United States · 2026–27 special academic programs
American University Honors application essays
AU Honors asks applicants to discuss a creative work that changed their view, design an ideal Honors course, and reason through the costs and risks of technological or scientific progress. These are special-program questions submitted through the Future Eagle portal after the Common Application, not the general AU short answer.
Writing format
Three separate essays, 300 words each
What to prepare
- 1For the creative work, explain the change in your view through a particular detail of the work and your own response.
- 2For the course, define a focused question and what classmates would investigate rather than naming only a broad subject.
- 3For the progress question, give a decision principle and test it against a specific benefit and cost.
How to approach the writing
- Give each 300-word response a different job so the three essays do not repeat one interest.
- Submit the main AU application early enough to receive the Future Eagle portal invitation for the special-program form.
Before you submit
AU lists December 1 as the special-program priority deadline for this cycle; later forms may remain open without priority. Confirm the current portal prompts and deadline. The Honors essays are separate from AU's general supplemental short answer.
Read American University 2026–27 special academic program questions ↗Official source checked 2026-09-26.