Frequently Asked Questions about Honors
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Why do so many American colleges and universities have Honors Programs?
Honors programs at more than 1000 colleges across the United States are special academic programs designed to help superior students--who are sometimes bored or unchallenged by conventional courses--make the most of their college experience. If a college is like a big swimming pool, an Honors program is the opportunity to swim in the deep end. You don't have to be there all the time, but you should not miss it. A typical American Honors program offers a series of small classes or seminars, taught by the best faculty at the college, limited to the students with superior academic abilities, and emphasizing class discussions rather than lectures. Many of these characteristics are often associated with very expensive Ivy League education out of reach of most families. Honors Programs occupy the place of pride on their campuses and have been recognized as one of the greatest bargains in American higher education.
Wouldn't I do better in college if I didn't join an Honors Program?
Sometimes this is true, but very often it is not. In fact, more than a thousand colleges have established Honors programs precisely because good students do better in them! Without a peer group that values academic excellence, social life can easily become more important than studying. Talented students can be bored in classes and coast through or put off simple assignments (just as they did in high school). Unfortunately, students who avoid challenges and try to take the easy way out often face severe shocks in college (it's not grade 13!) and graduate with mediocre academic records.
I'm no genius. Will Honors courses be too hard for me?
No. If you were selected for an Honors Program, you have the ability to succeed in your Honors courses. You will also gain confidence in your own abilities by working together with (not competing with) the best students on campus. In Honors courses students and faculty really do learn from each other. Sometimes Honors courses may require a bit more work than other courses, but not excessively so; and Honors courses and the faculty are often so stimulating that students barely notice that they are doing more.
Won't my college GPA suffer if I join an Honors Program?
No. Honors courses aren't graded harder (or any easier!) than other college courses. A student who averages a 3.6 in regular courses will probably have a 3.6 GPA or higher for Honors courses too.
Can I participate in sports or other extra-curricular activities and still do Honors?
Certainly, and you will meet many other students doing the same. Most Honors students are able to participate successfully in a wide range of extra-curricular activities and still maintain a balance with their academic work.
When can I join the Honors Program?
At LaGuardia, students are typically eligible to take Honors courses after they have accumulated 12 college credits. Entering students may receive special permission to register. Click here for full details.
Aren't most Honors students just nerds?
This is a common high school attitude, but in college you will quickly see how wrong it is! Honors students are a highly diverse group, not just in majors, but also in backgrounds, nationality, ethnicity, race, personality, interests, etc. We like it that way! For example, Honors students compete on varsity teams, others are dancers, artists and actors, mathematicians and scientists; many are heavily involved in student government, clubs, and residence hall activities. Honors students are also prominent leaders on campus, serving as major officers of student government, the editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper, a broadcaster on the radio station, honor society officers (and there are quite a few honor societies at LaGuardia!), and leaders of the psychology, English, and pre-med clubs, etc. At LaGuardia, Honors student leaders develop networking, scholarly and service activties through the Honors Student Advisory Committee (HSAC). Honors students don't look the same or act the same: what they do share is a commitment to academic excellence and a desire to make the most of their college experience. And in this diverse mix of Honors students, you are likely to find your greatest friends.
Will Honors separate me from other students at the college?
No. Honors students are as fully a part of college life as is possible. Honors students take a mix of Honors and non-Honors courses, and they find their friends and roommates both in and out of Honors.
Are there conferences that I could go to as an Honors student?
Yes. Students and student presentations are a major part of Honors conferences, regionally, state-wide, and nationally.
Will participation in an Honors Program help me get a job, or get into graduate or professional schools, after I graduate?
Yes, there is good evidence that it be an asset for your future. As an Honors student you will be identified as possessing not only superior academic abilities (often supplemented by solid extracurricular involvement), but you will be recognized as having the commitment and motivation to take on challenging work. Hence, Honors students are eagerly sought by employers and preferred for admissions by graduate and professional schools. Your Honors research projects provide you with graduate-level research experience and prove your ability to work independently at an advanced level.