Application for Fall 2025 First-Time Students Now Available! |
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APPLY HERE |
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High School Students
This application is meant for students who are currently seniors in high school, or who have graduated early but not yet attended any post-high school college in a full-time basis.
Students who have already been admitted to SIUE and have high school GPA of 3.5 or higher should receive information about applying for the University's Meridian Scholarship. This is not the application page for that scholarship.
Application Deadlines
Students are typically admitted for the fall semester. If you plan to enroll for a spring semester, we will work with you on an individual basis.
We do offer an option for an early application submission. Students who apply by February 20 will have a result by the end of March.
Application Standards
QUALIFYING CREDENTIALS Honors takes a holistic approach to your application. Every application is reviewed, even if the information provided falls short of our stated averages. We want to make sure that students interested in honors are both capable of the work expected at the college level, and that they show the interest and potential for our approach to education.
Our most successful candidates will meet at least two of the credentials listed below. Please mark at least two that you feel best support your application. Any of these credentials are qualifying: one is not more beneficial than the others. If you feel it necessary, you can provide further explanation in the next section.
Academic Credentials
- GPA: High school cumulative GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale). Weighted or unweighted.
- ACT Composite score of 25 or higher
- Combined SAT score of 1200
- Top 10% of high school graduating class
- Valedictorian or salutatorian of high school class
- Completion of 15 credit hours or more in dual enrollment or college-earned credit (excluding AP)
Engagement & Potential Credentials
- Completion of a summer or semester-long student exchange/semester abroad program
- Completion of 100 service hours in high school
- Significant engagement in activities (school, community, faith community)
- A strong letter of recommendation from a high school teacher in an academic subject
Application Content
The contents of our application ask you about your engagement, involvement and what you’ve learned. There are 5 parts to our application, each focusing on a different part of your academic and personal career.
- SECTION I: ACADEMIC PURSUITS: You're asked to identify three (3) of most impactful classes you've taken in high school, whether they were positive or negative experiences. Explain what influences they’ve had on you. Focus on specific skills or knowledge gained, challenges faced, and how these courses shaped your future goals or perspectives on learning.
- SECTION II: ENGAGEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: Here you'll reflect on three (3) of the most pivotal experiences from your high school career that have significantly shaped your identity as a student, leader, and individual. Focus on the experiences that were most meaningful and formative, whether they involve extracurricular activities, volunteer work, employment, or family responsibilities. Describe your role, contributions, and the personal growth or unique perspectives you gained.
- SECTION III: ABOUT YOU: There are important things to know about you as a person. You'll be asked to share information about your interests in SIUE, in honors, and how your identity has impacted who you are today.
- SECTION IV: DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION EFFORTS: Finally, we'll ask you about things that we value as an institution. You'll have the chance to talk about your own activities relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion and your plans for continuing your efforts while in college.
- SECTION V: THE ESSAY: See the section below for more information about our essay question.
Essay Prompt and Questions
This is the actual essay prompt and options found in the application. The essay is the place where we learn the most about you, so we strongly encourage you to think about our guidance here before you write, and to be sure to capture the content and spirit of the prompt.
Students who choose to participate and successfully engage in honors share certain traits. They value experimentation. They take risks, even when that can be frightening. They learn from successes and mistakes. They show curiosity, even in the face of ambiguity. They embody the opportunity to grow.
Your essay is a chance to demonstrate how you embody these principles and demonstrate your creativity. The question below is purposely ambiguous. It presents no option for a "right" answer. Take this opportunity: demonstrate your boldness, your ability to communicate, your openness to creative thinking and presentation, and your ability to deal with ambiguity itself.
Our essay question is: RED, BLUE, OR GREEN?
