Macaulay Honors College: The Ultimate Application Guide

Macaulay Honors College Application Guide

The William E. Macaulay Honors College is the premier honors program at the City University of New York (CUNY). As one of the oldest and most prestigious public universities in the country, CUNY has a long tradition of offering a top-tier education at an affordable price. With the Macaulay Honors College, students get to experience a uniquely enriching academic environment with the benefit of graduating debt-free.

Macaulay Honors College students enroll at one of eight CUNY schools, where they can take advantage of interdisciplinary learning opportunities. However, with a limited number of spots available per campus, getting into the CUNY Macaulay Honors College isn’t easy. On top of fulfilling the application requirements, students will need to be strategic about which campus they apply to.

This guide is all about navigating the Macaulay Honors College application. From exploring campuses to writing your application essays, we’ll cover everything you need to know to apply.

Specifically, in this guide to the Macaulay Honors College we’ll go over: 

• All eight CUNY Macaulay Honors College campuses
• Macaulay Honors College rankings and the average acceptance rate
• Key information on the Macaulay Honors College application process
• How to transfer into Macaulay Honors College
• Tips for applying to top honors colleges, and more!

If you’re interested in CUNY Macaulay Honors College, this is the guide for you! To start, let’s review the basics of what an honors college is and the benefits of an honors education.

What is an “honors college”?

As you start your college application journey, you might wonder — what is a honors college? Honors colleges are designed for high-achieving students, providing them with an enhanced academic experience. In general, students directly apply to honors colleges through a university’s standard admissions process.

The best honors colleges offer smaller class sizes, unique learning opportunities, and cohort style classrooms. Many honors colleges emphasize learning across diverse fields and provide options for students to learn outside their major. Additionally, honors colleges provide networking opportunities, specialized lectures or lessons, and advanced study programs. 

Despite these benefits, even the best honors colleges may not be the right fit for every student. Balancing additional classes, lectures, and capstone projects can be overwhelming. Researching different honors colleges and learning how they work is key to making an informed decision.

Are honors colleges worth it?

Determining if a program like CUNY Macaulay Honors College is a good fit can be difficult. There are pros and cons to even the best honors colleges.

In general, honors colleges provide a unique opportunity for students to enhance their college experience. Students often find close-knit communities through their honors college, and can access great networking and academic opportunities not found elsewhere. For students with varied interests, honors colleges offer the opportunity to expand their studies and gain exposure to multiple fields. 

Honors colleges often provide students with the opportunity to learn in smaller groups, which can be great for students at larger schools. They also help students build connections with specialty professors and important faculty members. For students interested in research or academia, the networking connections made through an honors college can help them in the future, especially as they apply to advanced degree programs. 

However, attending an honors college does have its drawbacks. Honors colleges often come with additional requirements, including classes, lectures, and even projects. For students in highly demanding majors, the additional time commitment may not be worth it.

Additionally, simply applying to an honors college comes with an added level of competition and more requirements. As such, it’s important to fully understand each honors college and their requirements before applying. So, let’s begin our in-depth review of the CUNY Macaulay Honors College!

Macaulay Honors College at CUNY

Founded in 1999, the William E. Macaulay Honors College is dedicated to bringing transformative educational experiences to students, both in and out of the classroom. Students are able to engage with world-renowned professors and access the wide amount of resources found within the CUNY system. 

The CUNY Macaulay Honors College is also unique in its commitment to providing robust financial support to their students. Macaulay students receive significant financial aid, including study grants to help fund unpaid internships, study abroad programs, and research projects. New York residents qualify for free tuition.

As a highly selective program, the Macaulay Honors College offers a level of prestige to the college experience at a much lower cost than a private school. With the lower CUNY tuition and significant financial aid opportunities, the Macaulay Honors College works to expand opportunities across all barriers. 

Students can apply directly to the Macaulay Honors College when they submit their CUNY application. There are specific Macaulay Honors College requirements that students must complete as part of their CUNY application, which we’ll review later in this guide.

How many CUNY campuses are part of the Macaulay Honors College?

