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Students in the Honors Program are afforded more academic freedom, with interdisciplinary seminar coursework satisfying many of the liberal learning core requirements.

Criteria: Minimum 3.75 cumulative high school GPA and 1310 SAT score (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math) or 28 ACT composite score. We consider students applying as test-optional with added emphasis on high school curriculum rigor, as well as all other credentials and application materials (including interview).

Scholarship: Renewable $5,000 residential scholarship. Students selected to participate in both the President's Leadership Program and Honors Program receive just one scholarship.

How to Apply: Select “Yes” for honors interest in the Scholarships section of the Common Application, submit the supplemental essay when prompted and schedule the required interview. If you've already submitted your Common Application, you can apply online using your Applicant Portal credentials.

The President’s Leadership Program is a four-year leadership education experience that uniquely integrates the academic study of leadership, service learning, and personal development.

Criteria: Competitive applicants typically have at least a 3.5 GPA and a 1250 SAT (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math) or 26 ACT composite score. We consider students who apply as test-optional with added emphasis on high school curriculum rigor, as well as all other credentials and application materials (including interview).

Scholarship: Renewable $1,000-$5,000 residential scholarship. Renewable $5,000 residential scholarship. Students selected to participate in both the President's Leadership Program and Honors Program receive just one scholarship.

How to Apply: Select “Yes” for PLP interest in the Scholarships section of the Common Application, submit the supplemental essay when prompted and schedule the required interview. If you've already submitted your Common Application, you can apply online using your Applicant Portal credentials.

How will being a member of the Honors Program benefit me?
The Honors Program provides several benefits — renewable residential scholarship, Honors living area, priority course registration and housing, potential scholarship support to study abroad and paid research opportunities — but the fundamental benefit results from dramatically reducing the University’s Liberal Learning Curriculum (LLC) and individual Honors mentoring and advisement. With roughly a full year of general requirements waived, students have the chance to customize their curriculum: add a second major, add a second minor, get a head start on their major (especially the Business programs and English, among others), and maybe even graduate in less than four years.

How will being a member of the President’s Leadership Program benefit me?
There are a number of benefits associated with membership in the PLP – program scholarship, early registration for classes, priority times for the housing lottery, a potential study abroad scholarship, and first year leadership learning community. Personal leadership development is immeasurably important to your college experience. Our alumni routinely share that their lessons learned in the program have been instrumental in giving them an advantage in the competitive job market and graduate school application process.

How will being a member of the Pre-med Scholars Program benefit me?
The Pre-med Scholars Program benefits students interested in pursing careers in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. Students in the Program receive focused, individualized advising and mentoring, as well as clinical shadowing and service learning opportunities. Eligible pre-med students may also apply to medical school (Eastern Virginia Medical School, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine or Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine) during the second semester of sophomore year. Our goal is not only to provide you with guidance as to courses to take, but also help you explore different opportunities to gain insight into your chosen career.

It is possible to be in the President’s Leadership Program and Honors? What about Pre-Med Scholars? Being in Honors can make participating in the PLP more manageable academically. By reducing the LLC, Honors creates room for the Leadership minor, regardless of which major a student pursues. Also, since all of these programs provide mentoring, students often find they compliment one another. For instance, Pre-Med shadowing and internships can count as Honors Inquiries (for credit and a grade). Similarly, the internship required by PLP can become an Honors Inquiry.

Can I be a student athlete and still participate in PLP/Honors/Pre-Med?
Yes. Many merit scholarship recipients participate in CNU Athletics and still excel academically when they manage their time effectively and prioritize their commitments. Coaches and academic mentors monitor academic progress and the Center for Academic Success provides assistance to student athletes. Many students are able to balance athletics, academics, and other programs CNU has to offer.

If I’m not invited to join Honors or PLP as a freshman, can I join later?
Students interested in joining Honors after enrollment must meet with Dr. Jay Paul, Honors Program Director, after earning a GPA of 3.5 or above at the end of their first or second semester at CNU. Those hoping to join PLP must be nominated by a faculty or staff member. Students joining either Honors or the PLP after freshman year may participate fully in the programs, however, they will not be eligible for a renewable residential scholarship through either program. Students may apply for other scholarships based on their performance at CNU, such as those available through the Study Abroad Office and academic departments.

• Click here to learn more about applying to CNU
• Click here to learn more about applying to the Honors Program
• Click here to learn more about applying to the President's Leadership Program

The term “liberal arts” dates back to the classical era, and referred then to the trivium (rhetoric, grammar, and logic) and quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy). While curriculum in higher education has obviously evolved a great deal since, well-rounded preparation is more important than ever! Whatever discipline you choose to study (and there is plenty of time to figure that out), a liberal arts foundation will prepare you well for graduate school or the world of work because you will learn to think critically, communicate effectively and build a capacity for lifelong learning. As you study the liberal arts, you are not training for your first job only – you are preparing to succeed initially and evolve through what might be multiple careers – perhaps some that haven’t yet been imagined!

• What is distinctive about the academic experience at CNU in general, compared to all the other options out there?  What about your department/discipline?
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• What advice do you have for me to make a successful academic transition from high school to college?
• What are some academic challenges that freshmen face in the classroom, and how do faculty help?
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• What is your area of expertise, and how have you or your department colleagues involved undergraduate students in research?

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