Honors College Application

Letter from the Program Director

Dear Applicant and Future Belmont Abbey Student:

Thank you for your interest in the Honors College! At Belmont Abbey, you will have the opportunity to encounter the great books of the Western canon in an environment shaped by the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and our Benedictine Heritage. In engaging Socratic seminars, you will read and discuss the Holy Bible, Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Dante, and Shakespeare, among others. You will contemplate the perennial questions of human existence in the company of friends and in collaboration with dedicated teachers.

The Honors College's great books curriculum replaces the traditional core curriculum. Students can choose from three tracks. The 78-credit track allows students to take a traditional major (such as Business, History, or Theology) and minor in Great Books. The 90-credit track awards a major in Great Books while leaving an additional 30 credits for courses in other departments. The 120-credit track is for students who wish to take only Honors College courses.

Over the course of four years, you will know an Honors College that extends far beyond the

curriculum, as you: expand your experience of the world through our Abbey-in-Ireland study

abroad; combine natural grandeur, leisure, and learning our Abbey-by-the-sea Academic retreat at Hilton Head Island; and encounter the beautiful through symphonic, theatrical, and dance performances.

The Honors College of Belmont Abbey is designed to be a four-year program. Beginning in Fall 2024, the Honors College will require all scholarship recipients to commit to the program for all four years. The Honors College will no longer allow students to graduate earlier than four years. The Dean of the Honors College is not required to accept any credits from other universities or high school dual credit for required Honors College courses. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Varacalli at thomasvarcalli@bac.edu.

Thank you for applying, and I look forward to speaking with you soon!

Sincerely,

Dr. Thomas Varacalli

Dean of the Honors College

Belmont Abbey College

100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Rd.

Belmont, NC 28012

Student Information

First Name:

Middle Initial:

Last Name:

Preferred Name:

Date of Birth:

Gender:

Home Phone

Cell Phone

Home Address:

City:

State:

Zip:

Country

E-mail Address

How did you find out about the Honors Program?

Academic Information

High School

HS Graduation Year:

Unweighted GPA

SAT Score (EBRW & Math Only)

ACT English:

ACT Math:

Intended Major(s):

Required Responses

Please answer the following questions at any length that you determine to be sufficient.

1. What are your personal and academic strengths?

2. Which of your limitations do you regard to be the most important to work on?

3. Which person, book, or institution has influenced you the most? How or why?

4. Besides reading, which interests or activities are most enjoyable for you?

Required Interview

An interview is required for all Honors College candidates. After submitting your application, please await instructions from the program regarding scheduling an interview.

Verification

I hereby verify that the information I have provided is correct to the best of my knowledge.

Contact Information