Macaulay students enroll in one of eight CUNY colleges, depending on their academic interests and the Macaulay Honors College majors offered. We’ve detailed the eight CUNY colleges with Macaulay Honors programs below to help you pick the right one for you and your academic goals. 

Macaulay Honors College Campuses

Baruch College

Baruch College is one of the best public colleges in the United States for business and liberal arts studies. The Macaulay Honors College at Baruch prepares students for careers in business, public affairs, and the arts and sciences. 

Brooklyn College

Housed within their Honors Academy, Brooklyn College also offers select students admission to the Macaulay Honors College. The Honors Academy offers a tight-knit community for students to explore their academic interests. As one of the more popular CUNY schools, Brooklyn College is a top choice for Macaulay students. 

City College

As the flagship campus for the CUNY system, the City College of New York also houses Macaulay Honors students. For students interested in engineering, architecture, and social science programs, City College offers the best of CUNY’s resources along with the added benefits of the honors program.  

Hunter College

With the largest student population among all the CUNY schools, Hunter College is one of the most popular CUNY campuses. Macaulay Honors students at Hunter College have a built-in community with smaller class sizes, opportunities for mentorship, and unique programs.  

John Jay College

John Jay College is a great place for Macaulay Honors students to explore criminal justice, ethics, and civic issues. Macaulay Honors students at John Jay College complete a specific program on “the common good” to help them think more globally about their studies. For students interested in Criminal Justice, the Macaulay Honors program at John Jay College is a great option. 

Lehman College

Macaulay Honors students at Lehman College complete a senior capstone thesis, and have the opportunity to choose from over 130 Macaulay Honors College majors. Lehman College is a great option for students interested in business, education, and liberal arts. 

Queens College

With one of the smallest Macaulay Honors cohorts (60 students), Queens College is a great option for students seeking a small-college experience within a large university. With over 78 Macaulay Honors College majors, Queens College is a great choice for students seeking a broad, liberal arts education.

College of Staten Island

The last school on our list is the College of Staten Island. Macaulay Honors students at CSI have the benefit of close mentorship, a tight-knit community, and various research and internship opportunities. 

How does the Macaulay Honors College work?

To apply to CUNY’s honors college, you’ll need to submit the Macaulay Honors College application. On this application, you’ll designate one of the eight CUNY campuses as your home campus. You can also select up to six other campuses to review your CUNY application. So, in the event you are not selected for the honors college, you can still gain acceptance to another CUNY college.

The Macaulay Honors College acceptance rate is much lower than the standard CUNY acceptance rate. Be sure to give yourself ample time to complete your application and make the strongest case for your acceptance.

Once accepted, the CUNY Macaulay Honors College experience begins. Students will spend most of their time at their home campus, but may need to complete additional Macaulay Honors College requirements at other campuses.

Macaulay Honors College majors are the same as other CUNY majors, but Macaulay Honors students will have access to additional advisors, staff, and resources on campus. The Macaulay Seminar series exposes students to different fields of thought and industries, and Macaulay advisors help students maximize their college experience. 

As one of the best honors colleges, Macaulay also encourages students to gain experience outside of the classroom. Students will have ample opportunities to conduct research or participate in internships, with special funding allocated to help them achieve their goals. 

The CUNY Macaulay Honors College also offers several special honors programs, including the Horace W. Goldsmith Scholars Program, which helps students navigate graduate school applications. Additionally, the Friedman Transfer Scholars program helps students in CUNY community colleges transfer directly into a Macaulay Honors College program.

Macaulay Honors College Ranking

With CUNY ranking highly among some of the best colleges in New York, it’s no wonder that Macaulay is considered a top honors college. Public University Honors lists Macaulay Honors College as one of the best in the country, based on 13 different rating categories. Forbes also ranks Macaulay highly in terms of cost efficiency and great value for its students, thanks to Macaulay’s CUNY tuition scholarships. 

The overall Macaulay Honors College ranking is reflective of how highly ranked the CUNY colleges are. For example, Baruch College is ranked #3 in Top Public Schools, per U.S. News. Hunter College, Brooklyn College, and Queens College also rank highly among public colleges. 

