The ‘Spirit of Honors’
Honors provides students with the opportunity to intellectually engage in a community of like-minded students, while pursuing greater rigor and depth in their studies. Honors is a place where students can make connections—connections with other students who are similarly motivated by their love of learning; connections with faculty who are invested in undergraduate education and working with talented, motivated students; as well as connections between different disciplines and ideas. It is a community of people who are committed to intellectual exploration and share a passion for learning.
Honors facilitates this community by offering students the opportunity to take a variety of Honors courses, many with small class sizes. It also offers the opportunity to interact with faculty, to receive thoughtful advising, to live in a community of students with similar commitment to their academic journey, and the chance to develop into a producer of knowledge during their college career. If these opportunities sound like something you would like to engage in, then Honors could be a great place for you!
Test Scores & GPA
Test scores and high school gpa do not determine acceptance into Honors. Every Honors applicant has already been accepted into LSA, so we know that you have what it takes to succeed here at Michigan. Our application process is focused on determining if you are a fit for the Honors Program’s mission and goals. We evaluate that fit by completing a holistic review of your entire application, including the Honors essay, to make our Honors admission decision. Test scores and gpa are two data points among many others.
Ross School of Business & other dual degree students
Once you are admitted to LSA, you may apply to the Honors Program, even if you are interested in the Ross School of Business.
The Honors Program primarily offers opportunities for students with passions in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. If you have expressed interest in another school or college in your U-M application, we will admit you to Honors only if it is clear that you also have significant interest in also pursuing a degree in LSA. If you are admitted to Ross as an incoming first-year student and you accept your admission, you will no longer be eligible to apply to Honors as an incoming first-year. You will be able to apply to Honors later if you decide to pursue a degree in LSA.
It is possible, however, to pursue a joint degree in LSA and another college at Michigan. The dual degree option is more than a double major; it is rigorous and requires that you complete 150 credits for graduation. For students who are applying for a dual degree program with the School of Music, Theater, and Dance or the Stamps School of Art & Design, you can apply to Honors as soon as you are admitted to LSA. For students intending a dual degree with LSA and any of the other colleges (including Ross, Engineering, Information, Education, Public Health, and Kinesiology), you can explore the dual degree option during your first year on campus or later; however, you can only join Honors after you have been admitted to LSA. Please know that the Ford School of Public Policy does not allow for a dual degree option. If you have questions about your dual degree plans and how Honors can be a part of them, please contact us.
Who gets ‘invited’?
Any student who is admitted to U-M LSA may apply to Honors. All students admitted to LSA will receive a letter outlining the Honors Program and welcoming them to apply. It is not necessary to wait for such a letter, nor does it imply preferential admittance.
How many applications does Honors receive?
Our application reviewers read more than 2000 essays to fill an incoming class of approximately 450 students.