The Torrey Honors Institute is a highly selective program. Accepted students demonstrate exceptional academic ability, commitment to service for the cause of Christ, and potential for leadership. The average applicant to Torrey is among the top ten percent of students planning to attend Biola University in terms of academic, social, and spiritual leadership. Students wishing to apply to Torrey should have taken academically rigorous classes all four years of high school as well as have successfully completed honors or Advanced Placement work (if such is available at his or her high school). It is also beneficial if the applicant has participated in school clubs, student government or athletics. However, Torrey also values students who are gifted or experienced in non-academic areas – artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, and those who have served in the military or lived abroad are welcomed for their unique contributions to the program.

Eligible to Apply

All prospective Biola University students who have one or more of the following are invited to apply to the Torrey Honors Institute:

1. A GPA of 3.8 and higher
2. A combined SAT of at least 1800
3. A composite ACT of at least 25

English Requirements

Students wishing to enroll in any courses in the Torrey Honors Institute must have outstanding skills in both writing and speaking English. The prospective student will demonstrate the former in a paper submitted with the Torrey application and the latter by an interview with the director.

Advanced Placement Credit

Although most Torrey students will have earned Advanced Placement credit in high school, they will not be exempted as a result from any Torrey required classes. Advanced Placement courses are helpful in preparing the student for Torrey, but not equivalent to Torrey classes in style, content, or rigor.

Process

To apply, follow these simple steps:

• Apply to Biola University

• Apply to Torrey Honors

  • Early Application: January 15th, 2009
  • Regular Application: March 1, 2009

• Phase I: Application Form & Writing Sample

  Post-mark your completed application form and attached writing sample of a 5-8 page argumentative work by one of the two deadlines above.

• Phase II: Electronic Questions

  You will be sent our Phase II questions upon receiving your application and writing sample, which will be due back two weeks later.

• Phase III: Interview with the Director

  Group Interviews and Phone Interviews are available for those students who are recommended by our Faculty Committee to proceed to Phase III.

• Notification: Mid-April

  You will receive notification of the result of your application, no matter the outcome, by the middle of April.

• Confirmation of Participation: May 1, 2009

  Those students selected to participate, must notify Torrey Honors of their intent to enroll by May first.

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