How helpful are Honors Programs/Majors for a competitive application?

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Wiesal

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For example, the University of New Hampshire has an honors program with exclusive courses for its members. You can either apply directly or be admitted if you are in the top 10% of the freshmen class during your first semester.

There are also majors in which you can complete with honors if certain requirements are met.

How helpful are these programs for a competitive application?
 
Really depends how "prestigious" the honors program is, but I think the main difference is the opportunities you'll get on campus as an honors program student. When labs look at underrgads looking to join, they'll take the top 10% over the rest most likely, and joining a good lab can set you up for great research opportunities and awards (goldwater, research internships abroad, etc).

IMO, no downside to joining the program, but you'll make it without it like I did.
 
They are not intrinsically valuable but it is incorrect to say they "don't matter". Being in an honors program may or may not give you access to exclusive resources and support that can help you achieve your goals (scholarships, special opportunities like internships, shadowing, or other positions, guaranteed research experience, etc). The classes you take could be smaller and therefore, as a general rule, more engaging and interesting and taught by professors that really want to teach. None of that is a given since not all honors programs are created equal.

As a very biased aside, I'll just say this is true for everything. Nothing is intrinsically valuable for medical school applications besides clinical experience, research experience, MCAT, and grades. However, in terms of actually having a worthwhile undergrad experience and receiving a good education, I would say all of those same things (besides research, again I'm biased) are the least important to consider.
 
Really depends how "prestigious" the honors program is, but I think the main difference is the opportunities you'll get on campus as an honors program student. When labs look at underrgads looking to join, they'll take the top 10% over the rest most likely, and joining a good lab can set you up for great research opportunities and awards (goldwater, research internships abroad, etc).

IMO, no downside to joining the program, but you'll make it without it like I did.
Yes, I think the research opportunities are definitely a factor that would make the honors program worth your while. An honors program is not a must, though.
Someone with a 4.0 with no honors will always be more competitive versus someone with a 3.7 with honors based off of a GPA standpoint alone


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Every action has consequences.

If an honors program requires more work, commitment, senior thesis, etc, all these become risks as they "compete" with your time, energy and focus, particularly later on when preparing for MCAT and other application related tasks. Additionally you now may be in courses with the most competitive students thus curves, grades, can be impacted. Lastly, every cycle I hear from at least one applicant who has noted on their application that he/she is in the honors program but then chooses not to do their senior thesis or similar project .

In sum, you need to do well in whatever you choose.
I agree. To summarize the main point, only pursue these programs if you are certain you GPA or MCAT score will not suffer.
They are not intrinsically valuable but it is incorrect to say they "don't matter". Being in an honors program may or may not give you access to exclusive resources and support that can help you achieve your goals (scholarships, special opportunities like internships, shadowing, or other positions, guaranteed research experience, etc). The classes you take could be smaller and therefore, as a general rule, more engaging and interesting and taught by professors that really want to teach. None of that is a given since not all honors programs are created equal.

As a very biased aside, I'll just say this is true for everything. Nothing is intrinsically valuable for medical school applications besides clinical experience, research experience, MCAT, and grades. However, in terms of actually having a worthwhile undergrad experience and receiving a good education, I would say all of those same things (besides research, again I'm biased) are the least important to consider.
I also believed that personal qualities displayed in your personal statement and interviews were another important factor?
 
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