All students must first earn admission to Kennesaw State University for KSU Journey Honors College consideration. KSU Journey Honors College admissions decisions are released separately from Kennesaw State University admissions decisions. After earning admission to Kennesaw State University, honors applicants can expect to recieve their honors admissions decision in 6 - 8 weeks. All honors admissions decisions are communicated via KSU student email. 

To ensure quality of experience, KSU Journey Honors College is unable to serve strictly online learners at this time.

Please direct honors admissions questions to: honorsadmissions@kennesaw.edu

Which Type of Student Are You?

  • First-year students applying for admission to KSU Journey Honors College must have a KSU-calculated high school GPA of 3.5 or higher.

    Admission to the KSU Journey Honors College is competitive. The essay portion of your application is given particular attention. The honors essay demonstrates your writing, your interests, and overall fit for the KSU Journey Honors College. Selection committee members are looking for

    • originality and creativity.
    • a strong argument.
    • demonstration of curiosity and potential for engagement.
    • evidence of care, effort, and clarity.
    • appropriate essay organization, grammar, and language.

    The use of ChatGPT or any other AI technology is strictly prohibited. 

    How to Apply

    Incoming First-Year Students may apply directly through their application to Kennesaw State University in CommonApp. 

    Apply via CommonApp

    OR

    If you do not indicate interest in Honors via CommonApp, you may apply via the Honors internal application linked below:

    Apply here via Internal Application

     

    *First-year students who do not meet the minimum criteria for admission or who are not accepted based on their initial application may apply to KSU Journey Honors College after their first semester at KSU. See "Current KSU Students" eligibility tab below.

    **The Department of Psychological Science has specific eligibility criteria for honors students. Please review these criteria here.

  • Current KSU Dual Enrollment students who are graduating from high school are eligible to apply based on the following:

    • KSU-calculated high school GPA of 3.5 and fewer than 12 college credit hours.

    or

    • KSU-calculated high school GPA of 3.25 and 12 or more college credit hours.

    Admission to the KSU Journey Honors College is competitive. The essay portion of your application is given particular attention. The honors essay demonstrates your writing, your interests, and overall fit for the KSU Journey Honors College. Selection committee members are looking for

    • originality and creativity.
    • a strong argument.
    • demonstration of curiosity and potential for engagement.
    • evidence of care, effort, and clarity.
      appropriate essay organization, grammar, and language.

    The use of ChatGPT or any other AI technology is strictly prohibited. 

    How to Apply

    The Honors internal application will launch on October 1, 2023. Please refer back to this page in October for more information.

    *The Department of Psychological Science has specific eligibility criteria for Honors Students. Please review these criteria here.

  • High school junior and senior Dual Enrollment Program (DEP) students are eligible to apply to KSU Journey Honors College based on the following:

    • KSU-calculated high school GPA of 3.5 or higher.

    Admission to the KSU Journey Honors College is competitive. The essay portion of your application is given particular attention. The honors essay demonstrates your writing, your interests, and overall fit for the KSU Journey Honors College. Selection committee members are looking for

    • originality and creativity.
    • a strong argument.
    • demonstration of curiosity and potential for engagement.
    • evidence of care, effort, and clarity.
    • appropriate essay organization, grammar, and language.

    The use of ChatGPT or any other AI technology is strictly prohibited. 

    How to Apply

    The Honors internal application will launch on October 1, 2023. Please refer back to this page in October for more information.

    *Please note:

    • All courses taken by DEP students must be approved by a DEP advisor and their high school counselor.
    • If an honors section of an approved course (e.g., ENGL 1101/H01 or HIST 1111/H01) is available, then the student may take the honors section rather than a regular section.
    • Honors sections are smaller and are typically seminar-style. (The "H" in the section number code designates that it's an honors section.)
    • Courses with a HON prefix (e.g., HON 3000: Honors Colloquium) and the HON 1100: Introduction to Honors courses are not covered by Dual Enrollment funding.
    • DEP students may participate in non-course related Honors Discoveries (book clubs, etc.) to meet the Honors Learning Experience requirements. Any associated fees are not covered by Dual Enrollment funding, and the student would need to pay these expenses out of pocket.

    *The Department of Psychological Science has specific eligibility criteria for honors Students. Please review these criteria here.

