Admission & Frequently Asked Questions
The Admissions Process
The University Honors Program at Northeastern University invites a select group of high school seniors to join the Honors Program each fall. Decisions are made based on application materials submitted to the university. There is no separate application process for the Honors Program.
Students are notified of their invitation to join the University Honors Program in their official admission letter, which should be accessed and downloaded through the online application status check when decisions have been released. Students invited to join the program will also receive a certificate to the University Honors Program as a separate attachment that is available through the online application status check.
Please note: Students are considered for the University Honors Program as part of both the Early Action and Regular Decision process. If invited to join, students will be notified in their official admission letter.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact us at the Honors Program office: 617.373.2333.
If you have specific questions about the Honors Admissions process, please email:
honorsadmission@neu.edu
Frequently Asked Question
What are the qualifications that the Honors program is looking for in prospective students?
Northeastern University automatically reviews the top 10% of the incoming freshmen class for admittance into the Honors program. The reviewed materials include high school academic records, such as GPA and SAT/ACT scores, and leadership and community service.
Is there a separate application for the Honors program?
No, decisions are based on the general application the student sends to the university, which is then reviewed by admissions. Students may be considered for the Honors program if they fall within the top 10% of the incoming freshmen class.
How many students are currently in the Honors program?
As of the Spring semester 2012, there are a total of 1,910 honors students.
How do Honors courses differ from regular courses at Northeastern?
Honors courses often feature smaller class sizes and more in-depth discussion of course content. The First Year Inquiry Series cover a wide range of interdisciplinary topics while meeting the requirements of Northeastern’s core curriculum. Honors seminars for upper-class students incorporate graduate course features: a focus on discussion rather than lectures and a single long meeting each week. Additional honors courses are offered at the individual college level.
How many Honors classes are students required to take?
In order to receive Honors Distinction, students must take a total of six honors courses, including Enhancing Honors and an Honors Interdisciplinary seminar, before graduating.
Are Honors students required to do a thesis or research project in order to graduate?
Honors students are encouraged to do a Junior/Senior project, conducted with the support of a faculty member in the student’s major. The Junior/Senior project offers students the opportunity to conduct research or complete a project as an eight credit-hour course. Each college has specific requirements for Honors projects and students should consult with both an Honors advisor and faculty mentor as the first step in the process. A student who completes a project successfully according to college requirements will receive College Honors Distinction upon graduating.
Do Honors students have to maintain a certain GPA to be part of the program?
Students matriculating in September 2012 or thereafter must obtain a 3.5 GPA to maintain good standing and graduate with Honors Distinction. Honors Students matriculated earlier must maintain a 3.4 GPA to remain in good standing and graduate with Honors Distinction. First-year students must achieve a GPA of 3.0 by the end of their spring semester. Those first-year students who have a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 at the end of the spring semester will no longer be eligible to participate in the Honors Program.
Where are Honors students placed for housing during their first year?
First-year Honors students live in guaranteed Honors housing as part of the Honors Living Learning Community. First-year Honors students live in the Honors Living Learning Community in International Village (INV). Upper-class students may choose to live in honors housing in West Village F. Additional upper-class housing is available in West Village C.
What is a Living Learning Community?
A Living Learning Community or LLC is a community in a residence hall where students share a common theme or academic interest. All first-year Honors scholars are housed under the Honors Program LLC “umbrella” and will join a community of entering scholars with a wide range of interests and concerns on each of our floors in International Village. Special programming and opportunities in INV reflect our four Honors Thematics and all Honors students are invited to participate in a variety of those activities.
To find out more information about Living Learning Communities please visit the Center for University Life website.
