The Office of Honors and Scholarships, located in Honors Hall, Room 16, serves many functions. All students are welcome to come in for information about scholarship opportunities and honors programs. It is never too early to inquire about these opportunities. Plan to visit early and often.
Scholarships
High school students and/or transfer students who are entering with an associate's degree are encouraged to apply for merit-based awards through the Admissions Office.
Current Queens College students can apply for awards that range from $250 to $2,500 per semester. Scholarship recipients are chosen biannually. Please use the Queens College Foundation Internal Scholarship Application for all scholarships except awards for study abroad. This includes Esther's Book Fund ($250).
To be considered for all fall scholarships other than Esther's Book Fund, the deadline is March 10; applications for spring scholarships must be submitted by October 10. For Esther's Book Fund, applications are due by the end of the first week of classes in both the fall and spring semester.
To be considered for an award of $500 towards a study abroad program, please use the Study Abroad Scholarship application. Applications for study abroad will be considered on a rolling basis; therefore, early submission is recommended.
Applying for Competitive Scholarships
Queens College students have been highly successful in winning major national scholarships. Included among the prestigious awards that Queens College students have won are the Watson, the Marshall, the Fulbright, the Truman, the Mellon and the Goldwater Scholarships, in addition to many others.
The Office of Honors and Scholarships mentors students through the application process and assists students in developing the personal statements and essays required for the applications. The office also helps coordinate the overall application process with students and recommending faculty.
High-achieving students should consider applying for a major national award or fellowship. Please consult the CUNY listing of major national awards and then arrange for an appointment to meet with Director of Honors Ross Wheeler at 718-997-3180.
Academic Advisement
In addition to aiding students who seek financial support for their education, the Office of Honors and Scholarships provides advisement about honors level programs. All students are encouraged to explore these options. Queens College Scholars and Freshman Honors Program students in particular are encouraged to come in for advisement sessions about these programs and for early registration.
Honors Programs
In addition to the Freshman Honors Program—to which incoming students must be admitted during their senior year of high school—there are divisional honors programs. Candidates may apply to the following when already at Queens College:
Honors and Awards
Undergraduates who complete their degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, and a minimum of 60 letter-quality credits at Queens College, are eligible to graduate with honors.
- Cum Laude (3.5–3.749)
- Magna Cum Laude (3.75–3.899)
- Summa Cum Laude (3.9–4.0)
You will be sent an Honors and Awards form to complete and return to our office for additional award evaluation. If you believe yourself to have met these requirements and have not received the Honors and Awards questionnaire by March 15, please contact the Honors and Awards Office at 718-997-5503. Also, please make sure to view the Commencement webpage for other graduation requirements.
Summer Fellowship Program
The Jeannette K. Watson Summer Fellowship Program is a three-summer paid internship program. High-achieving freshmen and sophomores only are welcome to apply. For more information about this program, please visit the Watson website or contact the Office of Honors and Scholarships. To be considered for this fellowship, students must apply through our office, rather than directly through the Watson Foundation. The internal deadline for application submission is February 1. However, it is strongly suggested that interested students contact our office for assistance in the application process.
Honor Societies
Phi Beta Kappa: Students who are chosen for Phi Beta Kappa will be contacted by the committee. A student cannot apply for this distinction. The committee nominates students based on their academic record.
Golden Key International Honour Society: Students who complete a minimum of 30 Queens College credits within the top 15% of the student body will receive a letter in September inviting them to join the society.
