<p>I'm assuming they are smaller in size and tend to have the more academically-motivated kids, correct? Perhaps better professors and more individual attention give to the student? But wouldn't good grades be harder to earn as well and curves be lower because of the overall higher level of students?</p>
<p>Well, my engineering honors classes were pretty big. I couldn’t really see any advantages to them. I regretted signing up for honors physics. The teacher wasn’t very good and there wasn’t much of a curve. That was a long time ago, though, so maybe things have changed. I hope so! I was so unhappy with the physics prof that I spoke to the head of the department about him (didn’t do any good, lol). I just checked the UT website, and that guy is a Professor Emeritus, so I guess he doesn’t teach any longer.</p>
<p>This could just be a coincidence, but everything I’ve heard about honors classes has been bad. In general, the professors don’t really care. Even if the professor did care, honors classes would be unnecessarily difficult (in comparison to regular classes), and you’ll probably learn all you need to know in a regular class.</p>
<p>I think it could also depend on the honors program. For example, Plan II classes are notoriously small and personal, but I’ve heard engineering/business honors classes can be pretty large.</p>
<p>But wouldn’t having honors classes on your transcript give at least some sort of advantage when applying to grad school, med school, or other higher level institutions?</p>
<p>I think what soadquake said is largely untrue–about professors not caring in honors classes. In BHP, the professors very much care. They apply to even teach BHP students, they have DWAPs (dining with a professor) where they bring students to their homes, have them meet the fam, sing karaoke, or whatever. The BHP classes are 30 students max, and they teach in an MBA style–which advantages BHP students when it comes to interviewing (which is why they make, on average $5,000 more starting salary than BBA students–who, I must point out, also make higher than the national average in starting salary with business).</p>
<p>The courses aren’t <em>harder</em>, but they are <em>different</em> than BBA courses. But all BHP classes contain material that isn’t “unnecessarily difficult,”–the professors teach relevant material to students. </p>
<p>To say that “everything I have heard is bad” is a generalization from a handful of data that is poor. Talking to a student thriving in an honors program vs. a student who perhaps was unprepared or who did not get accepted into an honors program would yield different data, experiences, and results. </p>
<p>To the OP: Do your research and talk to current students of each honors program–preferably a junior/senior. They will be honest about the program and what it takes to make it through. Then judge for yourself whether it is “bad” or “unnecessarily difficult.”</p>
<p>When you are a freshman, the best thing about honors classes is that (during registration) they have openings! There are reserved spots in classes for honors students.</p>