<p>Anyone have some insight on the program? Is it possible to balance with extra-curriculars? How are the professors?
Is the workload a lot more than non-honors? Is advising the same? It sounds great. Would love to hear from someone who knows more!</p>
<p>I was in the honors program. Overall, I thought it was a good experience, but I don’t know that I would do the program again if I had to choose today. </p>
<p>I thought the professors were good, but the requirements of the program did make me repeat a couple of courses I could have otherwise just used AP credit for (for instance, they require 2 math courses, whereas I could have otherwise stopped after I completed the requirement for my major- calc 3). If I could have skipped that, it would have allowed me to take some more interesting electives or maybe add on a minor. If you don’t have AP credits anyway, it probably doesn’t matter because most of the honors program requirements count towards university requirements as well.</p>
<p>I was able to balance the program with a dual degree, did plenty of extra-curriculars, and still had a social life. It may be a bit more work than non-honors since it does require you to take higher-level science/math classes and arts and letters classes that maybe have a bit more reading and longer writing requirements. I would have had to do the science/math classes for my major anyway, so I don’t think it added much to my workload. It might make more of a difference though depending on your intended major. The style of the classes can be a bit different though. So it is great if you are really into the idea of smaller, discussion-based classes. From what I hear, the calc 1 and 2 classes are also more theory-based (calc 3 is the same as the one the engineers take) and involve more discussion and writing rather than just problem sets. If you prefer larger lectures that allow for more anonymity/the freedom to occasionally skip, then the honors program might not be so great.</p>
<p>Your advising will be through first year of studies and then your major which is separate from the honors program, so it will be the same either way. However, the honors program faculty can be a good resource to you as well. And in doing a thesis project, you will find another faculty member to work with who may advise you on some level as well. Writing an undergraduate thesis and having the “honors” title tacked onto your degree is always good for your resume of course, but you should never do something JUST for resume-building. However, writing a thesis can be great experience (especially if you are thinking in the academia direction) and there is some honors program funding you can apply for as well, which can make it easier to go to academic conferences or complete a project you design.</p>
<p>From a social perspective, it is also an opportunity to meet some people through honors program events and have access to a lounge with free coffee and cookies. But I thought that some (certainly not all) of the students could be a little bit pretentious at times. I had a few good friends in the honors program, but most of my friends were not.</p>
<p>If you have any other specific questions, let me know!</p>
<p>My son is an EA admit and applied to and was recently accepted to the Honors Program. He hasn’t yet sent back in his rsvp for the program though. Can you elaborate on the honors courses that are taken the first 2 years? How many students in each honors class (are the science classes small as well)? Are there honors math courses for students who have already had Calc BC and have taken college math courses already, or does everyone retake Calculus? </p>
<p>Well… I can tell you as much as I can remember. Also, things might have changed a bit since I was at ND (I graduated almost 4 years ago…yikes) so you might want to double check this info.</p>
<p>There are some seminars the first two years, an “honors seminar” that usually focuses on reading classic literature and writing papers. That will take the place of the regular freshman writing course (first year comp). There is also honors philosophy and honors theology which each count towards the requirements ND has. Again, I think these are smaller and a bit more discussion-focused than the general classes usually are. There are some others, a history/social science course and a couple of electives, but I can’t really remember what all of the options were for these. </p>
<p>In terms of science classes, I think you had to take at least one of the science major science classes. It is different for arts and letters vs science intents. They are considered “honors” classes, but were usually just the course for majors in the field (chem for chem majors, bio for bio majors, etc)- because those are usually the toughest classes in those areas anyway. They may be larger, lecture-based classes. If you are planning on majoring in science, it might not change your requirements (for instance, I had to take “honors” chemistry anyway, since I was a biochem major). However, for arts and letters majors, these classes will be significantly more difficult than the “rocks for jocks” level science classes they could otherwise skate through.</p>
<p>There was no honors math course beyond honors calc 1 and 2 when I was there. Those who had finished calc BC had the option to take calc 3 (not “honors” but still a tough course- this is the one the engineers usually take). They won’t ever make you “retake” a course you have comparable AP credit for, but you do have to substitute a higher-level course in its place to fulfill the honors program requirements. </p>
<p>Here is a list of the requirements:</p>
<p>For science majors:
<a href=“http://glynnhonors.nd.edu/academics/requirements/#scienceintents”>http://glynnhonors.nd.edu/academics/requirements/#scienceintents</a></p>
<p>For arts and letters:
<a href=“http://glynnhonors.nd.edu/academics/requirements/#artsandlettersintents”>http://glynnhonors.nd.edu/academics/requirements/#artsandlettersintents</a></p>
<p>Thanks shellzie! Your memory is good, what you described matches up pretty much with the information my son has received so far for the current honors program. He is in the school of Science, undecided as to major, but considering biochem/bio/statistics/applied math, so I don’t think the math and science requirements would be an issue since he would be taking them anyway. He will be glad to know he won’t have to revisit Calc 2. Overall, it looks like a good experience, but my son will have to decide if it is right for him. He will be visiting in a few weeks and I believe a part of his visit includes a session with the honors department, so he can get some more input and info then. Thanks again 
</p>
<p>As a science major with an engineering bent, I felt the honors program’s day-to-day benefits were often inconvenient to access since the office is located on the top floor of the Arts and Letters building. However, just before my senior year I had the opportunity to travel to an international conference and present research. I was able to secure a hefty grant from the honors program to make this possible. Since these funds are available to fewer students, it makes them easier to get. If you have any interest in undergrad research, I would strongly advise a good look at the HP. </p>
<p>My student is an Arts and Letters intent and is excited by the smaller discussion based classes. But he is a little worried about the first year math and science HP classes, for which he is unlikely to have AP credit. From what we can tell, there is a year-long math course for those in the HP, whether Science intents or Arts and Letters intents. And there are two one-semester courses in science (one in biology in the fall and one in physics in the spring) for HP Arts and Letters intents only. Is that right? If so, how difficult are those courses, particularly the math course? I’d imagine that many incoming HP students who want to go into the College of Science will enter with significant AP credits in math. Do they take a course other than the year-long HP math class?</p>
<p>Thanks for any help.</p>
<p>When I was in the HP, they required a certain number of math credits for which AP credit doesn’t count. AP credit can push you into a more advanced class, but will not count towards the math requirement (which was 4 semesters for science students in my day, but may be less for your student). </p>
<p>For example, I had calc AB and calc BC credit so I got to skip calc 1 and 2. I started with calc 3. However, I was not required to continue that track and elected not to since linear algebra had nothing to do with my major (biochem) and was not required to graduate with my major and opted to take statistics instead as I thought it would be more helpful for my future plans (med school). The honors program was supportive of my plan to take an alternate course, but did not allow me to simply not take any more math courses, even though I had a bunch of AP credits stored up.</p>
<p>Most students in the HP end up starting with some level of calculus (1, 2, or 3) and so would be placed in the special HP courses for calc 1 and 2 (calc 3 is just taken with the engineering intents). From what I recall, I knew both science and A&L intents who were in the honors program courses and some of both who placed out of these classes as well.</p>
<p>The science classes A&L HP students will take are the same ones that students planning on majoring in those subjects take (bio for bio majors, etc) so they do tend to be quite difficult. </p>