I have been accepted into the LSA Honors program and am having a tough time deciding whether I definitely want to do it or not. The main reason I applied was guaranteed SQuad housing but also all the extra advising, resources, and being surrounded by other motivated kids.
Ultimately, however, I am a Ross pre-admit and do not plan on pursuing a dual degree, so I am going to be dropping the honors program after my frosh year anyways (not going to be an LSA student anymore). What happens if I don’t take the required 2 Honors courses per semester my freshman year, since I am probably dropping honors anyways? Would my honors advisor allow me to only sign up for 1 honors course, or even none?
I had the same choice as you, was accepted to honors but couldn’t decide whether or not to do it. My Dad was really pushing me hard to do it, but I ultimately decided not to, and for me, it was a great decision. I only would have done it to get into central campus housing, but was I really going to put myself through a bunch of hard classes I wouldn’t be committed to just for better housing (I mean, Michigan is a hard enough school as is)? I decided to roll the dice and not do Honors and I did get very lucky and was not on north and had an amazing year in my dorm, so if you are only doing it to get central campus, I would advise you to not do honors. I also don’t think it makes a huge deal with employers either, as Michigan is still a very well-esteemed school. Now, if you love the honors curriculum, by all means, go for it!
I believe the requirement is to take an average of two honors courses each term in the first two years. The courses generally are not harder. You would probably take one “core” honors courses each semester your first year, but one of those substitutes for writing course you would have to take anyway. With respect to the non-core courses, you often take a regular course but have an honors discussion section. It is not more difficult: you take the same test are are graded like everyone else. It does say honors on your transcript however. Still, if you are planning on going to Ross anyway, it is probably not worth it.
Do honors! I ended up getting extremely lucky by having South Quad housing on the honors floor. Met a ton of great people and friends from it. Very diversified crowd too, so you will fit in with someone guaranteed (hardcore partier, weekend person, sober, etc). South Quad housing in itself is top-notch with biggest dorm rooms on campus and best dining hall!