<p>I got an email recently asking me to join the Grand Challenges Program. Did everyone get this invitation or is for just some select students? And is this the same as the Honors Program or not?</p>
<p>I got the same email in late March, but it’s not the same as the Honors College. Your buzzport account will have a message telling you whether or not you’ve been accepted into that. Also, it’s only for select students, as there are only 110 freshman being accepted into the residential dorm. There’s a link in the email to the Grand Challenges website, which might be useful to you. But I would suggest accepting even if your mind isn’t entirely made up. There is no obligation, but it does keep you a candidate while you mull it over.</p>
<p>And by ‘not the same’ I meant that both are entirely separate entities. You won’t be able to participate in both at the same time. Thought I should clarify.</p>
<p>I didn’t get in to the honors program, so I guess this serves as an “alternative”. I’m just a little hesitant because the Grand Challenges is a new, unestablished program.</p>
<p>The Grand Challenges is awesome. No doubt. :)</p>
<p>lier…</p>
<p>Grand Challenges is in no way an alternative to the Honors Program. Grand Challenges is a living learning community that focuses on the relationship between food, water, energy and healthcare. The students live together and work with Georgia Tech professors to solve issues that exists in these areas.</p>
<p>How is that not an alternative? 
Can you do both? Are both selective, residential enhancement programs to boost faculty/student interaction? Seems like a pretty good alternative…</p>
<p>Would love to see the profs and students solve some of these issues.</p>
<p>I meant that Grand Challenges isnt a back up plan or plan b for students who are not accepted to the Honors Program. Both are unique programs that standout on their own.</p>
<p>Might be plan A, then?</p>
<p>From what I understand, you cannot do both. You can, however, take some honors courses if you are part of Grand Challenges. The dorms for those two programs are next to one another. I don’t know about the Honors dorm, but the GC dorm is more social than the average for Tech…doors open, people visiting, helping each other, etc.</p>