<p>Is there a link/info on the courses/requirements needed to graduate with honors in a specific major/department? Specifically either bio or neuroscience (science dept.) Thanks.</p>
<p>For Biosci [Department</a> Honors](<a href=“http://www.pitt.edu/~biohome/Dept/Frame/departmenthonors.htm]Department”>http://www.pitt.edu/~biohome/Dept/Frame/departmenthonors.htm)</p>
<p>For Neuroscience [Degree</a> Requirements | Department of Neuroscience | University of Pittsburgh](<a href=“http://www.neuroscience.pitt.edu/programs/undergraduate/degree-requirements.php]Degree”>http://www.neuroscience.pitt.edu/programs/undergraduate/degree-requirements.php)</p>
<p>Thanks CuttingEdge</p>
<p>Is there any advantage or benefits of graduating with honors in either bio or neuroscience for grad school or post-collegiate endeavors? Is it more of a resume enhancer, if that?</p>
<p>If you want to go to any decent grad school in the sciences basically you have to be doing that level of work anyways. You don’t complete it until after you get in so it isn’t a resume enhancer. The research itself is basically a prerequisite though and they definitely look for that.</p>
<p>So is it more a way to prepare for future involvement in research specifically rather than a designation that will maybe help you get into grad school in the first place? One could still do research without going through creating a thesis and presenting results and still be prepared/look qualified?
I think what I’m asking is would having “Honors” in my diploma give me an edge in grad school admissions? (Granted it’s not everything but does it, if any, provide help?)</p>
<p>Ok so here is how i see it. </p>
<p>You have to do the same level of research you would do to get a honors thesis to be a competitive applicant. In many cases that will lead to publication and having publications looks great to grad schools. One of those publications can be your honors thesis. So like there is not that much extra work getting the honors designation. Plus deciding you are going to do an honors thesis is going to give your PI a reason to give you the kind of projects that leads to this sort of thing.</p>
<p>If you apply while as an undergrad you won’t have finished yet and i so grad schools won’t know you are going to get honors. You could indicate you are working on it, but i doubt they will care. They will care about the research you are doing. </p>
<p>Though like in an interview when they ask you about your research saying “I am studying the ____ biochemical pathway in _____ looking for ____ as part of my honors thesis” the honors thesis probably gives it some more legitimacy.</p>
<p>If you apply after you graduate it might enhance your application.</p>
<p>If this isn’t the sort of thing you would do just for fun then maybe you shouldn’t go to grad school because then that kind of research will become a very large part of your life.</p>
<p>Alright I know I won’t have to make a decision right away so I’ll look into what kinds of research I can involved in and then make a decision. I’m just thinking that going on to the publications, etc. might be overwhleming but I guess if one divides it out over time it should be manageable. Specifically I’m talking about med school so research isn’t going to be what I will be focusing on since the clinical aspect is what I’m planning on doing anyways. So it isn’t just grad school for research but a specific job path.</p>
<p>oh if you are straight MD wouldn’t bother unless you think you will enjoy it. </p>
<p>Just do a year or two of research and don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>Ok thanks. Yeah I’m sorry I didn’t mention that earlier. So just reserach outside of honors designation should be fine? And does the graduating with an Honors help at all for med school application?</p>
<p>Any research is fine for med school – you don’t need to do an honors major unless it’s something that you actually want to pursue. If you want to attend medical school right after undergrad, you will officially begin the application process in May of your junior year. Students typically complete projects/theses for an honors major in their senior year. Thus, as CuttingEdge pointed out, med schools are not going to be aware that you’re completing an honors major because you’ll be applying before its completion. You could note on your applications that you intend to complete an honors major and/or bring it up at interviews, though it will likely not make much of a significant difference.</p>
<p>Ok I see divel. Thanks that cleared up any doubts I had left.</p>