Maintain a top grade point average. Maintaining an average above 3.0 is not sufficient for earning honors at the graduate level, unlike most undergraduate programs. Graduate programs that use grade point average for distinctions, such as induction into the university's chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, usually expect students to perform within the top 10 percent of their graduating class.
Prepare thoroughly for qualifying or comprehensive examinations. A committee of faculty members usually administers examinations, meeting with each student periodically during the preparatory period. Work closely with members of your examination committee to be sure you know their expectations. If you know which types of material will be covered several months in advance, begin preparing immediately. Some graduate programs, such as the historical theology Ph.D. program at Saint Louis University, give distinction based solely upon examination performance.
Give a confident, thorough defense of your master's thesis or doctoral dissertation. Practice what you are going to say and anticipate questions your committee members may ask. At some universities, departments determine honors standing after the student's defense. The department may award honors based upon the dissertation alone or in combination with other factors such as exam results and grade point average.
Ask your adviser or department chair if graduate honor societies not represented at your school exist within your discipline. If so, make it a goal to meet the requirements and apply for membership. Honor societies that accept graduate student applicants usually require that you hold one of the top grade point averages in your program. Some, such as Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit University Honor Society, also require a strong record of service. This is a good option for graduate students whose universities do not offer distinctions at graduation. Being an honor society member can appear equally prestigious as university honors on your resume.