how to submit macaulay honors essay

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

College Prep Mom Blog

For Families Who Want to Lessen College Admission Stress

Macaulay Honors College 101 [For the (College) Class of 2027]

September 28, 2022 by CPM

Have you heard about CUNY’s Macaulay Honors College? It is one of America’s top public honors college programs. If you live in New York and your teen is interested in this program, I encourage you to have them start the application as soon as possible.

What Is Macaulay Honors College? 

Macaulay Honors College at CUNY  is an honors college that is spread across eight CUNY colleges. Macaulay students participate in a program designed jointly by the respective college and Macaulay. Students graduate with a dual degree from Macaulay and their chosen CUNY home college.

Every Macaulay student receives a full-tuition scholarship.  Students are still responsible for paying school fees (including some years of room and board) if they are not covered by grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid. Each CUNY college provides different housing options.

Other perks for Macaulay students include a $1,500 per student  Opportunities Fund  to help pay for various professional or academic programs.

Macaulay Honors Eligibility Requirements

Macaulay Honors College evaluates prospective students based on a combination of academic and personal factors. On the academic side, there isn’t a minimum GPA stated but the FAQ section mentions that Students applying to Macaulay should have a recommended average of 90 and above .

Also, note that high school classes of 2023 and 2024 Macaulay college applications are test-optional regarding submitting copies of their standardized test (SAT or ACT)  scores . 

To receive the full tuition Macaulay scholarships, students must be New York state residents/meet CUNY’S New York State residency requirements. Also, it must be the first college experience for prospective Macaulay students. The program only accepts incoming Freshmen – not transfer students. 

For more in-depth information, visit  Macaulay’s Admissions Requirements page .

Macaulay Information Session

Macaulay offers several upcoming admissions events for interested students. The events begin on October 2nd. Staff will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the program. Topics include deadline reminders, essay tips and handling the CUNY application for Macaulay. It is a great way to learn more about Macaulay Honors College.

Macaulay Application Tips

Start as early as possible.

The application went live on 9/1/22. The sooner that a student submits their application, it gives their recommenders more time to write recommendations. Once the application is submitted, their recommenders are notified and asked to upload their recommendation.

The great thing is that students can revise their submitted applications any time up until the deadline. They can add recommenders, upload essays and other supporting materials as well as pay the application fee. The application fee is currently $65. (Students with special financial or other circumstances may be able to have CUNY waive its application fee.)

It is important to note that applicants can only use  the CUNY Application . Macaulay Honors College is not in the CommonApp.  The Macaulay application website closes on 11/16/22 at 6pm.

Application Essay Prompts

As part of the Macaulay application, students are required to submit two essays for the class of 2027. Each should be around 500 words long.

ESSAY 1: ABOUT YOU Select one of the options below. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. O R Tell us about an area or activity, outside of academics, in which you have invested a lot of time and effort. Tell us why. What did you learn? How was it meaningful? ESSAY 2: ABOUT YOUR PLANS FOR COLLEGE. PLEASE DISCUSS ALL POINTS BELOW. Why do you want to go to an honors college ? There are many benefits of being a Macaulay student, such as the Macaulay community, special courses, Honors advisement, cultural passport, opportunities funds, and other financial benefits. Please describe how these features will shape you and your college experience, including, what you expect to bring to the college community and what you expect to get out of your college experience. MACAULAY HONORS COLLEGE

You can learn more about essay considerations on the  Macaulay Honors College Essay Questions  page.

Important Macaulay Admissions Dates

9/1/22: The Macaulay application opens.

11/16/22: The Macaulay application closes at 6pm.

11/28/22: All supporting documents (including application recommendations) are due by 6pm.

3/15/23: Decision day (prospective students receive notifications).

5/1/23: COMMITMENT DAY

The Macaulay Honors College is a wonderful program so consider encouraging your high (academic) achieving seniors to apply.

If you found this post helpful, please share it. 

Email Newsletter

Subscribe to get  14 Essential College Planning Resources for Your Family (2022)  in addition to updates, free giveaways, special offers & more.

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• ‘The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism’ at the MET: A Review

The Science Behind Our Emotions and the Difference Between the Emotions of Men and Women

The Minimum Wage Crisis in New York City

• The Supreme Court’s Ruling to Keep Trump on the Ballot is Reshaping the 2024 Election
• When Real-life Deer Meets a Zombie-like Disease: Unraveling the Mysteries of Chronic Wasting Disease
• Hunger’s Silent Battle: Unmasking the Crisis of Food Insecurity
• Phone Progression and Psychology – What Does it Mean for Your Future?
• The Healthcare Catastrophe Running Rampant in America’s Countryside
• The Risks of Biotechnology in the Food Industry

Citi Bike’s Impact on New York City Transportation

• An Analysis of the U.S. Educational System
• Ecoterrorism: Destruction or Revolution

The Science Survey

Everything you need to know about applying to macaulay honors.

