis of a number of factors:
- essay
- list of activities
- TU GPA*
- letter of recommendation (optional)
*For those who are in their first semester at TU and apply for entry to the Honors College, admissions decisions are made after their first semester grades are available.
Applicants are assessed primarily on the basis of their ability to succeed in the Honors College curriculum. There is no absolute cutoff score for consideration or automatic admission.
I want to apply to the Honors College but I have a low GPA. Should I still apply?
The Honors College strongly encourages potential applicants to apply. The Honors review process is holistic and considers a variety of aspects of the application and the applicant's likelihood for academic success in and community contributions to the Honors College. While high school GPA and class rank strong indicators of future academic success, we recognize they are only one piece of the puzzle.
I filled out the Honors section of my TU application but submitted it after December 20 / March 1. Will I be considered for Honors College admission?
While the Honors College encourages all of its applicants to submit their complete materials by the priority application deadlines set by University Admissions for entry in the both spring and fall terms, applications received after those deadlines have passed will be considered as long as spaces remain available within the Honors College.
I submitted an application and want to check to make sure you received all of my documents. Who should I contact?
Contact the Honors College at honors@towson.edu or 410-704-4677 to confirm receipt of your application materials.
Required Essay
Can I reuse the same essay I submitted for a previous application to the Honors College?
No. If you are reapplying to the Honors College as a current TU student, writing a new essay demonstrates your personal growth and evolution as a student.
How strict is the essay word count requirement?
The range between 500 and 750 words is fairly wide, and provides the appropriate amount of space to form and support a clear position in direct response to the essay prompts provided. Any essay much shorter than 500 words will likely have insufficient support for your argument, and anything much longer than 750 will likely be too unfocused.
Optional Letter of Recommendation
When is my optional letter of recommendation due?
As soon as possible. Letters are to be submitted by the recommender directly to the Honors College as an attachment to an email directed to honors AT_TOWSON. Please ensure that your recommender includes your full name in the letter. This will help ensure the letter is added to your application file.
I have several professors who want to write me letters of recommendation. How can I provide you contact information for multiple recommenders?
We will only consider one letter of recommendation in support of your Honors College application. Additional letters of recommendation will not be read.
Can my boss/coach/family friend write my letter of recommendation?
Character references鈥攖hose from individuals who are not teachers鈥攁re not useful for the Honors review process. We strongly suggest that your letter of recommendation writer be a primary subject teacher, as our recommendation prompt encourages submission of information regarding your presence in the classroom. If you would like someone who鈥檚 not a college professor to write your letter, you please provide a written justification to honors@towson.edu of why that person is equipped to assess your academic abilities.
My recommender/high school only submits recommendations through Naviancece (or a similar service). What do I do?
As long as the letter is submitted by the recommender whose name you indicate on your application, it will be added to your application file and included in your Honors application review.
Honors Admissions Decisions
When will I hear back regarding my application?
The Honors College reviews internal transfer applications for both spring and fall entry in any given application cycle. After the Honors College admissions decisions are finalized, all applicants are notified, regardless of decision. Please be patient as we conduct our holistic review of your materials. Admitted students will be contacted by the Honors Faculty Director to set up advising appointments and make modifications to their schedules to include Honors courses.
What do I need to do in order to accept an offer of admission to the Honors College?
You must communicate with the Faculty Director after receiving your admission letter and before the beginning of the semester that you have been admitted to the Honors College to set your schedule. Failure to communicate with the Faculty Director by the first day of classes for your starting semester leads to an immediate automatic nullification of the offer of admission to the Honors College.
I was not admitted to the Honors College. Can I appeal my decision?
The Honors College does not consider appeals. Every applicant who was not admitted through the admissions process has had their application file considered through an extensive and thorough holistic review, therefore no appeals are accepted.
Can I reapply to join the Honors College as a current TU student?
Yes, provided that you have continued to maintain strong academic progress reflected in your cumulative GPA, thriving involvement with the campus community (including and especially in leadership roles), and will have, at the end of the semester in which you apply, fewer than 60 completed college credits.