William O. Douglas Honors College
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Thank you for your interest in the William O. Douglas Honors College (DHC)! All students are welcome and invited to apply to the Honors College. See below to select which application process is appropriate for you.
Current and Incoming CWU Students
It's seamless. First, apply and get admitted to Central Washington University. Second, apply to the Honors College using the email and password you used to apply to CWU.
There is no application deadline. All applications are processed on a rolling admission basis. However, applications received by May 1 are prioritized for admission and LLC placement in the following autumn.
Admission is essay-based. Honors College admission is determined by your ability to meet our minimum writing requirements. Test scores (ACT/SAT) and GPA are not used to determine DHC admission.
Our mission is to promote an inclusive and accessible learning environment. If we identify opportunities for improvement in an admission essay, applicants receive specific notes to revise their essay. Resubmissions should be emailed to DHC@cwu.edu with the subject line DHC Essay Resubmission.
Preparing Your Essay
The essay is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the DHC Application Review Committee. Be authentic and thoughtful in your response—letting your unique experiences guide you. As your admission to the Honors College is wholly based on your essay, use it as an opportunity to demonstrate writing ability, critical thinking, and individuality. A compelling essay exhibits proficiency in the following criteria:
- Correct spelling and thoughtful word choice
- Appropriate punctuation
- Logical grammar and sentence structure
- Parsing ideas by paragraph
- Cohesiveness and flow of response
- Effective answering of the prompt
Your essay must be double-spaced, in 12 pt. font, and at least 500 words. Essays not meeting the formatting, word count, and listed criteria are returned for revision.
Essay Prompt
Pick one idea from List A and one from List B. Your essay should identify, analyze, and synthesize the connections between the two. Thoroughly examine and explore their underlying relationships, similarities, or interactions and how they may complement, influence, or intersect.
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List A |
List B |
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Critical Inquiry |
Sustainability |
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Leadership |
Belonging |
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Civic Engagement |
Curiosity |
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Undergraduate Research |
Accountability |
|
Responsibility |
Equity |
Running Start Students - Ellensburg
To apply, email a writing sample of at least 500 words to the Douglas Honors College at dhc@cwu.edu. Please review the criteria above to ensure your submission meets all requirements. You may write an essay using the prompt provided or submit an essay you wrote for one of your high school courses.
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