Eric Dayts, a college senior at Macaulay Hunter, gives insight on the selection process at Macaulay Honors and how he interviews applicants.

Raisa Barshai , Staff Reporter | November 17, 2021

Here is the Class of 2022 at Macaulay Honors College at Hunter. “When applying to Macaulay, I ultimately decided on Hunter College as my school of choice, partly because I could see the diversity among the students in the class photos,” said Eric Dayts.

The prospect of a debt free college experience seems like a myth to most Americans, yet at Macaulay Honors, it has become a reality. New York City is one of the largest cities in the world and home to some of America’s top colleges and universities. Macaulay Honors gives students a chance to receive a high quality education with free tuition, while also receiving specialized care and attention from faculty. 

Because of Macaulay’s prestige and the limited number of seats available, it has a record low acceptance rate of 5% as of 2021. Macaulay Honors has consistently received the highest ratings for a public university honors college, and their students have received over 250 prestigious awards. There are 8 CUNY schools to choose from when applying to the Macaulay Honors program, all offering different majors. Hunter College is one of the most popular colleges to study at among Macaulay students, as it has a wide variety of majors and a beautiful campus located right outside of Gramercy Park in Manhattan. Hunter College is also known for its excellent dormitories and its status as a liberal arts school. 

Eric Dayts is now a senior at Macaulay Hunter College on the Pre-med track, and he is also both a freshman mentor and a student interviewer. Dayts came into Macaulay Hunter undecided for his major, but eventually chose to major in Biochemistry. He said that Macaulay Honors in general is very flexible in terms of a student being able to change majors, so he was able to explore his interests and change majors with ease. Applicants who are undecided do not have to worry about choosing a major right away, as Macaulay Honors will give you the opportunity to explore your interests once you get there. 

Dayts has received numerous opportunities through Macaulay’s mentorship program, including lab work, early acceptance to the University of Rochester’s Medical school, and having the MCAT requirement waived. His mentor from his freshman year helped him tremendously in navigating through Macaulay Hunter College and connecting him with labs and internships, as well as giving advice about going to med school. Dayts is a freshman mentor himself now, as well as a student interviewer. 

“The advisors at Macaulay are very adamant about your success, and the peer mentor systems help make the school a strong and supportive environment,” Dayts said.

As a student interviewer, Dayts has talked to many talented applicants, and he is responsible for giving admissions officers information about the students whom he thinks are “the future leaders of New York.” Macaulay Honors, and Hunter College specifically, takes interviews very seriously as part of their holistic review process. Macaulay wants applicants to show their interests, extracurriculars, and genuine self when interviewing, so the admissions officers know how you would fit into their community. Interviewer’s opinions on applicants are considered heavily, so making a good impression in the interview increases your chances of getting accepted. CUNY schools also do not review SAT/ACT scores at all anymore, so everyone has a chance to apply and to get a spot at the school without worrying about standardized test scores. 

“I would say that each part of your application is reviewed equally. One third of the weight is on your academic transcript, your essays are one third, and your interview is one third. Each aspect of your application is reviewed in a way that places an emphasis on who you are as a person, which is why we place so much emphasis on what you say in your interview and supplemental essays,” explained Dayts.

Dayts has seen the diversity of Macaulay Honors in Hunter College increase with each passing year, mainly because the interviews themselves have diversified. Part of what makes the admissions process so fair at Macaulay is the fact that current students get to play a pivotal role in choosing who they want to be admitted into the next class. 

Macaulay Honors also has a unique curriculum that places emphasis on learning the history of New York City. A part of this curriculum includes mandatory seminars that give students the opportunity to participate in group discussions about everything that makes New York City unique. There are four seminars that students must participate in as a part of their curriculum: The arts of NYC, immigration of NYC, science of NYC, and the development of NYC. 

“These classes are great because they give students the opportunity to connect more with the professors who teach these classes, and encourage students to participate in group discussions rather than just listening to lectures,” Dayts said.

Many high school students across the country are currently stressed about college applications, especially during the  COVID-19 pandemic where many people have suffered both financially and mentally. Now more than ever, it is important for students to look into applying for colleges that will support them both financially and academically. Anyone who is a New York City resident has the opportunity to receive a full merit scholarship, making Macaulay Honors a perfect opportunity for talented students to achieve their goals with the support they need.

“The advisors at Macaulay are very adamant about your success, and the peer mentor systems help make the school a strong and supportive environment,” Eric Dayts said, a college senior at Macaulay Hunter.

• college admissions
• Interview tips
• Macaulay Honors

Raisa Barshai is the Spotlight Section editor for ‘The Science Survey.' She loves the freedom that journalistic writing gives her, allowing her to learn...

