ivc honors program essay examples

• Have your assignments done by seasoned writers. 24/7
• Contact us:
• +1 (213) 221-0069
• [email protected]

Honors College Essay: Tips, Prompt Examples and How to Write

Writing honors college essay

An honors college essay is an academic paper that students typically complete to establish entrance into an honors college, program, or division. An honors paper seeks to test students’ research skills and focus their analytical abilities on a subject of academic interest. 

Due to the specialized focus of the paper, students benefit from serious attention to the college essay topics, which are vital in developing the essay.

An Honors College essay is unique in terms of its requirements, structure, and background. The purpose of this article is to provide advice on writing and structuring an Honors College essay.

People Also Read: SAT Essay Cancellation: Before College Registration Process

Which Universities do Ask for Honors College Essay

1. uci (university of california irvine) .

The UCI has two programs, the Academic Honors Program and the Honors Program. Both are popular with many members. They are not mutually exclusive, but they have different requirements and different goals.

The Academic Honors Program is for students who want to get recognized by their professors for academic achievement. It does not require an essay but several letters of recommendation from faculty members.

You should not apply to either program if you are only interested in one or the other because there is no guarantee that either program will accept your application or that you will gain acceptance into either program.

2. VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University)

The applicants must complete the 500-word Essay on Honors. The essay should address the following topics:

• Your interests and goals, especially as they pertain to your intended major(s) and career path(s). How do you feel about being a lifelong learner?
• Your ideas about leadership, including h
• How you would define leadership, what your leadership style is, how you would use your abilities as a leader to positively impact your community in and out of college, and how you would lead if given the opportunity.

3. NJT (New Jersey Institute of Technology)

NJT requires you to write an essay and submit it along with your application.

These honors college essays usually focus on your intellectual interests and experiences, using specific examples to illustrate your points. It’s essential to select an area you are interested in and know about. 

You should also pick something that you can write about easily; it will be evident if you are writing a research paper or other academic work instead of an honors college essay, so don’t try to fake it!

4. Purdue University

Purdue University’s Honors College focuses on scholarship, leadership, research, and engagement by integrating residential and co-curricular learning opportunities with academic classroom experiences.

Your college application essay needs to breathe life into your application. It should capture your genuine personality, explaining who you are beyond a series of grades, test scores, and after-school activities. 

Take a minute and think about the college or university admission officers who will be reading your essay.

5. Stony Brook University

The Stony Brook Honors College provides an exceptional opportunity for students who want to pursue a challenging course of study in the company of talented peers. Your essay should be no longer than three double-spaced pages and should address certain questions.

It is an opportunity to explain an event that took place on any day in history; what would that event be? Discuss why you chose this particular day. Also, as this question, what do you hope to learn/experience by being present?

People Also Read: AP Capstone Pros and Cons: Is it Worth It? Do colleges Care

How to Write a Good Honors College Essay

Honors college essays follow a formal style with a clear structure. To get your honors college essay, follow these tips:

• Think about the prompt and what you want to say.
• Brainstorm.
• Organize your thoughts into a logical outline.
• Write your introduction.
• End with a conclusion that sums up the main points of your argument and connects those points back to the prompt.

Technically, the honors college essay can be a five-paragraph essay, but it should be more than that.

It should be closer to a 10-paragraph essay, with an introduction and conclusion paragraph that are each about four or five sentences long.

The introduction and conclusion paragraphs should be about the same size. The middle of the essay should be about three paragraphs long, and each of them should be about four to five sentences long.

1. Introduction 

The introduction should have a hook which is a catchy sentence or two that gets the reader interested in reading your essay. Furthermore, it should have an explanation of why you want to go to Honors College: This is usually possible in one sentence. 

Also, there should be a thesis statement. This is usually evident in one sentence at the end of the paragraph. The thesis statement tells the reader what you plan to write about in your essay. For example: “I want to attend honors college because of their strong pre-med program.”

Write the body of your paper using transition words to connect your ideas and explain the connections between them.

The middle paragraphs should include an explanation of why you have chosen your career path and why you are interested. 

3. Conclusion

End with a strong conclusion that ties together everything you discussed within your paper, providing important takeaways for readers as well as leaving them feeling satisfied with what they just read.