Overall, the Macaulay Honors College ranking demonstrates its excellent programs, dedication to the student experience, and academic rigor. As a highly selective program, it’s key that your Macaulay Honors College application adequately represents your qualifications and goals for the future. 

Is Macaulay Honors College hard to get into?

As one of the best honors colleges in the United States, the Macaulay Honors College is difficult to get into. With only a select amount of seats per campus, the Macaulay Honors College acceptance rate can be quite low compared to the overall CUNY acceptance rate.

Like most colleges, CUNY Macaulay Honors College uses a holistic admissions process. Students must complete all CUNY admissions requirements in addition to specific Macaulay Honors College requirements. For instance, your Macaulay Honors College application must include two letters of recommendation, as well as two Macaulay-specific essays, neither of which are required for general CUNY admissions.

These additional Macaulay Honors College requirements help the admissions committee determine if you’re a good fit for their program. Successful applicants typically have a 90% or higher high school GPA, and Macaulay students must maintain a 3.5 GPA while in the program. Additionally, the majority of successful applicants participate in community service projects while in high school. 

If you’re unsure about your letters of recommendation and essays, CollegeAdvisor has some great guides to help you. You can read our guide on How to Ask for a College Recommendation Letter and examples of a “Why this college” essay here. 

Macaulay Honors College Acceptance Rate

As previously mentioned, the Macaulay Honors College acceptance rate is highly selective. While it varies from campus to campus, the average Macaulay Honors College acceptance rate hovers around 7%. This is much lower than the average CUNY acceptance rate of 61%.

The number of available spots vary per CUNY campus, so some Macaulay Honors College programs are harder to get into than others. We’ve outlined how many spots are available per campus for Macaulay Honors students, so you can strategically plan your Macaulay Honors College application. 

With an average of 7,000 applications competing for just 520 spots, the CUNY Macaulay Honors College is indeed a tough program to get into. Depending on which of the Macaulay Honors College majors you’re interested in, you may want to consider selecting the CUNY campus with more spots available. Your Macaulay Honors College application will only be sent to one CUNY campus, so it’s important to pick the one best suited for your academic needs. 

Should I apply to Macaulay Honors College?

As you navigate the CUNY admissions process, the question of applying to the Macaulay Honors College will come down to several factors. The Macaulay Honors College is a great fit for highly ambitious students who are seeking an interdisciplinary education. Macaulay students should also be interested in studying in New York City and engaging in community service throughout their college experience. 

On the other hand, students seeking a more traditional college experience may find the smaller class sizes, additional academic requirements, and extracurricular activities hard to manage. For students not interested in learning across disciplines, the Macaulay Honors College may not be a good fit. 

Cost is another important consideration. With its robust financial aid program, the Macaulay Honors College is a great option for New York residents. With free CUNY tuition, Macaulay Honors students receive a highly prestigious and selective education at a very low cost. For students who want to attend college tuition-free, the Macaulay Honors College ensures that students are financially supported from freshman to senior year. 

Overall, the decision to apply to the Macaulay Honors College is up to you. The rest of this guide will detail the Macaulay Honors College application process, starting with an overview of the admissions steps.

Macaulay Honors College Admissions Process

William E. Macaulay Honors College doesn’t accept the Common App or Coalition App. Students must apply via the CUNY application. However, the CUNY Macaulay Honors College admissions process is rather straightforward. Here are the admissions steps: 

Macaulay Honors College Admissions Steps

Step 1: Determine your eligibility.

All first-time college students are welcome to apply — taking college courses through dual enrollment does not impact eligibility. Students who were previously rejected from Macaulay and haven’t attended other post-secondary institutions may also apply. (Queens College applicants, however, may NOT re-apply.) First-year associate’s degree students at CUNY colleges may apply through the Friedman Transfer Scholars Program.

Step 2: Choose your home campus.

On your Macaulay Honors College application, you’ll select one home campus. You can also choose up to six other campuses that will receive your CUNY application for general admission. Do your research during this step so that you’re satisfied with your home campus choice.

Step 3: Assemble your application documents.

There are several documents and materials in the Macaulay Honors College requirements. These include high school transcripts, recommendation letters, and an application fee. See the following sections for a deeper look at the Macaulay Honors College requirements.

