Admissions overview

Through the ILS admission process, our staff identify exceptional students who have performed well in college-level courses in the life sciences and who are interested in participating in meaningful research experiences in a community with like-minded students.  ILS students take a sequence of ILS courses together.  Please see our FAQs for additional details regarding admissions.

Prospective Students

Successful candidates have consistently demonstrated outstanding academic performance throughout high school, especially in STEM coursework, and show a passion for the life sciences. 

Most entering ILS students have also advanced placement or college credit in science, calculus, and other humanities courses. While not required, most of our students earn college credit that the University of Maryland registrar recognizes as equivalent to the freshman biology sequence BSCI160/161 and BSCI170/171. This preparation equips them to thrive in the competitive and rigorous ILS program.

Admissions process and timeline

To be considered for an invitation to ILS, prospective freshmen must be invited to join the University of Maryland’s Honors College by submitting a complete undergraduate application by the early application deadline of November 1. There is no separate application for the Honors College.

applying to transfer into ils as a Sophomore

ILS recognizes that some outstanding first-year students were not able to join our community, or have only recently decided that ILS might be the appropriate living-learning program for their career objectives. Thus, ILS offers a second entry point for rising second-year students on a competitive, space-available basis. Transfer approval is not guaranteed, and students who transfer to a new LLP will have to start over with the requirements of their new program.

Students who are currently enrolled in an Honors Living-Learning Program (LLP) may apply to transfer from their current to any other program within the Honors College in the spring. Applications are available in March of each year. Please refer to the Honors College for more information.

Any student who transfers into ILS as a sophomore will be required to participate in all first-year responsibilities with their new cohort of incoming first-year students including living in LaPlata, completing a service-learning component, and completing a research experience. Admission is highly selective and has historically averaged two students per year or fewer.