Honors Admissions
First Time in College (FTIC) Admission
Students must first apply to the University of South Florida before applying to the Judy Genshaft Honors College. Admission into Honors is contingent on admission to USF. To apply to the Judy Genshaft Honors College, students must activate their USF NetID and password. This requires the student's USF-issued UID (i.e. U12345678) that they receive via email 24 to 48 hours after they have applied to the university.
Applications submitted to the Judy Genshaft Honors College after the March 6 final
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 12, 2023.
Accepted students will receive a deadline to confirm their spot within their official
acceptance email.
TIMELINE: DEADLINES, DECISION AND CONFIRMATION DATES
| JANUARY 9, 2023 | FEBRUARY 10, 2023 | APRIL 1, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Application Deadline | Priority Decision Date | Priority Confirmation Deadline |
| Students must apply by 11:59 p.m. (EST) to be eligible for admission. | Students who applied prior to the January 9 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. | Students notified of their acceptance on Feb. 10 must confirm their spot by 11:59 p.m. (EST) |
| MARCH 6, 2023 | APRIL 7, 2023 | MAY 5, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Final Application Deadline | Final Decision Date | Final Confirmation Deadline |
| Students must apply by 11:59 p.m. (EST) to be eligible for admission. | Students that applied prior to the March 6 Deadline will receive their decision via email. Accepted students must confirm their spot through a Confirmation Form included in their acceptance email. | Students notified of their acceptance on April 7 must confirm their spot by 11:59 p.m. (EST) |
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 CRITERIA 1
Select one prompt from the list of three below and write a 500-750 word essay (double-spaced). 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 (FTIC) 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 twenty-first-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 CRITERIA 2
List up to five extracurricular activities you were involved in during high school, either inside or outside the classroom, what your role was, and how long you participated in each activity. There is an option to add additional information (and file upload and/or portfolio link, if applicable) about each activity that you would like us to consider. 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