Expand your experience 

The UW Honors Program is a curriculum, a community, and much more! Our students are enthusiastic learners from all backgrounds and majors seeking to expand and deepen their education.

Quick facts

  • There are three Honors options to choose from: Interdisciplinary, College, and Departmental Honors.
  • Honors courses fulfill the UW general education requirements.
  • The Honors curriculum integrates research, leadership, community service and reflection.
  • $1.2 million annually in resident and non-resident scholarships.
  • Honors floors in the residence halls.
  • Students take ~one Honors class per quarter.
  • There is no one type of Honors student – Honors student majors range from English to computer science, psychology to biochemistry, engineering to public health.

How to join Honors

Interdisciplinary Honors Freshman admissions

If applying to the UW as a freshman, you will find the Honors application – consisting of two additional Honors-specific essays – within the UW application. 

The 2023 Honors application essay prompts

Respond to the prompts using no more than 300 words each.

  1. Why is an interdisciplinary education important to you? In your response explain why you are interested in the UW Interdisciplinary Honors Program.
  2. The Interdisciplinary Honors program encourages students to engage with their local, national, and global communities through a multidisciplinary lens. Tell us about a pressing societal concern that impacts and/or interests you. Why is this issue important to you and how do you imagine engaging with or addressing this concern while at UW?

 

Freshman admissions process and timeline:

  • Apply via the UW application by the UW application deadline.
  • The Honors Program reviews applications separately from UW Admissions.
  • You must be admitted to UW to be admitted to the Honors Program.
  • In recent years Honors has received 4,000-6,000 applications per year,  admitted ~1,200 applicants, and enrolled ~230 students.
  • Honors holistically evaluates applications.
  • The Honors admission decision has no bearing on the UW decision.
  • Honors sends a separate decision email after you are officially admitted to the UW – expect to receive a decision email from Honors between March 15 and April 15.