by Rose Carter

The nationally ranked Schreyer Honors College announced its acceptances for the Class of 2019, with a record total 3,721 applications received for the incoming freshman class. The accepted Schreyer Honors College Class of 2019 includes students from 32 states and 12 countries. The final class count of 300, representing only eight percent of the initial applicants, will arrive on campus this August.

“This was our largest applicant pool ever, and by far, our most competitive,” said Schreyer Honors College Associate Dean Michele “Mitch” Kirsch. “Everyone worked very hard over the last several months to reach the final pool of admitted applicants and the selection process included over 150 faculty readers and 296 alumni interviewers around the world. Penn State attracts so many high-caliber applicants, it makes it difficult for us to select our entering class. The Schreyer Honors College Class of 2019 was no exception and we look forward to welcoming them to campus in the fall.”

Schreyer Honors College was established in 1997 by alumnus and former Merrill Lynch CEO William Schreyer with one of the largest gifts to Penn State University. In addition to completing an exemplary application for admission to Penn State University, prospective scholars are required to submit three essay questions, provide information on leadership experiences and academic honors, and have recommendations from two teachers submitted. Prospective scholars have the option to participate in an interview session with Scholar Alumni volunteers. A committee reviews applications and helps determine the class composition for each academic year.

Schreyer Honors Scholars have been recognized for major international accomplishments with prestigious awards, scholarships, and fellowships presented in the last year. Neha Gupta became the first American to win the International Children’s Peace Prize. Ryan Henrici was awarded a Marshall Scholarship and Christopher Rae was selected for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship as they will continue their studies in the United Kingdom.

Of Penn State University’s 13 Fulbright program students for the 2014-15 academic year, six were Schreyer Scholars or Schreyer Alumni. Stephanie Brown and Melissa Quinnan were two of only 15 U.S. students selected for an undergraduate research fellowship at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research.

Schreyer Honors College promotes academic excellence with integrity, the building of a global perspective, and creation of opportunities for leadership and civic engagement. Schreyer Honors Scholars, including Gateway Scholars admitted after their first year of enrollment, total more than 1,800 students at University Park and six Commonwealth campuses. They represent the top two percent of students at Penn State University who perform well academically and lead on campus.