Frequently Asked Questions

Incoming freshmen and transfer students should apply to the Honors College at the same time you apply to the College of Charleston. You'll be asked if you would like to be considered for admission to the Honors College, and if you select "yes," you will submit a supplemental essay. Learn more about the application process that is right for you: incoming freshman, transfer student, or current CofC student.

If you have already applied to the College of Charleston and did not indicate an interest in the Honors College, please email us at honors@cofc.edu to discover your next steps. 

Freshman Applicants:

For priority consideration, you should apply and submit all supporting documents by November 1 to recieve notification by December 15. While the Honors College will consider applications completed after November 1, admission to Honors is extremely competitive, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply as early as possible. 

To be considered for the Honors College for the upcoming Fall, we must recieve your application by January 15. Those who submit their application by January 15 are typically notified of their decision by March 1. 

The Honors College shares all application deadlines with general admissions. Information about all application deadlines are located on the College of Charleston Admissions website. 

Transfer Applicants:

Apply by December 1 for spring semester admission or by June 1 for fall semester admission. 

Current CofC Students:

Apply by May 15 for fall semester admission. 

Each application undergoes a holistic review by various members of the Honors Committee. The committee's priority is to determine whether a student is academically prepared to be successful in the Honors College. The next step is to decide if the student is the right fit for the Honors College. 

Because the vast majority of our applicants present with above-average GPAs in the most demanding curriculum available at their school, we recommend focusing on developing an exceptional essay and professionally display your interests, involvement, and accomplishments within your activities list to best set yourself apart from other candidates in consideration.  

Yes, we offer a limited number of selective scholarships to incoming freshmen. If you submit your application and all of your supplemental documents by the Honors priority deadline, you are automatically considered for these opportunities. 

With few exceptions, all Honors College students receive some form of institutional merit scholarship. For additional information on the general scholarship and financial aid process, please visit the Office of Financial Aid. 

Definitely not! Only about 25% of your coursework will be through the Honors College. And rather than the “same class, more work” model that most AP, IB, and Honors curricula follow in high school, our Honors courses are distinctly different. They are notably more experiential, discussion-based, and writing- and reading-intensive. In fact, here’s what some of our students say about their experience in Honors courses: 

“[There is an] Intense focus on interdisciplinary education and hands-on involvement through research and internships.” –Dylan M. 

“The academics, especially Beyond George Street, have been very helpful in establishing a foundation for my future goals and post-graduation plans. Through BGS I learned how to become a successful and assertive student in planning, communicating with professors, and establishing a network for myself. This has provided me with the confidence to go out and establish myself within my major department and take advantage of all of the opportunities provided to me” –Elizabeth K. 

“My classes are small enough for me to really engage with my professors, who all know me by name.” –Joseph Q. 

Yes. To learn more about the Honors Living-Learning Community, please visit the Student Life portion of the website. 

Students receiving a scholarship through the Honors College are required to live in Honors housing for their first year and are therefore given first priority for placements. Following that, placement in Honors housing is completed based on when you submit your enrollment and housing deposits.  

Our students matriculate to some of the finest institutions in the country for their post-graduate study. Recent acceptances include Yale Law School, Harvard Medical School, Emory University Medical and Graduate Schools, New York University Law School, George Washington University, Columbia University, American University, Wake Forest School of Medicine and Duke University School of Medicine. 

Additionally, numerous graduates (and current students!) have received national recognition through awards like the Fulbright, Goldwater, Hollings, or Rotary. One of the largest benefits of participating in the Honors College is the close relationship with the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards.  For more information on the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards, and to learn more about CofC students who have earned such prestigious distinction, please visit their website. 

The distinction of an “Honors College” graduate on a resume or CV is only ever a benefit. This can demonstrate to prospective employers or graduate schools that you have gone above and beyond expectation and that you choose to challenge yourself in new ways. 

Aside from just the distinction in name, the Honors College instills a sense of enthusiasm for the pursuit of knowledge. Your education is “learning how to learn” rather than a set of particular skills or a trade, and therefore you can adapt easily in any industry.