Freshman Honors Admissions
If you have been accepted to Stockton and expect to enter as a freshman for the upcoming fall semester, you may choose to apply to the Honors College. Students may be invited to apply to the Honors College based on their record of academic success in high school or their previous college. You also can apply on your own. Either way, spending some time looking at the Honors website will make the process easier for you.
The Admissions Committee is made up of Stockton faculty and staff who have worked closely with the Honors College. We encourage all students to apply who are interested in a rigorous academic schedule, who expect to make a commitment to service projects throughout their academic career, and who are equally ready to spend their weekends studying for exams, going on field trips, or sharing pizza with friends. We suggest that you not apply just because you think the word "Honors" will look good on your transcript. Instead, we recommend that you think seriously about your own academic goals and decide whether the Honors College will help you achieve them.
Please note that the Honors College only accepts students who apply the same year that they are applying to Stockton. You will not be eligible to apply to the Honors College as an enrolled freshman or sophomore.
Admissions Requirements
The Admissions Committee does not set specific GPA or SAT requirements, but we do have questions we keep in mind as we review applications:
- Does the applicant have a record of academic success? Since the Honors College requires students to maintain at least a 3.3 (B+) average at Stockton, we are looking for applicants who put a lot of effort into their grades in high school.
- Does the applicant have a genuine interest in community service and civic engagement? Since Honors students are required to take Experiential Learning courses, we want to make sure that applicants really want to make experiential learning a part of their academic experience. If you've participated in a volunteer project or internship that really excited you, be sure to tell us why.
- Did the applicant take the time to really find out about Stockton Honors, and imagine himself/herself in class, in residence halls, and in clubs and activities, before filling out the application? We know applicants have a lot to do, including filling out a huge stack of forms. But we still want you to take the time to think about what we've asked and answer our questions to the best of your ability. The more you learn about us, the better you'll be at telling us why Stockton Honors is important to you.
Before You Apply to Stockton Honors
In order to apply to the Honors College, you must have submitted your completed application to Stockton University. You can find the main Admissions page here. There is no additional fee to apply to the Honors College.
We also recommend that you attend an Open House and, if you are invited, one of the Instant Decision Days. You also can make an appointment to speak with the Honors Director and meet with current Honors students. Check our Welcome page for more detailed contact information.
The Honors Application
The main purpose of the Honors application is for us to get to know you better. Before filling it out, think about what you're passionate about, what makes you shine, what qualities you have that are truly outstanding. And before submitting it, be sure to proofread it and save a copy of the completed version for your files. You must complete the online application in one sitting. You cannot save it and come back to it later. To avoid mishaps that can occur when completing online forms, we encourage you to view the online application, compose your responses in a separate word processing College, and then save them. You can copy and paste your saved responses into the form fields in the online application.
Freshman Honors Application
Please be sure to save a copy of your application for your files before submitting it!
Reference
We will ask you to provide information for a reference who we may contact to learn more about you. You can choose people such as a teacher, mentor, coach, supervisor at work, or group leader who has had the opportunity to watch you mature over time.
Freshman Application Deadlines
Space in our Honors Freshman class is limited. We strongly urge you to apply as early as possible.
Admissions decisions will be announced at the end of each month, beginning in February for Fall admission and October for Spring admission to the College. Applications will no longer be accepted after our Honors Freshman class is full.
Love Stockton Honors? Please apply EARLY
To have the best chance to get in, we strongly urge you to apply as early in the admissions cycle as possible.
Acceptance Packets
Accepted students will receive an acceptance packet via email and will be asked to return a Commitment Form and a Housing Preference Form. No deposit is required, but we can only reserve a place in the Honors College once we have received the completed Commitment Form and Housing Preference Form.
Love Honors housing? Please apply EARLY
Accepted students are placed in Honors housing on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on when we receive your Commitment and Housing Preference forms. That means it is to your advantage to apply early, and, if accepted, to return your Honors forms promptly to our office, if Honors housing is a priority for you.
Honors Living Learning Community
The Honors Living Learning Community is located in Housing 2. If you are accepted to the Honors College, you will receive more information on how you can select Honors housing.
Scholarships
The Honors College does not offer its own scholarships. Please visit the Admissions Scholarships page for information on Stockton's commitment to financial support for high-achieving students.
First Year Excellence
Towards the end of their first year in the Honors College, students may apply for the First Year Excellence award. To be eligible, they must:
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earn a 3.5 GPA at the end of their first semester
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have taken, or be registered for, two of the required Honors classes
- attend the Honors Awards Ceremony