Step 4: Submit your Macaulay Honors College application online.

Students will submit their Macaulay Honors College application through the CUNY application portal. This portal is where applicants can fill in all their necessary information, make their campus selections, and submit documents. After applicants make an account, a special section for Macaulay Honors College requirements will become available in the portal. There are also sections for demographic and financial aid information, which help determine eligibility for a CUNY tuition scholarship.

Step 5: Wait for a CUNY admissions decision.

Once an applicant sends their Macaulay Honors College application, they have the option of printing a summary of their application. The CUNY admissions team advises applicants to keep this summary for their records.

One thing to note: applicants must choose an intended major from among the Macaulay Honors College majors. This is not a final choice — students don’t actually declare a major until later.

Now that we’ve outlined the Macaulay Honors College admissions process, let’s take a look at the timeline.

Macaulay Honors College: Dates and Deadlines

The CUNY Macaulay Honors College application timeline is similar to early application deadlines at other universities. In other words, the application opens in early September and is due in mid-November. It’s important to note that the mid-November deadline is the only deadline — Macaulay Honors College applications not submitted by then aren’t considered.

As with any college application, it’s paramount to get an early start on your application. As one of the country’s best honors colleges, Macaulay demands the best. Starting early means more time to polish your application and ensure everything is in order before submitting.

Macaulay Honors College Requirements

The Macaulay Honors College requirements aren’t out of the ordinary if you’re familiar with the American university admissions process. Applicants to Macaulay need to submit the following:

Required Application Documents

Official transcripts

New York City public high school students can enter their OSIS number in their CUNY application portal. Other applicants will need to request transcripts from their school guidance counselor or send their transcripts through Naviance. Homeschool students and students taking online or correspondence courses have special procedures, detailed on Macaulay’s admissions website.

Two letters of recommendation

The CUNY Macaulay Honors College application requires two academic recommendation letters. Note that recommenders won’t receive invitations until after you submit your application; letters are due two weeks after the general application deadline. Be communicative with your recommenders throughout the application process, especially after submitting.

Two essays

The Macaulay Honors College requirements include two essays of approximately 500 words. The essay prompts are similar to those found in other college applications, but this doesn’t mean they take any less planning. As with any college application, your essays should be written for the institution you’re applying to.

SAT/ACT scores (optional)

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CUNY schools have joined many other institutions in going test-optional. This means that ACT and SAT scores are not required. However, as with every part of the Macaulay Honors College application, you’re encouraged to submit scores if they’ll strengthen your application.

Application fee

The CUNY application requires a $65 application fee regardless of the number of CUNY colleges you apply to. Fee waivers are available in certain cases such as veteran status or economic hardship.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for non-native English speakers

Applicants who are on a temporary visa and educated in a non-English environment must submit documentation that demonstrates English proficiency. In addition to the TOEFL, scores from the academic-level IELTS and PTE as well as Duolingo are accepted.

That may seem like a lot, but you likely already have some of these documents prepared if you’re applying to other best honors colleges. Once you’ve submitted all of these CUNY Macaulay Honors College requirements, your designated home campus will evaluate your application.

Picking a Home Campus

Your home campus will be, well, your home while you’re a Macaulay Honors College student. Most of your coursework, research, and extracurricular activities will happen here. It is a big choice, and you should consider several factors in making your decision.

Curricular and extracurricular programs are an obvious factor in choosing a college. If you already know your interests, research CUNY colleges to see which ones have your desired Macaulay Honors College majors. Even if multiple schools have the program you want, some may have particular research opportunities or facilities. There may also be special resources such as professional societies or networking opportunities that catch your eye. Your experience of certain Macaulay Honors College majors may vary widely according to your home campus.

The partner CUNY schools are scattered across New York’s boroughs, meaning each has a unique local scene. If you already live in NYC, you may want to stay close to home — or try living somewhere new. Since Macaulay Honors College offers a NYC culture pass to its students, you may want to live closer to certain museums. Location can also influence available opportunities for internships and research assistantships.

