My son received some information on applying to the honor college but when we looked into the college it seems to be for students that “enjoy intellectual novelty and courses that focus on critical thinking through reading, writing, and discussion” (more liberal arts focused and there is a thesis you have to complete). To put it mildly he hates to read and write but loves science and math and if he is in Early Entry Pre-Pharmacy we weren’t sure he would have the time to complete the honor college requirements along with pharmacy requirements.
Our question is: is there extensive reading and writing required to be part of the honors college (more so than “normal” class work) and if he is early entry wouldn’t that take up a lot of his time and energy anyway?
Honestly the only reason he would be interested in the college is for possible scholarship money to offset the added pharmacy charges to tuition, room, and board - every $1000 counts when we could use the money to save for the last few years of pharmacy.
If it were my kid I’d say ok if he wanted to try it, but wouldn’t encourage it. I’m not sure it would be an advantage for a prepharmacy student. Our son isn’t interested in honors college even though he probably has the stats to get in.
@collegeguider thanks but that doesn’t help with the honors college question of “is there extensive reading and writing required to be part of the honors college (more so than “normal” class work) and if he is early entry wouldn’t that take up a lot of his time and energy anyway?”
Honors College doesn’t seem to be geared towards science and math majors but more towards reading and writing.
He will probably pass on applying as we don’t see the benefit and the description seems to be towards students going into arts majors.
My son has taken a few classes at Ole Miss through dual enrollment (he’s a rising high school junior and likely has no more time for DE since he’s taking five AP classes this year), and in looking at the class schedules it sure seems like there are a lot of classes where the Honor’s College class is limited to about 14 people while the regular class might have 80. It’s an entirely different experience. I’ve seen some of the teachers they’ve had for some of these classes and thought, “Wow, I sure would have like to have taken that class!”
With early entry your son may have a very regimented schedule that doesn’t really allow time for the Honor’s College. I’m just passing this info along. As for the senior theses, they are advertised in the campus newspaper, and I noted that at least some of them were on scientific topics.
If he really doesn’t like reading, writing, and small-group discussion, then he probably isn’t a good fit for the Honors College.
My son may be a little like yours. He has had stellar scores on English and Math on the ACT and other tests, but he rarely reads for pleasure. I have repeatedly stressed to him that any engineering or science degree he earns will be worth far more if paired with business or liberal arts courses.
@dbcbs5 I hope that he will consider applying. While the Honors College may have reading, writing and discussion, I guarantee that it will keep him engaged in the classwork. He’d be able to choose which courses he took as Honors and which he took as general courses so not all of his courses would be Honors. Roughly 25% have to be Honors. He will have to do extensive reading and writing in or out of the Honors College. The HC provides additional benefits (early orientation, registration, move-in and experiential opportunities) not available to non-Honors students. I always say, apply and if he’s admitted, he can try it and see how it works. There’s nothing saying that he’s required to stay in it. I’d hate for any student to miss out on something because they perceive it to be extra work. We have had students in engineering, all sciences and pharmacy be quite successful in Honors.