Honors programs at colleges

<p>Wondering if you think it would be beneficial for applying to med schools to be in an honors program at a university/college? Something to think about while my senior is applying...</p>

<p>I doubt if honors programs make any difference. Most privates don’t have honors programs. Besides, I don’t even remember seeing any place on the AMCAS App (other than the ECs section) where you could even mention that you are in an honors program. Even if it is mentioned on the transcript, medical colleges don’t get to see it before they accept you.</p>

<p>I don’t think it helps directly, but it could help indirectly: smaller classes, better profs, etc.</p>

<p>*I don’t think it helps directly, but it could help indirectly: smaller classes, better profs, etc.
*</p>

<p>This is probably very true. And with the smaller classes, you also get to know profs more, so easier to get LORs.</p>

<p>I’m not sure if it has an effect or not. D’s school is ranked in the top 25, but students don’t apply for the honors program. When you’re accepted, they say you’ve been placed in their honors program. She applied to two publics and was placed in the honors programs at both. I believe her program encompasses around the top 5% of A&S students if I’m not mistaken. It has not had any bearing on her class size – they’re still large; however, she does register early, had a special advisor her first two years, and was exempt from all gen-e requirements. The latter wasn’t really that much of a perk since she has fulfilled these through AP work. I know she was told to denote her honors status on her app.</p>

<p>Honors programs have advantages. Specifically, the bigest ones are priority registration and much smaller classes which makes actually some of them easier than Regulas classes because of tighter relationships and higher availability of profs. My D. was in Honors and it was crucial for her since she had 2 minors and relied a lot on priority registration.</p>

<p>There is no additional points for being in Honors given to Med. Schools applicants.
Med. Schools care primarily about college GPA. MCAT socre, medical ECs and not much about anything else.</p>

<p>…additional points, ranking of UG is also irrelevant as well as name of your UG and your major. Any will do, the cheaper the better. The best is to choose the place that fits student personally, happen to be cheap and has great pre-med advising/committe. Then you should see if you personally desire to be in Honors or not.</p>

<p>Agree that there’s very little direct help. However, there are interesting opportunities associated with honors programs…ie research, guest lecturers, contacts. Our state U honors program offers mini-mester opportunities between the two semesters, unique internships, etc. --all of which may enrich and offer advantages that will be helpful in the MS application process.</p>