Incoming First-Year Day Students:

The minimum requirements for admission into the Limestone University Honors College include:

  • Score of 1100 on the SAT or 22 on the ACT.
  • If a prospective first year Honors student has a 3.5 GPA but has NOT taken a standardized test due to COVID-19, then that student’s transcript must demonstrate high achievement in multiple dual-enrollment/International Baccalaureate, and/or Advanced Placement classes to be eligible to apply to the Honors College (a prospective applicant’s transcripts will be evaluated by the Honors College Dean and Honors Committee). 
  • High School Grade Point Average of 3.5 (unweighted on a 4.0 scale)

Transfer Students into the Day Program:

  • Transfer students (with less than 36 hours) with a 3.0 GPA and in good standing within their previous institution’s Honors College are also eligible to apply for admission into Limestone’s Honors College. 
  • A transfer student (with less than 36 hours) with a score of at least 1,100 on the SAT or a minimum score of 22 on the ACT and who has achieved at least a 3.5 Grade Point Average at their previous institution may apply for admission into Limestone’s Honors College.
  • A transfer student (with less than 36 hours) with a 3.5 GPA at their previous institution but has not taken the ACT or SAT should contact the Honors Dean to determine eligibility.

All Prospective Honors Students

  • All prospective Honors students must fill out the application and complete the assigned essay. 
  • All applicants must have a Zoom interview with the Honors Dean or an Honors Committee member.
  • All prospective students must have a reference fill out a letter of recommendation that addresses the student’s fit to the Honors College or provide the name and contact information of a reference that can address the student’s fit to the Honors College. 

Guidelines for writing a letter of recommendation for prospective Honors College students

Thank you for agreeing to write a letter of evaluation and support for a Limestone University Honors College applicant! These general guidelines are intended to help enhance your recommendation.

Limestone University Honors College Mission Statement:

The mission of the Limestone University Honors College is to provide academically gifted students on the Day Campus with a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum and an engaging learning community that equips them with the knowledge, creativity, and adaptability to thrive and lead.

Upon graduation, a Limestone University Honors College student will be able to: 

  1. Defend and critique ideas in both oral and written form; 
  2. Recognize and demonstrate the value of service-learning;
  3. Identify complex problems and evaluate solutions;
  4. Analyze and interpret advanced primary and secondary texts; 
  5. Develop a research design and execute research independently or with faculty; 
  6. Implement leadership principles in everyday life. 

In your letter, please:

  1. Briefly explain your relationship with the applicant: How long have you known them? In what capacity have you interacted (teacher, advisor, supervisor)? 
  2. Provide an assessment of the applicant’s suitability for Honors College work and the context for your judgement.
  3. Only include detailed information on course grades, GPA, or ACT/SAT scores if you wish to provide context to help us interpret them. They are available elsewhere within the application.
  4. Focus on behaviors you have observed directly when describing an applicant’s suitability for our Honors College. If you’d like, tell us a story that describes these behaviors. We are particularly interested in any community or school service the applicant has engaged in.
  5. Consider including anything else that you believe the applicant would bring to our Honors College and university, including character traits, talents, and contributions to our school’s diversity (background, personal attributes, experiences).  In other words, anything that makes them ‘special’?
  6. Comparison information can also be helpful. If you make comparisons, be sure to include information about the comparison group (students in class with the applicant, students you have encountered in other settings or classes, former employees or co-workers) and your rationale for the comparison.

Print these instructions with this PDF:

Guidelines for Honors College Letter of Recommendation

Are you ready for the challenge? If so, we are excited to hear from you! Please complete the application below.

Honors College Application

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact Limestone University Honors College Dean, Dr. Jonathan Sarnoff: jsarnoff@limestone.edu.