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First-year student

Enrolling as a new first-year student at ASU? Follow the steps below to apply to join Barrett.

Admissions overview

High school seniors apply for Barrett Lower Division consideration. Lower Division is a four-year honors college experience that integrates into any undergraduate degree program across ASU’s four metropolitan Phoenix campuses - Downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic, Tempe and West Valley. Students who took time off after high school, did not attend another college or university, and are entering ASU for the first time, are also eligible for Barrett Lower Division enrollment.

Barrett Online

High school seniors considering ASU Online should review the admissions information for Barrett Online.

When to apply

The final Barrett Lower Division application deadline for fall 2025 was Saturday, March 15.

Depending on your ASU campus, space in the Barrett Honors College class of 2029 may still be available. Please contact the appropriate Barrett admissions representative with questions regarding the potential for, and stipulations associated with, a late honors college application:

ASU Downtown - Olympia Yi Avina at barretthonorsdowntown@asu.edu or 602-496-0372
ASU Polytechnic - DaNeil Olson at barretthonorsdaneil@asu.edu or 480-727-1481
ASU Tempe - Sebastian Montaño at barrettadmissions@asu.edu or 480-965-1520
ASU West Valley - Codye Boutin at barretthonorscodye@asu.edu or 602-543-6632

Application overview

Beyond the classroom

Applicants share activities, leadership roles, clubs, volunteer work, jobs, awards, etc. This page of the application helps us see each candidate as an active future member of the honors community. While we are interested in the ways students spend their free time, we are notably curious about how and why these things are important to them.

Essay

The essay allows an applicant to address our admissions committee in their own voice. It also contributes to our assessment of their ability to write effectively and think critically, key skills for honors success. Avoid impersonal or general essays. Review the primary essay directions and prompt options on our FAQs page.

Letters of recommendation

Two letters are required. At least one must be academic in nature from a teacher or professor who has taught the student in a virtual or in-person classroom environment. Applicants identify their recommenders on the application and then use the system to email the upload instructions. Letters cannot be retrieved from the Common App, ASU Admissions or other external sources.

Test optional

Barrett will accept but not require ACT/SAT scores for 2025 admission. Scores reported to the university will not be considered. Instead, prospective students will have the opportunity to self-report results on the Beyond the Classroom page of their honors college application and share why their scores make them a good fit for Barrett.

Transcripts

High school seniors upload an unofficial high school transcript to their Barrett application and provide context about their educational background. An unofficial transcript is a copy of a transcript that has been in the possession of the student. No official transcripts should be sent to the honors college unless specifically requested by a Barrett admissions officer.

Creative Supplement

A creative supplement of no more than five pages in length is optional. The document must be in PDF or Microsoft Word format and include a brief description of the work, along with a short explanation on how the applicant feels the material enhances their application. Past creative supplements have included art, writing, crafts, and more!

How to apply

Step 1

Mind the deadlines

Prospective students should be mindful of deadlines and work to ensure that a complete Barrett application is on file by the appropriate date. A Barrett application is complete when:

It has been submitted, not just saved.
Both required letters of recommendation have been received by Barrett.
The student has been admitted to an Arizona State University undergraduate degree program at the ASU Downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic, Tempe or West Valley campus.*

*Though a Barrett application may be started and even submitted before ASU admission is conferred, it cannot go to evaluation until university acceptance is formally awarded. Apply to ASU accordingly.

Students who submit an application in time for a particular deadline will receive a short grace period for missing letters of recommendation to be received and for ASU admission to be processed.

Step 2

Apply to ASU

Students interested in Barrett must first apply to Arizona State University and then may begin the separate and free Barrett application.

Prospective students should apply to ASU at least 4 weeks before their preferred Barrett deadline.

When completing the ASU application, self-reporting grades will result in a significantly faster university decision. The Common Application is another option to apply to ASU.

ASU Application Common Application

When a student applies for ASU admission, an ASURITE ID is issued. Students must then activate their ASURITE ID, which includes identifying a password. The ASURITE ID and password are required to begin the free Barrett application.

ASURITE activation

Step 3

Submit your Barrett application

The final Barrett Lower Division application deadline for fall 2025 was Saturday, March 15.

ASU Downtown - Olympia Yi Avina at barretthonorsdowntown@asu.edu or 602-496-0372
ASU Polytechnic - DaNeil Olson at barretthonorsdaneil@asu.edu or 480-727-1481
ASU Tempe - Sebastian Montaño at barrettadmissions@asu.edu or 480-965-1520
ASU West Valley - Codye Boutin at barretthonorscodye@asu.edu or 602-543-6632

Step 4

Track your Barrett application

After submission, candidates may monitor the status of their application through the Barrett Application Status area of their My ASU webpage. This includes checking the standing of their recommendation letters, sending reminder emails to their recommenders, and even replacing non-responsive letter writers. The Barrett decision letter also posts to this section.

Step 5

Confirm your spot

To secure their spot as a member of the fall 2025 Arizona State University incoming class, an admitted student must submit the ASU enrollment deposit via their My ASU web portal. This action will also confirm their place in Barrett, The Honors College. There is no separate Barrett deposit. Barrett students who fail to address the ASU enrollment deposit by May 1, 2025 may forfeit their spot to a deserving student on the wait list.

Apply to Barrett

Barrett application

The final Barrett Lower Division application deadline for fall 2025 was Saturday, March 15. The Barrett application for 2026 will open in early September.

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