Can I be in honors after freshman year?

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

Honors has lateral admissions during freshman fall!