UMass Boston Honors College Application The Honors College proudly develops leaders who will address pressing challenges that affect the public good by using critical thinking, creativity, pragmatism, and wisdom. Additionally, Honors students enjoy interdisciplinary courses, the opportunity to develop research skills, holistic advising, participation in special events, and access to the Honors-only study area. A competitive application process is used to select students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance, leadership potential, are prepared and motivated for the rigors of an honors curriculum, and can contribute to the Honors College community. Offers of admission are based on a comprehensive review of a candidate s credentials (e.g., academic record, writing sample, application short-answer responses, and co-curricular involvement). Only complete applications can be reviewed, so please ensure that your application is complete before submitting it. Questions? Email honors.ambassadors@umb.edu Timeline Application Deadline (Submit Application to Honors College Dean s Office Front Desk CC2100.01) 2/17/16 by 4 pm Interview Period (Interviews Will Be Offered to Qualified Candidates) 2/22/16-3/3/16** **Candidates with more than 60 credits must meet with Mike Metzger to create an Honors College plan of study prior to their interview. The plan of study must demonstrate to the Honors College Dean that all Honors requirements can be met on a timeline that is acceptable to the candidate. Candidates Will Receive an Admissions Decision Email On or Before 3/10/15 Candidates must meet all deadlines no exceptions. Applications can be dropped off in-person at the Honors College front desk (UMass Boston Campus Center, second floor, 2100.01) or emailed to Honors.Ambassadors@umb.edu. Application Instructions Please complete this application to the best of your ability. Please attach to this application the following documents: Responses to the two short answer questions (page 4). A paper copy of your unofficial UMass Boston transcript (this can be accessed through WISER at www.wiser.umb.edu.. A sample of your writing. Your writing sample should be a UMass Boston course paper that will provide us with insight into who you are as a writer and how you construct an argument. The paper should be at least 1,500 words. If this is your first semester at UMass Boston, you may submit a paper of 1,500 words from your most recent school. A resume. This document helps us understand qualifications that are not transparent on a transcript (e.g. scholarships, awards, achievements, employment, volunteer work, athletics, or co-curricular activities). Contact Career Services at 617.287.5519 for resume advice. A completed UMass Boston faculty or academic advisor recommendation form (pp. 5-6). Note: You do NOT need to submit a recommendation letter. If this is your first semester at UMass Boston, someone from your previous college or high school may complete this form. Incomplete applications (i.e. missing any of these components) will not be considered.
General Information Name: UMS ID Number: Email: Phone number: Mailing address: How did you hear about the Honors College? If you heard of the Honors College from someone specific, please share their name. Please indicate how you identify yourself by checking one or more of the following* * Answering this question is optional. No information you provide will be used in discriminatory manner. American Indian or Alaska Native (including all Original Peoples of the Americas) Asian (including the Indian subcontinent and the Philippines) Black or African American (including Africa and the Caribbean) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (Original Peoples) White (including Middle Eastern) Language Proficiency: Please list the name of any non-english language proficiency that you hold and check your degree of proficiency. Native Speaker Studied at college/university Studied 3 or more years in secondary Studied 2 or fewer years in Language (if so, to which level) school secondary school
UMass Boston Information Type of applicant: Current high school student Current UMass Boston student Transferring to UMass Boston Commonwealth Honors Program (CHP) student UMass Boston College or school that you are enrolled/enrolling in: College of Liberal Arts College of Management College of Science & Mathematics College of Nursing and Health Sciences School for the Environment College of Education and Human Development College of Public & Community Service Type of degree you are seeking: Bachelor of Arts (BA) Bachelor of Science (BS) Anticipated UMass Boston semester and year of graduation (e.g. Spring 2020): Major(s) / Program(s) of study: Minor(s): Number of UMass Boston credits you will have earned at the end of the current semester: Cumulative UMass Boston GPA: UMass Bostin English and Math placement test scores (if available): Have you already engaged in research on or off campus? Yes No Are you interested in conducting research during your Honors College experience? Yes No If you are interested in conducting research during your Honors College experience, do you have a sense of a general field or topic you are interested in researching? If so, please briefly describe:
Previous College / University History Only complete this section if you have completed any college/university course(s) at other institutions. College/University Name(s) Dates Attended GPA Number of Courses Completed (i.e. credits) Secondary (High School) History Only complete this section if you are currently enrolled in high school. Anticipated year of graduation: Secondary (high school) name: GPA: Is this GPA weighted? Yes No Unsure (To ensure an equitable evaluation, Honors will use the candidate s recalculated GPA.) AP/IB course name(s) Related test score(s)
Short Answer Questions Please respond to both of the short answer questions below with carefully crafted responses. Your response to each question should be no more than 200 words, clear, well-developed, and contain examples. Be sure to proof your response thoroughly looking for structural, spelling, and/or grammatical errors. QUESTION 1: Consider your academic background and passions. How could being an Honors College student build on your academic background and contribute to your passions? And how will your academic background and passion contribute to the Honors College? QUESTION 2: What has been a significant moment in your life and why? Certification I certify that all information submitted in this application process is my own work, factually true and honestly presented. I recognize that all documents submitted become property of the Honors College. I understand that an offer of admissions may be revoked should the information I certify be false. I acknowledge that I have reviewed and understand the application instructions, timeline, as well as curricular requirements. I understand that an offer of admission will be conditional pending a 3.400 cumulative UMass Boston GPA at the conclusion of this semester. Signature: Date:
UMass Boston Faculty or Academic Advisor Recommendation Form The following section is to be completed by the applicant: Instructions for the applicant: Please select a UMass Boston faculty or academic advisor that can provide information about your qualifications. Please provide this individual with this form. When they have completed this form, please include it with your other application materials. Applicant Name: Applicant UMS ID Number: Right to review this recommendation: I waive the right provided by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Buckley Amendment) to view this recommendation. I do not wish to waive this right. Rather, I wish to retain the right to view this recommendation. The following section is to be completed by the recommender: Instructions to Recommender: The above named applicant is applying to the Honors College. Please complete this double-sided form and return this form to the applicant. Note: the Family Educational Privacy Act of 1974 opens many student records for the student s inspection. The law also permits a student to waive their right to review pieces of their record, please note if this student wishes to review this form based on their response in the above section. If you do not wish the student to see your responses, please seal this recommendation form in an envelope with your signature across the seal. Recommender s name: Recommender s email: Recommender s email: Recommender s position/title Recommender s organization/institution Recommender s Signature: See reverse for recommendation form.
UMass Boston Faculty or Academic Advisor Recommendation Form continued: How long have you known the applicant? In what capacity do you know the applicant? Using checkmarks, please rate the applicant on each of these characteristics listed below in comparison with others who you have known at similar stages of their academic career. Oral communication Excellent Above average Average Below average Unable to rate Written communication Motivation to succeed Intellectual curiosity Understanding of a responsibility to the common good Creativity (skills or attitude to generate something new) Analytical skills Comments: