How to Apply

Applying to the Honors College | Class of 2029

You can indicate your interest in honors when prompted on either the Rutgers Application or the Common Application. You can select Yes from the dropdown menu on the Rutgers Application or click the Yes radio button on the Common Application.

Selecting Yes will ensure that you are considered for admission to the Honors College as well as to an appropriate honors program (honors programs exist in the School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers Business School, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, and the School of Engineering).

Both applications will then prompt you to write up to a 500-word reply to the following question:

You indicated interest in honors community consideration and participation. Please share with us your concept of an educational challenge that interests you, and how you anticipate meeting this challenge at Rutgers through your involvement in an honors program. Your response can be up to 500 words.

  • In the question, the term “educational challenge” refers to a concept you might encounter in the classroom, in a service-based setting, during research or artistry, or in your everyday life; an issue you envision confronting. The choice is yours and you have some latitude.
  • But please note, this question is less about what you define as the problem, and more about how you will engage in an honors program to address this challenge. That is the facet on which we hope you will focus.
  • Please do not restate or iterate your accomplishments or what is already on your resume and application. Use this statement to tell us something about you that we don't already know.

Deadline to Apply

To be considered for admission to the Honors College, you must complete your application by the non-binding Early Action November 1 deadline or the Regular Decision December 1 deadline during your senior year of high school. Honors College admission consideration is for first year students only.


TEST OPTIONAL: Beginning with the fall of 2023, Rutgers has been operating on an SAT/ACT test-optional basis. If you do not submit an SAT/ACT test score, you will not be negatively impacted for admissions or Honors College consideration. The Honors College reviews a broad range of criteria when considering an applicant for admission. 


Questions?

Please email us at honorscollege@rutgers.edu.