What is the Dean’s List? A Complete Student Guide

Going to college is a transition for every student, and it’s more than just learning to live in a dorm on campus or eating from a food hall every day. As students prepare to head to college for the first time, they’re often not thinking about the most important transition of all: from high school coursework to collegiate-level academics. However, just like high school, colleges typically recognize students who excel academically each semester. Rather than calling it the “honor roll,” it’s commonly known as the Dean’s List. Making the Dean’s List throughout college is an honor and an achievable objective for any college student.

What Does it Mean to be on the Dean’s List?

No one is really sure when the practice of the Dean’s List began, but it was born of a tradition of recognizing academic achievement and excellence. It is practiced at colleges and universities around the world and has evolved to include offshoot honors, like Provost’s or Chancellor’s lists. The point of the Dean’s List is to acknowledge students who have worked hard in and out of the classroom, and as a result, their grades fall into a specific GPA range. Surprisingly, the benefits of making the Dean’s List extend far beyond the college years.

Common Dean’s List Requirements

The process of making the Dean’s List is fairly simple: receive a specific GPA or fall into a certain percentage at the culmination of the semester or year, and you’ll be automatically included. Dean’s List requirements vary by institution, but these thresholds can be found on college websites. In addition to earning high grades in courses, students must also be full-time students or take a certain number of credit hours to qualify. Community colleges typically allow part-time students to be included on the Dean’s List. Additionally, classes that are pass/fail may not count toward Dean’s List acceptance.

Benefits of Being on the Dean’s List

Making the Dean’s List has benefits for today and the future: • Academic Recognition – Firstly, it’s a reward for hard work both in and out of the classroom. In addition to excelling during tests, it also acknowledges the hard work that was put into developing theses, research papers, and study time. • Motivation and Confidence Boost – Making the Dean’s List is an instant ego boost. It reveals that hard work pays off and that students can excel when they put their mind to it. • Grad School and Scholarship Advantages – Graduate schools will be impressed with Dean’s List status. Additionally, achieving this level of recognition could translate to exclusive scholarship opportunities for students with high GPAs. • Resume Builder and Career Advantages – Finally, the Dean’s List can pay off after college graduation. It’s recommended to include the Dean's List status on the resume and tells future employers a few things about the applicant – that they’re hard-working, motivated, and results-driven.

What It’s Like to Make the Dean’s List: Student Experiences

Caroline Just, a sophomore at the University of Cincinnati, made the Dean’s List both semesters of her first year in college. While she never put the pressure on herself to make the Dean’s List, her dedication to working hard put her over the top. When she found out she got on the Dean’s List for the first time, Just said she was ecstatic and so proud of herself for working hard and putting her all into her classes. Getting the recognition of making the Dean’s List was “just the cherry on top.” Asked if she would work toward this goal again, she said, “Yes, of course. I believe a lot more positives than negatives come out of pushing myself towards academic achievement. It’s definitely worth the hard work because sometimes getting a little recognition for all that hard work is exactly what I need to keep going.”

How to Stay on the Dean’s List

Making the Dean’s List will create a desire to reach this status again, and though it’s hard to predict how well students will perform in a class, there are components of the experience that are within their control. To increase chances of making the Dean’s List again, establish solid study habits and time management skills. A practical way to achieve this is to block off dedicated study time throughout the day. It may require three hours in the library during the afternoon or evening. Additionally, make a daily list of to-dos the night before to help stay on track throughout the day. If possible, include how long each task should take on the list. Occasionally, students struggle with a concept or an entire class. That’s when they must take a proactive approach to improving their grade. All colleges and universities offer tutoring services for different courses. Furthermore, students can take advantage of office hours for their professors or teaching assistants (TA). Meeting with a professor shows a genuine desire to understand the material and perform well. Plus, they will be able to explain those concepts that may be especially troublesome. Finally, be sure to take time to rest. Burnout can lead to a dip in performance, and consequently, lower grades. As students create to-do lists and allot time for each day, be sure to schedule time to move the body, meditate, and socialize. With time management skills and creativity, students can make it all happen.

Making the Most of the Dean’s List

Making the Dean’s List is not only a commendable goal but an achievable one as well. If receiving this recognition does not come in the first two years, keep at it. The more college experience under the belt, the easier it will be to navigate the coursework, study time, and relationship-building with professors and TAs. Working daily toward this goal can result in long-term dividends, like scholarship opportunities, graduate school admissions, and securing a job after graduation. Make it a goal to make the Dean’s List once – or every semester – and put in the work to get results.