Admissions
Students may enroll in the Honors College in one of three ways: (1) directly from high school, (2) after completing one or more semesters at Boise State, (3) or when transferring to Boise State from another college or university.
Admissions Requirements
1. Admission Directly From High School
Incoming freshmen are admitted to the Honors College on the basis of a 3.5 un-weighted high-school GPA, strong performance on ACT or SAT examinations, an application essay, and a clear record of extra-curricular experiences, activities, and achievements.
2. Admission After Completing One or More Semesters at Boise State
Continuing degree-seeking Boise State students are admitted into Honors College if they have completed a minimum of 15 credits with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5.
3. Transfer Student Admission
Transfer students are admitted into the Honors College if they have completed a minimum of 15 college credits at another college or university with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Admissions Procedures
Step 1: Apply to Boise State
for High School and Transfer applicants only (current Boise State students proceed to Step 2)
All applicants must complete the application process for Boise State University prior to submitting an application to the Honors College.
Step 2: Resume
for all applicants (High School, Transfer, and Continuing Boise State students)
Please produce a resume of your co-curricular activities for the Honors College. Be sure to include length of your involvement, explanations of duties or leadership roles if applicable, etc.
Include the following heading on the resume (choose the one appropriate to your status) along with the four sections outlined in the bullet points below:
HIGH SCHOOL APPLICANTS:
Student Name: ____________________________________________
Student ID#: _____________________
ACT (composite): ___________
SAT (combined Verbal and Math): ___________
Cum GPA: ___________
Semester you plan to enter the Honors College: ________________
OR
TRANSFER APPLICANTS AND CONTINUING BOISE STATE APPLICANTS:
Student Name: ____________________________________________
Student ID#: _____________________
Total College Credits: ___________
Cum GPA: ___________
Semester you plan to enter the Honors College: ________________
- Extracurricular Activities and Leadership Positions (e.g.,Debate Club, Student Council Officer, Athletics, etc.)
- Community or Volunteer Service (e.g., Special Olympics volunteer, Candy Striper, Habitat for Humanity, etc.)
- Awards and Special Honors (e.g., National Honor Society, Boy’s or Girl’s State Representatives, etc.)
- Employment or Internships (e.g., store clerk, summer camp counselor, daycare assistant, etc.)
For an example resume, please click here.
Step 3: Essay
for all applicants (High School, Transfer, and Continuing Boise State students)
Please also write a 500 word essay in response to one of the questions below. As you write, remember that faculty members seek essays that illustrate your critical thinking skills, which are a key component to acceptance into the Honors College. Do not treat this as a biographical sketch or a simple summary of the book or course; instead, focus on analyzing how and why the course or the book achieved their effect.
Select one of the following two topics:
- Choose a book you recently read (fiction or nonfiction) that addresses a people or culture other than your own. Explain and analyze how this work transformed your understanding of that people or culture.
- Choose a course you recently completed that successfully challenged your thinking on a particular topic or concept. Analyze why the course was so effective and explain how it changed your views.
BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND YOUR BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY ID NUMBER (IF YOU HAVE IT) ON EACH PAGE.
Step 4: Send resume and essay
Email, Fax, Mail or Deliver your essay and co-curricular resume to:
Email:
HonorsCollege@boisestate.edu
Fax:
(208) 426-1247
Mailing Address:
The Honors College
Boise State University
1910 University Drive
Boise, ID 83725-1125
Deliver:
The Honors College
Driscoll Hall
1607 West Cesar Chavez Lane
Boise, ID 83706
Deadlines for Honors College Admission and Honors Scholarships
All applicants who are admitted into the Honors College are automatically considered for Honors Scholarships. These scholarships are merit based and will be awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional academic ability, civic engagement, and extracurricular activity. There is no separate scholarship application.
- November 15th:
Deadline for admission to Spring semester. - February 15th:
Deadline for admission to Fall semester.
Deadline for scholarship consideration.
*Early admission applicants will be automatically included for consideration of all scholarships, but scholarship decisions will not be made until after the February 15th deadline.
If you miss the February 15 deadline, but submit your application prior to June 15th, the Honors College will review your application, but priority will be given to applications received prior to the deadline. Applications received after February 15th will not be eligible for scholarship consideration for that academic year. Notification of admissions and scholarships will be made by March 31.
Scholarships administered by Boise State or other organizations will have other application processes and may have other deadlines.