Admission to the Honors Program
entering students • late entry
Admission for Entering Students
Each year, the RIT Honors Program admits approximately 100 new students from the university's 2,300 entering freshmen. These outstanding students represent the top 5% of RIT's accepted applicants in each participating college, or just over 1% of all students applying for freshman admission to RIT.
Prospective students begin the admission process by submitting RIT's Application for Undergraduate Admission, along with their secondary school transcripts and SAT or ACT scores. These application materials must be submitted no later than February 1. (This is also the application deadline for RIT's Presidential Scholarship Program). Applications received by February 1 are reviewed by the Undergraduate Admissions Office to select a limited number of candidates who are then invited to apply for admission to the Honors Program.
The process for Honors Program admission requires that each candidate submit an additional Honors Program Application and Honors Program Recommendation. The Undergraduate Admissions Office mails these application forms to Honors Program candidates along with their invitation to apply to the Program. The priority deadline for applying to the Honors Program is March 21. Candidates who submit Honors Program applications or recommendations postmarked after March 21 are considered on a space-available basis only. All students selected for admission to the Honors Program are notified by April 15.
In selecting students for the RIT Honors Program the Admissions Committee looks for a combination of characteristics that will support the student in meeting the demands associated with being a member of the Honors Program. These include evidence of ability and motivation to take full advantage of the professional, academic and experiential opportunities that the program provides. For entering students, this potential is demonstrated largely by high-school grades, test scores, class standing, recommendations and a record of extracurricular activities and personal interests.
Prospective students begin the admission process by submitting RIT's Application for Undergraduate Admission, along with their secondary school transcripts and SAT or ACT scores. These application materials must be submitted no later than February 1. (This is also the application deadline for RIT's Presidential Scholarship Program). Applications received by February 1 are reviewed by the Undergraduate Admissions Office to select a limited number of candidates who are then invited to apply for admission to the Honors Program.
The process for Honors Program admission requires that each candidate submit an additional Honors Program Application and Honors Program Recommendation. The Undergraduate Admissions Office mails these application forms to Honors Program candidates along with their invitation to apply to the Program. The priority deadline for applying to the Honors Program is March 21. Candidates who submit Honors Program applications or recommendations postmarked after March 21 are considered on a space-available basis only. All students selected for admission to the Honors Program are notified by April 15.
In selecting students for the RIT Honors Program the Admissions Committee looks for a combination of characteristics that will support the student in meeting the demands associated with being a member of the Honors Program. These include evidence of ability and motivation to take full advantage of the professional, academic and experiential opportunities that the program provides. For entering students, this potential is demonstrated largely by high-school grades, test scores, class standing, recommendations and a record of extracurricular activities and personal interests.
Admission after your first year at RIT
Students currently at RIT, including international students, are able to apply for admission to the Honors Program. The key eligibility requirements are:
There are expectations of honors students and a careful application process will take these into consideration. As an honors student you will be expected to:
We will also strongly encourage you to participate in the honors orientation (three days preceding the regular RIT orientation).
If you have questions or concerns about the Late Entry Application Process, please make an appointment to see the honors advocate in your college or the Honors Program Director.
- GPA of 3.6 or higher (on track to graduate with a 3.85 for CIAS students)
- Must have at least two years of academic coursework remaining at RIT for your undergraduate degree, beginning with next fall (entry is effective at the beginning of the fall quarter)
- Evidence of extracurricular activity at RIT
There are expectations of honors students and a careful application process will take these into consideration. As an honors student you will be expected to:
- Take honors courses
- Be an active participant in extracurricular (service/leadership) activities
We will also strongly encourage you to participate in the honors orientation (three days preceding the regular RIT orientation).
If you have questions or concerns about the Late Entry Application Process, please make an appointment to see the honors advocate in your college or the Honors Program Director.