he Honors College at Appalachian State supports a collaborative community of about 550 high-achieving students from all majors. If you’re excited by challenging ideas, interdisciplinary learning, and working closely with faculty and peers, we encourage you to apply.
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 at Appalachian 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, the Departmental Honors program may be a better fit—it offers a shorter, major-focused Honors pathway. You can also explore combining both programs if that fits your goals. Compare Honors options here.
Why Join the Honors College?
As an Honors student, you’ll have access to:
Small, discussion-based, interdisciplinary courses that encourage critical thinking and collaboration.
Personalized advising and mentoring from dedicated Honors College faculty and staff.
A vibrant residential community in Cone Hall, where all first-year Honors students live with an Honors roommate and take part in a shared, supportive community. Many continue in Summit Hall in later years.
Study abroad or international education opportunities, often with Honors-specific support.
A mentored Honors thesis, where you’ll explore a topic deeply through research or creative work.
How to Apply to the Honors College as a Transfer Student
App State transfer students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher will receive an email inviting to apply to the Honors College. This invitation will arrive soon after your admission decision and will contain a link to our Honors College application for transfer students. The application asks you to
let us know when you intend to graduate from App State.
tell us about any Honors courses you will be transferring. Transferred Honors courses will count as Honors hours at App!
respond to an Honors essay prompt that invites you to reflect on how you learn and think, and how you envision engaging with the interdisciplinary Honors community over time. In your response, you might highlight your experiences, values, and goals; explain why Honors fits your academic and personal growth; share examples of your achievements and motivation; discuss your involvement with community or leadership; and show how you hope to contribute to and benefit from the collaborative Honors environment.
Please reach out to Dr. Vicky Klima, associate vice provost of the Honors College, if you would like to talk about Honors education at App State, the Honors College, or the application process. We welcome such conversations.
Deadlines
Applications for transfer spring admission are due by December 1. Decisions will be communicated by January 1.
Applications for trasfer fall/summer admission are due by March 1. Decisions will be communicated by April 1.
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
2. Perspective-Taking & Collaboration
We’re looking for students who engage across differences, listen actively, and contribute to a collaborative and inclusive 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
- 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
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.