First-year students admitted to Iowa State may apply to join the First-Year Honors Program. The average incoming profile of students admitted to the FHP is:
- 3.5 cumulative GPA (unweighted)
- Challenging high school curricular choices (AP, IB, Honors as available)
- *ACT composite score of at least 30 (or SAT equivalent)
- *ACT English score of at least 24 (or SAT equivalent)
*First-year students applying for the 2024-25 academic year will not be required to submit ACT/SAT scores. Students with a 3.5+ cumulative GPA are encouraged to apply.
International First-Year Students who do not meet the English placement exemption criteria are still encouraged to apply to the First-Year Honors Program by the April 1 deadline. Those students are required to present proof of a passing score on the English Placement Test to the University Honors Program (honors@iastate.edu) by the Thursday before fall semester classes begin. Admission to the First-Year Honors Program will be contingent on receiving these scores.
The application opens on October 1, and the deadline is April 1 for the following academic year. Students are admitted on a rolling basis, with priority given to applications received first. Students typically receive a response on the status of their application within three weeks. If you are trying to apply after the April 1 deadline or if you have any questions about the application process, contact the University Honors Program office at (515) 294-4371 or honors@iastate.edu.
An orientation meeting for new FHP members is held on Day 1 of your ISU Orientation in June. Information will be mailed to new members before your ISU Orientation date. Information on opportunities and benefits the honors program offers, including a list of fall term honors courses and seminars, can be found in the provided FHP Summer Orientation Guide.
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If you have been offered admission to Iowa State University, you can apply to the First-Year Honors Program by submitting the First-Year Honors Program Application.
The form asks about your contact information, high school activities and other involvements, senior year coursework, and two 500-word essays:
Answer one question from each section. We will evaluate your essay on original thought, organization, and quality of writing.