Applying to the Honors Foundations Program
To be considered for Fall 2023 admission, you must:
- Apply to WVU by March 22, 2023
- Apply to the Honors College by April 19, 2023
- If you do not meet the minimum GPA or test score requirements listed below, you must request an application by April 12, 2023.
Instructions for how to apply to the Honors College as a prospective first-time freshman, current first-semester freshman or freshman transfer student can be found below.
Students interested in the upper-division Honors EXCEL program for university juniors can find instructions on how to apply on the Honors EXCEL program academic page.
First-Time Freshmen
If you're a first-time freshman applying to West Virginia University, your application to the Honors College starts with completing your application to WVU. The Honors College reviews all WVU applications for eligibility on a rolling basis, after students have been formally admitted to the University.
The Honors College will send eligible students an invitation to join the Honors College via email or physical mail. This invitation letter contains instructions on how students can apply.
Fall 2023 Admission Benchmarks
Test-Based Admission
For first-time freshmen, students who met the following criteria were invited to apply through the test-based admission process:
- 3.7 High School GPA (weighted or unweighted) AND
- 26 ACT or 1230 Redesigned SAT (M/EBRW)
Now that Honors Admissions has opened for Fall 2023, invitation letters for this process will be mailed to qualified WVU admits approximately 1-3 weeks after receiving their admissions decision from WVU.
Students invited through standard admissions will submit an application that consists of one short admissions essay. Applications submitted through standard admissions will be evaluated on a rolling basis. Most students will hear back within 5-10 business days.
Test-Blind Admission
-
3.7+ on a 4.0 scale OR
-
4.0+ on a 5.0 scale.
Students who are invited through this process will receive an email invitation to complete an extended application. In your extended application, you will tell us more about you, your interests and why you want to join the Honors College. Extended applications will be considered for admission on a rolling basis by the Honors Admissions Committee. Students should hear an admissions decision from the committee within around one month of their application submission.
Requesting an Honors College Application
Students who do not meet the minimum GPA or test score requirements to receive
an Honors invitation through the standard or test-blind admissions processes may
still apply for admission to the Honors College by requesting an extended application from the Honors College by email
at Honors@mail.wvu.edu with the subject line “Requesting an Application from
the Honors College.” Students who request an application through this process will have their applications
and files fully reviewed and considered holistically by the Honors Admissions Committee.
Admitted Students
Learn more about information for admitted students on what to expect.
Impacts of Updates to Your WVU Application
Invitations to apply to the Honors College are sent to students based on their applications
to West Virginia University.
All additional GPA and test score submissions to WVU Admissions will trigger the review of your WVU application for Honors College
eligibility by the Honors College.
If a student initially applies test optional to WVU and later chooses to submit
test scores that make that student eligible for standard admission, the student
will then receive an invitation to the standard admissions process.
Current WVU Freshmen
Any WVU student in the first year of a four-year degree path who has earned less than 20 credit hours and has maintained a 3.7 cumulative GPA without an I or W on their transcript may submit an application to join the Honors Foundations Program immediately following their first semester at WVU through our second semester admission process. Students with an I or W on their transcript must request an appointment with Associate Dean Damien Clement.
Freshmen with a 3.7 cumulative GPA who have already earned 20-34 credits after their first semester at WVU who are interested in joining the Honors College must request an appointment with Associate Dean Damien Clement.
How to Apply
Students who think they may qualify should apply near the end of their first full semester at WVU, or over the Winter Recess. Applications for second semester admission are currently closed.
Students must include a copy of their transcript (an unofficial copy is acceptable — go to your unofficial transcript page in STAR and print the page as a PDF to save the transcript).
Applications will be reviewed before the first official day of classes for the new semester so that students may adjust their schedules pending admission.
Students From Other WVU Campuses
Honors students from other WVU campuses can apply to join us at the Honors College through the Change of Campus form. Honors students at WVU Potomac State who are in good standing in the AA/AAS Honors Program or the BAS Honors Program are both eligible to apply.Freshmen Transfer Students
Any student class of 2021 and later who is transferring to WVU and has earned fewer than 20 credit hours as a full-time student and has maintained a 3.7 cumulative GPA without an I or W on their transcript may submit an application for membership to the Honors College.
Freshmen transfer students with 20-34 credit hours and a 3.7 cumulative GPA who are interested in joining the Honors College must request an appointment with Associate Dean Damien Clement.
Apply for freshmen transfer student admission here.
Other Transfer Students