<p>I've noticed browsing around CC threads that many people have loads of honors classes available at their school, like honors physics and honors pre-calc. What is the honest difference between regular and "honors"? </p>
<p>Also, my school doesn't have any honors classes available, so I've had to take regular physics, regular chemistry (etc.) even though those regular classes are actually quite difficult in my school. Do colleges take the varying level of courses between different schools into consideration when looking at students' transcripts? And if they do, how would they do that?</p>
<p>And often times, students have 4.6 weighted GPA's. How is that possible; do some schools weight honors classes as well, or do some students take 15 AP classes in high school? At my school, i think the valedictorian's GPA for last year was 4.3, not 4.8 or something crazy like that.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for any answers/suggestions, I'm sure these lame questions have all been answered a hundred times before</p>
<p>"Honors" courses are usually more advanced and tend to cover more topics in greater depth than regular courses. Of course, the level of honors and regular level classes varies from school to school.</p>
<p>Colleges evaluate you based on the academic/extracurricular opportunities available at your school. So if your school doesn't offer honors classes, you won't necessarily be penalized but just know that they expect you to create opportunities for yourself: through local community college, online classes, etc. </p>
<p>Some schools inflate grades earned in AP/honors classes, thus the 4.8 GPAs you see on CC. Your valedictorian earned a 4.3, so why isn't a 4.6 or 4.8 believable? Welcome to CollegeConfidential!</p>
<p>i think Physics08 deliberately answered ur concerns! ;)</p>
<p>Schools vary. Some schools a 4.1 is very easy to obtain by most students. Just do what you can. Take the hardest classes and worry about what grades are considered good at your school in comparison with your fellow students. Don't worry about kids hear who get all straight A+'s in 7 APs they take in their junior year because usually their schools have a major grade inflation.</p>
<p>At my school, honors is considerably harder. In most cases, you MUST take honors before AP. No regular to AP, just honors to AP.<br>
Honors usually cover way more at my school too.</p>
<p>Because most people with hugely inflated grades go to schools where such classes are easy.</p>
<p>The best advice is what Physics08 said. Take the hardest courses available in your school, get the best grades in them that you can, and do other things outside of school -- be it more academics, sports, music, or other activities.</p>
<p>[The fact that you're from Alaska gives you a leg up already!]</p>