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For Families Who Want to Lessen College Admission Stress

Macaulay Honors College 101 [For the (College) Class of 2027]

September 28, 2022 by CPM

Have you heard about CUNY’s Macaulay Honors College? It is one of America’s top public honors college programs. If you live in New York and your teen is interested in this program, I encourage you to have them start the application as soon as possible.

What Is Macaulay Honors College? 

Macaulay Honors College at CUNY  is an honors college that is spread across eight CUNY colleges. Macaulay students participate in a program designed jointly by the respective college and Macaulay. Students graduate with a dual degree from Macaulay and their chosen CUNY home college.

Every Macaulay student receives a full-tuition scholarship.  Students are still responsible for paying school fees (including some years of room and board) if they are not covered by grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid. Each CUNY college provides different housing options.

Other perks for Macaulay students include a $1,500 per student  Opportunities Fund  to help pay for various professional or academic programs.

Macaulay Honors Eligibility Requirements

Macaulay Honors College evaluates prospective students based on a combination of academic and personal factors. On the academic side, there isn’t a minimum GPA stated but the FAQ section mentions that Students applying to Macaulay should have a recommended average of 90 and above .

Also, note that high school classes of 2023 and 2024 Macaulay college applications are test-optional regarding submitting copies of their standardized test (SAT or ACT)  scores . 

To receive the full tuition Macaulay scholarships, students must be New York state residents/meet CUNY’S New York State residency requirements. Also, it must be the first college experience for prospective Macaulay students. The program only accepts incoming Freshmen – not transfer students. 

For more in-depth information, visit  Macaulay’s Admissions Requirements page .

Macaulay Information Session

Macaulay offers several upcoming admissions events for interested students. The events begin on October 2nd. Staff will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the program. Topics include deadline reminders, essay tips and handling the CUNY application for Macaulay. It is a great way to learn more about Macaulay Honors College.

Macaulay Application Tips

Start as early as possible.

The application went live on 9/1/22. The sooner that a student submits their application, it gives their recommenders more time to write recommendations. Once the application is submitted, their recommenders are notified and asked to upload their recommendation.

The great thing is that students can revise their submitted applications any time up until the deadline. They can add recommenders, upload essays and other supporting materials as well as pay the application fee. The application fee is currently $65. (Students with special financial or other circumstances may be able to have CUNY waive its application fee.)

It is important to note that applicants can only use  the CUNY Application . Macaulay Honors College is not in the CommonApp.  The Macaulay application website closes on 11/16/22 at 6pm.

Application Essay Prompts

As part of the Macaulay application, students are required to submit two essays for the class of 2027. Each should be around 500 words long.

ESSAY 1: ABOUT YOU Select one of the options below. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. O R Tell us about an area or activity, outside of academics, in which you have invested a lot of time and effort. Tell us why. What did you learn? How was it meaningful? ESSAY 2: ABOUT YOUR PLANS FOR COLLEGE. PLEASE DISCUSS ALL POINTS BELOW. Why do you want to go to an honors college ? There are many benefits of being a Macaulay student, such as the Macaulay community, special courses, Honors advisement, cultural passport, opportunities funds, and other financial benefits. Please describe how these features will shape you and your college experience, including, what you expect to bring to the college community and what you expect to get out of your college experience. MACAULAY HONORS COLLEGE

You can learn more about essay considerations on the  Macaulay Honors College Essay Questions  page.

Important Macaulay Admissions Dates

9/1/22: The Macaulay application opens.

11/16/22: The Macaulay application closes at 6pm.

11/28/22: All supporting documents (including application recommendations) are due by 6pm.

3/15/23: Decision day (prospective students receive notifications).

5/1/23: COMMITMENT DAY

The Macaulay Honors College is a wonderful program so consider encouraging your high (academic) achieving seniors to apply.

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Everything you need to know about applying to macaulay honors.

Eric Dayts, a college senior at Macaulay Hunter, gives insight on the selection process at Macaulay Honors and how he interviews applicants.

Raisa Barshai , Staff Reporter | November 17, 2021

Here is the Class of 2022 at Macaulay Honors College at Hunter. “When applying to Macaulay, I ultimately decided on Hunter College as my school of choice, partly because I could see the diversity among the students in the class photos,” said Eric Dayts.

The prospect of a debt free college experience seems like a myth to most Americans, yet at Macaulay Honors, it has become a reality. New York City is one of the largest cities in the world and home to some of America’s top colleges and universities. Macaulay Honors gives students a chance to receive a high quality education with free tuition, while also receiving specialized care and attention from faculty. 

Because of Macaulay’s prestige and the limited number of seats available, it has a record low acceptance rate of 5% as of 2021. Macaulay Honors has consistently received the highest ratings for a public university honors college, and their students have received over 250 prestigious awards. There are 8 CUNY schools to choose from when applying to the Macaulay Honors program, all offering different majors. Hunter College is one of the most popular colleges to study at among Macaulay students, as it has a wide variety of majors and a beautiful campus located right outside of Gramercy Park in Manhattan. Hunter College is also known for its excellent dormitories and its status as a liberal arts school. 

