University Honors?

[Eiot]

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Hi friends. Forgive my ignorance, but what the heck is honors? I'm a junior at my university, hear about honors everywhere, but still don't have a complete grasp of what the program actually entails or how it can benefit me. I received a university e-mail opening with "Dear Honors Student" and then was quite thoroughly subjected to honors enrollment advertising. Ironically, I still don't have the slightest inkling about what the program is about.

 

[DoktorO]

Some schools have an honors program in which students take on a bit of extra coursework and usually participate in research of some kind. Some schools also offer Honors lectures, like honors O-chem and such, which go more indepth into certain topics.

 

[hunterjumper14]

If varies from school to school. Sometimes a good GPA qualifies you to take honors courses in and Honors College (at my university this meant you were an "honors student"). Also, one can graduate with Latin honors, generally cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude. This can also be different from school to school. Sometimes having a high GPA alone will qualify you for these honors. For some schools, you have to write an honors thesis in your area of study. At my school Latin honors were an option for those student with a high GPA, but they were awarded based on defense of a thesis before a faculty committee.

It's kind of a bummer that there isn't more consistency because it takes a huge about of effort to graduate with honors at some schools and not so much at others...

 

[Eiot]

If varies from school to school. Sometimes a good GPA qualifies you to take honors courses in and Honors College (at my university this meant you were an "honors student"). Also, one can graduate with Latin honors, generally cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude. This can also be different from school to school. Sometimes having a high GPA alone will qualify you for these honors. For some schools, you have to write an honors thesis in your area of study. At my school Latin honors were an option for those student with a high GPA, but they were awarded based on defense of a thesis before a faculty committee.

It's kind of a bummer that there isn't more consistency because it takes a huge about of effort to graduate with honors at some schools and not so much at others...

Alright, good to know, thanks. Is there a distinct advantage as a pre-med to graduate with honors?

 

[487806]

Alright, good to know, thanks. Is there a distinct advantage as a pre-med to graduate with honors?

Not really.

 

[hunterjumper14]

Alright, good to know, thanks. Is there a distinct advantage as a pre-med to graduate with honors?

I think it depends. If it's solely base on grades, probably not. However, I ended up listing my thesis as one of my "most meaningful experiences" because it was >1yr of work and I worked closely with a faculty advisor. It's a great way to get a solid LOR if your school has this option!

 

[Nahla]

I don't know how it is for your school, but at mine, you get to pick classes as soon as they are offered which is awesome because you get first dibs. You get money for books, your honor classes holds like 12 students at most. You have to submit a thesis and you have to graduate with at least 15 honors credits. And when you graduate you get a stole for graduation. I only did it because I wanted the benefits of picking classes ahead of everybody and money for books.

 

[Doctor Strange]

It's different at every school. At my school, admission is based on grades and extracurricular activities. Advantages include a yearly book stipend, getting to pick classes first, and having the opportunity to take honors classes and/or sections. There's also a special seal added to the graduation diploma.

It was a pretty sweet deal.

 

[Eiot]

Alright thanks for the replies guys.

 

[Daodejing]

Phi Beta Kappa trumps all, IMO. This extends to those interested in other disciplines as well, besides applying for med school (ie. liberal arts, etc.) All the latin honors, honors programs, and such probably mean relatively less because, as mentioned previously, there's so much disparity in what is required for qualification from school to school.

Once in med school (MD), many similarly gun for Alpha Omega Alpha (analogous to PBK). This is increasingly important for some specialties (ie. derm).