George F. Whitworth Honors Program

Joining the
Honors Program

Information for Prospective Students

Welcome, prospective Whitworth students! We’re excited that you’re interested in the George F. Whitworth Honors Program and the rigorous mind-and-heart education here at Whitworth. The honors program provides unique opportunities for both first-year (including running start) and transfer students.

Special note: The Admissions Office heads up decisions about students admitted with Honors. Students admitted with Honors are not required to enroll in the Honors Program upon matriculation, but they are certainly encouraged to do so. Once students matriculate to Whitworth, they must enroll in the Honors Program. They can do so during Summer Registration and by signing up with an Honors Advisor.

Admissions with Honors for First-Year and Transfer Students

First-Year Students (including running start)

First-year students admitted with honors are eligible to:

  • Participate in Whitworth’s Honors Scholarship Weekend
  • Apply for our honors Jan Term off-campus study program for first-year students
  • Register for an exciting living-learning opportunity in the Honors Residence Hall Floor
Students admitted with honors also automatically qualify for the George F. Whitworth Honors Program. Students can register to participate in the program at any point after enrolling at Whitworth. See details below for enrolling in the program.
Note: The honors program is not automatically tied to a scholarship.

Requirements for Admission

First-year students whose application reflects a 3.75 or higher weighted GPA will be considered for admission with honors. We will conduct a holistic review of the information presented in the application, including but not limited to:
  • Rigor of junior and senior year schedules
  • Quality of writing in the admissions application
  • Honors/AP/IB coursework, as well as any courses taken at the college level (in the high school or the collegiate setting)
  • High school format, including those that may not offer honors-level courses
  • Standardized test superscores, including SAT, ACT and CLT. Opting to not submit test scores as part of your application will not negatively affect consideration for honors admission.
  • Honors and achievements awarded by the high school and greater community
  • Class rank
  • Academic club membership, especially those actively participating in Phi Theta Kappa at a community college
  • Leadership in meaningful extracurricular activities
  • Significant life events that make a student’s academic achievement especially impressive
Note: Students who feel that their eligibility for honors admission is not fully captured in the criteria above may submit a personal statement, résumé or additional information.

Transfer Students

Transfer students admitted with honors are eligible to:
  • Register for an exciting living-learning opportunity in the Honors Residence Hall Floor if they plan to live on campus
  • Register for a specially designed transfer seminar in their first semester to help them tap into Honors Program opportunities
  • Have a reduced credit load to complete requirements within the Honors Program
Students admitted with honors also automatically qualify for the George F. Whitworth Honors Program.The requirements for transfer students are modified so that students can still complete their degree in a timely manner.
Note: The honors program is not automatically tied to a scholarship.

Requirements for Admission

Transfer students whose application reflects a 3.5 or higher cumulative college GPA will be admitted with honors.

Enrolling in Honors

Students have a couple options. The most common route involves being admitted with Honors. Once admitted with Honors, students still need to enroll, either during their summer registration meeting or by filling out the proper Registrar forms (Major/Minor Form) once on campus in the fall. If students are not admitted with Honors but demonstrate their ability to perform well in classes, then they can meet with an Honors Advisor and sign up for the Program using the same forms. Students should seek Honors Advisors in their home departments to get the most out of their major and the Honors Program.
Important note: Honors courses and opportunities are open to all students, so whether someone is formally enrolled or not, they can participate in Honors Program opportunities.

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