Takeaways 

• You are writing an essay, not a text message. In other words, please use complete sentences and correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. If proper English is not your strong suit, enlist someone proficient at it to help edit your essay.
• Be specific about what you want to study and why. Do not just say that you want an education; tell the reader what kind of education you want and why. This is particularly important if you plan to study something that you did not find at your high school. 
• The readers do not expect you to know everything about the field you plan to enter. They expect that you give serious consideration to it and explain why you want to pursue it beyond the fact that “it sounds interesting” or “it pays well.”
• Proofread your essays before sending them in. Errors will distract from whatever else is in those essays and may give us a negative impression of your abilities.

Things to Remember about Honor Essays

The honors essay is one of your best chances to stand out in a meaningful way from other applicants, so be sure to invest time in crafting a great response.

The admission office is looking for the following:

• The office wants to know that you understand what makes the honors program special. We have a diverse group of students and faculty who are passionate about learning and interacting across disciplines.
• What do you think this will mean for you? How will you take advantage of being in an environment that values interdisciplinary thinking?
• Your accomplishments. Let the audience know your talents. Have you excelled academically? What leadership roles have you taken on, or awards have you won? They want to discover what drives your passion for learning, leadership, and service.
• Your plans for the future. The honors program will prepare you for success beyond your skills, whether that’s graduate school or medical school, or a career in a completely different field. 

People Also Read: NJHS Essay: How to Write a Winning Piece from Ideas to end

Examples of Honors College Essay Topics

• Considering your lifetime goals, explain how your present and future academic activities will assist you in achieving your goals. 
• Settle for an issue of importance to you, whether it is political, personal, local, or international related. Then, craft an essay to explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your community, and your generation. 

When not handling complex essays and academic writing tasks, Josh is busy advising students on how to pass assignments. In spare time, he loves playing football or walking with his dog around the park.

Related posts

Past, Present, and the Future Tenses in Your Essay

Past, Present, and Future Tense in Essays: How to Switch

Can-a-Plagiarism-Scanner-Detect-AI-written-Paper

Can Plagiarism checkers detect AI Text like Jervis? Turnitin or SafeAssign

How to Write Persuasive Essay

Persuasive Essays: Introduction, Structure, & Topic Examples

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, honors application essay.

I'm applying to my school's honors program, and I'm supposed to write an application essay. What kind of topic should I choose to make an impression? Any examples of successful essays you can share?

When choosing a topic for your honors program application essay, you'll want to demonstrate your intellectual curiosity, passion for learning, and what makes you a strong candidate for the program. A successful essay will showcase your unique perspective, critical thinking skills, and ability to communicate effectively.

As you brainstorm potential topics, think about experiences or aspects of your academic journey that showcase your dedication to learning and personal development. Some possible avenues to explore might include:

1. A subject or project that challenged you and inspired personal growth. Explain how you persevered, what you learned, and how it has influenced your academic interests or goals.

2. A meaningful collaboration with a teacher, mentor, or peer that had a significant impact on your intellectual development or academic pursuits. Discuss how the collaboration not only deepened your understanding of a subject but also taught you the value of teamwork, open-mindedness, or dedication.

3. An insight or idea from one of your academic subjects (or from a combination of subjects) that has stuck with you and inspired further exploration, research, or innovation. Your essay can focus on the mechanisms of your curiosity and how pursuing this idea fostered your intellectual growth.

4. Your experience engaging with a specific issue or topic outside of the classroom, such as through research, community service, or extracurricular activities. This essay can be centered on how these endeavors enriched your understanding of the broader world and your place in it.

Regardless of which topic you choose, be sure to make your essay personal and authentic. Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points and give the reader insight into your motivations and passions. Don't be afraid to show vulnerability and discuss any challenges you've faced, but always be sure to emphasize how they've contributed to your growth.

Remember, your essay is an opportunity to differentiate yourself from other applicants and prove why you are an ideal candidate for the honors program. By focusing on your unique experiences and intellectual journey with one of the above topics (or one that better reflects your specific interests), you'll have a better chance of making a strong impression on the admissions committee.

