Honors Program Application

Application deadline for current TAMUCC students or in-coming high-school seniors: March 24, 2008 (by noon)

Late applications: due July 1, 2008 (by noon)

The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Honors Program is a community of talented and committed students who work closely and on a personal basis with dedicated faculty mentors. As an Honors student you can look forward to smaller classes with challenging presentations of core and elective curricula. Honors students will engage each other and the world in discussions of the major issues that we face. As a member of the Honors program, you will be eligible to participate in special extra- and co-curricular activities, including group tours. You will work with a faculty mentor to produce an Honors "project of excellence" as a capstone of your senior year. Upon completion of your degree, you will be able to point with pride to a lasting educational achievement. If such things appeal to you, and you want to join a spirited community of students and faculty, consider applying to the A&M-CC Honors Program.

Please think of the application process as an opportunity to frame for a group of faculty and educational specialists your aspirations and accomplishments. The process is competitive, but you can get help in formulating your application. Read these instructions carefully!

A. Keep in mind that the application process is competitive. The directions on the application will give you the best possible chance of succeeding in the process. The application form may be downloaded in document format.

There are four kinds of materials we will use to consider your application.

1. Your own letter of application. Here you will make your case as to why applying to the Honors Program is an appropriate decision for you. The letter should be addressed to Dr. Janis Haswell, Honors Program Director.

2. Unofficial high school and college transcripts.

3. Three letters of recommendation from teachers--either from high school or (better yet) from college--who know you and your recent work. There is a special form you need to provide for each of your recommendations. The recommendation form may be downloaded in document format. Please give teachers ample time to write a thoughtful letter for you.

4. Information you supply about your past accomplishments (included in the application form).

5. An example of past or present academic work in which you take pride (separate from the information you supply on the application form). We consider "academic work" to include literary or artistic projects, original research, or other demonstrations of skills and interests.

6. An original essay written for this application. This will be your writing sample to the admissions committee, which will consider your critical thinking and interpretive skills, as well as your ability to craft clear, polished prose. To access the choice of prompts for this essay, click here.

B. In your letter of application, take this opportunity to introduce yourself to us. Tell us about learning experiences--in school or beyond--when you were inspired to excel and were able to accomplish worthy goals. Demonstrate why you are interested and would be a valuable, contributing member of the Honors Program. Include what you expect from an Honors experience and how you would gauge your own success in an Honors experience. Use all your rhetorical skills and make sure to proofread and revise until your letter reflects your best writing. Multiple typos and grammatical errors might suggest that you didn't spend much time preparing your materials.

C.  Fill out the top portion of the letter of recommendation form for the teachers you ask, and arrange for a time to pick up the form so that your application reaches us by the deadline.

D. On the application form itself, fill in each question carefully, making sure you provide precisely what is asked for. Type and proofread the factual information.  If you need to look up the names of courses you have taken on SAIL, take the time to do that. Incomplete or inaccurate applications will not be considered. Note: even though we don't ask you for official transcripts at this time, we will require them once you are invited into the program. So be complete, honest, and accurate.
     As you describe your past accomplishments, be thorough but not repetitive. If there is an anomaly in your background (for example, a disastrous semester in high school reflected in your grades), explain it to us or have a person writing a letter of recommendation explain it. Oftentimes your teacher or advisor may be able to place such occurrences in their true light. If you had some hardship, we want to know.

E. Select your sample of academic work carefully. One of your current instructors might help you do this. If your sample is a series of original photographs (for instance), you might include a written explanation of the project, its purpose, and why you have elected to include them in your application. If you include a writing sample, it should display your thinking and reflective abilities, your analytic skills, your research preparation, and/or other important facets of your intellectual life and academic experience.

F. Make copies of everything you submit--keep one for yourself and forward four to the Honors Office. Application materials will be kept in a permanent file in the Honors Office.

G. Don't add fancy covering or binding--this makes duplication and filing very difficult. Organize your materials using paper clips only and enclose everything in a plain manila envelope (8 x 11).

Deliver materials to the following address or drop off to CCH 291F:

Texas A&M University Honors Program
c/o Dr. Janis Haswell, Honors Program Director
Texas A&M University–- Corpus Christi
6300 Ocean Drive
Corpus Christi, TX  78412-5751; Office phone: 825-5981

Members of the Honors Council Admissions Committee will review all complete applications within a week of submission . You should be notified soon after of their decision. In a few cases, you might be invited to interview with members of the Council before a final decision is made.

Mission Statement
Program Goals
Structure of the Program