Continuing and Transfer Student Admissions

Honors in the Liberal Arts

To apply to Honors in the Liberal Arts as a current UW student or a student transferring to UW from another institution, complete the following steps:

1. Review the requirements for the Honors in the Liberal Arts track
2. Earn a minimum 3.3 GPA after at least one semester at UW (continuing UW students) or at the institution you are transferring from (new transfer students)
3. Have an advising appointment with one of the L&S Honors Program advisors or Associate Director Pete Keys. This appointment can be scheduled via Starfish (continuing UW students) or by emailing pkeys@wisc.edu (transfer students). This appointment with a member of the L&S Honors staff member must take place before the submission of your application. 
4. Complete the appropriate application (after your meeting):
   • Transfer Student Application*
   • Continuing UW Student Application

*Note: The transfer student application must be completed using your @wisc.edu email address. Transfer students can activate their @wisc.edu email address after being admitted to UW-Madison.

Each application contains similar components: student background information, a review of Honors requirements and student academic history, and three essay questions. These essay questions, each limited to a maximum of 250 words, attempt to have students reflect on their goals within the Honors Program, their specific plans for upcoming semesters, and a demonstration of their potential contribution to the Honors Program.  

Please note that students with more than 60 college credits may find it challenging to prioritize and complete Honors in the Liberal Arts. We encourage you to talk about your goals with advisors and to consider Honors in the Major, especially if you are most interested in research and deeper learning related to your major.

Deadlines

Transfer Students 

• All application steps must be submitted at least 1 week prior to your SOAR date
  • Applications not received by this deadline will not be considered and students are then encouraged to apply as continuing students using the guidelines below.

Continuing Students

• Applications are typically processed within 1-2 weeks of submission. You are not eligible to enroll in Honors Only courses until your application has been processed and you have been officially admitted.

*Note: If you are in your first semester as an undergraduate student at UW-Madison, your application will not be reviewed until an official university GPA has been posted.