Apply to Honors
How to Apply to Honors at HCC
Honors at HCC is more than just academics. While scholarly pursuits are highly valued, engagement, leadership and fellowship are also pillars of honors at HCC.
HCC offers two honors programs: Rouse Scholars and Schoenbrodt Scholars. Each program provides students with opportunities to engage in challenging academic experiences, develop leadership skills and connect with a community of scholars.
Graduating high school seniors
- Create an HCC application account. Current JumpStart or Dual Enrollment students who are graduating from high school do not need to complete step 1, but must complete steps 2–4.
- Complete and submit a new admissions application to HCC using your existing HCC account information or the account information you created in Step 1.
- Select “yes” when asked if you plan to apply to the honors program.
- Wait for an email with separate application instructions for the honors program.
Deadlines and process for graduating high school seniors
Applications are accepted and reviewed once a year for graduating high school seniors who plan to join honors at HCC in the fall semester following their graduation. Deadlines are:
January 1 – Priority application deadline
January 15 – Notification of priority application decisions
March 1 – Priority applicants’ intent to enroll deadline
Rolling deadline – Regular application deadline
April 15 – Notification of regular application decisions
June 15 – Intent to enroll deadline
Current HCC students and students who are interested in participating in HCC honors while still enrolled in high school
HCC students, including matriculated and dual-enrolled students, who have completed fewer than 19 college-level credits and have a minimum college-level GPA of 3.2 are invited to participate in the Schoenbrodt Scholars Program.
Because this invitation is time-sensitive and participation may be limited once a student has earned more than 19 college-level credits, students are encouraged to respond when invited. An additional information form is available upon request for students who do not receive an invitation but are interested in being considered for honors. For more information, email Honors@HowardCC.edu.
Deadlines and process for currently enrolled HCC students, including those who wish to participate in the Schoenbrodt Honors Program while still in high school
For students with a 3.2+ cumulative HCC GPA and 6–19 HCC credits:
July 1 – Invitations for following fall semester sent
July 15 – Intent to enroll deadline
January 1 – Invitations for following spring semester sent
January 15 – Intent to enroll deadline
Please note: invitations are sent twice per year. No additional information is required —simply accept the invitation if interested in participating in honors.
Students who have below a 3.2 cumulative HCC GPA may still be considered for honors. Current students (dual enrolled and otherwise) with 6–19 HCC credits, please email Honors@HowardCC.edu to request more information.
Eligibility and required materials
To be considered for honors, students must submit an additional information form and transcript for review. Participation is also based on space availability. See “How to Apply” for more information about the application process.
Special notes
Students do not choose which honors program they will join. Placement in the program that best fits a student’s goals and ability to meet program outcomes and requirements will be determined based on the additional information form and, if needed, a follow-up conversation.
Need more information?
The Honors and Undergraduate Research office offers in-person, virtual and telephone appointments for current and prospective students. All appointments must be arranged in advance by emailing Honors@HowardCC.edu.