Research the eligible CUNY colleges’ offerings, outcomes, and campus life. How do your findings stack up against your goals and interests? Do your application materials give you a good chance of beating the Macaulay Honors College acceptance rate at each institution? Since you can only submit a Macaulay Honors College application to one institution, you can hardly spend too much time on research.

Macaulay Honors College SAT Requirements

As previously stated, CUNY is test-optional for the 2025 admissions season, so standardized test scores are not required. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted standardized testing cycles across the globe, forcing many of the best honors colleges to waive score requirements. Although some schools have returned to test-mandatory admissions, CUNY has not.

Applications will be evaluated equally whether or not they include standardized test scores. In this way, the CUNY acceptance rate can be less of a challenge to some students. If you’re concerned about your chances against the Macaulay Honors College acceptance rate, test-optional admissions may help you.

With that said, what is a honors college if not a place for academic excellence? CUNY admissions urges applicants to submit standardized test scores that demonstrate high potential. What kind of scores would those be? According to CUNY Macaulay Honors College statistics, the average SAT score of admitted students in 2020 was over 1400. Therefore, if your SAT scores are at or above that, you should consider sending them!

Macaulay Honors College Application Essays

There are two essay prompts for the CUNY Macaulay Honors College application. Both prompts ask for an essay of approximately 500 words; there are no fixed upper or lower word limits. Let’s take a look at both prompts and how to approach them.

If you’re applying to other institutions, you’ve likely encountered similar questions in personal statement prompts. The difference, though, is that this is an intentionally open-ended prompt; your topic may be positive or negative, personal or professional. Approaching this prompt will take deep introspection, as a strong Macaulay Honors College application essay demonstrates keen self-awareness. 

When brainstorming for an essay like this, it may help you to do a free write first. Set a timer for 10 to 15 minutes, then write down everything that comes to mind. These may be isolated words or phrases, or an idea may spin out into a whole paragraph. Don’t think about editing during a free write — just let the ideas flow, selecting the good ones once you’re done.

If you’re having trouble finding a topic, you may want to ask a family member, mentor, or longtime friend for some guidance. People who’ve seen you grow, change, and face challenges may have one or several experiences to suggest for this essay. Ultimately, make sure your topic is impactful to you personally and appropriate for your audience.

This CUNY Macaulay Honors College essay prompt has multiple parts, so the first step is to understand it thoroughly. This prompt asks about a lot — prospective Macaulay Honors College majors or future careers, your campus choice, and your aspirations as a community member. How can you answer all this in just 500 words? First of all, remember that 500 words is just an average. Second, you can start big and edit later.

The first part of this Macaulay Honors College essay prompt is essentially a “why major” essay. That is to say, even if you don’t have a major in mind, you should write something about your future aspirations. The second part is like a “why college” essay, asking you to explain your Macaulay Honors College home campus choice. The final part resembles a community essay, where you explain your approach to communities and how you’ll engage with them in college.

When writing this essay, you don’t necessarily have to answer the questions in order. In fact, a well-written CUNY application essay blends the answers together seamlessly. The key is in connections: how can you connect your academic or career goals with life on your home campus? CUNY Macaulay Honors College wants to shape tomorrow’s changemakers, so how will you start creating change while in college?

Friedman Transfer Scholars Program

The Friedman Transfer Scholars Program lets a small number of students transfer into Macaulay Honors College each year. CUNY admissions knows that not everyone is ready to enter Macaulay Honors College right after high school. They may need a lower CUNY acceptance rate or just have other goals at the moment. Friedman Scholars are students pursuing associate’s degrees at participating CUNY schools who can transfer into Macaulay as juniors.

The Friedman application is open from early January to early April. To be eligible, applicants must be on track to get their associate’s degree the following year. Academic excellence is essential — students must have an average 3.5 GPA. Finally, they must be enrolled at one of the participating CUNY schools:

• Bronx
• Guttman
• Kingsborough
• Queensborough
• Hostos
• LaGuardia
• Borough of Manhattan
• College of Staten Island

On the Macaulay Honors College application, aspiring Friedman Scholars must select their home campus from one of the eight Macaulay partner schools. Their application is sent only to that school. There are slightly fewer Macaulay Honors College requirements for transfer students, but essays and recommendations are still essential. Additionally, applicants may submit an optional extracurricular resume; however, beating the Macaulay Honors College acceptance rate all but necessitates a resume.

