Pros and cons of Honors?

Hi, All-

My son is applying to Ohio State. He is unsure of whether to apply to the Honors program. Some random thoughts:

  1. Does acceptance into the programs carry a financial award over any other merit scholarship that the university awards?
  2. I read that a 3.4 GPA is required to remain in the program. This seems pretty steep, possibly setting students up for failure, especially those in challenging STEM majors. When I was in college, I was super-focused on my GPA; looking back, it is a major regret. If I had let my hair down a little, I’d have had a lot more fun, and I’d still be in exactly the same place professionally. So, how do OSU Honors students feel about the GPA requirement?
  3. Any other pros/cons to consider when deciding whether to apply?

Thanks!

I think this is a great question. Honors does not come with additional scholarships but a student with the qualifications to be admitted to honors is likely to be a candidate for one of the merit awards (Maximum, Provost, Trustee). This blurb on the OSU website seems to best summarize the “benefits”:

  • Choose from more than 350 sections of Honors classes, averaging fewer than 25 students each.
  • Pursue original research and write an Honors thesis under the guidance of a faculty member.
  • Graduate "with Honors" and/or "with Honors Research Distinction" on your diploma.
  • Participate in special short-term study abroad programs with Honors peers.
  • Live in one of three designated Honors learning communities.
  • Receive university-level priority course scheduling to meet Honors requirements.​

Personally the fact that the three designated Honors dorms are older dorms, when OSU has a good number of new dorms, is a bit of a turn-off for my daughter. And although academically strong, I don’t know that she is looking to make her coursework even harder that it is going to be by having to take honors classes and do an honors thesis. She did not apply to Honors when submitting her app but it was a tough call and she was trying to determine whether she can transfer into honors after she matriculates (if she ends up going to OSU) but that information wasn’t readily available.

My D chose Scholars and added Honors later when she had quite a few credits under her belt and had maintained a high gpa. Maybe that would work for your student, too? https://honors-scholars.osu.edu/scholars

I think she liked being in Scholars and grouped with students with similar interests, but with a much shorter commitment (obligations ended Freshman year, though the social ties continued). There was a bit of suspense because once accepted to Scholars you are invited to apply to several Scholars programs listing preference but the university sorts you. So it was a bit like the sorting hat ceremony in Harry Potter waiting to see which house you end up in. It added a bit of extra anticipation to the process.

Enrolled students that are interested in Honors and meet the gpa and earned credits requirements submit an Honors contract, usually in Spring of Sophomore year. Scholars is only open to incoming freshmen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk0O1yq4LD4 Honors at OSU from a student there. He starts discussing honors at 6:30.

For Freshmen, I don’t see a downside. There’s no requirement that, if admitted you have to stay in honors qll four years so if after freshman year you don’t like it you can just drop it. However, having smaller, more interactive classes with the best professors (professors are hand picked to teach those classes) is a huge benefit for freshmen. The top perk is early registration - being able to choose exactly what class you’ll take, at the best time for your physiology, with the best professors teaching the class (at a huge university most required freshman classes will have multiple sections) that alone makes honors absolutely worth it.

Honestly, the only benefit it has is priority scheduling, even an advisor once told me that. Depending on colleges, since I’m not directly enrolled into Honors in the first semester, I do not have to complete the 18 credit hours Honor courses requirement by first year. Without saying, science honors courses are way harder than the normal sections so it might crush your GPA if you’re not good at it. Also, depending on colleges, entry to Honors after first semester varies. For Engineering, all you need is a 3.4.

Do employers prefer for Honors grads? Professional schools?

Depending on the university’s reputation it can make a difference (especially for fellowships). However the opportunities these afford mean that the students who took advantage of what the Honors college offered will have an edge. For example, some special leadership courses or special summer internships may be offered only to Honors students, as well as bashes with alumni, special lectures with personal meetings for the honors students with distinguished leaders, etc.

If you applied for Honors will you hear back either way? Do they offer Scholars if they don’t offer you Honors?