Honors classes

[kiddynamite914]

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I was wondering how medical schools view honors classes? Do medical schools really not give a **** about these honors classes? Or is it just something that can be helpful when two applicants have equal GPA's, MCAT's, etc? Even my school pre health advising advised us not take honors courses because it may require some extra work.

 

[WedgeDawg]

They don't care

 

[yeezuswest]

I try not to always go for honor classes, but there are specific instances where they can be beneficial. For example, I signed up for a specific honors biology class because it allowed me to pursue some extra work outside of the class with the professor, which eventually segued into him getting to know me well enough to write me a great LOR. But there are definitely classes where taking the honors version is just extra work for an already very hard class.

 

[Joeshie]

What WedgeDawg said. However, I have found that surrounded by smarter and more driven students, I, myself, strove to do better. I also learned much more than the typical student in my honor classes. It may not help me in my current application process... but I have benefited personally.

 

[Grace184]

What WedgeDawg said. However, I have found that surrounded by smarter and more driven students, I, myself, strove to do better. I also learned much more than the typical student in my honor classes. It may not help me in my current application process... but I have benefited personally.

Agree...and my honors class size was smaller, plus at my school we got first pick on electives In general just for being in the honors college. Yea, it was an extra rope or whatever around my neck at graduation but I was able to list it as an EC/achievement

 

[deleted702880]

The biggest advantages are that you can network with more self-motivated students and have the chance to get to know a professor more intimately, possibly resulting in an excellent LoR.

Also, if you're in a bigger school with terrible grading practices then an honors class might also mean a better grade. You'll have to work hard but so does everyone else, meaning that the curve will be slightly more lenient than in a large class where there might be people who have already taken AP courses. It really depends on how the classes are graded and how confident you are that you'll keep up with material. This was how things worked in my university but I'm sure it differs.

 

[On Eagle's Wings]

I was never part of any honors program, and it did not hurt my application. I had several friends do it however, and it does help for getting research experience and networking. But you can also get these experiences and connections elsewhere in your classes. At the end of the day, make sure your MCAT, GPA, and EC's are solid and only pursue honors if you want to. It has some added peripheral benefits, but you will have to work to get them. In my mind, the extra work wasn't worth it for me, and I feel like I better spent my time pursuing volunteer and leadership activities elsewhere than writing a gigantic honors thesis on 2 years worth of research 😉