• Students are admitted to the Honors College by completing an application for admission. Applications are screened using the following criteria: transcripts, an essay, a letter of documentation from the community service experience described in the essay, activities (inside & outside school), community service experiences, high school course recommendations, standardized test scores, and attendance/tardy records.
• Students are required to enroll in honors level courses. Freshmen and sophomores are required to take three honors-level courses. Juniors and seniors are required to be enrolled in four honors and/or AP courses.
• All students must complete three (3) AP course by graduation.
• Students are required to complete three (3) credits of a world language.
• Students in 9th grade are required to maintain a weighted 3.6 GPA.
• Students in 10th–12th grade are required to maintain a weighted 3.7 GPA.
• Students must complete a minimum of twenty (20) service hours. It is required that ten (10) hours are with one organization, five (5) hours serviced during the school year to Millcreek Township School District, and an additional five (5) hours are with a specific service area assigned by grade level.
• Students must complete additional academic, school, and community service activities.
• Students are expected to follow the Six Pillars of Character and the discipline code outlined in the student handbook. Disciplinary cases (school code or Six Pillars) will be reviewed on an individual basis by the Honors College Team. Removal from the program may result.

Students are selected for the program on the basis of their application. The application form is included in this booklet or can be obtained from the middle school Guidance office or the McDowell Intermediate Student Support office.

Applications are screened by a committee of teachers, counselors, and administrators using a numerical scoring sheet.

The scoring sheet is mathematically weighted. The following are screening criteria items:

• 7th and 8th-grade transcripts

• Standardized test scores in math and reading

• Application Essay

• Documentation letter

• School and outside activities

• Attendance/tardy records

Honors College students attend field trips arranged by advisors and students. Trips vary but may include the Pittsburgh College Fair, Behrend Outreach, the Manufacturing Day Event, college visits, and cultural experiences.

Honors College students receive priority scheduling status through our student management system to ensure they are first enrolled at each grade level in order to meet Honors College course requirements.

Students in 9th grade are required to maintain an overall weighted 3.6 GPA. Students in 10th through 12th grade are required to maintain an overall weighted 3.7 GPA. Students who fall below this GPA requirement will be placed on probation. If the standard is not then met upon the next review, the student will be removed from Honors College.

The comments section of the transcript will carry notations of a student’s participation in the Honors College program. If a student applies to an out-of-state school, he/she may request a letter of confirmation explaining the McDowell Honors College of Leadership and Service to submit with his/her college application.

During the school year, students in the program are required to complete at least twenty (20) hours of community service. The service project is completed under the guidance and direction of the Honors College Advisors. In addition, students are expected to participate in additional community and school service opportunities during the school year.

The Honors College Advisor is a mentor to the students assigned to his/her homeroom. The advisor eases the student transition into McDowell and the new demands of high school. By chaperoning special events, guiding the homeroom through the students’ independent service projects, monitoring their accumulation of community service hours, and ensuring proper completion of Honors College program requirements, the mentor fosters a bond with the student that lasts throughout the high school experience. This mentoring relationship assists the student in making decisions about choosing a college and about setting goals for professional careers of interest. The advisor serves as a role model for the student and does so by taking part in community service and by embracing lifelong learning. Additionally, the advisor is a person of trust for the student to come to for help.

Students currently enrolled in Honors College will need access to a variety of forms that will need completed each year. To access these forms, students must be logged into their current MTSD student account and click the button below to be redirected to the Google Drive:

Access the Forms