Frequently Asked Questions

Prospective Students

  • How do I log into the MyDU portal to access the application?

    To log in to MyDU, you will use your DU ID* and a passcode (originally set as your birthdate in the format MMDDYY). After entering your birthdate, you will be prompted to set up a new password. This new password, combined with your DU ID, will be your login information for most things DU related, including the Honors Program.   

    *Your DU ID is a 9-digit number beginning with 87. You should have received it via email from the Office of Admission.*

  • When can I apply?

    **Applications for Fall 2026 are now closed.**

    For students entering DU in Fall 2027:

    New student applications will be reviewed in 3 rounds. Please apply early! Students must meet the deadlines for Rounds 1, 2, or 3 below to be guaranteed full consideration and a decision before DU's May 1st deposit deadline. 

    • Application Opens: January TBD
    • Round 1: February 2027, TBD
    • Round 2: March 2027, TBD
    • Round 3: April 2027, TBD
    • Round 4: TBD (If we still have space available, we may open an additional round in June, but this is not guaranteed.)

    *If you are unable to apply by these deadlines, you will have one other opportunity to apply during your first fall quarter at DU.  Please see the "Application Deadlines - Current DU Students" section for information on applying during our Late Admit round. 

  • What are your admission criteria?

    Any undergraduate student who has been admitted to DU is eligible to apply as an incoming student or after their first quarter at DU. See "How to Apply" for more information on the application process. We do not see your general admissions application to DU, but we will consider the strength of your general admissions application (as determined by the DU Office of Admission). We base the majority of your Honors admission decision on your essays and teacher recommendation form.

  • How are applications assessed?

    The majority of your Honors applications score is based on five short essay responses and a teacher recommendation form.  The rest of the score is based the strength of your general admissions application (as determined by the DU Office of Admission). Please note that we do not see your general admissions application to DU.  We encourage applicants to focus on their essay responses and to feature examples that speak to what Honors is at DU.  

  • Is it hard to get into the Honors Program?

    Honors Program admission is not guaranteed.  We accept more than half of all applicants, and each Honors cohort makes up about 10% of their DU class.  As DU is already a highly selective school, all Honors applicants tend to have been high achievers in high school with strong GPAs, challenging curriculum, and impressive extracurricular involvements.  As such, Honors at DU is looking specifically for students who are hungry for knowledge, passionate about a wide range of topics, and want to learn in community with one another – both within the classroom and beyond.

    We are also looking for students who are likely to complete the program and graduate with University Honors. In order to graduate with University Honors, students must complete about half of their Common Curriculum (gen ed) course requirements in smaller, discussion-based, Honors-only class sections. They must also achieve Distinction in their major, and graduate with a 3.5 GPA.  Distinction varies by major but generally consists of some type of capstone experience (thesis, portfolio, research, etc.).  

  • If I don't get accepted, am I able to appeal or reapply?

    Due to the large volume of applications we receive and our limited number of program spots, we are unable to reconsider admission decisions.  If you are applying as an incoming student, you will have one additional chance to reapply to the program at the end of your first fall quarter at DU.  When you reapply, your recommender must be a DU faculty member.

    If you are not admitted at the end of your first fall quarter, there unfortunately will not be another chance to apply.  That said, there are other ways to achieve academic accolades at DU that aren't tied to being in the Honors Program, namely earning Distinction in your major and/or achieving Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, etc.) at graduation.

  • Can I participate in PLP and Honors?

    Yes, students can participate in Honors and PLP. Honors requires that first-year students participate in a living community, and PLP's required housing fulfills that requirement, allowing the programs to overlap.

  • Do I have to be committed to DU to apply for Honors?

    No, you do not.  You must be accepted to DU to access the application, but you can apply for Honors even if you haven’t made your final college decision.  Acceptance to Honors isn’t binding.

  • What are the benefits?

    See our "Why Honors?" page.

  • How demanding is DU Honors?

    DU Honors prides itself in a sequence of small, discussion-based courses that provide a uniquely engaging Honors experience while simultaneously fulfilling about half of DU’s Common Curriculum requirements. These classes are typically similar difficulty to that of regular classes.

    Besides classes, the Honors Program only requires attendance to an orientation event at the beginning of the first year.

  • Do I have to live in Honors housing to participate?

    No, Honors requires that first-year students participate in a living community*.  The Honors Floors in Dimond and Hall are one way of fulfilling that requirement, but there are several others. If you are also participating in PLP, you must live with PLP, as that program has a housing requirement.

    *Students who are commuting or simply do not want to live in a residential community may opt out, but we highly encourage living with Honors or another community on campus.

  • Does Honors have any scholarships?

    Honors has one scholarship with very specific criteria. The Preisendanz-Schmid Scholarship provides financial support to one exemplary member of the Honors Program entering their senior year.  Awardees must be rising seniors who are anticipated to complete all Honors requirements and have unmet need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid.  Students who think they may meet these eligibility criteria may apply through the Honors Program during the winter/spring before their final academic year. The scholarship was established by Honors Program alumna Donna M. Schmid (Psychology, ’78) in memory of her parents and grandparents.

  • Can graduate students participate in the University Honors Program?

    Unfortunately, our program is just for undergraduates, as all of our requirements are specific to undergraduate curriculum.  Some of the grad programs have program/discipline-specific honors societies, so it’s worth asking your program coordinator if any exist in your area.

Current Students

  • What classes do I need to register for?

    Our Academics page can help with that! We have a comprehensive checklist and guide to common curriculum.

  • How do I register?

    DU offers some helpful resources, including video tutorials, for registration.

    Please remember to check your registration time ticket by logging into my.du.edu and navigating to your person profile, or alternatively by pressing "register for classes." Honors students have registration priority, so it will not be the same as the rest of your class.

  • How can current students connect to the Honors community?

    Our means of communication is our Honors Newsletters, known as "The Compass." An archive of these newsletters can be found on our "Student Resources" page. Please email kira.castle@du.edu if you are a current honors student and are not receiving newsletters in your DU inbox.

    In addition, the Honors Instagram, operated by the Honors Student Association, is a great way to view events at a glance.

  • Does Honors have any scholarships?

    Honors has one scholarship with very specific criteria. The Preisendanz-Schmid Scholarship provides financial support to one exemplary member of the Honors Program entering their senior year.  Awardees must be rising seniors who are anticipated to complete all Honors requirements and have unmet need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid.  Students who think they may meet these eligibility criteria are encouraged to submit DU's general scholarship application during the winter/spring before their final academic year. The scholarship was established by Honors Program alumna Donna M. Schmid (Psychology, ’78) in memory of her parents and grandparents.