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"Deeper than Demographics" mural in Smith Hall, painted by Liz Maher.

Liz is an artist and art therapist specializing in capturing individuals' experiences in a technique known as "response art." ÌýSmith Honors students representing a diverse array of backgrounds and experiences participated in focus groups, art workshops, and individual interviews to generate the amazing and vibrant inputs that led to the mural and its many facets.Ìý

A&S Honors has an Honors dorm, known as the Honors Residential Academic Program (Honors RAP) in Smith Hall, which is located in the Kittredge complex in the southeast corner of main campus (the Kittredge complex is just north of Baseline Rd. and just west of 28th St.). Ìý

You are not required to live in the Honors RAP to maintain your honors eligibility - if you are assigned a different dorm and received an invitation to participate in the Honors Program, that invitation is still valid, and there are still several ways you can be a part of Honors, including the option of taking an Honors course each semester. ÌýHowever, being in the Honors RAP gives you access to additional classes and events that Honors-eligible students outside the Honors RAP do not have access to.

There are some significant benefits to living in the Honors RAP:

• You'll be living with other students who are academically curious, and have a similar mindset. ÌýDoes that mean the dorm is always quiet and full of students studying? ÌýNope! ÌýIt's a great balance of quietness and vibrancy, with lots of events to attend and opportunities to connect with your fellow Honors students socially and academically, all without leaving your residence hall.
• You will have guaranteed enrollment in one Honors course during your first year, which will be held in Smith Hall. ÌýHow great is it to walk down the hallway to class vs. running across campus? ÌýPlus, we have amazing instructors and some great offerings to choose from.
• You'll have lots of opportunities to connect with Dr. Kate Fischer, our faculty-in-residence, who lives in Smith along with her dog, Murphy. ÌýMissing your own pet? ÌýStop by and give Murphy a little love, and chat with Dr. Fischer while you're there.
• There are numerous other benefits, but the last one we'll highlight here is that you will be living with a diverse group of Honors students. ÌýMaybe your roommate is a Physics major, and across the hall there's a Cinema Studies major rooming with a Political Science major. ÌýWhy is that beneficial? ÌýIt makes it easy to make connections with a wide range of students across multiple majors. ÌýThe more friends you have in different areas, the more likely it is you'll hear about upcoming events, opportunities, resources, and other things you can take advantage of while attending CU Boulder. ÌýEspecially if you're in a STEM field, it's easy to end up being exposed to a very small group of students within your major, because you're all taking the same required classes. ÌýExpanding your social network helps to expand your academic options, and makes it more likely that you'll meet some great friends you might've missed out on otherwise!

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How to boost your chances of being assigned to the Honors RAP:

• The most important step is to fill out your Housing application prior to Housing's application deadline, which is usually a date in the first week of May. ÌýIt doesn't matter when you submit your application prior to the deadline - they do not prioritize applicants based on when they receive submissions - but if you miss the deadline, it is possible that you won't get a dorm assignment at all, let alone what you selected. ÌýPlease visit Housing's website for more information on deadlines.
• When you submit your application, choose Smith Hall as your first choice, and select the Honors RAP experience. ÌýYou will then be asked for a room type. ÌýIt is almost impossible to get a single in Smith (there are very few), so if that's your primary goal, you will want to think about a different dorm. ÌýThe most common room configuration by far is double with a community bath, so if you really want Smith, you need to make that your first room type selection. ÌýAside from submitting your application by the deadline, choosing "double with a community bath" is the most important thing you can do to boost your chances. ÌýNot excited about sharing a room? ÌýThink about it this way - you are very likely to be assigned a roommate that has similar academic goals as you, and it may be a great opportunity to meet a new best friend! ÌýNot excited about sharing a bathroom? ÌýKeep in mind that if you choose a room configuration that does not have a community bath, you are responsible for cleaning your own bathroom, stocking the toilet paper, etc., whereas if you use a community bath, all that stuff is taken care of for you.
• To further indicate your interest in Smith, select Smith as another one of your choices (2nd or 3rd) and choose a different room configuration. ÌýIn fact, you can choose Smith up to 3 times! ÌýWe recommend that you use your 2nd or 3rd choice to showcase your backup plan, then repeat the process for that dorm. ÌýFor example, if your backup plan is to be in the Health Professions RAP in Kittredge West Hall, list "Smith/double with a community bath" first, then "Kittredge West/double with a community bath" second, then (for example) "Smith/triple with a shared bath" third, and continue on alternating.
• What if you already submitted your Housing app and you're just now reading this? ÌýAs long as Housing's application deadline has not passed, you can go back in and modify your choices, so get back in there and add Smith in, and be sure to select the Honors RAP experience!

If you have further questions regarding the honors dorm, please visit their website at or email HRAP@colorado.edu.ÌýÌý