<p>D was invited into GT's Honors Program. Do the benefits of the program outweigh the extra work that an honors class would require? IAW, could it adversely impact her chances of getting better grades?</p>
<p>Hi. I was accepted into the Honors Program earlier this month and I promptly accepted the offer. I have several friends currently at tech and I spoke to several current members of the Honors Program. They have told me that while some of the honors classes are harder, they have smaller section sizes, so there is a better chance of speaking with your professor. Honors students are required to take two honors classes their first semester. These classes are generally large lecture classes, so having the number of students capped at a low number is very beneficial. After first semester, you are required to take 3 (I believe) special topics classes that are interesting classes (diverse topics) that can fulfill requirements. Generally, if you work it the right way, you can take smaller classes for the harder classes and it can help you get better grades. Also, the special topics are a great way to supplement the college experience. Tell your daughter that we have a Facebook page so she can connect with other students and find a roommate as honors students are required to live in the same dorm.</p>
<p>I applied extremely late so I don’t even think I was considered for the Honors Program, but I somehow got into the school. Do you happen to know if you can apply for the Honors Program mid-year? I saw an application on the site, but it was labeled for 2011. Will it be the same for 2012?</p>
<p>I believe there’s a special application in October that you can do to apply for honors.</p>
<p>Funny. D1 is a current chemE junior and D2 is an incoming freshman. Each one has a big- time GT merit scholarship that covers full financial need (and we are OOS), but neither one got into the honors program. D1 applied and was rejected. D2 was never even invited to apply. I’m thinking maybe D2 was an oversight because her file was in scholarship process, but I can’t figure out how D1 was outright turned down. Well, their mistake. D1 is (still) enjoying a 4.0 GPA and isn’t missing a thing! (Research, internships, sorority, etc!) So much so that D2 couldn’t give a hoot about honors either. Tech isn’t like other schools where I would REALLY want my kid in the honors dorm/program…period. Most kids at Tech are in engineering anyway. So any dorm has a good peer group and some of the best students aren’t even in honors. Go figure.</p>
<p>GT’s honors program was not set up to attract the best of who was already coming to GT. It was created to support a type of student that was not already attracted to GT, recruited to GT, or supported at GT. It still does enroll some ‘normal’ GT kids, too, but their aim is to be something different.</p>
<p>If you are chosen to be in it and want what it offers, great! If you are not chosen to be in it or choose not to do it, you will be in spectacular company.</p>