Texas Business Honors Program (BHP)
The Business Honors Program (BHP) is one of nine honors programs offered at the University of Texas at Austin. Its small class sizes (modeled after case-based methods commonly utilized in MBA programs) separate it from the regular BBA program at the McCombs School of Business. Business Honors Program classes are taught by McCombs' most distinguished faculty.[1]
Community
The Business Honors Program places an emphasis on allowing students to form strong relationships with one another, and to that end, follows a cohort system. During their first week in the program, BHP freshmen are sorted into "Peer Mentor groups." Each group of about 10 students is led by a Peer Mentor (generally a BHP junior or senior) that serves as an adviser and guide. Then, freshmen attend "Leadership Kickoff," where a set of team-building exercises and challenges undertaken in their Peer Mentor Groups are used to teach the value of communication and collaboration. Peer Mentor Groups also allow students to quickly adapt to college life through social gatherings and academic advice from the Peer Mentor (which supplements the guidance given by the BHP's Academic Advising team).
Further programming such as a Sophomore Social, recruiting events, and a Research Interest Group serve to strengthen a sense of community. Events put on by the Honors Business Association (HBA) such as Dinners with a Professor (DWAPs), Dinners with an Alumni (DWAAs), and service opportunities, give students incentive to interact with their cohort and upperclassmen.[2] Additionally, students in each graduating class take "core" honors classes with their cohort and during the same semesters.
Admissions
Applications to the Business Honors Program are submitted through the ApplyTexas Application and the supplemental Online Honors Application. All applicants must complete both applications to be considered for admission. Complete application requirements are detailed in the checklist below.
Prospective students should be aware that being admitted to UT Austin and/or the McCombs School of Business does not guarantee admission to the Business Honors program. Notification of admission to the BHP is mailed independently of the UT admissions decision prior to March 15. Freshmen are admitted to the BHP only for the fall semester.
Application Criterion
The following criteria are used in selecting candidates for freshman acceptance to BHP:
- High school class rank and transcript
- Evidence of extracurricular involvement and leadership skills
Note: As the academic achievements of the applicant pool improve, leadership has become increasingly important as an admissions criterion
- SAT/ACT scores
- Essays A & B from the ApplyTexas Application
- Professional Resume
- One letter of recommendation (electronic)
- Phone interview with a BHP alumnus (by invitation only)
All materials are sent to UT Admissions where they are processed and routed to the appropriate college or program. UT Admissions will NOT route applications to the BHP Office until the application is complete.[3]
References
- ↑ "BHP Academics." BHP Faculty. Web. 29 July 2015.
- ↑ "Life in BHP." Honors Business Association. Web. 29 July 2015.
- ↑ "Business Honors Program". BHP Admissions.