  • Transfer students are eligible to apply based on the following:

    • between 15 and 60 transfer credit hours.
    • transfer GPA of 3.5 or higher.

    Admission to the KSU Journey Honors College is competitive. The essay portion of your application is given particular attention. The honors essay demonstrates your writing, your interests, and overall fit for the KSU Journey Honors College. Selection committee members are looking for

    • originality and creativity.
    • a strong argument.
    • demonstration of curiosity and potential for engagement.
    • evidence of care, effort, and clarity.
    • appropriate essay organization, grammar, and language.

    The use of ChatGPT or any other AI technology is strictly prohibited. 

    How to Apply

    The Honors internal application will launch on October 1, 2023. Please refer back to this page in October for more information.

    *The Department of Psychological Science has specific eligibility criteria for honors students. Please review the criteria.

  • Current KSU students are eligible to apply based on the following:

    • between 15 and 60 credit hours.
    • KSU Institutional GPA of 3.25 or higher.

    Admission to the KSU Journey Honors College is competitive. The essay portion of your application is given particular attention. The honors essay demonstrates your writing, your interests, and overall fit for the KSU Journey Honors College. Selection committee members are looking for

    • originality and creativity.
    • a strong argument.
    • demonstration of curiosity and potential for engagement.
    • evidence of care, effort, and clarity.
    • appropriate essay organization, grammar, and language.

    The use of ChatGPT or any other AI technology is strictly prohibited. 

    How to Apply

    The Honors internal application will launch on October 1, 2023. Please refer back to this page in October for more information.

    *The Department of Psychological Science has specific eligibility criteria for honors students. Please review these criteria here.

    Honors Reinstatement

    If you have previously been a KSU Journey Honors College student and have either withdrawn or been dismissed, you may apply for reinstatement.

2024 Honors Application Deadlines

 

STUDENT TYPE APPLICATION DEADLINE APPLICATION
First-Year Students            December 15, 2023 Apply here via CommonApp

OR

Apply here via Internal Application 
Dual Enrollment Students December 15, 2023 Apply here via Internal Application
Transfer Students December 15, 2023 Apply here via Internal Application
Current KSU Students December 15, 2023 Apply here via Internal Application

 

STUDENT TYPE APPLICATION DEADLINE APPLICATION
First-Year Students     May 31, 2024 Apply here via CommonApp

OR

Apply here via Internal Application
Dual Enrollment Students May 31, 2024 Apply here via Internal Application
Transfer Students May 31, 2024 Apply here via Internal Application
Current KSU Students May 31, 2024 Apply here via Internal Application

Honors 2024 Essay Prompts

Honors General Essay

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein

Please reflect upon this statement and write about an experience or issue that has piqued your curiosity. What questions has this topic inspired you to explore and answer? What actions have you taken to become more knowledgeable about the topic? What strategies have you used to address answers that you find unsatisfying?

The recommended word count for this essay is 500 words.

Ancient and Modern Classics 

Students applying to Ancient and Modern Classics will complete the following essay in addition to the Honors General Essay: 

In your opinion, why should we read classical literature? Please support your statement with at least one example of a classic work that has had an impact on you.

The recommended word count for this essay is 500 words.

President's Emerging Global Scholars

Students applying to PEGS will complete the following PEGS essays in addition to the Honors General Essay:  

Question 1: Please tell us about an exceptional experience that you have had outside of school. You might describe your experiences in community service, peer groups, athletics, arts, or anything else that captures your time and attention. What have you done that exemplifies your approach to leadership and engagement?

The recommended word count for this essay is 250 words. 

Question 2: Please describe why enhancing your global competency is an important component for your education at Kennesaw State University and your career past KSU. If possible, please include your previous or hopeful future international experiences. Please note that international experience is not required to be considered for the PEGS program.

The recommended word count for this essay is 250 words.

 

WellStar Tom and Betty Philips Elite Honors Nursing Scholars

Students applying to the WellStar Tom and Betty Philips Elite Honors Nursing Scholars cohort will complete the following essay in addition to the Honors General Essay: 

Tell us about a situation in which you demonstrated care and concern for another person even when they were being difficult. What actions did you take and what did you learn from this experience?

The recommended word count for this essay is 500 words.

Accepted to KSU Journey Honors College? 

Next-Steps