What should I know about the NC State Honors College essay and how can I make mine stand out?
I'm planning to apply to NC State, and I recently discovered that they have a separate essay for the Honors College. I'm not entirely sure how this essay differs from the main application essays, and I really want to make a solid impression.
If anyone has experience with the Honors College application, could you share what prompts they've seen in the past, or general advice on what the admissions team is looking for? I'm curious about how personal I should get, and if there's a specific way to reflect my interest in research or interdisciplinary studies, since those seem important. Also, does mentioning specific programs or faculty help?
Any tips from students who've gotten in or people who know the process would be super helpful! I just want to make sure I approach this right and really show why I'd be a good fit for the Honors College.
If anyone has experience with the Honors College application, could you share what prompts they've seen in the past, or general advice on what the admissions team is looking for? I'm curious about how personal I should get, and if there's a specific way to reflect my interest in research or interdisciplinary studies, since those seem important. Also, does mentioning specific programs or faculty help?
Any tips from students who've gotten in or people who know the process would be super helpful! I just want to make sure I approach this right and really show why I'd be a good fit for the Honors College.
6 months ago
•
86 views
Roger Lopez
• 6 months ago
Advisor
The NC State Honors College essay is a unique component meant to go deeper than your Common App or general university application essay. Unlike the personal statement, the Honors essay usually wants to see how you think, your intellectual curiosity, and how you might contribute to the honors community.
In recent years, Honors College prompts have asked students to reflect on an intellectual challenge, a problem they’d like to solve, or how they’d use NC State’s resources to pursue interdisciplinary interests. The focus tends to be on ideas and your approach to learning, rather than just listing your achievements.
Go beyond your résumé and be sure you’re not repeating your Common App story. Aim to reveal how you think. Specific examples work really well:
Instead of just stating that you’re interested in research, describe a time you pursued a question outside the classroom—a personal project, experiment, or independent study. For example, if you designed a science fair project about water purification in tenth grade, explain how that made you want to explore environmental engineering from a policy AND technical perspective. Then tie this to NCSU—mention a professor whose research you admire or an interdisciplinary seminar in the Honors College you’d like to join. Just make sure those connections are genuine and connect clearly to your interests.
Being personal is good, but keep it focused on what you’ll bring to the Honors College and what you hope to gain. For instance, if you’re motivated by a close relative’s struggle with a rare disease, talk about how that pushes you to question what is possible in bioengineering, and how you want to collaborate with other curious students to find solutions.
Referencing specific programs or faculty shows you’ve done your research, but don’t overdo it—mentioning one or two elements that genuinely fit your interests is enough. Admissions wants to see that you know what the Honors College offers and that you’ve thought about how you’ll use those resources.
A standout essay often has a moment of insight or discovery. Maybe you realized research can be collaborative, not just solitary. Or maybe you connected two subjects—like art and mathematics—in a unique way. Those moments of connection, and what you did about them, can set you apart.
If possible, have someone who knows you well read your draft and ask if it sounds like you, or if it could sound like anyone. The more your personality and authentic curiosity come through, the better.
Be thoughtful, specific, and honest, and you’ll be on the right track!
In recent years, Honors College prompts have asked students to reflect on an intellectual challenge, a problem they’d like to solve, or how they’d use NC State’s resources to pursue interdisciplinary interests. The focus tends to be on ideas and your approach to learning, rather than just listing your achievements.
Go beyond your résumé and be sure you’re not repeating your Common App story. Aim to reveal how you think. Specific examples work really well:
Instead of just stating that you’re interested in research, describe a time you pursued a question outside the classroom—a personal project, experiment, or independent study. For example, if you designed a science fair project about water purification in tenth grade, explain how that made you want to explore environmental engineering from a policy AND technical perspective. Then tie this to NCSU—mention a professor whose research you admire or an interdisciplinary seminar in the Honors College you’d like to join. Just make sure those connections are genuine and connect clearly to your interests.
Being personal is good, but keep it focused on what you’ll bring to the Honors College and what you hope to gain. For instance, if you’re motivated by a close relative’s struggle with a rare disease, talk about how that pushes you to question what is possible in bioengineering, and how you want to collaborate with other curious students to find solutions.
Referencing specific programs or faculty shows you’ve done your research, but don’t overdo it—mentioning one or two elements that genuinely fit your interests is enough. Admissions wants to see that you know what the Honors College offers and that you’ve thought about how you’ll use those resources.
A standout essay often has a moment of insight or discovery. Maybe you realized research can be collaborative, not just solitary. Or maybe you connected two subjects—like art and mathematics—in a unique way. Those moments of connection, and what you did about them, can set you apart.
If possible, have someone who knows you well read your draft and ask if it sounds like you, or if it could sound like anyone. The more your personality and authentic curiosity come through, the better.
Be thoughtful, specific, and honest, and you’ll be on the right track!
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Roger Lopez
Chicago, Illinois
Yale University BA, Political Science | Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, MBA Candidate |
Experience
4 years