Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Honors Program?
The Honors Program represents NYU-Poly’s best resource for students who perform at a consistently elevated academic level. The Honors Program lifts NYU-Poly’s practice of active learning to the next level, merging academic excellence, cutting-edge research, and intellectual and scholarly activities to form a total educational experience for students.  For the student interested in amplifying traditional studies with an increased emphasis on high-level work, the Honors Program promises a rigorous academic experience that fosters robust intellectual growth.  

How many Honors Students are there in total?
Approximately 100. 

Is it possible for students to apply directly to or transfer into the Honors Program?
Participation in the Honors Program is by invitation only. Students admitted to NYU-Poly who are likely to meet Honors Program admissions criteria are referred to the Honors Program selection committee by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Transferring into the program is not possible.

How are students selected to apply for the Honors Program?
Preference is given to NYU-Poly applicants who have been accepted to the Institute with outstanding high school GPA and SAT scores. However, files are reviewed in a holistic manner and other important criteria are given serious consideration. Among these are the difficulty of course work such as AP courses, the receipt of prizes and awards, leadership positions, participation in academic clubs and independent research, evidence of ability to successfully overcome obstacles and of self-discipline and persistence as indicated in their letters of recommendation.

What special requirements are there to graduate from the Honors Program?
Honors Program students are required to complete an Honors Thesis, an independent research project with faculty, in their final year.  Throughout their time in the program, students must also adhere to the GPA and credit requirements as posted in the Program Requirements section of this website.

What if my GPA falls below the required GPA as stated on the Honors program website? 
At the end of each semester each Honors Program student's academic record is reviewed and if his/her GPA is below the minimum required as outlined in the Program Requirements section of this website, the student will be placed on one semester probation in order to improve his/her academic standing. After the one-semester probationary period, if the student's GPA is still below the minimum requirements, the student will be dismissed from the Honors Program. Students dismissed from the Honors Program will retain the original scholarship package offered to them at the time of their initial admission into the university, so long as they meet the institutional requirements needed to maintain those scholarships. The student is responsible for contacting NYU-Poly's Financial Aid Office for up to date financial aid and scholarship requirements.

Are charges for this program greater than those for other NYU-Poly programs?
No, undergraduate tuition is the same for all undergraduate students at NYU-Poly. 

If I enroll in the Honors Program am I still eligible to apply to the BS/MS program?
All NYU-Poly undergraduate students are eligible to apply for the BS/MS program provided they meet the admissions requirements.  Application to the BS/MS program occurs after the student’s second year of academic work.

What are the Summer Session Tuition and Fees for summer in the Honors Program?
 After their first academic year, Honors students will be eligible for up to two (2) courses tuition-free, whether or not they are enrolled in the BS/MS program.  Honors students enrolled in the BS/MS program will be able to take up to two (2) courses tuition free during three (3) consecutive summer sessions following their admission into the BS/MS program.

Are there Fellowships available for Honors students?
The Office of Undergraduate Academics facilitates paid Undergraduate Research opportunities with faculty members during the summer. Students can also find on-campus jobs and work study opportunities.

Where have Honors Students interned or been offered a full-time position?

Our students have worked at such firms as:

• Boeing
• Department of Defense
• Google
• Intel
• Jaros, Baum, & Bolles
• Jet Propulsion Lab (NASA)
• National Institute of Health
• Northrop-Grumman
• Meryll Lynch

Have a question that was not answered here? Contact the Office of Undergraduate Academics.