Scholarships for Prospective Students
The Davidson Honors College (DHC) offers merit-based scholarships to incoming students to recognize outstanding talent, academic performance, and leadership potential. These are the University of Montana's premier academic scholarships and include the Presidential Leadership Scholarship (PLS), Provost’s Honors Scholarship (PHS), and the Dean’s Leadership Scholarship (DLS).
These scholarships significantly reduce the cost of attendance at the University of Montana and students who meet progression standards may have their awards renewed for up to four years.
We are looking for well-rounded, ambitious, and curious learners. While we look at academic performance and achievements, these criteria are not absolute and all highly motivated students are encouraged to apply.
Eligibility
The autumn semester DHC application due date for scholarship consideration has been extended to December 9, 2024. Autumn semester applications received by 11:59 PM (MST) on December 9 will be considered for the Incoming Student Scholarships. Applications received after that date will be considered for admission to the Davidson Honors College, but NOT for the Incoming Student Scholarships. Davidson Honors College applications will be considered only from those who have applied for admission to a four-year undergraduate program at the University of Montana.
APPLICATION OPTIONS
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Once you have applied and been accepted to the University of Montana you can access the Davidson Honors College application. Please fill out this quick interest form using the email that you used when you applied to the University of Montana and then watch for an email with information to access the DHC application.
https://beagriz.umontana.edu/register/?id=b047553a-3c7d-4c22-ab27-6099b1654fd0
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If you are currently an enrolled UM student (not an incoming freshman) you can apply to the DHC using the link below.
APPLICATION MATERIALS
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In order to complete this application, you'll be asked to provide the following:
- Information about your academic background and achievements
- Short answer responses about you, your experiences, and your academic interests
- A response to one essay prompt
- Unofficial transcript
- One letter of recommendation (required for freshmen scholarship consideration but NOT required for admission to the Davidson Honors College).
- ACT or SAT Test scores (required for freshmen scholarship consideration but NOT required for admission to the Davidson Honors College). Please note, “Super scores” (best scores from different test days) are not considered. We will only look at composite scores from one test date.
Short Answer Questions:
We consider the full picture presented to us through your application. Please respond thoughtfully to each of the short answer questions below.
- Introduce yourself (in the third person) to UM’s Davidson Honors College.
- List up to three of your most significant academic experiences (15-word max).
- List up to three of your most compelling leadership or service experiences (15-word max).
- List up to three of your most important cultural or personal development experiences (15-word max).
- Describe one of the experiences above in greater detail and how it shapes your academic and professional goals.
- The Davidson Honors College is a dynamic, supportive community of scholars. What unique talents, perspectives, identities, or experiences will you bring to the DHC? How might you contribute to this community?
- Improbable (definition: unexpected) Fact (definition: things that are known or proven to be true). List and briefly discuss three improbable facts about you.
Essay prompts (respond to one in 500-700 words):
- The Davidson Honors College's mission includes the statement “[we are] dedicated to strengthening our positive impacts on the world.” Discuss an issue that you are passionate about. Why is this important to you? How do you hope the Davidson Honors College will prepare you to make an impact? How would you seek to make a difference on this issue?
- The University of Montana’s mascot is the grizzly bear. Words used to describe Grizzlies (UM students) include respectful, responsible, playful, formidable, curious, wise, creative, strategic, active, and easygoing (all right, also hungry). Which of these traits best describe you and why? What experiences have fostered those traits in you? How do you imagine this or these characteristics might shape your experience in the Davidson Honors College? How can you leverage your Grizzly characteristics as a citizen of the world?
- Inclusive prosperity is central to the University of Montana’s mission. We aspire to serve learners from all backgrounds and we are committed to making a UM education accessible to all. We believe in meaningful work, healthy relationships, lifelong curiosity, and a deep sense of responsibility to one’s community. How might you embody inclusive prosperity in your time as a student at UM and beyond?
DEADLINE
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To apply to the Davidson Honors College, you must first apply to and be accepted by the University of Montana. To ensure adequate time for admission to UM and time to complete your DHC application by the scholarship deadline, it is recommended you apply to the University of Montana by November 25. The autumn semester DHC application due date for scholarship consideration has been extended to December 9, 2024. DHC Applications received by 11:59 PM (MST) on December 9 will be considered for the Incoming Student Scholarships: Presidential Leadership Scholarship (PLS), Provost Honors Scholarship (PHS), and Dean’s Leadership Scholarship (DLS). Applications received after that date will be considered for admission to the Davidson Honors College, but NOT for the Incoming Student Scholarships. Davidson Honors College applications will be considered only from those who have applied for admission to a four-year undergraduate program at the University of Montana.