The Schreyer Honors College recently opened its annual application to current students and released its admission decisions to prospective Penn Staters.

One might think that Schreyer is exclusive to students who were accepted as first-year applicants, but current students are able to gain admittance, too. Whether you didn’t get in the first time or you’d like the benefits of being a Schreyer Scholar, you’re still able to shoot your shot.

Here are the two ways current students can become Schreyer Scholars:

Schreyer Application

Current students may apply to the honors college until May 15. This is a great way for current students to get comfortable in Penn State and later decide whether or not honors coursework is right for them.

There is a series of prerequisites, though. In addition to the application that includes two essay questions and an academic reference, students must meet Schreyer’s GPA and semester standing requirements. Applicants must possess a cumulative GPA of at least 3.70 at the time of the application, an application semester GPA of at least 3.50 for rising juniors, and 3.70 for rising sophomores. Students must also have at least one full-time semester completed at Penn State and a minimum of four full-time semesters remaining before graduation.

Even though current students entering the college don’t receive an Academic Excellence scholarship, Schreyer still offers all of the benefits that a typical scholar would receive.

You can visit Schreyer’s website or check out the Schreyer Handbook for more details on the program. The application closes on May 15.

Paterno Fellows Program

Students enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts can gain admittance to the honors college through the Paterno Fellows Program.

Unlike Schreyer, there is no application process for the Paterno Fellows Program, and any freshman or sophomore in the College of Liberal Arts is eligible. Students who are interested in the program can register on the Paterno Fellows database.

Once registered in the program, students must complete a series of prerequisite honors courses and keep at least a 3.5 GPA to become a Schreyer Scholar after one year.

You can check out the Paterno Fellows website and requirements to learn more about this option.