If selected, applicants will complete their associate’s degree at their current institution while taking Macaulay courses elsewhere. After graduating, they will enroll at their selected CUNY Macaulay Honors College home campus as a junior. These requirements and timeline may change, so it’s best to check the application page for the latest information.

More of the Best Honors College

While the Macaulay Honors College ranking is undoubtedly high, it’s not the right choice for everyone. If paying CUNY tuition or living in New York are dealbreakers for you, another honors program may be the way to go. Here are a few more of the best honors colleges and programs at public schools in the United States:

More Best Honors Colleges

Penn State Schreyer Honors College

Schreyer Honors College has seven partner campuses within the Penn State system. They provide extensive study abroad and internship opportunities, as well as combined bachelor’s and master’s programs.

South Carolina Honors College

The South Carolina Honors College offers over 600 courses for students to explore and expand their horizons. Most courses are small, with an average of 16 students; they range from honors versions of standard classes to unique seminars.

UVA Echols Scholars Program

If you have too many interests to count, you may be an Echols Scholar at heart. Echols Scholars are exempt from the UVA College of Arts & Sciences General Education requirements, so they can explore courses of interest. Students who find their area of interest particularly unique can design their own Echols Interdisciplinary Major.

University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Honors Program

The U-M LSA Honors Program requires students to fulfill core requirements before completing a two-year capstone project. Outside the classroom, LSA honors students can partake in a wide variety of events and programming.

UC Berkeley Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholars Program

This scholarship doubles as an honors program; UC Berkeley scholars receive scholarships up to their full need as well as other benefits. While the list of perks is long, the application process is quite involved, so be prepared.

While Macaulay is a great program, some of the other best honors colleges may meet your needs better. Research their campuses and how they compare in areas like the CUNY acceptance rate or campus life.

5 Tips for Applying to Top Honors Colleges

Before we wrap up our article, let’s look at a few general tips for applying to top honors colleges. These tips can help you beat the Macaulay Honors College acceptance rate or that of any other honors program.

5 Honors College Application Tips

1. Highlight your academic achievements.

Honors programs are for the real scholars among us. Your application is the best place to highlight academic achievements and accolades related to your intended Macaulay Honors College majors.

2. Choose extracurriculars that demonstrate important qualities.

Read each program’s admissions website to learn what qualities their admissions officers want to see. When writing about your extracurricular activities, try to highlight leadership, dedication to community, and commitment.

3. Write powerful personal statements and essays.

This may seem like common sense, but never underestimate the power of an essay! Even if it takes several reviewers and rounds of feedback, ensure your essays are as evocative as possible. Find impactful, specific stories for your writing; don’t just praise the Macaulay Honors College ranking and move on.

4. Ensure recommendation letters are strong.

The strongest recommendation letters often have deep roots. If college applications are still a ways off, take time to form close bonds with teachers and mentors who can be recommenders later. If you’re already preparing applications, be polite and respectful when asking for letters — and give your recommenders plenty of time to prepare their recommendations.

5. Double-check your application for accuracy and completeness.

You can never be too thorough in ensuring your application is complete. Make sure you have every item on your application checklist before submitting.

Macaulay Honors College: Application Guide  – Takeaways

In this article, we covered a lot of ground. From “what is a honors college?” to “what is the Macaulay Honors ranking?”, we answered several key questions. We outlined the many benefits of attending Macaulay, from the CUNY tuition scholarship to special seminars. Additionally, we discussed the William E. Macaulay Honors College acceptance rate and the home campuses available to Macaulay students. Then, we took a closer look at the CUNY Macaulay Honors College application requirements.

With Macaulay Honors College ranking high year after year, it can feel intimidating to approach the application. Fortunately, CollegeAdvisor is here to help. Our admissions experts can help you craft strong applications for honors colleges and other selective programs. Whether you’re brainstorming essay topics or doing interview prep, our advisors are there at every step in your admissions journey.

This article was written by Jessica Klein and Gina Goosby. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.