Achievement Realized through Community in the Honors College

Program FAQs

• What is Achievement Realized through Community in the Honors College?

  The Achievement Realized through Community in the Honors College Program is a flexible, two-year cohort experience for incoming Honors College students.

  Students in the program are part of our inspired Honors College learning community, benefitting from specialized and exclusive opportunities, connections, and community support.

  Watch our recent ARCH Scholars Information Session to learn more!

• What are the program benefits?

  As an ARCH scholar, you’ll…
  

  • Receive optional priority housing selection to live in in the Honors College Living Learning Community residence hall your freshman year.
  • Take a First Year Experience course specially designed for advanced students in the ARCH program.
  • Have access to ARCH-versions of popular courses across campus.
  • Be eligible for exclusive ARCH Abroad programs to study abroad in London or Wales during the spring of your first or second year.
  • Benefit from Honors College perks like priority registration.
  • Be an active Honors College student involved in Honors student activities and opportunities.

• What is the ARCH Abroad program?

  Each spring semester, groups of first- and second-year students in the ARCH Program get to expand their Honors College experience beyond international boundaries. ARCH Abroad offers students in the Achievement Realized through Community in the Honors College program the opportunity to live and study for a semester in…

  • London, England
  • Aberystwyth, Wales
  • Rome, Italy (Launching in 2027)

  Living and studying abroad offers you the opportunity to develop new perspectives, expand your understanding of global cultures, and strengthen your adaptability in diverse environments. For many students in the ARCH Program, it's the definitive part of their Honors College experience.

  Immersion in another country fosters independence, cross-cultural communication skills, and a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of today’s world. Whether in London, Aberystwyth, or Rome, ARCH Abroad programs combine rigorous academics with the rich personal growth that comes from living and learning in a new setting.

  You can sign up for one of the ARCH Abroad programs as soon as you’ve been accepted into the Achievement Realized through Community in the Honors College program. If you’ve received an invitation to join the Honors College through the ARCH Program, you’ll soon receive details about the program available in Spring 2027.

  Learn more about ARCH Abroad
• How are ARCH scholars selected?

  There’s no application process for the ARCH Program: Achievement Realized through Community in the Honors College. You’re selected based on your superior academic performance in high school, and your potential to hit the ground running and thrive here at college.
  
  If you’ve been accepted into the program, you’ll receive an official acceptance notification directly from the Honors College through your College of Charleston admissions portal. And there’s no extra step to claim your spot in the program. Once you submit your deposit to the College of Charleston, you’re officially a member of the ARCH Program: Achievement Realized through Community in the Honors College!

• What's it like being a student in the Honors College?

  The Honors College consists of two distinctive experiences: The ARCH Program: Achievement Realized through Community in the Honors College and The Honors Scholars Program. Each approach is set up to help different types of students get the most out of their time in college.
  
  In the ARCH Program you’ll be an active member of the Honors College community throughout your first two years of college. You’ll be able to participate in Honors College programming and will interact regularly with other highly motivated Honors students. To remain in good standing as an ARCH Scholar and member of the Honors College, you must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

  Students in the ARCH Program may opt to apply to the join the Honors Scholars Program during the spring of their first year to then transition into the Honors Scholars in fall of their second year. This is a separate application process.

• Which is the best Honors College program for me?

  Students in the ARCH Program: Achievement Realized through Community in the Honors College are welcome to apply to join the Honors Scholars program during freshman year to start sophomore year. The application for current students opens in the spring semester and is active January to May each year. Students in the ARCH Program who want the full four-year Honors Scholars experience are welcome to apply in their first spring semester to start the Honors Scholars program in fall of sophomore year. 

  Students in the ARCH Program cannot complete the two years of ARCH then apply for Honors Scholars, as the Honors Scholars program takes a minimum of 6 semesters (3 years) to complete.

• I have been invited to the ARCH Program, what's next?

  1. Deposit - pay the non-refundable enrollment deposit to the College of Charleston. This secures your seat in the Honors College and the ARCH Program: Achievement Realized through Community in the Honors College. There is nothing else you need to do to confirm your enrollment.
  2. Sign up for housing - Submit the housing application to the College of Charleston by the noted deadline. Doing this by the deadline confirms you wish to live on campus for your first year. ARCH Scholars are welcome to live in the Honors College Living Learning Community in Berry Residence Hall for their first year. This is optional and students are welcome to live anywhere.
     • The Housing Office will reach out in early June to all Honors/ARCH students asking if they wish to live in Berry. 
       • Those who say yes will get an early date to select their room in Berry after Honors Scholars, but before anyone else.
       • Those who say no will receive a date to select housing (in any dorm) based on the date they submitted the housing application (or their roommate group's earliest form submission). 
     • If you are in a roommate group with fewer than 50% Honors students, you will select in the next phase.
     • We encourage all Honors/ARCH students to live in Berry for the community and the newly renovated Honors Center on the first floor.
  3. Register for orientation - If you are able, please register for an Honors/ARCH preferred orientation session. If you are not able to attend one of these, that is okay. Students all experience the same 2-day orientation, aside from one welcome session that will be offered at each session.
     • We have Honors/ARCH preferred sessions due to staffing over the summer and hope to concentrate more students to certain sessions so they can meet more students in their cohort. We know students may be restricted by session dates, so please register for what works best for you. Orientation sessions fill quickly!
     • ARCH students will meet our ARCH Director and vairous other Honors College staff at their welcome session.