Happy writing!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

ASIVC, Offices of Student Life and Student Equity, Honors

Student life.

Student Activities Center (SAC) • 949-451-5728 • [email protected]  •  students.ivc.edu/asivc  •  ivc.edu/student/clubs

The Offices of Student Life and Student Equity house the Student Life, ASIVC, and Student Equity programs. We are committed to providing meaningful services, activities and communications that build community; ensure academic success; encourage creative expression, personal growth, and well-being; foster diversity, equity and social justice; and promote student advocacy and leadership. Our four goals are: services and activities, student leadership development, facilities and technology, and fiscal management. 

Student Life provides a multitude of campus events and activities such as welcome activities, Homecoming, Fear Fest and Spring Fest, end-of-semester events, and holiday celebrations throughout the year. The office also provides academic success services and resources to assist in student retention, such as free scantrons (qty. 6 while supplies last) and green books (qty. 2 while supplies last) with the purchase of ASIVC Access. Funded by Bookstore commissions and ASIVC Access sales, our department provides financial support to over 25 student clubs and organizations, as well as IVC co-curricular programs (i.e. Administration of Justice, Model UN, Psi Beta and Speech and Debate). In addition, our department provides over $40,000 in student scholarships (funded by ASIVC).

ASIVC Access entitles its holder to a number of member benefits, including no-cost entry to IVC athletic home games for the semester; discounted Regal movie tickets and theme park e-tickets; access to the ASIVC Student Lounge, which includes billiards, table tennis, foosball, and a TV/gaming room; and an opportunity to apply for ASIVC scholarships.

Associated Students of Irvine Valley College (ASIVC)

Student Activities Center • 949-451-5728 •  [email protected] •  students.ivc.edu/asivc  •  ivc.edu/student/clubs

The Associated Students of Irvine Valley College (ASIVC) official student shared governance group represents student interests on college committees, plans student events and activities, and organizes student clubs and organizations. Any student duly enrolled at Irvine Valley College is automatically accorded membership in ASIVC and has the right to vote in college-wide elections. Students interested in joining the student government should contact the Office of Student Life. Student government at IVC is comprised of several different committees, all staffed by student leaders. In addition, student clubs and organizations include culturally focused groups as well as academic and special interest organizations.

Student Equity

Student Activities Center • 949-451-5688 •  [email protected]

Student Equity provides services and activities that increase student and staff multicultural awareness, knowledge, skills and competencies. Our goal is to increase all student engagement in campus life through services, events and leadership development opportunities.

Student Equity houses several programs to support and build community for special student populations, including Dream Scholars (for Dreamer and undocumented students), Pride Scholars (for LGBTQ+ students), Guardian Scholars (for current and former foster youth), HEARTS Scholars (for students experiencing food and housing insecurity), and ReEntry Scholars (for students ages 25 and over). Additionally, our department develops and facilitates multicultural programs such as Indigenous People’s Day, Coming Out Day, Dia de los Muertos, Holi, Diwali, Black History Month, Lunar New Year, Gender Equity Awareness, Genocide Awareness, Cesar Chavez Day, and Persian New Year celebrations. We also address and advocate on student issues and concerns as they relate to diversity.

Our office sponsors several services for eligible students on campus such as meal vouchers, the Food Resource Center, equity scholarships, bookstore vouchers, parking and transportation vouchers such as  OCTA bus passes , and the Laptop Loan Program. For the latest information on IVC student equity resources and services, visit  here .

back to top

Honors Program

The Irvine Valley College Honors Program is designed to meet the needs of academically talented and highly motivated students. The program offers eligible students the following opportunities: Approximately 35 small, seminar-style honors classes per semester; enriched coursework; interaction with other motivated students; priority registration for classes; recognition on transcripts and at graduation; special transfer agreements with many institutions, including UCI and UCLA; dedicated honors scholarships; designated honors counselors; honors study lounge; research conferences and publication venues; leadership positions; social and cultural activities; and a complimentary library card at UCI and UCLA.  The core of the Honors Program is its enriched courses. Most honors-designated courses meet the general education transfer requirements for the University of California and California State University systems and are open to all students through the regular enrollment process. Honors course offerings can be found in both the online class schedule and the class catalog under the relevant departments. The following honors courses are currently offered in regular rotation: 

