As part of Fisher College's commitment to meet the needs of all students enrolled, we offer an opportunity for incoming students to take part in the College's Honors Program.
The mission and goals of the Honors Program at Fisher College include offering increased academic challenge to exceptional students who have excelled during their high school years and want to continue to be involved in an academic experience that helps them mature intellectually.
The Honors Program is designed to provide students with small classes where stimulating discussion; interaction with other students; and the pursuit of knowledge through reading, writing, questioning, critical thinking and research leads to more challenging and rewarding academic experience.
The benefits and rewards for participation in such a program include smaller class size, more individual attention from professors, and the opportunity to interact with students who possess similar academic ability. In addition, students enrolled in the Honors Program qualify for the Fisher College Honors Program scholarship.*
Listed below are classes designed for Honors Program students, which are in addition to individual program requirements for specific degrees. Some of these courses are taken in place of required and/or elective courses.
The specific class outline is as follows:
For those applying and being accepted into the program directly out of high school:
First Semester:
IS150, First-Year Honors Colloquium
EN101 Honors
Second Semester:
EN102 Honors or another Course for Honors Designation
Third Semester:
Course for Honors Designation
Fourth Semester:
IS200, Second-Year Honors Colloquium**
For those applying and accepted into the program after their first semester attending Fisher College:
Second Semester:
EN102 Honors
Course for Honors Designation
Third Semester:
2 Courses for Honors Designation
Fourth Semester:
IS200, Second-Year Honors Colloquium**
Students can apply for the Honors Program at two junctures in their academic career. The first would be as they apply for admissions as a first year student. The second would be at the end of their first semester at the College.
If applying right after high school, the following criteria will be used for admittance into the program:
One of the following three:
Plus:
Essay or portfolio.
You may send an essay that you have already written or a portfolio of your work. However if you do not have an appropriate essay to send, please write a response of at least 500 words to one of the following topics or questions:
a. Discuss your personal/professional definition of success. How a member of the Honors Program help you in this regard?
b. Upon admittance into Fisher College, you win the lottery. How would this influence your decision to attend?
c. Discuss the most important achievements of your high school years. Identify your goals as an Honors student at Fisher College.
Letters of recommendation from at least two high school faculty members.
(Letters of recommendation from people who are not teachers are only accepted in addition to the required two letters from teachers or with permission from the Honors Program Director.)
In this the letter, the writer should comment on the student's basic writing and math skills, college preparedness, and motivation.
Personal statement.
This should be a one-page typed document that lets the Honors Committee know who you are, why you want to attend the Honors Program and any other important information you want to share about yourself.
If applying after one semester at Fisher College, the following criteria will be used for admittance into the Program:
3.3 Grade Point Average on a minimum of 12 non-preparatory earned credits and a grade of B or above in EN101.
Letters of recommendation from at least two faculty members.
Personal statement.
The Honors Committee reviews admissions materials and makes recommendations for acceptance into the Program. For continuation in the Program, students must maintain a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 on a minimum of 12 non-preparatory earned credits per semester. Students placed into preparatory math for their first semester at the College will be conditionally accepted into the Honors Program. Continuation in the Honors Program will be contingent upon successful completion of the preparatory math course during this first semester of study. Students placed into ESL or Preparatory English classes are not eligible for the Honors Program.
To apply, please request an Honors Program application packet from the Admissions Office. For more information, contact the Honors Program Director at HonorsProgram@fisher.edu o view our Honors Program Brochure (pdf).
* The Honors Program scholarship is awarded to those students accepted into Fisher College's Honors Program. The continuance of this scholarship is based upon a student's remaining in good standing within the Honors Program.
** Students in the Second-Year Honors Colloquium present their final project to the Fisher College community.