<p>My daughter is entering her junior year and is interested in FSU's honors program. She just earned a 31 composite on the ACT exam and has an unweighted gpa of 3.87 (good bit higher weighted but not sure exactly). I have read the school website info but am looking for more real world experiences. What does it take to be chosen for this program? What are some advantages or disadvantages to the program? Thanks in advance</p>
<p>She qualifies for Honors based on the current criteria:
* 3.9 or higher FSU-weighted high school GPA (Contact Admissions to find your weighted FSU GPA) AND
* 1300 or higher SAT score OR
* 29 or higher ACT score
She also should be able to obtain the Freshmen University Scholarship as long as she applies early which is currently $2400 per year in addition to any other scholarships she has.</p>
<p>Here is the website that describes the honors program:
fsu.edu</a> | Honors Program</p>
<p>Advantages of the University Honors Program?
* Smaller Classes: Honors sections of regular courses are generally limited to 25 students; honors seminars to 15 students
* Access to Faculty: While many lower division classes are taught by non-tenured instructors, honors classes are taught by tenured or tenure-track faculty. These teachers can become your mentors and advisors
* Great Peers: Because the classes are smaller, you can get to know other motivated, interesting people your own age
* Specialized Advisors: Our highly-trained honors advisors will work with you on an individual basis to achieve your unique academic and professional goals
* “Head-start” on Medical or Law School: You can compete to earn a place in the Honors Medical Scholars Program or the Honors Legal Scholars Program, two professional-track programs that are open only to students in the University Honors Program
* Study Abroad Grants: As an Honors student, you may apply for small grants to study abroad in one of FSU’s many international programs
* Honors-only Residence Hall: University Honors students may apply to live in Landis Hall, a premier, honors-only, residence hall that is right in the middle of campus
* Early Registration: University Honors students have the special privilege of being able to register for courses at the same time as seniors.</p>
<p>No disadvantages for a student willing to undertake some added work and a faster pace. Its a great program - my oldest daughter is a recent graduate.</p>
<p>I posted this in your other post:</p>
<p>Real student experience - my d1 was accepted to both FSU and UF. She wanted to major in biochemistry and FSU (made easier by being in Honors) encouraged undergraduate research. She selected Florida State as a result.</p>
<p>She wound up also garnering a nice university scholarship and a spot in the Honors dorm. Honors students also receive priority registration for classes, which made her life much easier.</p>
<p>Honors classes were fairly small - maybe 20-25 students for something like Honors Calc II - and was taught by an energetic full professor. She was afraid the pace would be too much at first, but then found her groove and excelled in the fast paced work. Typically an extra research paper is expected from each Honors student.</p>
<p>She was accepted to two different labs, one in physical chem and the other in biochem. She wound up being awarded a chemistry fellowship later as well as earning a paid research position in a lab over summer. She was personally mentored by a full professor in biochem in her work, and was assisted by grad students along the way. She contributed to several other research papers that were published in academic journals and was listed as such in the paper.</p>
<p>She eventually wrote her undergraduate thesis in a biochem subject which was selected for presentation at a national academic society (university funded travel). She was encouraged by other professors who reviewed her work to apply to their universities and work in an advanced degree program in their lab.</p>
<p>She graduated Phi Beta Kappa recently. FSU's Honors program opened many doors for her and allowed great individual access to professors, post-docs, grad students and labs. She did some of her NMR work in the National High Magnetic Field Lab at FSU which was a superior opportunity for an undergrad.</p>
<p>This was an excellent program for her.</p>
<p>thank you for the great info. I understand that it is an invite only program. Do students who meet the criteria, from the FSU website, all get invited into the program or does the student need to meet that criteria and then only a select few from that pool are invited?</p>
<p>parent2noles,
I'll make sure my D reads about your D's experience. She hasn't nailed down where she wants to go at all, really quite open to options. (Applying places now) But your d's experience sounds like it would be great for her to read, as she's considering the same major -- among others. What's your d's goals after graduation? -- grad school, med school ... </p>
<p>zebes</p>
<p>She wants to go to med school and work with medically underserved populations. Her professors urged her to get a PhD.</p>
<p>I would urge any interested in the Honors program to make an appointment with the folks at Admissions and Honors. A personal <em>early</em> visit with transcripts and scores in hand makes a big difference in our experience.</p>
<p>My daughter will be a freshman in the honors program this fall at FSU(her 1st choice). The Honors Department told us that usually the top 10% of the freshman class will be in Honors. However, this fall's freshman class is said to have the highest stats in FSU's history (according to orientation speakers) so the percentage is most likely higher this year.</p>
<p>In addition to the prior posts concerning the particulars of the Honors Program at FSU, there is no limit to the number of honors classes a student may take. My d will be taking 3 honors classes (2 humanities & philosophy) along with the Honors Colloquium that is required for all Honors students their first fall semester at FSU. </p>
<p>D has a friend (also a new freshman) who was surprised and disappointed that UF didn't have the same policy. At UF honors students are only guaranteed 1 honors class and have to use a lottery in order to get a chance at registering for another.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, all honors programs are not the same. </p>
<p>Good for you guys that you are doing your research to find out all the particulars up front! I encourage you to visit each school where your daughter has interest! My d found that many colleges who had enticing stats and looked great on paper (or on website), didn't appeal to her after the initial visit. Nothing compares to physically walking a campus and talking to students/admissions.</p>
<p>Also FYI, Landis Hall (the Honors Dorm) has "Quiet Hours" from 9pm - 9am that are enforced. My d was thrilled will this for the benefits of quiet study as well as quality sleep!</p>
<p>Yes, actually, we've been most impressed with the honors program at FSU and the honors college at UCF (her brother's in Burnett). What they offer the students and the emphasis they seem to place on providing a nurturing environment in a large university setting stands out among the state schools we've looked at thus far.</p>
<p>zebes</p>