The Honors College at Appalachian State supports a collaborative community of about 550 highly motivated students from all majors. If you’re in your first year at App State and are excited by challenging ideas, interdisciplinary learning, and working closely with faculty and peers, we encourage you to check out our Honors curriculum and apply to the Honors College as an internal candidate.
Because University Honors (including the 15-credit upper-division path) is a rich, multi-year experience, we strongly recommend planning to spend at least three years as a part of the Honors College to get the full benefit. This timeline gives you space to build relationships, engage deeply across disciplines, and develop your research or creative work.
If your plans don’t align with this timeline, a shorter, major-focused Departmental Honors program may be a better fit. You can also explore combining both programs if that fits your goals. Compare Honors options here.
If you have any questions about your potential place in the Honors College or the application process, please schedule a meeting with Dr. Vicky Klima, associate vice provost for the Honors College, to discuss. She is always delighted to talk about Honors!
How to Apply as a Continuing App State Student
Complete the linked Internal Honors College Application by the deadlines below. This application asks you to :
- state your intended graduation date
- let us know of the activities you've been involved with since joining App State
- Respond to the linked essay prompt to discuss your intellectual curiosity, your experiences so far, and your vision for how the Honors College fits into your remaining time at App State.
Deadlines
Applications for Spring admission are due by December 15 and we will share admissions decisions by December 20.
Applications for Fall admission are due by May 15 and we will share admissions decisions by May 20.
Application Advice
We’re looking for students who are curious, motivated, and ready to grow—and who will thrive in and contribute to the Honors College community. Admission to the Honors College at Appalachian is holistic. We consider your GPA, but we also look closely at your ambitions, intellectual curiosity, leadership, resilience, and your commitment to learning and contributing in meaningful ways.
Here are the four areas we focus on, and how you can help us see your strengths:
1. Intellectual Engagement & Academic Potential
We’re interested in how you approach learning—what sparks your curiosity, how you think through complex ideas, and where you’ve pushed yourself intellectually.
- Share what excites you intellectually—inside or outside the classroom
- Let us know about challenging courses, independent work, or creative projects
- Use your activities list to show academic curiosity and initiative
2. Perspective-Taking & Collaboration
We’re looking for students who engage across differences, listen actively, and contribute to a collaborative learning environment.
- Talk about teamwork, volunteering, or group activities you’ve contributed to and grown from
- Reflect on how you've engaged with and learned from people with different viewpoints and experiences
3. Holistic Development & Initiative
We want to see how you’ve grown—academically, personally, or otherwise—and how you take initiative in shaping your experiences and learning.
- Reflect on experiences that shaped your values, creativity, or self-awareness
- Use your activities list to show us how you’ve taken initiative, whether through leadership, service, or self-directed projects
4. Contribution to the Honors College
We’re interested in what draws you to this community—what you hope to bring to Honors, and what you’re excited to discover, create, and learn here.
- Share your excitement about the Honors community
- Be specific about how you’d like to get involved
Use you activities list and Honors College essay to tell your story. Specific examples help us see the real you—your goals, your values, and your potential. We’re not looking for perfection. We want to see your commitment to discovering, creating, learning, and growing together.
Have questions or want feedback? We’re here to help. Reach out to Associate Vice Provost Vicky Klima (klimavw@appstate.edu) to consult.