Second-Year Admission

For current UW freshmen

The 2024 application for second-year admission to Interdisciplinary Honors in now open!

The UW Honors Program offers three Honors options to choose from: Interdisciplinary, College, and Departmental Honors.

The Interdisciplinary Honors curriculum explores diverse ways of thinking across disciplines and encourages students to see the relationships between their academic pursuits and the rest of their personal and professional lives. In addition to featuring small and engaging interdisciplinary Honors courses, we emphasize the importance of experiential learning, reflection, and a broad understanding of the interconnectedness of knowledge.

Current UW students may apply for admission to Interdisciplinary Honors during their first year, and begin Honors coursework in autumn of their second-year at the University of Washington.

Who should apply for second-year admission?

Those interested in second-year admission to Interdisciplinary Honors must be:

  • UW freshmen (first year) students;
  • Have at least a 3.3 UW cumulative UW GPA or greater;
  • Have not earned an Associates degree or have satisfied the UW’s Areas of Knowledge/Areas of Inquiry general education requirements.
    • Because Interdisciplinary Honors requires students to complete 47 credits of general education coursework, those with an Associate’s degree or completed Areas of Knowledge/Areas of Inquiry general education requirements are not eligible to apply.
    • You may instead be eligible to apply for Departmental Honors in your chosen major. Contact your departmental adviser for admission information and requirements.

Strong applicants for second-year admission demonstrate:

  • knowledge of and interest in the Interdisciplinary Honors curriculum requirements;
  • a history of academic achievement and serving the community;
  • eagerness to learn outside their major;
  • desire to understand the challenges of social justice;
  • interest in leadership roles in confronting global change;
  • familiarity with and/or curious about the complexities of diversity; and
  • desire for a life of continuous learning and personal growth.

We admit those whose essays, educational efforts, aspirations, and attitudes suggest they would gain from and contribute to the Program.

Learn more about who Honors students are

2024 Application Cycle

APPLY HERE

  • Application deadline: Thursday, 4/4/24  9:00 a.m.
  • Decisions will be emailed to applicants at the beginning of May 2024.
  • Second-Year orientation will be the week of May 6, 2024.

Application Tips

  • The application is available via an online form. We only accept applications submitted via this form.
  • Review the entire application, including all prompts, well in advance of the application deadline. You may save a draft and return to submit it later.
  • Compose your responses in advance another format (like a Google Document or Word document), then copy and paste them into this application, and save a copy for your records.
  • Your responses will be evaluated on content as well as form (spelling, grammar, and punctuation) and we recommend you proof read your responses.
  • If you save a draft of your application, remember to to submit the final application before the deadline.

Information Sessions

Second-Year Admission applicants (currently first year students at UW) are encouraged to attend a second-year admissions information session to learn about the Honors requirements, options, and application process. These sessions are for current UW students.

  • Monday, 1/22/2024, 12:30pm – in person, Mary Gates Hall 211B (the Honors seminar room)
  • Tuesday, 2/13/2024, 4:30pm – in person, Mary Gates Hall 206
  • Tuesday, 3/5/2024, 2:00pm – virtual, click here to register
  • Friday, 3/29/2024, 12:30pm – virtual, register here

Dawg Daze Second-Year Admissions Info Session – Tuesday, Sep 26, 12:00 pm–1:00 pm, Mary Gates Hall 206

    • For incoming first year students.
    • Registration is not required.

Scholarships

The Honors Program will offer a limited number of partial tuition awards to 2024 applicants for Second-Year admission. All applicants will be considered for these awards; no additional materials need to be provided, and none will be reviewed. These awards will be applied to the 2024-2025 academic year.