<p>I was just wondering, how important is Honors College at a state school? Right now I am a sophomore pre-law double majoring in physics and philosophy, so I have a lot on my plate as it is. I have to say, I REALLY don't like the honors college at my school though. It seems like most of the stuff I have to do for it, just to get that "H" distinction, are stupid things that just take up time and don't really seem to matter. I also don't like very many of the people in it, and I generally loathe any time I have to go to an honors function. I was wondering just how important being in an honors college really is, particularly in terms of scholarships and stuff for law or graduate school (and if I don't do law, I want to go into teaching). I understand it would be kind of important if I were applying to some competitive law or graduate schools, but other than that, is there really any much more of a benefit, especially since I am already double majoring in physics and philosophy?</p>
<p>Being in an honors college really isn’t that important (least I think). It shows that you were one of the better students coming out of high school and into college but that’s about it…I would think graduate schools and employers would care much more about your performance <em>in</em> college instead of pre-college work. </p>
<p>I’m currently in an honors program but I like the scholarship too much to leave. Right now it’s not that much work but it will slowly increase as I move up (I’m a freshman right now). I like the people in it too…the only downside is that I also have quite a few classes with the same people and I live in an honors learning community. I see them a lot…but like I said I love them so it works :). The academic push keeps me motivated to work hard but we still have fun together too. </p>
<p>Hope your situation works out for the best!</p>
<p>I’m currently in an Honors College at a state school as well, and I have the same feelings about it. We’re required to take pointless orientation classes that other freshmen can skip over, we have to sit through random meetings that end up being three hours of ice breakers with people I don’t want to really meet again, and so on. It seems like a waste of time.</p>
<p>I stay in the program, however, because of the title. That probably makes me sound awful and cheap, but it’s true. I’ve had professors be more willing to let me into their labs because I’m in honors, which means I’ve done better in high school than most students and should be carrying that reputation on into college. As a freshman, I find it helpful to keep this label, even if it means wasting time. I’d like to graduate with honors as well, since I’ve heard from other friends who have graduated that it helped in their job searches. (Also, I like the other benefits we get, like early registration. I can handle a wasted hour a week in exchange for getting all the classes I need.) However, I think that if it eats into your academics or life more than necessary, it doesn’t become too important after a year or two when you’ve established yourself as a successful student, whether in the Honors College or not.</p>
<p>Also in an honors college at a state school. I personally like my school’s honors college…not only because it is the reason I have scholarships because of it. It is rather well-organized, we get 1st priority for classes, can substitute all sorts of classes for gen. ed classes, etc. But if you don’t think being in the honors college will help you academically and will hinder your abilities more than help, then I would not bother and just focus on getting a great GPA in normal classes. Being in the honors college may help slightly in getting into law/grad school but definitely isn’t a determining factor if the rest of your resume/stats are good.</p>
<p>My primary reason for joining/remaining in the Honors college at a state school is because we get priority registration for classes. I’m only required to take 1 Honors class per academic year to remain in the program, and that can include a 1 semester hr Honors Seminar, to me, it’s worth enduring to get priority registration. </p>
<p>A student at my school can still graduate “with honors” without being part of Honors College, it’s based on GPA so you may want to explore that aspect if you dislike your school’s Honors College. I could be wrong, but I don’t believe an Honors College diploma or annotation on your transcript will make you more competitive for grad school or law school. They’ll be looking more closely at the classes you took and your GPA and GRE/LSAT scores.</p>