• ACCOUNTING 1BH:  Managerial Accounting Honors
• ANTHROPOLOGY 1H: Introduction to Physical Anthropology Honors 
• ANTHROPOLOGY 2H: Cultural Anthropology Honors
• ASTRONOMY 20H: General Astronomy Honors
• BIOLOGY 1H: The Life Sciences Honors 
• BIOLOGY 80H: Integrated Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems Honors
• BIOLOGY 81H: Integrated Biology: From DNA to Organisms Honors
• CHEM 1AH: General Chemistry I Honors
• COMMUNICATIONS 1H: Communication Fundamentals Honors
• COUNSELING 6H: Academic, Career and Life Success Honors
• ECONOMICS 1H: Principles of Economics-Micro Honors
• ECONOMICS 2H: Principles of Economics-Macro Honors
• ECONOMICS 10H: Statistics for Business and Economics Honors
• ECONOMICS 20H: Introductory Economics Honors
• FILM 72H: Film and American Culture Honors
• FRENCH 1H: Beginning French I Honors
• GEOGRAPHY 3H: World Regional Geography Honors
• GEOGRAPHY 10H: Introduction to Weather and Climate Honors
• HISTORY 1H: The History of World Civilizations to 1500 Honors 
• HISTORY 51H: Women in American History Honors
• HUMANITIES 1H: Introduction to Humanities Honors
• HUMANITIES 71H: Introduction to Film Honors
• JAPANESE 1H: Beginning Japanese I Honors
• JAPANESE 2H: Beginning Japanese II Honors 
• LIBRARY 20H: Advanced Research and Information Competency Honors
• MANAGEMENT 10H: Statistics for Business and Economics Honors
• MANAGEMENT 12AH: The Legal Environment of Business Honors 
• MATH 3AH: Analytic Geometry and Calculus I Honors 
• MATH 3BH: Analytic Geometry and Calculus II Honors 
• MATH 24H: Elementary Differential Equations Honors
• MUSIC 20H: Music Appreciation Honors
• POLITICAL SCIENCE 1H: American Government Honors
• POLITICAL SCIENCE 12H: Comparative Politics Honors
• POLITICAL SCIENCE 14H: International Relations Honors
• PSYCHOLOGY 1H: Introduction to Psychology Honors
• PSYCHOLOGY 3H: Physiological Psychology Honors
• PSYCHOLOGY 5H: Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality Honors
• PSYCHOLOGY 10H: Statistical Methods in the Behavioral Sciences Honors
• PSYCHOLOGY 13H: Psychology of Reasoning and Problem Solving Honors
• PSYCHOLOGY 37H: Abnormal Behavior Honors
• SOCIOLOGY 1H: Introduction to Sociology Honors
• SPANISH 1H: Beginning Spanish I Honors
• SPANISH 2H: Beginning Spanish II Honors
• THEATRE ARTS 25H: Great Plays: Primitive to Renaissance Honors
• THEATRE ARTS 26H: Great Plays: Renaissance to Contemporary Honors 
• THEATRE ARTS 29H: Script Analysis Honors
• WRITING 1H: College Writing 1 Honors
• WRITING 2H: College Writing 2: Critical Thinking/Writing Honors

To complete the Honors Program, students must take a minimum of five courses and 15 letter-graded units of honors-designated coursework during their academic career at Irvine Valley College and must maintain an overall UC-transferable GPA of 3.25 as well as a 3.25 GPA in their honors courses. Courses taken on a pass/no-pass basis do not fulfill Honors Program requirements. A maximum of two of the five courses may be taken at another community college. Students may not take more than three of the required honors courses in the spring semester prior to transfer without approval of the Honors Advisory Committee. Students are expected to submit a Student Learning Assessment Portfolio as a program graduation requirement. Students who complete the requirements receive an official transcript notation and are eligible for special transfer agreements. Eligibility for some transfer agreements entails additional requirements or standards. For more information, please visit the Honors website or office. The Irvine Valley College Honors Program is a member of the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP) and of the Honors Transfer Council of California (HTCC). 

