Honors college or higher science GPA?

[Rayatbh]

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Hello everyone !

I'm weighting out two options I have and would appreciate any input.

I'm currently in our school's honors college which entails taking extra "honors" classes/seminars, a thesis, and honors credits in classes you already need to take.

I've decided that I want to pursue a Spanish minor. In this case I think I could still do the extra classes required to get an honors diploma.

Although I've liked my experience in the honors college so far, I feel like I'd rather spend any extra slots I have for classes in taking interesting science classes not part of my major - such as Jurassic physics, different really interesting astronomy classes our university offers, etc.

I could also still purse departmental honors instead of the full 'honors college'.

Will it hurt me if I decide to take fun science classes instead of extra honors classes? What's a better benefit: honors college or better science GPA?

Thanks 🙂

 

[Lawpy]

Better science GPA >>>>>>>>>>>> honors college

 

[DrDwayneJohnson]

Agree with the above. I'm pretty sure there wasn't a spot on AMCAS I could put I had an honors degree. But they can definitely see that GPA, though. It may earn some points if reviewers go through your transcripts, but I highly doubt it. If anything, the possible extra rigor might refine your study habits, which could help in med school.

 

[Catalystik]

I'm currently in our school's honors college which entails taking extra "honors" classes/seminars, a thesis, and honors credits in classes you already need to take.

I've decided that I want to pursue a Spanish minor. In this case I think I could still do the extra classes required to get an honors diploma.

Although I've liked my experience in the honors college so far, I feel like I'd rather spend any extra slots I have for classes in taking interesting science classes not part of my major - such as Jurassic physics, different really interesting astronomy classes our university offers, etc.

I could also still purse departmental honors instead of the full 'honors college'.

Will it hurt me if I decide to take fun science classes instead of extra honors classes? What's a better benefit: honors college or better science GPA?🙂

Higher GPA wins, hands down.

 

[DJ Khaled's Pet Tiger]

Higher GPA wins, hands down.

Depends on how much higher... if you can get at least a 3.8 and do special research with honors, do honors

 

[Optimist Prime]

I chose not to do honors because I really didn't want to waste my time having to go to extra SI's every week when I could spend it volunteering or just being a college student and having fun. Med schools really don't care. The only thing that honors may be beneficial is usually they hook you up with research opportunities, but you can just emailed a few professors and ask them directly if they have open spots in their labs.

 

[DJ Khaled's Pet Tiger]

I chose not to do honors because I really didn't want to waste my time having to go to extra SI's every week when I could spend it volunteering or just being a college student and having fun. Med schools really don't care. The only thing that honors may be beneficial is usually they hook you up with research opportunities, but you can just emailed a few professors and ask them directly if they have open spots in their labs.

Yeah I think maybe 2 of my 28 interviewers thus far may have said something about honors, so it's not weighted that heavily

 

[Rayatbh]

Thanks for the responses everyone!! I think i'm going to drop honors then. I can still do departmental honors which requires two honors biology classes (I have done this) and a research thesis.

 

[Suprachiasmatik]

LOL.

Are you at my undergrad institution?

Being duped into the "Honors College" is on the long list of mistakes that I made during my undergraduate career. Honors colleges provide NO benefit to getting into medical school and expose you to "GPA risk." These Honors College programs tend to have quite a few credit hours of courses that involve a lot of subjective grading, and you do not want to find yourself on the wrong side of a subjective grader.

So do yourself a favor and ditch the silly Honors College. Focus on maxing out your GPA (should be pretty damn easy as a Spanish major) and doing a great job on your medical school prerequisites. Also, start planning for the MCAT NOW! High GPA + High MCAT + fluff = MD acceptance.

You'll thank me later.