<p>Between graduating through an Honors course and graduating through the regular course at a top 15 university, what is the difference?</p>
<p>What if you have a higher GPA because non-honors is easier (supposing 3.8+ for non-honors)?</p>
<p>I would say it depends on how much effort YOU put into college. You can be a nobody at a “top 15” university, or a standout at the Honors college of State U.</p>
<p>Or vice versa.</p>
<p>What would be your projected GPA for majors? I dont think Honors per se is that important, but it may give you more access to professors, and may make recommendations more meaningful.</p>
<p>Honors classes may also better prepare you for grad school and any subject area tests you need (eg MCAT)</p>
<p>I think it’s a misconception to assume that every single course at a top 15 (why 15? not 20 or more?) is going to be oh-so-much harder than its counterpart at a “lesser” university.</p>
<p>Well, it depends. In some private universities the content and/or teaching approach are substantially different for Honors courses. That won’t show up on the Diploma of course. But it might provide a richer educational experience. YMMV of course.</p>
<p>So, if I graduate with a 3.8+, firms won’t really care about whether or not I was a part of Honors or not?</p>
<p>Chinese, I think different people here are interpeting your question differently. I took it to mean you are going to a top 15 school and is there a big diff between honors or not? What do you project your Honors GPA would be? If it goes below 3.5, that is going to knock you out of recruiting box for some companies. 3.8 wil get you an interview with anyone who is interviewing at your school/major.</p>
<p>None of the dozen firms I’ve worked with/for would care whether you were in Honors. Your major and GPA are important. And the name of the college can be a significant plus. But I cannot recall a single case where “Honors Status” was even mentioned … never mind being a reason to hire.</p>
<p>You haven’t asked, but if you were to choose between Honors Program or Semester Abroad, I’d suggest the Semester Abroad. It’s a clear indication that you’re willing to take on a challenge … and it’s a wonderful topic in a job interview.</p>
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When I took a bunch of classes at a community college, a professor I had who had taught at the Air Force Academy told us that there wasn’t any secret knowledge we had to pay more for; he taught the same intro to psych course at the CC as he did at the Air Force Academy (though, since the CC was more recent for him, he used better technology there).</p>
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If it was a choice between a 3.6 or 3.7 in honors and a 3.8 in non-honors, I’d go with the former. If it was like 3.1 or 3.2 in honors against a 3.8 in non-honors, I’d go with the latter. Honors can be important, but won’t make up for a big GPA difference.</p>
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That seems like it would be a pretty clear choice to me.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot. I’m just weighing my worst case scenario because I have been accepted to UMich, but the rest of the decisions that I’m waiting for are extremely selective (Princeton, Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, Cornell, Stern and Ross pre-admit). :S</p>
<p>Wait, did you mean to compare an honors curriculum at one school to the regular curriculum of another school? I thought you mean honors and non-honors at the same school.</p>
<p>“Honors … won’t make up for a big GPA difference.”</p>
<p>Correct.</p>
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Classes at top colleges usually cover material more quickly and more in depth. Additionally, assignments are more demanding and the grading standards more stringent.</p>
<p>I teach a class at a NotSelective State U as part of my funding package, and I am forced to teach at a decidedly lower level here than I would’ve at my alma mater – an A paper here <em>might</em> have mustered a C there. Some of my students have difficulty grasping the use of a syllabus…</p>
<p>As for the OP, Michigan is highly reputable regardless of honors status.</p>
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<p>If Michigan (Ann Arbor) is the “worst case”, then you will have the opportunity to get a fine education wherever you go. Indeed, if Michigan is in-state for you, it may be a relative bargain also (although some of those other schools may compete by being very generous with financial aid so that their net cost after financial aid is very competitive).</p>