Entering freshmen  who wish to join the program must submit application material including a signed application form; unofficial transcript demonstrating a non-weighted academic 3.25 GPA, or SAT 1890 (of 2400) or SAT 1260 (of 1600) or ACT 28 (of 36); a personal essay responding to the application prompt; and a portfolio of student work that includes a minimum of 3 items that demonstrate academic potential.  Continuing IVC students or students transferring from another college  who wish to join the program must submit application material including a signed application form; unofficial transcripts demonstrating completion of at least 12 units of transfer-applicable coursework with a 3.25 GPA; a personal letter of application; and a portfolio of student work that includes a minimum of 3 items that demonstrate academic potential. To apply, students must send one email containing all application materials to [email protected] . Note: Special rules apply to students who already have an undergraduate degree or have 40 or more units of college work.  Applicants must submit copies of transcripts for any other colleges attended. Application forms are available online at  academics.ivc.edu/honors . For further information, students may call 949-451-5300 or email  [email protected] .

Honor Societies

IVC honor societies include the Alpha Omega Mu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (the international honor society for two-year colleges) and Psi Beta (the national honor society in psychology for community college students). All honor society members will have a notation on their official transcripts for every semester they maintain membership standards in Phi Theta Kappa and/or Psi Beta. Transcript notation is posted at the end of each semester. Phi Theta Kappa members are also eligible for chapter, state, and national merit and transfer scholarships. Psi Beta members are eligible for national research and service awards and can participate in regional in national psychology conferences.

Phi Theta Kappa

Co-Advisors: Kurt Meyer ([email protected]) and Jodi Titus ([email protected])

www.ivc.edu/student/clubs/honorsociety

Phi Theta Kappa’s mission is to recognize academic achievement of college students and to provide opportunities for them to grow as scholars and leaders. To qualify for membership, a student must have completed 12 semester units at Irvine Valley College with a cumulative GPA of 3.5.

• Transcript notation posted at the end of each semester
• Eligibility for over $37 million in scholarships
• Leadership, service, and scholarship opportunities, including attending academic and leadership conferences and summits

Psi Beta’s mission is to encourage professional development and psychological literacy of all students at two-year colleges through promotion and recognition of excellence in scholarship, leadership, research, and community service. Psi Beta members experience educational enrichment through service activities, participation in professional psychology conferences, and competition for national awards. IVC’s Psi Beta chapter has been active since 1992.

All students are welcome to participate in Psi Beta meetings and on-campus activities. However, to qualify for membership in the national Psi Beta organization, a student must have completed 12 semester units at the college level, at least one college psychology course with a grade of “B” or higher, and have a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.25 or higher. After paying a one-time-only fee to the national Psi Beta office, membership is for life.

For more information about Psi Beta, students may email Dr. Kari Tucker ([email protected]) or Michael Cassens ([email protected]), who are two of the Psi Beta chapter advisors.

Albert Dorman Honors College

Tips for Writing an Honors College Essay

Writing an Honors College Essay (Max. 400 words)

A college essay is a chance for you to tell us what all your records cannot: who you really are, how you think, and how well you write. It is not an invitation to tell a story, write a novel, or write about other people's experiences. The main point of your essay is to tell us what you have to offer and how you will take advantage of what we have to offer .

• Write an essay that addresses the topic specified  on the application form. A general essay about yourself or an experience you had is not acceptable.
• Do not write your essay as if it were a novel. "The baby cried until it had to be comforted by its mother;" "I could not believe as I walked into my first class that this was the beginning of my engineering career." These tell us nothing about yourself. Regardless of what you may have been told in school, write a straightforward descriptive essay that directly addresses the question asked.
• Avoid clichéd, generic, and predictable writing, such as "I want to help people." This is particularly applicable to essays for accelerated program candidates.
• Do not quote our own description of our program. We know what we have to offer; we are interested in knowing what you have to offer and how you will use what we offer . Tell us about your interests and why the Albert Dorman Honors College is the right place for you.

• Apply to UVU

Honors Program Admission Essay Prompts

Instructions:.

• The two essays you submit represent the cornerstones of your application to join the UVU Honors Program. We borrowed and adapted the questions below from the University of Chicago's famously unusual admissions essay tradition, among other places. 
• Your response will be evaluated on the focus, originality, and creativity of the content, but form (spelling, grammar, and punctuation) matters, too.  

