<p>I am trying to find information on Honors Carolina but the website is not very specific. Is it major specific? What are the benefits of being in it? What about it makes it desirable?
Thanks! </p>
<p>I am not a student but my daughter is in the Honors program.</p>
<p>The program is not major specific. However some majors offer more honor courses than others. Some find that at some point they basically run out of honor courses that interest them. Honor courses seem to come in different favors. Some will have very small classes comprised mostly of if not all honor students. The smaller size means more interaction. Others have the honor students in the same large lectures as the other students but will has a special breakout class for the honor students only. In this case, the honor student could have more assignments, cover more material and have different tests than the general students. I am sure there are many other combinations. Honor students also have priority for the honor courses. This can also help you get into a class if it has a honor’s section. Generally, you will not be taking all honors courses.They have a separate honors dorm (not guaranteed or required) and the upper classman are now have a honors dorm choice (again not guaranteed). The honors program also runs some activities during the school year. </p>
<p>The program is not exclusive. This is not the type of program where the school tries to have a school within a school. The goal seems to be to offer smaller class at a higher difficulty level or to supplement the larger lecture classes to take it to the next level. It is not to create a special isolated group. I suspect that most only take 1-3 honor courses a semester.</p>
<p>FYI, non-honor students can take honors courses if they can get in. Also you can apply to be in the program at any time if you are not in as a Freshman but I believe you need a set GPA and recommendations.</p>
<p>Does it make a difference? For my daughter, it made a large difference her first year. She got to take a 500 level course that most upper classman have trouble getting into. She has enjoyed the smaller classes and competing against the best that UNC has to offer. Only time will tell in the next three years.</p>
<p>@noname87 Thank you! That is very helpful information. If you don’t mind me asking, what is your daughter’s major? Was her decision to go to Chapel Hill depending on if she got into the honors college?<br>
Thanks! </p>
<p>Economics. Yes being in honors was a major factor.</p>
<p>@noname87 Excellent, I am planning on majoring in accounting. Thank you for your help! </p>
<p>Business is one of the majors that does not have many honors classes. However, you could take plenty of honors classes for your Gen Ed requirements and KF pre-reqs.</p>
<p>Honestly I have no idea what Honors Carolina is and I’m in it. I took an honors class last semester and it covered the same material as the regular version of the class. </p>
<p>So far this is what I have come up with:
-it allows you to say you are in “Honors Carolina” (i.e. makes you look better)
-you have smaller class size in the honors version of a course
-you are forced to take two honors courses per year (annoying)</p>
<p>@serverguy what is you major? </p>
<p>Economics. I don’t think Honors Carolina has much to do with your major. </p>
<p>@serverguy yeah… I’m starting to get that feeling. Do you live in the honors dorm? If not do you hear about the experience in that dorm?</p>
<p>I think it is fair to say that much of the benefit from Honors Carolina is directly dependent upon the effort of the individual to take advantage of opportunities that Honors Carolina presents. If you don’t attend any of their social events, guest lectures, food for thought dinners, study abroad programs, networking events with distinguished alumni, perhaps get help to pursue a distinguished scholarship, , etc. then you may not see much value in the program. As far as the honors courses go, some are unique (particularly the first year seminars) and those that mirror standard classes are typically smaller sized, cover material at a brisker pace, and as such, can delve into course material to a deeper level. Some of the ones I’ve attended also had extra projects. Honors Carolina does target some programs into the honors dorm (at least they did last year).</p>
<p>@NewYawk Thanks for your perspective. I am definitely a student who would want to go to the lectures and social events with students like me. </p>
<p>@Eniam666 No. Honors kids are smart, great people but I don’t really want them as close friends. </p>
<p>@NewYawk is right. Honors Carolina does have scholarships and a lot of events. I get emails about their programs all of the time but I don’t go to them. </p>
<p>Here’s an example of one:
“Food for Thought with Professor Al Segars
“Information and Technology Management”
Wednesday, April 9th at 6:30pm
Graham Memorial 011
Hosted by the Honors Student Executive Board”</p>
<p>Idk @Eniam666, are you into that? Most of them look really boring. </p>
<p>@serverguy I mean I think they are interesting. I enjoy watching TED talks and going to lectures at my school whenever they are provided, so I think if I was around like-minded friends who would want to go too, i would enjoy that. </p>
<p>@Eniam666 Maybe the honors dorm would be good for you if you want to do that type of things with friends. I know I couldn’t get any of my friends to go to that. </p>
<p>Thank you noname87 & serverguy. Few follow up Qs. (1)Does it mean, Honors College students should take harder Honor Courses to stay in the Honors program (2)How is the grading policies between Honors College and Non-HonorsCollege. Some where, I read saying “Honors College gives out mostly A’s”. That makes sense since Honors College is filled with Top Students. Is that true? </p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>II don’t know all the rules to stay in the Honors program. I do know you need to take two Honors courses a year. What you decide to take is up to you. It is just an opportunity to challenge yourself. </p>
<p>As for grading, I will let others chime in. I do know that in one course my daughter took the tests were longer and more complex. The test did have a separate curve so the Honors students didn’t get penalized. No idea if the curve was more generous or not. I can say that Honors courses are not easy A’s. Overall I suspect it will probably be easier to get a A in a non Honors class but I will let real students address that.</p>
<p>One thing my daughter has noticed is that when she has group projects in the Honors courses they tend to run smoother since all the students tend to be strong academically. </p>
<p>Honors Carolina students are required to take a minimum of two honors courses each academic year and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater. For most Honors Carolina members it is pretty easy to maintain the GPA, but, when you get into higher level major specific courses (especially if enrolled in the professional schools), it can become challenging to find applicable honors courses to meet the two course requirement. Then you might look at writing a honors contract proposal or pursue a senior honors thesis. As far as more A’s go, I think that is directly correlated to a higher percentage of academically talented students taking those classes. I certainly have not experienced any lay up A’s in honors courses.</p>