Current Student Eligibility
The Schreyer Honors College welcomes applications from students in any major currently enrolled in their first or second year at Penn State. Applicants must:
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Apply during the spring of their first or second year at Penn State
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Have at least three semesters remaining as of the fall semester after you apply
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Have a cumulative GPA of 3.70 or higher
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Have an application semester GPA of 3.50 or higher
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Intend to complete their junior and senior year at University Park, Abington, Altoona, Berks, Brandywine, Erie, or Harrisburg
These are minimum criteria. Additional criteria may be set by your college or department and will be noted on the online application once you indicate your intended graduation information. If you are considering applying to Schreyer Honors College, contact the honors adviser for your intended area of honors.
Special Considerations
Paterno Fellows
The Paterno Fellows Program is an enrichment program offered jointly by the College of the Liberal Arts and Schreyer Honors College. Paterno Fellow aspirants will enter the Schreyer Honors College automatically provided they complete the appropriate requirements by the end of their second year at Penn State. No application is needed. Entrance to the Paterno Fellows Program is handled through a separate application process.
Integrative Science & Premedicine at University Park
Students in Integrative Science (SCBS_BS) or Premedicine (PMBS_BS) at University Park are eligible to apply to the Schreyer Honors College but cannot select these majors as their Area of Honors — the area in which they plan to complete their honors thesis.
If you are in one of these majors, you should choose an Area of Honors that best aligns with your research interests or intended thesis topic. For example, if your thesis will involve biological research, you should select Biology as your Area of Honors.
Because your Area of Honors will be different from your major(s), you must:
- Contact the primary honors adviser in that Area of Honors to discuss requirements
- Identify a faculty researcher who is willing to serve as your thesis supervisor in that chosen area
Application Timeline
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April 1
Application for current Penn State students opens
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May 15
Current Penn State student application deadline
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June/July
Current Penn State student admissions decisions released
Current Penn State Student Application Components
Involvements & Accomplishments
Provide, via Microsoft OneDrive, a list and brief description of your most important involvements and accomplishments since you started college. You can include earlier information, but it won’t weigh as heavily in our evaluation. If you have a resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) prepared, you can use that.
Essay Questions
The application requires three short essay responses: one about a potential honors thesis and two about aspects of the Schreyer Honors College mission. The specificity of the thesis question varies according to your intended area of honors — guidance is provided in the application. Some colleges or majors have a fourth question.
Recommendations
We require one academic recommendation letter from a Penn State faculty member or adviser familiar with your potential honors work in the major. Some majors require the potential thesis supervisor to write a recommendation; you will see instructions in the application if this is required.
Transcript
While not submitted as part of the application, we will pull your college transcript during the review of your application. Your transcript will include your current GPA, your past, current, and future semester course enrollment, and grades where applicable.
How We Evaluate Applicants
Honors advisers in your intended major will evaluate your application and make the admissions decision. Schreyer Honors College will communicate the decision to you in June or July.
Evaluators are considering your academic achievement since beginning college, your desire and ability to conduct research or creative projects leading to the completion of the undergraduate thesis, and your demonstrated enthusiasm for the Schreyer Honors College mission.
We are looking for students who will thrive in Schreyer. Typically, these are students who not only excel in and out of the classroom, but can demonstrate well-rounded experience, a strong interest in academic research, creativity, leadership, a sense of curiosity, and a desire to be challenged.