<p>How much of an effect does being in an honors program during undergrad affect admission to top grad schools? The GenEd requirements are narrow, and I am considering dropping my honors status. There is a honors track through my major (English) that is concerned with just the major courses, not the GenEds.</p>
<p>My take on it is, how would your grad school even know of your honors program? Unless this is clearly stated on the academic transcript, you won't stand out from your fellow applicants.</p>
<p>I think minors also get treated the same way -- it's fine to do one if that's where your interests are, but don't use it as a "this will set me apart" tidbit. I can't remember if any of my applications even asked for such extraneous information...</p>
<p>I think it depends what the honors program is. At some schools, honors involves a senior thesis; at other schools, it seems this isn't necessary. If you did original research for a senior thesis then I think yes, that can be very important to see for a graduate school. In that case you would emphasize your research skills and experience in your candidate statement. If you're applying for a doctorate, this is definitely the case, and your statement would be even stronger if you wanted to pursue your senior thesis further in graduate research, and explained how the school would help you do that.</p>
<p>Honors programs vary widely from place to place. In and of itself, "honors program" on the transcript is relatively meaningless in graduate admissions.</p>
<p>Any major that requires a thesis will be a plus. If your department has a thesis option (honors or not), take it.</p>
<p>The biggest advantage of an honors program is often that the program offers smaller honors classes and seminars that give students a better chance of getting to know faculty. This can pay dividends.</p>
<p>To put it another way, honors programs open doors at large universities that a regular student might not even know exists. </p>
<p>So the value is not being in the honors program per se, but rather what the student does with the opportunity.</p>
<p>Honors programs help you get better access to the professors/their research/letters of recs. So in that light, it may help. Although, I don't think an honors program will separate you from other high achieving candidates. Basically it can mean nothing, but it might help you get access to resources which might require extra legwork if you weren't in the honors program.</p>