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Our office will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday from 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25, until 8 a.m. Monday, November 30.

How to Apply

First-year Admissions

High school students interested in the Schreyer Honors College should submit the Penn State Undergraduate Admissions Application, as well as the Honors College supplement included in that application. The Undergraduate Admissions Office will evaluate your credentials for admission to the university, and selected honors faculty will review your Honors College application.

The SHC admissions application includes:

• Three required essay questions
• Letters of recommendation from two teachers and one recommendation for your high school guidance counselor

Selection Criteria

Candidates offered admission to the Schreyer Honors College should demonstrate:

• academic excellence,
• strong leadership skills,
• motivation and self-discipline, and
• a commitment to citizenship and civic responsibility.

Schreyer Scholars represent the top 5% of students at Penn State, and therefore should also be at the top of their respective high school class. The Schreyer Honors College does not set a minimum standardized test score or grade point average for its applicants. Candidates will be assessed based on the academic and extracurricular documents submitted with the application, as well as responses to essay questions and letters of recommendation.

Admissions Timeline

The priority application date for the SHC for Fall 2010 first-year admission is November 30, 2009, but applications may be submitted through March 1, 2010. Applications submitted by November 30 will receive notifications in late February, while later applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Gateway Admissions for Current Penn State Students

Another avenue for admission is the SHC Gateway application process. The Gateway is a way for exceptional students currently enrolled at Penn State to enter the Schreyer Honors College. Most Gateway applicants will be fourth semester students applying for entry as juniors. We will also accept applications from exceptionally well-qualified first- and second-year students interested in being considered. There may be additional requirements for entry in certain colleges, so please read the instructions carefully when you determine your eligibility for submitting an application. For more information, go to The Gateway Admissions Process page. Beginning in March 2009, you will find a web application form at the bottom of that page.