ADMISSION INTO THE HONORS COLLEGE

The Thomas F. Freeman Honors College at Texas Southern University may offer admission to high school seniors, continuing TSU students, and transferring students.  Admission may be regular or conditional, and students with conditional admission must meet requirements for continuation as regular students cwithin one year.

1.     High School Seniors (potential first-semester freshmen)
The College may offer regular admission to high school seniors if they have the following:
-- a Grade Point Average of 3.5 or higher (on 4.0 scale); and, ideally,
-- an ACT composite score of at least 23 but preferably 24, with at least 19 in each of the Verbal and Mathematics sections on the same test date; or
-- an SAT combined score of at least 1070 but preferably 1200 in Mathematics and Critical Reading, with at least 500 in each section on the same test date.

The College may offer conditional admission to high school seniors if they have the following:
-- a Grade Point Average of 3.5 or higher (on 4.0 scale); and
-- an ACT composite score of less than 23; or
-- an SAT combined score of less than 1070 (in Mathematics and Critical Reading, on the same test date).

2.     Freshmen Continuing at Texas Southern University
The College may offer regular admission to applicants who are TSU freshmen, if they:
-- earn a grade of C or above for each course in the freshman year;
-- earn a grade point average of at least 3.50 in each semester in the freshman year;
-- complete at least 15 semester credit hours in each semester in the freshman year;
-- earn an A or a B in FS 102, Freshman Seminar;

The College may offer regular admission to conditionally admitted TSU freshmen who meet these criteria.

3.     Sophomores Continuing at Texas Southern University
The College may offer regular admissiontoapplicants who are TSU sophomores if they:
-- earn a grade of C or above for each course in each semester in the sophomore year;
-- earn a grade point average of at least 3.50 in each semester in the sophomore year;
-- complete at least 15 semester credit hours in each semester in the sophomore year;
-- have an overall GPA of at least 3.50 at the end of the sophomore year;
-- qualify for classification as juniors in their first semesters in the Honors College

4.     Freshmen Transferring to Texas Southern University
A.    The College may offer regular admission to freshmen planning to transfer to TSU if they:
-- earn a grade of C or above for each course in each semester in the freshman year;
-- earn a grade point average of at least 3.50 in each semester in the freshman year;
-- complete at least 15 semester credit hours in each semester in the freshman year;
-- transfer FS 102, Freshman Seminar, or an equivalent course, with a grade of A or B;

5.     Sophomores Transferring to Texas Southern University
A.    The College may offer regular admission to sophomores planning to transfer to TSU if they:
-- earn a grade of C or above for each course in each semester in the sophomore year;
-- earn a grade point average of at least 3.50 in each semester in the sophomore year;
-- complete at least 15 semester credit hours in each semester in the sophomore year;
-- have an overall GPA of at least 3.50 at the end of the sophomore year;
-- qualify for classification as juniors in their first semesters in the College;
-- transfer FS 102, Freshman Seminar, or an equivalent course, with a grade or A or B;

6.     Students Returning to Texas Southern University
The College may offer regular admission to applicants who have returned to TSU.
These would be applicants who were not in the College before the break in their attendance.  They would have to meet requirements continuing students meet.  After they return to the university, in each of at least two semesters immediately before they enter the College, they should:
-- earn a C or above for each course;
-- earn a semester GPA of at least 3.5;
-- have an overall GPA of at least 3.5;
-- pass at least 15 semester credit hours.

7.     Applicants from Other Honors Colleges or Programs
The College may offer regular admission to applicants in other honors programs or colleges:
-- if they meet the requirements for continuation in their current honors programs or colleges;
-- if they agree to meet the requirements of the Honors College during their tenures in the College.

8.     Admission and Financial Assistance Application Procedure
Students attending high school or another college or university, to gain admission into the Thomas F. Freeman Honors College, follow these steps:

apply for admission into Texas Southern University;

b.     receive an offer of admission from the university;
c.     receive an invitation to apply for admission into the Honors College (not absolutely necessary);
d.     submit the special application for admission into and assistance from the Honors College;
e.     receive responses to the applications for admission and for assistance from the Honors College.

Students attending Texas Southern University gain admission into the College through these steps:
a.     receive an invitation to apply for admission into the Honors College (not absolutely necessary);
b.     submit the special application for admission into and assistance from the Honors College;
c.     receive responses to their application for admission (and for assistance) from the Honors College.

9.     Admission and Scholarship Deadlines and Priorities
The Honors College gives the greatest priority to admitting and supporting first-semester freshmen who enter the College immediately after their senior year in high school – especially those who apply for Honors College admission and an Honors College scholarship before March 31.  The College considers admitting other students and providing scholarships to them only after it has offered admission and given awards to high school seniors.  The table below shows the deadlines and priorities for different categories of students:

APPLICANT CATEGORY	DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION	DEADLINE FOR NOTIFICATION	PRIORITY
High School Students *	Mar. 31	May 31	1 (HIGHEST)
Freshmen (planning to continue at TSU) *	May 31	June 30	2 (SECOND)
Freshmen (planning to transfer to TSU) *	May 31	June 30	2 (SECOND)
Sophomores (planning to continue at TSU) *	May 31	June 30	3 (THIRD)
Sophomores (planning to transfer to TSU) *	May 31	June 30	3 (THIRD)
* will enter the College in next fall semester

 

SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS

All applicants must submit the application form, copies of their transcripts, and a 300-word essay in which they explain why the program in the College will be critical in their preparation for work and further study and why they wish receive a scholarship from the College.  High school seniors should submit three letters of support – preferably from their teachers in English, Mathematics and any science – in sealed envelopes. The application form is available here.