<p>I am going to the University of Montana this fall. The honours college there sounds pretty "exclusive" - they have a separate building and dorm; but I doubt if I can get much real benefit from attending it.</p>
<p>My major is biochemistry. Since I want to get a Ph.D in AI/theoretical neuroscience, I will take extra maths classes. If I do not go to honours college, I will have enough slots to do a major in maths. If I go to honours college I will have to take 6 or 7 honours classes (all in the arts and literature). Then I could not even finish a minor in maths.</p>
<p>I like reading classical literature (Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, etc) but I totally hate "analysing" them and writing papers. Plus, even Austen and Dickens don't have much to do with neuroscience.</p>
<p>What are the additional benefits of the honors program?</p>
<p>As it stands, I would not do it if you really want the math minor. However, if you get benefits like priority scheduling and smaller classes that can make a difference.</p>
<p>I would do the honors college, becuase you usually get priority registration and smaller classes. If you complete the honors curriculum, you get "honors distinction" on your transcript... if that means anything....</p>
<p>Can you take classes over the summer to satisfy your math major?</p>
<p>Technically you could also try to take a course overload in a few semesters to get at least a math minor.</p>
<p>If I were in your situation, I would not join the honors program. I am just too miserable in humanities classes... (Humanities in high school were not that bad; but 200+ pages of reading per week and 30 pages of literary analysis over a semester for a single course is more than my science brain can handle.) You can probably get an honors distinction on your transcript though departmental honors.</p>
<p>I probably won't attend honours college, then. I don't want "literary analysis" to ruin my life, and for my future research, a double major in biochem+maths is much more meaningful than some random "graduation with honours".</p>
<p>Priority of registration and class size are probably not important for science majors. The chemistry, biochemistry, biology, maths majors together have less than 200 students at UM and in any major-related class there won't be more than 10 students.</p>