For High School Seniors Applying to UT
Candidates for the Dedman Distinguished Scholars Program are chosen from all those in-state Texas students who apply to either the Plan II Honors Program or the Liberal Arts Honors Program in the College of Liberal Arts. Honors program admissions counselors consider a number of factors in your UT application when looking for candidates for the Dedman Distinguished Scholars Program: your high school academic record (AP classes, grades, class rank); national test scores; your extracurricular activities, especially in leadership and service; and your essays.
Outstanding candidates will be invited to apply to the Dedman Scholars Program in a separate application, which includes an additional essay and a short video telling us about yourself. The Dedman Scholarship Program will review the applications and invite finalists to visit campus for interviews. During the 2023-2024 academic year, semifinalists will be invited to apply in February 2024, with Finalists visiting UT for interviews in late March, 2024.
For UT First-year Students Applying to the DDSP Sophomore Cohort
The Dedman Distinguished Scholars Program invites in-state first-year students in the Plan II and Liberal Arts Honors Scholars programs to apply for admission to the DDSP Sophomore Cohort. Admittance to next year’s cohort will be extremely competitive given the requirements and benefits of the program, but we welcome applications in March 2024 from all students who meet the following requirements:
- First-year student in Plan II or Liberal Arts Honors Scholars
- Texas residency (in-state tuition status)
- 3.75 or higher GPA on 12 or more hours in residence in the fall of the first year (does not include grades in OnRamps dual credit or AP credit courses)
- Demonstrated service or leadership in the first year at UT
- Involvement in other extra-curricular activities on campus
- Commitment to the values and goals of the DDSP.
Applicants will not need to provide any additional information beyond what is requested in the application (which asks you about your experiences and accomplishments at UT so far, and why you want to be part of the Dedman Scholars program). Plan II and LAH programs will provide a DDSP application link via email (or Canvas site) to all first-year students in their programs at the beginning of March 2024. The DDSP selection committee will review the completed applications at the end of March and will arrange for in-person interviews with ten selected finalists at the end of April. Final decisions will be made after the interview. Three students will be selected for the sophomore cohort for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Students entering the program in their sophomore year receive all of the same funding and benefits as students entering in their freshman year, but they are limited to only three years of the scholarship instead of the four that are allocated to first-year admits.
For questions about the application or selection process, please feel free to contact us at dedmanscholars@austin.utexas.edu .