The most impressive essays will be clear and lively and will give us a vivid sense of who you are and what passion, focus, and innovation you might bring to the Honors Program.   

• Draw on your best qualities as a writer and thinker
• Take some risks and have fun
• Have someone edit your writing
• Proofread carefully to remove typos, clichéd phrasing, and unclear ideas
• Let an editor erase your unique voice 
• Share your darkest thoughts, fears, or desires
• Preach or lecture
• Plagiarize 

Limit your response to about 300 words for each essay.  You will select ONE Analytical Option and  ONE Creative Option.  

Prompt One Options (More Analytical):

CHOOSE ONE FROM BELOW:

A. Cats have nine lives, Pac-Man has three lives, and radioactive isotopes have half-lives. How many lives does something else—conceptual or actual—have, and why? (Analytical)

B. Strings always have explained or enriched our lives, from Theseus’s escape route from the Labyrinth, to kittens playing with balls of yarn, to a thread woven into a tapestry of fate, to a finely tuned violin string. Use the power of string, real or metaphorical, to explain something you view as crucial.

C. What are the peculiarities of your own personal language (and it need not be English, although your essay needs to be). Consider the voice you use when speaking most intimately to yourself or your family, the vocabulary that spills out when you’re startled, or special phrases and gestures that no one else seems to use or even understand— and tell us how your language makes you unique.

Prompt Two Options (More Creative):

D. Imagine Genghis Khan with an F1 racecar, Emperor Nero with a panini press, George Washington with a SuperSoaker, Frida Kahlo with a Furby, or Queen Lilioukalani with a Tesla. If you could give any historical figure any piece of technology, who and what would it be, and why do you think they’d work so well together?

E. Universities love Nobel laureates. But why should economics, physics, and peace get all the glory? You are tasked with creating a new category for the Nobel Prize. Explain what it would be, why you chose your specific category, and the criteria necessary to achieve this accomplishment.

F. You are on an expedition to found a colony on Mars, when from a nearby crater, a group of sentient Martian beings suddenly emerges. They seem eager to communicate, but they're the impatient kind and demand you represent the human race in one song, image, memory, mathematical proof, or other idea. What song, image, etc. do you share with them to show that humanity is worth their time?

Utah Valley University

Questions? Ask Wilson

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the University at Buffalo Honors Essay 2023-2024

The State University of New York at Buffalo (University at Buffalo) is a public university located in Buffalo, New York. It boasts a large, suburban campus and consistently ranks in the top 100 national universities. 

When it comes to admissions, UB is moderately competitive. While there’s no supplement for all applicants, there is one for the Honors College. Here’s how to write a standout response to their prompt.

Want to know your chances at UB? Calculate your chances for free right now . 

UB Honors Supplemental Essay Prompt

Ub honors scholars are characterized by intellectual curiosity, a broad range of interests, and a commitment to a diverse and inclusive society. what experiences have helped to broaden your perspectives academically, socially and culturally what experiences do you hope to have that will enlarge your understanding of the cultural richness of america and the world please be as specific as possible in your answer. (650 words), understanding the prompt.

This prompt allows the admissions committee to get a sense of your values–and what you will contribute to the UB community. A prompt like this has no one “right answer”; your aim should be to find detailed, compelling examples that show : 

• Your understanding and appreciation of intellectual curiosity, diversity, and inclusivity
• What you will contribute to the UB Honors college community’s intellectually curious, diverse, and inclusive community

This means that the only “wrong” answer would be one that shows a lack of understanding of the values that the UB Honors College expressly prioritizes.

With this in mind, let’s take a minute to understand what each of these values means:

1. Intellectual curiosity

Most basically, intellectual curiosity means a desire to ask and answer questions—to learn. “Intellectual curiosity” is a broad enough term that it can fit many different kinds of people. For example:

• You can be intellectually curious by always having questions about everything you encounter in the world around you. Maybe you’re the person who is always eager to ask “why,” whether at a theater performance or in biology class.
• Or you can be intellectually curious by being passionate about a particular set of issues or questions. Maybe you care deeply about how humans can improve the standard of living of the poorest among us, and you are passionate about asking questions in many disciplines—economics, politics, agricultural sciences, sociology—to begin to solve this problem.

