Honors means something different in college than you might think it does: the focus is on applying what you learn and making the most of your time at USU rather than just taking harder classes and earning higher grades. The University Honors Program’s motto, from the poet Horace, is “Sapere aude” or “Dare to Know.” The program is designed to support curious, engaged, resilient students who will take that dare together by challenging themselves to expand their own and others’ perspectives.
All U.S. Citizens who apply to USU Honors will automatically be considered for the USU Involvement Scholarship, a one-year award recognizing past effort and future potential to engage in extracurricular activities, leadership, and service (amounts vary).
Application Process
1. Apply to USU
Before applying to the University Honors Program, you must apply to USU and be admitted.
If you have applied to USU but have not yet received an A number (or USU Student ID), please email honors@usu.edu for assistance.
2. Draft Essays
The application will ask you to write three brief essays (250-300 words each) that clearly demonstrate your desire and potential to take the Honors “Dare to Know” and contribute to the Honors Aggie community (prompts below).
3. List Activities
You will select from a list of possible extracurricular, leadership, and work activities any that were part of your high school experience.
4. Apply to Honors
When you are ready, please apply to USU Honors and expect a decision by early March.
What is Your A-number (or USU Student ID)?
Once you are accepted to USU, you are assigned an A-Number (also called USU Student ID). This number is used as your student number, username, and email prefix (e.g. a########@usu.edu) during your time at USU. This number can be found in your acceptance email.
Search your email for the USU acceptance email (you can search “Congratulations! You’re an Aggie!”). Your a-number is included in the Admission Summary section and looks something like this.
Essay Prompts
Curiosity in the Classroom
Describe in detail a moment in high school when you became so curious about an idea, assignment, or activity from a class that you started thinking about it creatively and even shared your ideas with people outside your classroom (friends, family, co-workers, community members). Close the essay by explaining, as specifically as you can, which majors, minors, or other academic activities you are interested in pursuing at USU and how you think they might capture your imagination and help you bring curiosity and creativity to your own academic experience as an Honors Aggie.
Extracurricular Engagement
Choose one high school extracurricular activity (club, sport, work, volunteer activity, etc.) that was particularly valuable to you and describe in detail how you grew from that activity during your time in high school. Conclude this essay by explaining what specific kinds of extracurricular activities you want to get involved with at USU and how they might add to and enrich your Honors Aggie experience.
Courage and Connection
Describe a specific example from your recent experience that demonstrates your ability to question your own point of view and engage with other perspectives in a positive, constructive way. Show us that you can listen carefully, think critically and self-reflectively, and build connections by engaging thoughtfully with what others care about. Then, choose one of our upcoming Honors Gen Ed Breadth courses or Honors Book Labs. Close the essay by explaining as specifically as possible how you think that course or lab might help you both develop your own thinking and understand different disciplines, ideas, or perspectives.