<p>okay could anyone explain to me the true benefits of an honors program? I got accepted at the honors program at OSU but I can't decide if I want to join or not. I mean I understand that you get to pick classes first but are the honors classes a lot harder? My plan is to eventually get into Veterinary School and I need to have excellent grades in college to do so. I guess what I'm saying is that would it be better to take non-honors classes and get A's and B's or take the honors classes and have to work a lot harder to get an A or a B?</p>
<p>An honors program is normally when you do a thesis, having a thesis normally lines you up for grad school. I suggest you talk with an academic advisor about this, just to make sure its what you need and want.</p>
<p>Honors classes are usually smaller and more seminar/discussion based. They aren’t often harder (like demanding more homework or having ridiculous exams). </p>
<p>They are usually taught by the better profs (since many profs want to teach honors classes).</p>
<p>Belonging to honors sometimes involves some perks…such as…</p>
<p>priority registration
smaller classes
honors housing
honors designation on diploma</p>
<p>Not all honors colleges require a thesis. Some have an optional thesis. Some have an honors contract. Check with each program.</p>
<p>From Ohio St Honors website…</p>
<p>Honors Courses are taught by select faculty members, often senior professors, who are recognized scholars and scientists. Each year we offer approximately 500 sections of Honors courses, in classrooms averaging 18 students per course and generally capping at 25 students.</p>
<p>Honors Courses:
Are designed to match the abilities of Honors students
Emphasize quality and academic rigor
Are required (most Honors students take one or two Honors courses each quarter and traditionally perform very well). </p>
<p>Honors students enjoy University-Level Priority Scheduling, making them among the first to schedule courses each quarter. This scheduling privilege enables students to meet the expectations and requirements of the Honors Program, including a challenging curriculum, maintenance of a 3.4 or 3.5 gpa, and completion of specific college Honors requirements.</p>
<p>IMHO, signs of a good honors college or program:
Being front-loaded (honors classes start right away, in freshman year, continue throughout)
Requiring a thesis (work one on one with a professor, investigate the student’s own question or produce the student’s own creative venture)
Having a living-learning community (honors dorm, dining hall, activities or classes within them)
Having small seminars that encourage inquiry
Having excellent advising
Having an honors orientation
Having opportunities for honors students to integrate into the larger university through leadership activities
Having some interdisciplinary study or opportunities
Having an honors dean or administrator who advocates for the program within the larger university
Attracting students who truly delve into inquiry and enjoy intellectual discussions in and out of class
Conducting community service or service to the larger university
Ideally, having students from all majors or fields, adding to the intellectual diversity</p>
<p>I think that the requirement to maintain a 3.4 or 3.5 GPA, though, to remain in the honors program is a bit harsh. This just encourages grade inflation, grade consciousness, and grubbing for grades.</p>
<p>Oh, and throw in the rate of placement into grad school, med school, vet school, jobs, internships, etc., and where the graduates end up in these programs and jobs. You can ask about this!</p>
<p>I agree with all the above but this…</p>
<p>*I think that the requirement to maintain a 3.4 or 3.5 GPA, though, to remain in the honors program is a bit harsh. This just encourages grade inflation, grade consciousness, and grubbing for grades. *</p>
<p>There should be a minimum requirement. Maybe 3.5 GPA is too harsh, but certainly not perhaps a 3.3. I don’t know what Ohio St’s rule is, but some honors programs just give a warning if you go below the prescribed GPA and will only drop you from the program if you have 2 consecutive semesters that are below the needed GPA. There needs to be some minimum!</p>
<p>Yes, I agree, mom2! There should be a minimum. Students shouldn’t be allowed to stay in honors if they are just squandering away their academics. On the other hand, in a really rigorous course, a B may be a very good grade! This type of rigor should be encouraged, and there shouldn’t be pressure on professors to give As only because their students would get kicked out of honors or lose a scholarship for getting Bs. And, students shouldn’t be afraid to take the rigorous courses, or to take fewer honors courses because they are afraid of getting Bs.</p>
<p>* And, students shouldn’t be afraid to take the rigorous courses, or to take fewer honors courses because they are afraid of getting Bs. *</p>
<p>Agreed! :)</p>
<p>It’s a good reminder, though, for all students to try to “balance” their class schedules, so that they’re not taking too many hard classes in a given semester - at least during the first semester or two.</p>
<p>
That definitely depends on the school in question.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>LOL…I think it can depend on the prof!!! LOL </p>
<p>Some profs are demanding and give ridiculous exams without being in honors!!</p>
<p>But, which school in particular are you referring? Do the students get any kind of GPA bump from those classes? Just curious. :)</p>
<p>3.0 is the minimum GPA for many schools’ top merit scholarships; others, such as Swarthmore’s full-tuition McCabe, require only good academic standing. Anything above 3.3 is excessively high, IMO, and encourages grade-consciousness (e.g. balancing class schedules to have the “right” accumulating GPA for the same final GPA, assuming that the grade in a class isn’t affected by overload).</p>