Eric Dayts is now a senior at Macaulay Hunter College on the Pre-med track, and he is also both a freshman mentor and a student interviewer. Dayts came into Macaulay Hunter undecided for his major, but eventually chose to major in Biochemistry. He said that Macaulay Honors in general is very flexible in terms of a student being able to change majors, so he was able to explore his interests and change majors with ease. Applicants who are undecided do not have to worry about choosing a major right away, as Macaulay Honors will give you the opportunity to explore your interests once you get there. 

Dayts has received numerous opportunities through Macaulay’s mentorship program, including lab work, early acceptance to the University of Rochester’s Medical school, and having the MCAT requirement waived. His mentor from his freshman year helped him tremendously in navigating through Macaulay Hunter College and connecting him with labs and internships, as well as giving advice about going to med school. Dayts is a freshman mentor himself now, as well as a student interviewer. 

“The advisors at Macaulay are very adamant about your success, and the peer mentor systems help make the school a strong and supportive environment,” Dayts said.

As a student interviewer, Dayts has talked to many talented applicants, and he is responsible for giving admissions officers information about the students whom he thinks are “the future leaders of New York.” Macaulay Honors, and Hunter College specifically, takes interviews very seriously as part of their holistic review process. Macaulay wants applicants to show their interests, extracurriculars, and genuine self when interviewing, so the admissions officers know how you would fit into their community. Interviewer’s opinions on applicants are considered heavily, so making a good impression in the interview increases your chances of getting accepted. CUNY schools also do not review SAT/ACT scores at all anymore, so everyone has a chance to apply and to get a spot at the school without worrying about standardized test scores. 

“I would say that each part of your application is reviewed equally. One third of the weight is on your academic transcript, your essays are one third, and your interview is one third. Each aspect of your application is reviewed in a way that places an emphasis on who you are as a person, which is why we place so much emphasis on what you say in your interview and supplemental essays,” explained Dayts.

Dayts has seen the diversity of Macaulay Honors in Hunter College increase with each passing year, mainly because the interviews themselves have diversified. Part of what makes the admissions process so fair at Macaulay is the fact that current students get to play a pivotal role in choosing who they want to be admitted into the next class. 

Macaulay Honors also has a unique curriculum that places emphasis on learning the history of New York City. A part of this curriculum includes mandatory seminars that give students the opportunity to participate in group discussions about everything that makes New York City unique. There are four seminars that students must participate in as a part of their curriculum: The arts of NYC, immigration of NYC, science of NYC, and the development of NYC. 

“These classes are great because they give students the opportunity to connect more with the professors who teach these classes, and encourage students to participate in group discussions rather than just listening to lectures,” Dayts said.

Many high school students across the country are currently stressed about college applications, especially during the  COVID-19 pandemic where many people have suffered both financially and mentally. Now more than ever, it is important for students to look into applying for colleges that will support them both financially and academically. Anyone who is a New York City resident has the opportunity to receive a full merit scholarship, making Macaulay Honors a perfect opportunity for talented students to achieve their goals with the support they need.

“The advisors at Macaulay are very adamant about your success, and the peer mentor systems help make the school a strong and supportive environment,” Eric Dayts said, a college senior at Macaulay Hunter.

• college admissions
• Interview tips
• Macaulay Honors

Raisa Barshai is the Spotlight Section editor for ‘The Science Survey.' She loves the freedom that journalistic writing gives her, allowing her to learn...

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, macaulay honors college: how good is it.

Hey everyone! I'm considering applying to Macaulay Honors College and I was wondering if any of you know about its ranking? I'd appreciate any insights into the college, its reputation, and if you think it would be a good fit for someone interested in pursuing a STEM major.

Macaulay Honors College, which is part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, is known for offering outstanding academic opportunities and resources to high-achieving students. While it may not have the same national prominence as some Ivy League institutions, the college has consistently received positive reviews for its rigorous curriculum, faculty, and supportive network of students and alumni.

In terms of STEM programs, Macaulay students are able to major in various subjects through the individual CUNY campuses. For instance, The City College of New York and Hunter College are particularly well regarded for their science and engineering programs.

Also, you will have access to a wealth of resources including research opportunities, internships, professional networks, and world-class facilities.

One of the significant advantages of Macaulay Honors College is its robust financial aid package, which provides full-tuition scholarships and access to the Opportunities Fund for pursuing internships, study abroad programs, and research. Additionally, Macaulay students benefit from smaller class sizes, dedicated advisors, and priority course registration as part of the honors experience.

It's essential to consider fit when choosing the right college for you. If you are seeking a smaller, close-knit community that offers personalized attention and access to city-wide resources and opportunities, Macaulay Honors College might be a great match for you. Keep in mind that the CUNY campuses also offer robust STEM programs and opportunities, so you can look into those to further assess if Macaulay would be the right choice for your academic interests.

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