<p>Hello everybody =]
I have a question regarding the honors college. I guess this is geared more toward current students but what is the difference between the HC and just regular msu. Is there a huge difference? Do students look differently upon or become impressed with ( for lack of better words) an honors college student?</p>
<p>Thanks :)</p>
<p>Not much by far. No one even knows you’re Honors or not unless you go telling everyone or unless you are actually in the Honors sections of certain classes, in which case, EVERYONE in class is Honors. MAYBE a FEW students could be a little impressed at “Honors” (assuming you told them) but others would think “stuck up.” Really no discernible difference, from the point of view of non-honors students. Most Honors students, tho, are probably pretty happy to be Honors students and probably look a little more favorably on their fellow honors students. But for Non-Honors students it’s just not something they think about or notice. Other people like profs might think a little more highly of an Honors student AT FIRST IMPRESSION but an HC would still need to prove they are willing to work hard-- lots of Non Honors are actually better students than some Honors. So it’s not a big deal unless you are actually an Honors student, in which case, it’s a nice perk (smaller classes, private parties) that comes with more work than usual.</p>
<p>There are a lot of events the HC puts out that are just for HC students, giving stuff like support career advice. The main advantages are in class registration: You get to start registering two weeks earlier, and you can get out of a lot of prerequisites if you can show you know your stuff. There are three different kinds of honors experiences/coursework: Honors courses, honors sections (of regular courses), and honors options. Honors options involve doing some kind of extra work for honors credit. You need to do eight honors experiences to graduate from the HC, but some do more. There are also special advisors and stuff, but that’s not a big deal. There are programs, like the professorial assistantship ¶ program, that are limited to HC students, but not all HC students will get a PA. And then there are honors floors in several dorms where primarily honors students live. It’s not a huge deal, but it can be convenient because a lot of these people will have similar interests and be in the same classes.</p>
<p>After going to some HC programs, I can say that the only difference is that HC students get some extra perks that have been mentioned. There really isn’t much of a difference at all - I guess you just have to put it in a little more work. They certainly don’t force you to do anything or associate with the HC, though. For example, you don’t have to live on an honors floor nor do you have to go to any special meetings. Of course, if you want to, you’re welcome to. This is actually a lot more lenient than other universities, and I like it a lot.</p>
<p>no one really cares if you are an HC student or not. Some kids might assume you are “smarter” but really all it means is you did well in high school/got good ACT scores. There are a lot of smart people who do well without being in HC. I’m of relatively ordinary intelligence and I definitely get eclipsed by plenty of non-HC students in terms of grades. It is nice to list HC on your resume/grad school app, although it doesn’t really help you much. The best benefit by far as others have mentioned is the early registration for classes, and the flexible gen ed. requirements (not having to take integrative studies).</p>
<p>^Oh yeah, getting out of integrative studies. Most students have to take special integrative studies classes, which are usually huge lectures and not particularly challenging, from what I hear. HC students can take those, but they can also substitute departmental classes, which is really convenient.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone so much for the help! 
Does anyone know the difficulty of gaining admission into the HC after your first year/semester at MSU?</p>
<p>^ You have to be in the top 5% or 10% (can’t remember) of your college (either residential college or College of Natural Science, for example) to get in after your first semester. There is no getting in past that. Sucked for me because the top whatever % meant you had to have a 4.0 first semester. Meh</p>