Course selection, should I do honors for my worst subject?

Transfer Students
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<p>This is my frist post here on CC. I would like to take this time to say HI to everyone. I have been reading quite a few posts after I stumble upon it on google. Very helpful. Thnx. Thnx.</p>

<p>Here in the transfer student section, and it seems that one should attain a high gpa to transfer to good schools such as UCLA bizcon/HAAS. My question is should I take English 101 honors, though english is my worst subject?</p>

<pre><code>Quick story about me. I am a high school dropout of 2001. After much partying and subpar jobs, I have decided to go back to school and accomplish something better in life--a college degree/education. After 5 years away from school, I attended OCC last fall to start (or restart, I failed my Calc I class 5 years ago) accumulating my GEs/prerequistes. Looking to major in business/finance.
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<p>I took micro, macro, english 100, and philosophy 100 in the fall of 2007; and took acct 101 finanicial accounting and art 101; receiving all As. After completing those courses I had a talk with a counselor about my chances to get into the schools I listed above, and he had advised me about the honors program, which can increase your chances of getting in.</p>

<p>I need to take a certain amount of honors courses to be qualified. I am a full time working student; therefore, it is extremely hard for me to get into the honors classes that are offered. English 101H is one of the classes that was offered that fits my schedule. Now, eventhough I got an A in english 100(I think the class was just easy, supporting that theory was ratemyprofessor website), I am scare that I might get a B or C or hell, even a D in that class. Would it hurt me much?</p>

<p>One would suggest, why don't I just take other honors courses? That would be a great, only if my working schedule allows me to. Most honors courses are offered during the business hours.</p>

<p>What are good ways to increase your essay writing skills?</p>

<p>Oh, btw, another minor factor is that I would like to enchance my writing skills so when its time to write my college essays, I would do better in writing it then just taking another easy english class which would not help me.</p>

<p>How bad does an F in Calculus I look on your transcript, eventhough it is lined out and 5 years ago?</p>

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<p>You would know better than anyone here what you are capable of. I don't think it would be better to get a lower grade in English honors than regular English though, if it came down to it. (Though I don't think a B is a big deal, personally.) If it is your weakest subject, you may be sufficiently challenged in the next level course without the extra hoops to jump through. </p>

<p>The teacher can be a pretty big factor though. If you know who is teaching the honors English section, I would find out what you can about the instructor and that may help you make your decision. In many cases the instructor will probably expect more from you though (more quality than quantity), or challenge you to think and analyze more. Every school, program, and instructor will be different though. </p>

<p>If you have some kind of writing resource center, writing lab, etc, that can be a great way to survive a class like that, honors or otherwise. Especially if you are blessed with a nitpicky grader!</p>

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<p>I think I agree with everything seren said.
BTW, your post above is nicely written. That may seem like a small thing, but a lot of posts here are poorly written. Clarity in writing, which your post shows, is a key element.</p>

<p>It is possible that the workload would be heavy in the honors class. As seren says, so much depends on the professor. I would suggest you make an appt with the prof, tell him you would like to take honors as you have a goal of transferring to UCLA. Tell him you had an A in English 100, A's in most of your other courses; but that you have a full-time job and wonder what s/he thinks about whether you would be able to handle the Honors class. You could ask to see the syllabus, if it's not already available online, to guage the amount of reading and writing. Most profs, especially cc profs, really want to help and support you. So I think you'd get great advice. And if you do take the course, having sat with the prof up front will already show your motivation and desire to do well. These things help.</p>

<p>As to how to improve your essay writing skills - read, read, read. In general. Then read a short monograph on writing well, such as Stephen King's "On Writing." Or Strunk and White's "The Elements of Style." These are NOT dry and boring books and they are short. Then - in whatever course you are taking, try to use the writing resource center (whether it's an econ/poli sci course or whatever) to review your drafts. Find someone there who is good and go to that person whenever you can.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the response.</p>

<p>After talking to a few people - a counselor and students who have taken her course - I have decided to not take it.</p>

<p>One good point is the honors program is suppose to challenge you, not destory your gpa, which I think it might, according to some horror stories in her class. I might just take a semester off work when the times come to get my honors courses in.</p>

<p>I was pessimistic about taking this class anyways...</p>

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<p>Sounds like a reasonable plan.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I think I agree with everything seren said.
BTW, your post above is nicely written. That may seem like a small thing, but a lot of posts here are poorly written. Clarity in writing, which your post shows, is a key element.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>What???????</p>