Do I have to join the honors program first semester freshman year, or is there opportunities to join later?
Not that I know of (from speaking with the Honor’s folks back in May 2014).
do you know if there’s any programs like honors? I know a few kids that went to a school in new york that didn’t get honors but got into a program like honors later, but apparently its not as challenging as honors unfortunately.
Yeppers, I think you are thinking of CALS for your major? See the attached link:
http://cals.ufl.edu/students/honors-program.php
The CALS Honors Program is the only formal upper division Honors program at the University of Florida. It is for students who have:
Declared a major in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Accumulated at least 60 credits toward graduation
A 3.75 or greater overall Upper-Division GPA
See the admission and graduation requirements of the program. CALS Honors coursework is identified as such on the transcript. Students that successfully complete the CALS Honors Program are designated as CALS Honors Scholars, and receive a Scholars Medallion and certificate. Successful completion of the CALS Honors program (GPA, courses, and thesis) automatically qualifies students for graduation from UF with magna cum laude or summa cum laude honors.
Honors has lateral admissions during freshman fall!