FAQs

Q. What is the Presidential Scholars Program?   
A. The Presidential Scholars program is FIT’s honors program.  Open to all majors, the program gives you an opportunity to interact with your peers from around the globe who are pursuing different career paths.

The students in the program participate in:

• Specially designed honors Liberal Arts courses
• Monthly colloquia series with guest speakers
• Annual retreat.
• Extracurricular activities including Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, opera at Lincoln Center, and walking tours. 
• Community service activities
• National honors conferences
• Junior and regional honors projects  

Q. Is this a scholarship program?     
A. No. This is an honors program. We do give a $500 stipend per year and have some scholarship opportunities for Presidential Scholars students, but it is NOT a scholarship.

Q. Is this program for all majors?   
A. Yes. All majors are represented in the program. In fact, students see getting to know students from other majors as a real benefit of the program.

Q. When should I apply?
A. For incoming freshmen:
Apply in the fall of your senior year. Do not wait for your FIT admissions decision. If you have completed your Presidential Scholars application AND your FIT application by December 15, the Admissions Office will give your application priority review.

For incoming juniors:
Apply in the fall of your sophomore year.

Q. Is there a deadline?                     
A. Yes. March 8, 2010.

Q. When will I be notified whether or not I have been accepted?  
A. We will notify you by April 1.

Q. Can I be admitted for the spring semester?  
A. No. All students are admitted for fall only.

Q. Do you admit transfer students?        
A. Yes.  Transfer students admitted to the first or fifth semester for Fall are eligible for Presidential Scholars.       

Q. Do you admit international students?   
A. Yes. We welcome applications from students from all over the world.

Q. Do you admit one-year students?  
A. No. One-year students do not take any Liberal Arts courses, so this program does not suit their needs.

Q. How do I apply to FIT's honors program?   
A. Apply online.

Q. What are the application requirements?   
A. For incoming freshmen:

Applicants should have a B+ or better high school GPA.

You must present SAT or ACT scores, but the Presidential Scholars Program does not have a minimum SAT /ACT score for admissions. While the average SAT total score has been approximately 1830, the honors committee welcomes and always offers admission to students with a range of scores.

For incoming juniors:
Students must have a 3.5 GPA

Q. How many students are in the program? 
A. Approximately 155 students, from freshmen through seniors are in the program. We have a freshman class of 45 Presidential Scholars.

Q. What are honors courses?
A. Honors courses are Liberal Arts courses taught by creative, dedicated faculty. All honors courses have a maximum enrollment of 20.

Q. Are the honors courses harder?
A. The honors mantra is that honors courses are qualitatively different, not quantitatively different. Students find the courses stimulating and engaging. They are taught by some of the best faculty in the college.

Q. Will the honors courses "count"?   
A. Yes. The honors courses will substitute for departmental and SUNY requirements.

Q. Will the honors courses fit into my schedule?
A. Yes. You will receive extensive advisement to help you find the course that best suits your schedule and your requirements.

Q. What about my AP, IB, and transfer credit?
A. You will meet with the Honors Coordinator who will carefully review your record to find the best way of utilizing all the credits you have earned.

Q. What about housing?        
A. You are guaranteed access to housing in the FIT residence halls. We do not have separate honors dorms or floors. We do not cover the cost of housing.

Q. Can I study abroad and still be in the Program?  
A. Yes. We encourage study abroad. If you are applying to the program as an incoming junior, just let us know in a cover letter when and where you intend to study.

Q. What happens if I'm admitted to FIT but I don't get into the Presidential Scholars Program?
A. You can still take honors courses as long as you maintain a 3.5 GPA and the honors courses will still substitute for other required Liberal Arts courses.            

You can reapply to be in the Presidential Scholars Program in the fall of your sophomore for admission in the fall of your Junior year.