Any first-year student with a GPA of 3.4 or above at the end of the Fall semester is encouraged to consider applying for sophomore-year admission to the Patrick Leahy Honors College (PLHC). Around 100 rising sophomores are admitted to the PLHC every year.
Students in the Liberal Arts Scholars Program (LASP), during the 2024-2025 academic year, who wish to apply for sophomore-year admission into the Patrick Leahy Honors College must have: a GPA of 3.7 or above, meet all LASP requirements, AND provide the same sophomore application materials as listed below, to be assured admission. Students in LASP who have a GPA of 3.4–3.69, or who have a 3.7+ but have not met all LASP requirements may still apply but are not assured admission.
Please also note that because the Patrick Leahy Honors College is a living and learning community, sophomore-year admits are required to live in one of the buildings in the University Heights complex. Students will be notified about whether they have been admitted to the PLHC before UVM’s housing applications for the 2025-26 academic year open.
Application Deadline for Fall 2025
Online applications will be accepted between December 18, 2024, and January 31, 2025, 4:30 p.m. An application is complete only when all components have been submitted. Incomplete and late applications will not be considered.
The mission of the Patrick Leahy Honors College is to embed the liberal arts in a culture of research and scholarly inquiry, serving all undergraduate students at UVM who seek opportunities to excel in scholarship, leadership, and civic engagement.
Toward this end, we ask prospective candidates for sophomore-year admission to write a brief essay about themselves and their scholarly interests as a part of the application process.
Essay Question
During their first year of coursework in the Patrick Leahy Honors College, students take seminars that address contemporary social and ecological problems, which they explore through multiple disciplinary perspectives.
In an essay of 750 words or less, please respond to the following three-part question:
If you could take a class like this on any possible topic of your choosing, what would the seminar be about? How did your concern with this topic emerge in the context of your personal and intellectual biography? Finally, if you were able to pursue independent research in relation to this issue, what question or questions would you want to explore?
The Patrick Leahy Honors College will inform students about admission decisions by the end of the day on Tuesday, February 11th. Notification will be sent to the student’s UVM email address.
Please apply using the the link below anytime between December 18th, 2024 and January 31st, 2025.
[You will need your final grades for the fall semester and a copy of your transcript reflecting these grades to complete your application.]