Dean’s Scholars is more than just an academic honors program.
We pride ourselves on our tight-knit community and put on a plethora of events ranging from small get-togethers around Austin to massive dinners where we cook all the food ourselves. Here are some of the things you can look forward to when you join us!
“In these short blurbs, we often list off our most cherished memories, hoping the reader can gleam from our words the emotions we tried to imbue within. But how can words capture a candid laugh between joking friends? How can you transcribe to a page the blissful camaraderie you feel when you solve a grueling challenge together or the genuine interest at someone’s project? I can’t begin to describe what Dean’s Scholars means to me, but I hope you still remember your memories at Dean’s—the bittersweet nights spent crunching out problem sets with other DSers, the chats about your latest failed experiment/pet projects, or the spontaneous midnight excursions around campus—because those memories you share can explain what Dean’s means to me better than I ever could.”
Teddy Hsieh, Class of 2022
Dinners
Every year, DSers host four dinners: Freshman Dinner, Holiday Dinner, Musicale and Senior Dinner. At each dinner, there are always fun activities, new cuisines and familiar faces!
Trips
Every semester, Dean’s Scholars go on a trip out to various locations in Texas including: Fort Davis, Port Aransas, Colorado Bend, and many more!
Traditions
In addition to dinners and trips, Dean’s Scholars also have a variety of traditions that help build a sense of community.
Student Leadership
There are plenty of opportunities within Dean’s Scholars to lead whether within the DS community through the DS council or in the local Austin community.
Student Support + Culture of Care
Dean’s Scholars also have access to several resources including personalized faculty advising as well as mentors and much more!
What DSers Do Outside of Dean’s Scholars
Dean’s Scholars are involved in an enormous number of pursuits outside of DS. Academically, DSers are tutors, TAs, mentors, and members of other honors programs such as Turing Scholars, Plan II Honors, and the Business Honors Program. They’re involved in major-specific clubs and groups working for diversity within STEM, from Astronomy Students Association and Society for Neuroscience to the Society of Women Engineers and Undergraduate Women in Physics! DSers often join the Natural Sciences Council to make an impact on the entire College of Natural Sciences. Dean’s Scholars are athletes, too: UT tennis, rugby, volleyball, archery, and ballroom teams all compete intercollegiately and have Dean’s Scholars members. Some Dean’s Scholars have even joined Texas 4000, an organization that bikes 4000 miles to Alaska to fundraise for cancer research! DSers are also involved in the greater Austin community. Many members of DS volunteer throughout Austin and beyond with organizations including St. David’s Medical Center, the Austin Child Guidance Center, the Capital Area Food Bank, KIPP charter schools, and Amigos de las Americas.
