ADMISSION TO THE HONORS PROGRAM
Students who are interested in the Honors Program should first apply to Berry College. Those who are admitted to Berry and meet certain criteria or are identified as promising will then be invited to apply to Honors, which welcomes approximately 10 percent of each incoming class.
Like that for the college, the application review process for the Honors Program is holistic. Applicants are required to write a short essay for review by the Honors Committee, which is composed of the directors of the program and Honors faculty from across campus. The committee values not only an excellent essay but also a record of challenging high school coursework in a variety of academic areas.
Although ACT or SAT scores are not required for admission to Berry or Honors, the committee encourages applicants to submit scores as well as other optional items as additional factors to consider in its decision. Students admitted to the program for fall 2020 had an average recalculated GPA of 4.15, an average ACT composite score of 31, and an average SAT total score of 1360.
Moreover, Georgia residents should be aware that the Zell Miller Scholarship requires a minimum ACT composite score of 26 or a minimum SAT total score of 1200.
Incoming students are typically placed in at least one Honors course prior to Student Orientation Advising and Registration (SOAR), when they review their schedule with their advisor. The directors also host a session for incoming Honors students during SOAR and, together with the Honors Student Union, an orientation and social for all Honors students during Viking Venture.
Students who are not admitted to Honors or do not apply at the time of enrollment at Berry may apply after their first semester if they have achieved a Berry GPA of 3.5 or higher.