2. A broad range of interests

Though many programs encourage specialization (academically and professionally), the UB Honors College is not one such program. The honors college sees itself as a small liberal arts college within the large UB university. A liberal arts education fundamentally is centered on the idea of giving students a varied educational experience, exposing them to different areas of knowledge and inquiry. “A broad range of interests” does not have to mean that you’re interested in everything; it should, however, involve interests that go beyond one set professional or academic path. Consider these two cases:

• Narrow interests: Imagine that you are passionate about math and want to take as many math courses as possible and do as many math-related activities as possible, with the long-term goal of being an academic mathematician. If this is the case, you might not be a good fit for the Honors Program’s “broad range of interests.”
• Broad interests: Imagine that you are passionate about math (and plan to become a mathematician) but also want to understand history, economics, and the arts in order to be a more informed citizen. If you have these interests—and, ideally, a track record of participating in and exploring these non-math areas—then you might be a great fit for the Honors Program.

3. A diverse and inclusive society 

Diversity and inclusivity have become buzzwords; we all think that we know what they mean—and, to an extent, your understanding of these terms is probably right. Fundamentally, diversity and inclusivity have to do with valuing and celebrating the different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences that come with being part of a multicultural, multi-religious, multiethnic society. Inclusivity places particular emphasis on finding ways to draw in and celebrate those who have historically been excluded from or oppressed by society. 

However, keep in mind that diversity and inclusivity can also have to do with:

• Economic diversity: Including students from different economic backgrounds in an intellectual community.
• Intellectual diversity: Including students with varied political or ideological beliefs in an intellectual community. 
• Geographic diversity within the US: Though international students provide the most vibrant and obvious diversity at many US Universities, students from under-represented areas of the US can also contribute to a school’s diversity. 

Choosing Past Experiences to Write About

The key part of the prompt asks: 

What experiences have helped to broaden your perspectives academically, socially and culturally? 

In an essay like this, it can be tempting to go for quantity over quantity—if you have many experiences that seem to fit the prompt, including as many of them as possible can seem like the right way to go. However, the strongest responses to a prompt like this will focus on just one or two (three at the most) related experience to weave a detailed, compelling picture of how your values fit with those of UB.

When writing about your experiences, your aim should be to show not tell . This means picking specific “moments” from each experience to bring the experience to life. Here’s a mini example:

Telling: During my exchange trip to Italy, I spent as much time as I could talking with the locals and learning about their cultural practices. 

Note that this is a very general summary of the writer’s experience; vivid details do not shine through, and the reader does not get much of a sense of what the writer saw, felt, or did. 

Showing: One morning, I looked up from my customary espresso to find a friendly, wrinkled face across the table from me. My new friend, patient with my imperfect Italian comprehension, told me stories about her farm where she had lived as a child, before poor economic conditions forced her family to sell their land and move to the city.

This little anecdote puts the reader “in the moment”; it clearly conveys that the writer spoke with locals and learned their stories, but it does so through one engaging story, rather than through general summary.

With this point in mind (about “showing not telling”), consider these examples of experiences someone might write about. They demonstrate the variety of experiences that could fit this part of the essay prompt:

A student who did an exchange trip to Japan and also worked at a Mexican restaurant could write about these two very different experiences. 

• The student could pick a “moment” from their experience in Japan that shows how they encountered different academic and social norms in Japan.
• Then, they could describe different specific aspects of their work in a Mexican restaurant, showing what they learned about food and culture. 
• Zooming out, the student could give examples of how these experiences have helped them connect with those who are different from them in their daily life. 

A student whose parents got divorced while she was in middle school could write about this experience and about how, around the same time, she began volunteering at a nursing home in her community. 

• Using vivid, detailed “moments” (for example, a specific moment when she could not focus), the student could explain how her parents’ divorce was socially and academically difficult for her, since it distracted her from friends and school. 
• Then, she could show how this experience motivated her to develop specific new study habits and social skills, and to volunteer at the local nursing home. 
• Next, the student could describe how this volunteering experience exposed her to elderly people of varied cultural and economic backgrounds, allowing her to put aside her own personal turmoil and focus on listening and learning. The writer could pick one or two specific friends from the nursing home to write about in detail.

