<p>Ok, I don't want to sound like a snob, but I was admitted to Tulane as a Founder's Scholar. I was not accepted into the Honors Program; I am really upset about this. I'm in the top 10% of my class, I take all honors and have taken 4 AP classes, I have a 3.75 cumulative unweighted GPA and a 4.5 cumulative weighted GPA, I have been in approximately 5 clubs each year at school (including NHS, MAO and Key Club), I have taken both piano and dancing for ten years, and I'm class president. My friend is not nearly as involved as i am (also not in MAO), does not take all honors, has a lower GPA and made a 28 on the ACT; she was not only admitted as a Presidential Scholar, but also was admitted to the Honors Program. I have been in honors all my life and I am very upset about this. I realize that I sound like a complete brat right now, but is there any way I can appeal to get into the Honors Program?</p>
<p>From my understanding, no. I’ve heard, however, the honors program lets non-honors kids take honors classes with approval, and at the end of your freshman year, if you have a 3.6, you’ll be in.</p>
<p>In my experience, the honors classes really aren’t that different from regular classes. Sometimes they are even a bit worse. It truly depends on the teacher–and so few classes are honors. It’s not like in high school where there is a massive difference between honors and non-honors. You typically just have more intelligent discussions.</p>
<p>That being said, my group of friends freshman year were split between honors and non-honors. Come sophomore year, all the honors students had been booted out of the program because of low GPAs, and all the kids who weren’t in the honors program had been admitted. It’s not such a bad deal, really.</p>
<p>Maybe stats aren’t everything? You may not mean to sound like a brat, but you genuinely do. I am in the same boat as you (founders scholarship but no honors invite), but you aren’t entitled to it, regardless of your stats.</p>
<p>Something smells fishy with the original post. A 28 ACT got admitted with a Presidential Scholarship? Never happened, unless there was a massive screw-up. Either your friend is not quite telling you the real story, or there is something else going on like they took the SAT also and got a very high score. In any case, here are the general facts.</p>
<p>Presidential merit winners are automatically invited to the Honors Program. Distinguished Scholars often are, but not automatically. Founders and lower are not. Granted, your record as presented seems strong, but you don’t mention your ACT/SAT scores. From your other post it looks like it was 30 or 31? A good score, but possibly what held you back some. That being said, mistakes do happen, and while that may not be the case here (we cannot see the totality of your application) it certainly can be worth your time to ask for reconsideration. It makes a stronger case if you ask after your first semester grades are in, assuming they are very strong.</p>
<p>The other fact is that it really isn’t something to get that upset about. As was mentioned, you can still take any honors course, you can still most likely get into Butler if you want, and you can officially get into the program if you get a 3.6. Based on your GPA, you seem to do better in the classroom than on standardized tests, which is a good thing for you. If you do end up at Tulane, a year from now you will most likely be in the program and on track to graduate with honors, so none of this will matter.</p>
<p>Best of luck, and congrats on the scholarship!</p>
<p>
OK, I am going to give you a hard time, lol. Surely you didn’t mean this quite the way you said it.</p>
<p>Why is it hard to believe, fallenchemist? Or are you talking about syntax. I’m referring to my group friends, about ten people. Five were honors, five were non-honors. The non-honors were hard workers, but for whatever reason, be this a low school GPA, or low SAT, were not admitted into honors. The “honors” portion of my friends–ironically, and perhaps atypically–were accustomed to getting an easy ride in high school, and not needing to study, as they were naturally gifted. Studying was a skill they did not have when the exams came, and all left with high 2’s and low 3’s on the GPA scale. However, the non-honors kids wanted to be in honors, and worked very hard to keep high GPAs. This is just my personal case study. </p>
<p>I’m trying to make a divide between high school honors and college honors. Honors in high school is designed for people who are naturally gifted. Honors in college is designed for hard workers, with good study habits.</p>
<p>Mea culpa. You got me this time. Just shows I should never post before coffee. I misunderstood that you were referring only to that smaller group of friends. That makes it a shame, in a way, but not so hard to believe for sure.</p>
<p>You are completely right that not a few students that are used to getting by easily in high school are shocked when it doesn’t work in college. Even way back in the dark ages, I saw students struggle for three major reasons: 1) Their high school had not adequately prepared them for Tulane level work, especially in how to write a college level paper; 2) What you said about being top dog at the high school (academically) and not disciplined in studying; 3) Falling prey to the party scene (some things never change, lol). I suspect things are not very different these days, except now they have the intro composition courses to try and get all students on the same plane when it comes to how to write a college paper.</p>
<p>Sorry, I thought I added in my ACT score. I did receive a 31 on the ACT with a 32 Combined English/Writing Score. My friend definitely did not take the SAT, only the ACT; I know for sure that she received a 28. My first semester grades are pretty good too (5 A’s and 1 B).</p>
<p>Thanks for all the help!</p>
<p>OK, I just heard from someone in a PM that their child was offered the Honors Program but “only” got the Founders. They had a 32 on the ACT (recently improved to 34 but Tulane wouldn’t have known that at the time) but I don’t know GPA. So one example at least of an exception. Just wanted to correct the record. First example of this I have seen in 3 years.</p>
<p>This is an intriguing thread! I wonder if some other factor comes into play here? Perhaps having a job outside of school or a lot of community service, which would show that an applicant can do a good job of budgeting time and balancing a rigorous schedule, might make a difference (and maybe weed out the ones who will succumb to the party scene).</p>
<p>I just received my notification letter with an invitation to the Honors program and the $22k a year scholarship. I was really surprised, since I didn’t think my stats were high enough (2120 SAT, 3.8 UW/4.2 W GPA). But I do have a job, hold several leadership positions in school clubs, and have 500+ hours of community service in the area of alcohol and drug prevention. Maybe Tulane trusts that I won’t be spending my time in bars, LOL.</p>
<p>I also feel that I gave a sincere answer to the “Why Tulane” question.</p>
<p>I think it’s great that a student can get accepted into the Honors program later on, and it seems everyone admitted at Tulane will receive a solid education, either way.</p>
<p>Waitingitout - that’s wonderful! Actually, your stats are dead on for the Distinguished Scholars Award. Excellent GPA, strong SAT. The other things absolutely didn’t hurt though, especially this year apparently. Hope everyone gets to see you in NOLA in August!</p>
<p>Thanks, Fallenchemist. You actually predicted what I would get with 100% accuracy in another post! I am very grateful for the scholarship.</p>
<p>I’m planning on attending one of the Honors weekends. I really hope I can come up with the rest of the money to attend. It might not be a good reason to choose a college, but Tulane comes across as being much more welcoming than other schools I have applied to and sounds like a dream school.</p>
<p>Have you ever considered becoming an admissions counseler?</p>