Enrolling Students FAQs

Honors at Rutgers is unique in that it serves as both an intellectual and social living-learning community for students notable for our mission-based courses, unparalleled co-curricular opportunities, and extensive community engagements. Our classes are richer, deeper, and taught in innovative ways. We are focused on providing all of our students with multiple high-impact opportunities. These unique approaches allow for a more complete and exceptional experience at the University.

To graduate as an Honors College scholar, all students must complete a minimum of 21 honors-related credits. The distribution of those credits depends on academic school (see below). In addition, they must complete at least 30 hours of Honors College approved service projects by the end of the junior year. All students are required to live in the Honors College residence their first year.

You need to officially enroll in the academic school to which you were invited in your enrollment portal in order to accept your Honors College invitation; at that point you will be formally enrolled in the Honors College.

Once you enroll, you are encouraged to complete the housing application as soon as it is available and open. It is important to note that you are REQUIRED to live in the HC during your first year.

You must complete the housing application in your enrollment portal and must do so by June 1. You will automatically be placed in the Honors College residence hall. The Honors College requires all first-year students to live in our residence hall at 5 Seminary Place on the College Ave. campus. No exceptions will be made.

The Honors College requires all of its first-year students to live in the Honors College living-learning community as part of its mission of creating an interdisciplinary experience for high-achieving students across academic fields. You must live on campus.

Like other residence halls at New Brunswick (with the exception of the Douglass campus), the residence hall is co-ed. In arrangement with the Douglass Residential College, part of one floor of the Honors College residence is designated as all-women. All floors have gender-neutral shared restrooms.

If you are looking for an Honors College roommate, we recommend you join the official Honors College Class Entering in Fall 2024 Facebook group. You may also meet students at our New Student Orientation priority sessions or an upcoming program. You can continue updating your Housing Application until June 30 with your roommate preferences.

The Honors College offers a four-year learning and academic enrichment experience that brings an interdisciplinary approach to your learning, facilitates advanced studies and the pursuit of excellence. Please see our Honors Curriculum page for more detailed information on our courses, the order in which they must be taken, and how you construct your honors academic experience.

Yes, there are courses that are designated and reserved for Honors College students (Forum and Cross-Cultural Competency). We also have unique interdisciplinary seminars that are shared across the College and our partner Honors Programs, all limited to just eighteen students. There are also honors sections of over 100 departmental courses. For those looking for a truly unique experience, we also offer +Honors courses (our contract courses) where you create the dimensions of the honors experience. Finally, all Honors College students will undertake a major Capstone Project over their final two semesters.

Yes, Honors College students can (and many do) double major or pursue a major and a minor(s) or additional certificates. Honors College requirements do not prohibit students from double majoring. In fact, being an Honors College student helps facilitate your pursuit of multiple and interdisciplinary approaches to your learning and outcomes, including multiple majors and minors.

Rutgers University only allows priority registration for student-athletes and members of the military. The Honors College does not offer priority registration. Given that many of our classes are for Honors College or honors students priority registration is not needed and there is rarely a problem with enrolling in our required courses. Our Honors College advisors work closely with all of our students to help them create a schedule that best meets their needs.

Honors College coursework is integrated into a student’s course of study so as not to conflict with or add additional credits to the student’s school/major requirements. In order to graduate as an Honors College Scholar, Honors College students will complete the Honors College curriculum, including coursework, capstone project, and service requirements. Honors College students must meet the requirements of their departments, majors, and schools.

The Honors College does not grant its own degree, but as an Honors College Scholar you will have the honors notation on your diploma and transcripts, reflecting that your degree was earned "with Honors".

Students who complete all Honors College requirements will have the designation "Honors College Scholar" on their diplomas.

If you do receive an invitation to the Honors College and enroll in your academic school, but decide during your time at RU that your interest lies in a different school, your honors status and scholarship will remain as long as you are in good standing (for students entering in Fall 2023 and after). The Honors College Advising team can help you navigate the school-to-school transfer process should you have questions about it after arriving on campus in the fall.

Please note that aid decisions are delayed with the introduction of the new FAFSA. If you have questions about need-based Financial Aid, you should contact the One Stop Student Services Center directly. They are available by phone, email, and in-person. Their contact portal is available here.

First-year students must complete their required placement tests within 30 days of accepting Rutgers’ offer of admission and prior to signing up for their New Student Orientation and/or Academic Planning & Advising program. Please see the essential information as published on the Placement Testing website. All questions should be sent to testingandplacement@rutgers.edu.

Placement results are visible through the Enrollment Pathway.

Each of our partner schools has a link to review accepted AP credits.

• SEBS: sebs.rutgers.edu/students/incoming/ap-tests.php
• SAS: sasundergrad.rutgers.edu/degree-requirements/credits/pre-college-credits/advanced-placement-ap
• SoE: soe.rutgers.edu/oas/advanced-placement
• RBS: myrbs.business.rutgers.edu/undergraduate-new-brunswick/admitted-students
• MGSA: www.masongross.rutgers.edu/admissions/undergraduate-first-year
• EMSOP: https://pharmacy.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/EMSOP-AP-Credit-General-Information_June-202.pdf

We do not recommend taking summer courses before arriving as a first-year student.

All Honors College students are strongly encouraged to participate in New Student Orientation. You may attend an Honors College priority session or a general session that fits your schedule. If you have difficulty scheduling your session, please contact the Orientation & Transition Team.

We understand that not every student is able to attend a New Student Orientation session. Email the Orientation & Transition Team for next steps. You will receive follow up from your academic school regarding course scheduling.

You will be working on creating your own schedule during your New Student Orientation (with the exception of students enrolled in the Mason Gross School of the Arts and Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy), which will take into account your interests, placement test results, and other factors. For students enrolled in the Mason Gross School of the Arts and Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, your academic school advisors will be working this summer to create your tentative schedule, incorporating all that you've achieved in high school as well as your placement testing results and other important information they need to make your first semester schedule.

All incoming Honors College students can learn about their academic requirements on our website. Students will be able to connect with Honors College academic advisors following New Student Orientation.