Admissions Process

Students at 2024 Orientation
 

Admissions Process

The Honors Program is a community of students who learn, lead, and serve together, forming positive relationships with their professors and lifelong bonds with their peers. 

First Year-Students

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions reviews the records of admitted students who expressed interest in being considered for the Honors Program on their admission application and provided a short essay response (1-2 paragraphs) for Honors Program consideration. Invitations are sent to a select number of candidates 4-6 weeks after they receive admission to the university. If you have questions, contact honors@rit.edu and admissions@rit.edu.

Honors students at RIT represent approximately the top 5% of RIT’s admitted students and less than 1% of all applicants. We look for these characteristics in student applications:

  • The ability and motivation to take full advantage of the academic, professional, and experiential opportunities that the program provides
  • Excellent high-school grades
  • High-class standing
  • Strong recommendations
  • A record of extracurricular activities and personal interests

Current RIT Students

Each year, a select number of current RIT students are invited to apply to the Honors Program through the Internal Admission process, which is highly competitive. Minimal eligibility requirements are:

  • Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
  • Faculty recommendation.
  • At least two years of academic coursework remaining at RIT to complete the undergraduate degree, beginning with the upcoming fall semester.
  • Evidence of extracurricular, service and leadership activities. 

On the application:

  • Students will describe their extra-curricular, service, and leadership activities.
  • Students will describe how membership in the Honors Program will contribute to their educational, professional, or research goals. 
  • Students will ask a faculty member to submit a letter describing their academic strengths, extracurricular activities (where applicable), and potential to benefit from and contribute to the Honors Program.

Invitations to apply to the Honors Program through this process will open in the spring semester. Invitations will be sent by the Honors program office and decisions will be made by each student's home college.