Frequently Asked Questions

Prospective Students

  • Admissions & Eligibility
    Who is eligible to apply to the University Honors Program?
    • Incoming Students (First-Year & Transfer): May apply to the University Honors Program once admitted to DU.
    • Current DU Students: May apply following the completion of their first Fall quarter.

    Note: Program admission is limited to a student's first year or upon transferring to DU. 

     

    Do I have to be committed to DU to apply to the University Honors Program? 

    No. The only requirement is that students must be accepted to DU to access the application. Students can apply for Honors even if they haven't made a final college decision yet. Acceptance to Honors isn't binding.

     

    How do I apply?

    Application steps and deadlines vary depending on when you are applying:

    • Please visit the "How to Apply" page for further details including admission deadlines and criteria. 
    • Logging into the MyDU Portal to access the application: 
      • Applicants will use their 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.*

     

    Can I appeal or reapply if I'm not accepted? 

    Admissions decisions made during our regular Winter and Spring cycles are final, and we are unable to re-evaluate applications within those rounds.

    • Reapplying as a Late Admit: Incoming first-year students who are not admitted during the standard cycle may reapply one time after completing their first Fall quarter at DU. This reapplication requires a recommendation from a DU faculty member.

    • Students not admitted following their first Fall quarter are no longer eligible to apply.

       

    Note: Program admission is not required to earn major academic accolades at DU. Students can achieve Distinction in their major and earn Latin Honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, etc.) at graduation independent of the Honors Program.

     

    How competitive is admission? 

    We admit over half of our applicants, forming cohorts that represent roughly 10% of each incoming DU class. While our applicants consistently offer strong GPAs and impressive high school achievements, admission comes down to fit: we look for curious, passionate learners who want to engage deeply with peers both inside and outside the classroom.

     

     
  • Academics & Curriculum
    How demanding is the University Honors Program? 

    We offer a flexible framework so students can complete several Honors requirements on a timeline that fits their academic schedule. While some course requirements must be completed within specific timelines, others, like the Honors Common Curriculum and Honors Seminars requirements are flexible. The cornerstone of earning University Honors is completing Distinction in your major—a process that is managed directly by students' primary academic department.

     
    Do I have to live in Honors housing to participate in the program?

    No. However, Honors requires that first-year students participate in a living community*. Living on one of the first-year Honors floors is 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.

     
    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. 

     
    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?

    Our program is just for undergraduates, as all of our requirements are specific to undergraduate curriculum. Some of the graduate 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.