Choosing Future Experience to Write About

The second part of the prompt asks:

What experiences do you hope to have that will enlarge your understanding of the cultural richness of America and the world? 

This is what we call a “forward-looking” question. By asking both this question and one about your past experiences, the admissions committee is trying to understand not only who you are now, but how your past experiences have shaped your future goals. 

This part of the prompt is a key place to pivot to think specifically about the Honors College and your goals for college. In other words, college is a great time to enlarge your understanding of the country or world’s cultural richness. Here, your goal should be to still stay specific and to create continuity between the past- and forward-looking parts of your essay. 

What to Avoid

Writing about very vague or generic experiences (meeting other students, talking with your peers)

Engaging with other students in college is a critical and fruitful part of the college experience; however, you should do your best to identify a forum for engagement that will show the specificity and sincerity of your hopes. This could mean extracurriculars, discussion groups, or even just shared, informal activities like cooking or game nights.

Writing about the exact same experiences that you’ve already had

If you’ve done an exchange in Japan in high school, writing that you want to go back through a similar program in college will likely not show growth or a desire to push your understanding further.

However, you could instead write about how you want to pursue an internship in Japan or go there for research or another experience that is meaningfully different (presumably more in-depth) than the experiences you’ve already had.

Writing about experiences just because they seem “impressive”

Many college applicants feel pressure to express interest in activities that are competitive or come with high prestige. However, a prompt like this one is all about understanding your values and how you connect with other people. This means your priority should be authenticity. 

For example, you have not demonstrated any interest in Model UN or international relations more generally, it would not feel cohesive if you wrote about how you plan to broaden your cultural perspective by joining Model UN in college (unless you are able to come up with a compelling, personal reason for branching out into this entirely new field). 

Aside from these common pitfalls, there is, again, no one “right” way to answer this prompt. However, here are two ways that the examples above could answer the second question in the prompt:

• The student who wrote about his experiences in Japan and working in a Mexican restaurant could write about how he hopes to get involved in the UB Honors College’s international cafe, which exposes students to food and practice from different cultures. 
• He could also write about how he hopes to travel back to Japan to learn more about Japanese culinary traditions, which were not his focus during his first (academically-focused) visit.
• The student who wrote about her parents’ divorce and her work in a nursing home could write about how she hopes to study different models for caring for the aging in different cultures.
• The writer could explain how her experiences have showed her that how a society treats its oldest citizens offers key insight into social and cultural values and norms. 
• She could cite specific UB courses and resources opportunities that would allow her to study this topic, such as the Gerontology minor, which focuses on the study of aging.

Where to Get Your UB Essay Edited

Do you want feedback on your UB essay? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools.  Find the right advisor for you  to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Finished Papers

The writers of PenMyPaper establish the importance of reflective writing by explaining its pros and cons precisely to the readers. They tend to ‘do my essay’ by adding value to both you (enhancing your knowledge) and your paper.

My Custom Write-ups

Main Navigation

Application process.

Honors Program 

For application instructions and the application, please select one of the following options below.

First-Year Students

High school applicants or college students with less than 12 transferrable units

Continuing Students

College students who have completed more than 12 transferrable units

The Honors Program reviews applications on a rolling basis using a holistic review process.

Students can submit applications year-round; however, deadlines do exist for priority registration privileges. To receive priority registration through the Honors Program, applicants must submit the application with all requirements by the following dates:

• Spring priority registration : September 1
• Summer priority registration : March 1
• Fall priority registration : April 1

High school applicants can receive priority registration beginning their first fall semester if they submit their application by April 1.

Students should apply to the Honors Program as soon as they are eligible so that they can complete the 5 required Honors courses in a timely manner prior to transferring.

Most Visited Pages

• Irvine Valley College
• Class Schedule
• Student, Faculty and Staff Email
• Career Education
• Steps to Start at IVC
• The IVC Library
• Programs of Study
• Academic Calendar

Select a Language