Exploring the Depths of Japan’s Demographic Shift

The 2024 Presidential Election: The Perspectives of Our Youth Voters

Unpacking Catalan Politics: The Push for Independence

The Breakdown of Bipartisanship

Alexei Navalny: A Pivotal Figure in Russian Political History

Analyzing the Impact of Celebrities

Child Protective Services (CPS) – Data Analytics in the Twenty-First Century

Get the Reddit app

Join the A2C Discord!

r/ApplyingToCollege is the premier forum for college admissions questions, advice, and discussions, from college essays and scholarships to college list help and application advice, career guidance, and more.

Which CUNY Macaulay Honors Essay is which?

Hi everyone, I'm currently filling out the Macaulay Honors application right now but I'm confused on which essays I have to submit for the section in Supporting Information.

Is the Macaulay-Essay the About You Essay ?

Is the Macaulay-Writing Sample the About Your Plans for College Essay ?

Macaulay Honors College at CUNY Undergraduate College Application Essays

These Macaulay Honors College at CUNY college application essays were written by students accepted at Macaulay Honors College at CUNY. All of our sample college essays include the question prompt and the year written. Please use these sample admission essays responsibly.

Join Now to View Premium Content

GradeSaver provides access to 2361 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 11008 literature essays, 2769 sample college application essays, 926 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.

• Browse College Application Essays
• Undergraduate

College Application Essays accepted by Macaulay Honors College at CUNY

What do you know ben conner, macaulay honors college at cuny.

Pose an original question and answer it.

The traditional greetings of the hipsters in my area never really caught on with me. A “What’s popping?” or “Holla at yo’ boy?” coming out of my mouth would’ve screamed “trying too hard,” so I always...

Making Space for My Muse Anonymous

Dear roommate,

Don’t be afraid if you hear noises at night. It’s probably just my muse going out for a walk. I know, she’s really loud. But she never listens to me when I tell her to keep it down.

And she’ll be back in the morning, so please make...

Quadrilingual Anonymous

I am quadrilingual. Sure, it sounds fancy, but as a biracial child of two immigrants, being quadrilingual feels natural to me. English. My mother tongue. No explanation required. As an infant my mom would teach me words by holding up a ball and...

The Art of the One-Month Novel Anonymous

One Way Out of Gym, the mystery of a murdered gym teacher, is not a timeless classic. It’s a novel that spent zero weeks on The New York Times Bestseller List. There’s only one copy—I published it myself. Few care about Detective Charley or the...

Dare to be Weird Anonymous

Dare to be weird.

It’s a simple philosophy, really. Writing-wise, I’ve never been content with clichés, and I try to avoid sappy at all cost. I yearn to craft unique plots and make people see things in new ways—I dare to be weird. I was never able...

Coney Island and the American Dream Anonymous

“Look!” I exclaimed as I wildly waved my bucket and spade in the air, “Mom, look at the sandcastle I made!”

My mother let out an amused chuckle. “Interesting, but what else can you make?” she asked with a twinkle in her almond brown eyes.

Caught in the Middle Camila Sofia Gomez

It can be tricky pronouncing my name, Camila Sofia (Cah-me-lah / Soh-fi-ya) - Spanish accent and all. I’m a Latin American with bittersweet Colombian coffee from home running through my red, white, and blue veins. Identifying myself as a “Latin...

The Wilderness Zar Lib

Tossed into the wild, alone I was to fend for myself against the ravenous beasts. A rustling, no the clanking of Jenga bricks upon the floor, startled me. His imposing 4-foot figure stood before me as a sudden shadow flickered before my eyes. A...

Recent Questions about Macaulay Honors College at CUNY

The Question and Answer section for Macaulay Honors College at CUNY is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Welcome to the new Ploughshares website! To learn more about logging in and what to expect, read here .

Regular Reading Period

Ploughshares welcomes unsolicited submissions of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction during our regular reading period,  open from June 1 to January 15   at noon EST . The literary journal is published four times a year: blended poetry and prose issues in the Winter and Spring, a prose issue in the Summer, and a special longform prose issue in the Fall. Our Spring and Summer issues are guest-edited by different writers of prominence.  To submit to the journal, including the Fall Longform Issue, please see our  guidelines here .

Our Look2 essay series seeks to publish essays about under-appreciated or overlooked writers. The Look2 essay should take stock of a writer’s entire oeuvre with the goal of bringing critical attention to the neglected writer and his or her relevance to a contemporary audience.  To submit a Look2 essay query to the journal, see the  guidelines here .

Emerging Writer’s Contest

In the spirit of the journal’s founding mission, the Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Contest recognizes work by an emerging writer in each of three genres: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. One winner in each genre per year will receive $2,000 and publication in the literary journal. We consider authors “emerging” if they haven’t published or self-published a book.  The 2024 contest—judged by Dantiel W. Moniz in fiction, Porsha Olayiwola in poetry, and Augusten Burroughs in nonfiction—has closed. The winners will be announced this fall.

Manuscript Submission

Review cart.

No products in the cart.