The Junior-gate Admissions Process

Introduction

Schreyer Scholars are expected to demonstrate excellent academic achievement with integrity, build a global perspective, and seek opportunities for leadership and civic engagement.

Current Penn State undergraduates may seek entry to the Schreyer Honors College (SHC) during their fourth semester at Penn State through a process known as the Junior Gate.

Admissions Timeline

The online Junior Gate application is now available (through April 15) - see link at bottom of this page .

Students and their nominators will be notified before the end of the end of May. New Schreyer Scholars will be sent detailed information about the required Schreyer Honors Orientation (SHO TIME) activities. Early move-in will be necessary for those students at University Park. No additional housing costs will be incurred by the student living on campus. Meals will be provided during SHO TIME days. Scholars from commonwealth campuses will have housing provided at University Park for the days of SHO TIME.

Selection Criteria

The Junior Gate entry process is based upon an evaluation of a student’s performance and research potential. This evaluation is done by the faculty and/or administrators of an academic unit, and is overseen by the SHC administration. The evaluation is typically based on:

academic achievement since beginning college;
desire, ability and motivation to conduct research or creative projects leading to the completion of an undergraduate honors thesis; and
interest in and aptitude for leadership, civic engagement, and international experiences as an undergraduate.

Curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities described in the nomination packet will be considered as evidence in the selection of Junior Gate Schreyer Scholars.

Requirements and Benefits of the SHC

Students entering the SHC at the Junior Gate are admitted as of the fall semester of their junior year. Junior Gate Schreyer Scholars are required to attend Schreyer Honors Orientation prior to the beginning of the fall semester. They are also required to complete 14 credits of honors coursework and an approved honors thesis prior to graduation.

Students entering the SHC through the Junior Gate enjoy most of the benefits of SHC membership, including priority registration, a wide array of honors courses, the ability to honors-option courses, enhanced access to research and scholarly opportunities, and travel and research support funding. However, Junior Gate Scholars do not receive the Academic Excellence Scholarship.

For more information about SHC requirements and opportunities, please refer to the SHC Student Handbook (PDF).

Eligibility for the Junior Gate

The SHC requires Junior Gate nominees to have:

submitted or completed a declaration of major.
a minimum of three full-time semesters of study remaining before graduation.
a three-semester cumulative GPA of 3.70 or higher.
a fourth semester GPA of 3.50 or higher. If an offer of entry is made prior to the availability of the Spring Grades, the offer is contingent on the student earning a fourth semester GPA of 3.50 or higher. The offer will be rescinded if this requirement is not met.

The criteria stated here are minimums set by the SHC. In some cases, additional criteria for Junior Gate entry have also been established by the academic unit (e.g., higher cumulative GPA). When the online application form is posted around March 1, it will include additional criteria.

For more information about SHC requirements and opportunities, please refer to the SHC Student Handbook (PDF).