Honors Admissions
First Time in College (FTIC) Admission
HOW TO APPLY
- Submit your application to USF.
- Activate your USF NetID and password. You will need your USF-issued UID (for example, U12345678) that you receive via email within 48 hours after you apply to the university.
- Submit your Honors application. You don't need to wait for your admissions decision to apply!
ELIGIBILITY
The Judy Genshaft Honors College is open to all majors across all three USF campuses. All interested students must submit an application. Special consideration will be given to national recognized students in the following categories:
- National Merit Scholarship Program
- Semifinalists
- Finalists
- College Board National Recognition Programs
- African American or Black
- Hispanic American or Latinx
- Indigenous
TIMELINE
The Judy Genshaft Honors College reviews applications in two main pools: a priority pool and a regular pool. Decisions are not rolling. Each pool has a specific timeline with a separate application deadline, decision notification date, and final confirmation deadline. Deadlines for each pool are listed below. Because the Judy Genshaft Honors College accepts a limited number of students each year, students should submit their application as early as possible.
Applications submitted to the Judy Genshaft Honors College after the final application deadline will be reviewed on a space available basis. Available space in the incoming class may vary across the Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee campuses. Decisions for applications received past the deadline will be released to students on individual timelines, but all applicants will be informed of their decision by May 13, 2024.
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PRIORITY ADMISSION DEADLINES
PRIORITY APPLICATION DEADLINE
January 8, 2024
Students must apply by 11:59 p.m. (EST) to be eligible for priority admission.
PRIORITY DECISION DATE
February 16, 2024
Students who applied prior to the Jan. 8 deadline will be notified of their Honors admission decision via email. Accepted students must confirm their spot through a Confirmation Form included in their acceptance email.
PRIORITY CONFIRMATION DEADLINE
April 1, 2024
Students notified of their acceptance on Feb. 16 must confirm their spot by 11:59 p.m. (EST).
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REGULAR ADMISSION DEADLINES
FINAL APPLICATION DEADLINE
March 4, 2024
Students must apply by 11:59 p.m. (EST) to be eligible for admission.
FINAL DECISION DATE
April 12, 2024
Students who applied prior to the March 4 deadline will receive their decision via email. Accepted students must confirm their spot through a Confirmation Form included in their acceptance email.
FINAL CONFIRMATION DEADLINE
May 3, 2024
Students notified of their acceptance on April 12 must confirm their spot by 11:59 p.m. (EST).
APPLICATION CRITERIA
The Judy Genshaft Honors College First Time in College (FTIC) application asks students to submit a short essay (Application Criteria 1) and a list of extracurricular activities (Application Criteria 2). Please read through the criteria below to learn more and apply.
APPLICATION CRITERION 1
SHORT ESSAY
Students will be asked to submit a double-spaced 500-750 word essay, selecting from one of three possible prompts. Each essay prompt is paired with one of our College’s core values for you to learn more about us and our philosophy. We created these essay prompts for you to think creatively and critically and to learn more about your ideas, passions, and how you think. We want to learn about YOU, not the “college admissions” version of you. So be authentic and answer honestly!
ACADEMIC DIVERSITY AND INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDY
In the Judy Genshaft Honors College, our small, discussion-based interdisciplinary classes combine knowledge and methods from several fields of study to create unique solutions to real-world ideas and problems. For example, in our course Experience Japan - From Hospitals to Hospitality (Omotenashi), students explore Japan through the disciplines of architecture, psychology, cultural studies, and medicine as perspectives on the concept of “care” and how it is expressed and experienced in Japanese culture.
PROMPT 1: If you were to teach a course as part of the Honors curriculum, what would you name it, what topics would be covered, and how would the class be taught? For more examples, you can view our full class list here.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
We believe that learning does not just take place within a classroom. First Time In College students in the Judy Genshaft Honors College are required to complete two Experiential Learning Activities in the course of their academic career. These activities provide students with opportunities for development and self-reflection in order to complement their academic curriculum.
PROMPT 2: Reflect on a situation or experience that you've encountered outside of your standard coursework. What knowledge or observations were you able to gain from that experience? How would you plan to incorporate Experiential Learning in your undergraduate education?
GLOBAL AWARENESS
In this increasingly globalized world, we believe it’s vital for every Judy Genshaft Honors College graduate to be exposed to diverse people, places, and ideas. The college is committed to making global citizenship a critical element in the education of 21st-century leaders. Our students develop cultural competence during their time at USF through activities that range from studying abroad, learning a new language, completing internationally-focused research or internships, and more.
PROMPT 3: The Judy Genshaft Honors College encompasses students from different cultures, nationalities, and majors, challenging their peers to think in new ways. Describe a time when you encountered a culture, belief, or value system different from your own. How did you respond and what did you learn from the experience?
APPLICATION CRITERION 2
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Students will be asked to list up to five extracurricular activities you were involved in during high school, either inside or outside the classroom. For each activity you provide there is an option to add additional supporting information such as; titles or roles, duration of involvement, frequency of activity, total cumulative hours, certificates, documentation, photos, portfolios, or other files.
These activities can include, but are not limited to:
- Clubs or organizations
- Jobs or internships
- Volunteer opportunities or care-taking responsibilities
- Awards or distinctions
- Research
- Religious involvement