Transfer Students
The Fall 2025 transfer student application will open in February 2025.
Eligibility Requirements
Incoming transfer students who have at least three semesters remaining until graduation, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater, are encouraged to submit an application for admission to the Honors Program. Nontraditional students have been successful in our program and are encouraged to write about their life experience and aspirations in their application. Admission to the Honors Program is competitive and space is limited.
Application Process and Timeline
The application consists of two parts: Prospective students report their academic credentials and compose written responses to the provided prompts. Each student’s application is carefully reviewed, with academic credentials and the quality of written responses having equal importance.
Honors Mindset Seminar
All students admitted to the Honors Program will enroll in HON 102A17: Honors Mindset Seminar, a 1 credit-hour class, in the fall. Seminars are limited to 30 students and are interactive and discussion based. Specific sections of seminar are designated for current Illinois State students and new transfer students.
Topics include:
- Six Dimensions of Honors Learning
- Theories and strategies of learning
- Honors Program requirements and opportunities
Some assignments include:
- Written reflection on learning practices
- Interview with a professional
- Personal strategic plan for future goals
Successful completion of this seminar, in addition to meeting Honors Program GPA requirements, is required to continue in the Honors Program.
Scholarship Opportunity
Students who have already been admitted to Illinois State University and have a transfer GPA of 3.5 or greater are eligible to apply for the Transfer Scholarship offered through the Office of Admissions.
All questions related to Honors Program admission should be directed to HonorsProgram@IllinoisState.edu.