FAQs

If you are a genius, then you certainly should consider applying. However, there just aren’t very many geniuses around. An average Honors Student is probably more accurately described as above-average in ability, ambitious in some way, and mentally active.

No. You will be graded by your Honors Professor the same as if you were in a regular section. You will be graded neither more harshly nor more leniently than the regular student. Grades will not be curved. If every person in a class earns an A, then everyone in the class will get an A.

No. The Citadel’s Honors Program is based on the concept of enrichment, not acceleration. The work you will do in your Honors Courses may be more challenging, but there won’t be a significantly greater amount of it. Honors Courses will emphasize depth of understanding, not the amount of material covered.

The Honors Program application is separate from the application to The Citadel. The application and selection process is managed by the Citadel Faculty Scholarship Committee. Details on applying are found on the Application Process page.

Don’t worry! We don’t think you’re going to lose your scholarship. It doesn’t happen very often. Also, statistics show that being in the Honors Program doesn’t seem to hurt people’s grades. Comparing students who had similar high school GPAs and standardized test scores, at The Citadel, Honors students earn a slightly higher GPA: we have noted an average 3.5 GPA for Honors students compared to a 3.2 for similarly-prepared non-Honors students. So, work hard but don’t worry. However, if for any reason you decide that you don’t want to stay in the Honors Program, you can easily just withdraw at the end of the semester with no hard feelings.

AP courses cannot take the place of Honors courses at The Citadel, though you may be able to claim the credits as General Electives (see last paragraph). There are a couple of reasons for this. First, high school AP courses strive to challenge students at a higher level but are not the equivalent of normal college courses much less Honors-level college courses. Second, dual enrollment college English classes are .

Additionally, our Honors courses are significantly different from both the non-Honors courses they take the place of in The Citadel curriculum and from the AP courses that take their place. For instance, in English 101 and the AP equivalent (English Literature and Composition), students study essay writing. They may or may not also read some essays or works of short fiction to provide material to write about. The Citadel’s Honors Freshman Writing (FSWI) and upperclass English courses (ENGS 30x) are comprehensive courses that encompass more writing and analysis than constricted English101 or AP English courses do. Moreover, all Honors courses have a multidisciplinary component that are not included in non-Honors or AP courses.

Also, taking the Honors courses with your Honors Program classmates provides significant opportunities for interaction, discussion, and engagement with other like-minded students. Taking Honors courses is the best ways to create a full Honors Program experience!

So, AP credits don’t take the place of Honors courses at The Citadel. However, if you have earned AP credits for AP Language and Composition, AP Literature and Composition, and AP Western Civilization, The Citadel will accept those credits as General Electives.