Apply: Honors College Incoming Freshmen

We are delighted that you are interested in the Honors College at Georgia Southern University. When you join the Honors College at Georgia Southern, you are joining a community of scholars. You will find great opportunities for creative and interactive learning, personal development, and incredible achievements.

Applying to the Honors College as an Incoming Freshman

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions oversees applications to the University and provides the most comprehensive information on the application process on their website. Incoming Freshman Honors College applications are submitted through the admissions office. 

Honors College applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and students who are admitted will be notified of their admittance starting in mid-October. 

Incoming Freshmen Application Questions

To apply for admission to the Honors College as an incoming freshman, students must complete the general admissions application to Georgia Southern University or through the Common App. 

After you have successfully submitted your general admissions application, you will use the login for your application status check page to complete the Honors College application. The Honors College reviews applications on a rolling basis once a student has been accepted into Georgia Southern and has submitted the Honors College application.

  • In the Honors College application, you will be asked to write a brief essay (prompt below) and share the following information:
    • Extra-curricular involvement 
    • Work experience
    • Identify the number of AP, IB, or dual enrollment courses you have taken
    • The essay prompt is: Please explain your career goals and plans for the future. Please include reasoning for your interest in a particular major as well as why participating in the Honors College at Georgia Southern would assist you in achieving your goals and enhancing your education at Georgia Southern.
  • On the application, you will also have the opportunity to apply for the Honors Global Scholars or Honors Savannah Scholars, two special cohort programs for incoming freshmen, which require additional essays.
What if I did not fill out the Honors College application while I applied to Georgia Southern?
  • We highly encourage students to complete the Honors College application while completing the application for admission, however, it is possible to complete the Honors College application at a later date. You will be able to access the Honors College application through your Application Status Check page on the “Honors College Application” tab. You will only be able to submit that application once.

Incoming freshmen to the Honors College who complete the Honors College application and are admitted to Georgia Southern University by the priority deadline of January 15 will be considered for Honors College scholarships. The Honors College will review applications and a select number of candidates will be invited to interview. Out of that pool of interviewees, the Honors College will select who receives awards.

A select number of applicants who apply by the priority deadline of January 15 will be invited to campus to interview for prestigious Honors College scholarships. Interview days will be held on February 21, 2025 (Armstrong Campus) and February 28, 2025 (Statesboro Campus).

Approximately 20% of Honors College students have scholarships awarded by the College, but many more have scholarships awarded by other entities on campus. 

All tuition based scholarships will be based off of the tuition and fee amount approved by the University System of Georgia.

**Note: All Honors College Scholarships, except the Goel Scholarship, can be added to the HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship to help cover other costs of attending the university. Recipients retain their honors scholarships as long as they remain in good standing with the Honors College.

The Honors College offers the following scholarships to select incoming freshmen:

The Goel Scholarship 

The Goel Scholarship is a full-ride scholarship that covers tuition, fees, books, room and board for up to eight semesters. Recipients must be first generation college students, have demonstrated financial need, and be a resident of Georgia or a border state of Georgia (Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee). Learn more about the Goel Scholarship here.

The 1906 Scholarship

The 1906 Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship for up to eight semesters.

The Honors College Scholarship

The Honors College Scholarship is a half-tuition scholarship for up to eight semesters.

Honors Global Scholars

In addition to participation in the opportunities in the Honors Global Scholars program, students will receive a $2,000 annual scholarship for up to four semesters. Learn more about the Honors Global Scholars here.

Honors Savannah Scholars

In addition to participation in the opportunities in the Honors Savannah Scholars program, students will receive a $2,000 annual scholarship for up to four semesters. Learn more about the Honors Savannah Scholars here.

Students must first be admitted to Georgia Southern University before their Honors College application is reviewed. 

Priority Deadline: January 15, 2025

Students who are admitted to Georgia Southern University and completed the Honors College application before January 15, 2025 will be considered for Honors College scholarships. 

Final Deadline: April 15, 2025

The final deadline to submit the Honors College application to be considered for admission is April 15, 2025. Students must be admitted to Georgia Southern University by April 15, 2025 to be considered for the final Honors College deadline.

Most of our students earn college credit before graduating from high school. Credits earned by advanced placement tests (IB, CLEP, etc.) are not counted toward honors requirements but often serve as prerequisites for honors courses and can allow room in your course of study for higher-level honors courses. Below are a list of references you can check to see what credits will transfer to Georgia Southern:

Transfer Equivalency Chart (dual enrollment and transfer credits)

Credit by Exam or Advanced Programs (AP, IB, Cambridge, CLEP, CAPE, DANTES)

All campus tours are arranged through the Office of Admissions