<p>I am very interested in the Notre Dame Honors Program, but beyond the small amount of information I found on nd.edu, I know little about it. </p>
<p>For instance, on the application, should I indicate somewhere (on the essay perhaps) that I would like to be considered for this program? When will I know if I have been selected? Can/should I send in additional information (test scores, etc.) midway through my senior year, or do they base their decision strictly on the initial application? Must I declare a major immediately in order to enter the program, or, like the rest of ND students, do I wait until after the First Year of Studies? Finally, what kind of stats (class rank, scores, EC's, etc.) are needed to get in, and does the Honors Program admission emphasize certain areas more than general admission (ie: test scores and grades are more important than EC's for the Honors Program)?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for any information or advice!</p>
<p>The ND Honors Program is very selective, and has lots of perks. You file a regular application, and then after admissions decisions have been made I believe the admissions office sends a list of names to the board of people in charge of the honors program. When I spoke to the woman on the phone she said that they receive a few hundred names and then invite a little less than one hundred to apply. I'm not positive on those numbers though. To apply, all that I had to do was write a one page essay stating why I wanted to be in the honors program and then e-mail it to a specified e-mail address. You don't send in additional test scores, or accomplishment sheets. All that jazz should already be on your original application for admission. Within 2-3 days I had received a decision in the mail. I definitely think the program would have offered great opportunities. You often get to attend lectures with special guest speakers, I believe you have special curriculum, and additional research opportunities. However, if you aren't in the honors program Notre Dame offers an abundance of resources for any student. I know many people there who are extremely happy with campus life. Anyway, if you want more specifics about my experience with applying to the honors program just ask:)</p>
<p>"During all four years, spaces for honors students are reserved in Honors Elective courses. These courses are among the most interesting and rigorous available on campus and are taught by some of the most outstanding faculty scholars. Thus, honors students are challenged as a group, primarily in seminars taught by outstanding scholar-teachers. In addition the daily hospitality of the honors lounge provides the opportunity to learn from each other as well as from Notre Dame's honors faculty.</p>
<p>A key feature of the Honors Program is the capstone project in the senior year. Science students begin research as early as the sophomore year which culminates in a research paper in the senior year. The Arts & Letters students do a year-long senior thesis under the direction of a faculty member of their choice.</p>
<p>In addition to these structured academic programs, the Honors Program students are also offered many opportunities for intellectual and cultural growth outside the classroom. Honors Program evening colloquia (one to three per semester) offer opportunities to participate in discussions led by Notre Dame experts. Also offered are occasional opportunities for informal discussions with prominent scholars and public figures visiting Notre Dame."</p>
<p>This is straight from the website. I guess you have the opportunity to work more intimately with great professors, take special honors classes, and often get priority when meeting visiting scholars. I would have loved to be a part of this program, and I wish I could offer you more specifics, but I turned it down to attend Stanford. I'm sure if you have more questions, you could e-mail the directors of the honors program at ND. I found them very helpful when applying.</p>
<p>Granted, I am an outsider to the honors program, but I did have a roommate in the honors program, and my overall feeling was that I didn't think it provided you with all that much. The main benefit that I have seen that comes from the honors program is if you complete it you can put it on your resume. Depending on what field you are going into, that can be very helpful. Beyond that, however, I am one who believes that it just makes your life a bit more of a living hell. Yes, you have classes with great professors and all honors students, I won't deny that, but I wouldn't want to be in those classes anyway as the pressure is often great (or at least seemed to be to me, but I could be off) and also it is almost sure to lower your GPA. That is something to remember if GPA is more important than saying you were in the honors program. As for the extra research opportunities, almost anyone can do those things. Almost every major allows you to write a thesis if you meet certain qualifications, so that really doesn't seem to be something all that special to me. You can graduate with honors without it, since honors are determined by GPA, and pretty much any big scholar that comes to campus will at least be open to the whole student body. I know the program sounds good on paper but I don't think it is all it is cracked up to be. That being said, unless GPA is very important to you, I still would apply. I think having it on your resume helps a great deal and you can get out of the program if it isn't for you. I just have never understood why the honors program is so great, personally. ND is a great school and you have so many opportunities anyways that it just really doesn't offer much more than what you already have other than the ability to take the honors classes (which I think you can override into with a prof's help). Just my $.02.</p>