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I was accepted at Loyola University in New Orleans and now I am trying to decide if I really want to be in the honors program. I plan to be a biology major and complete the pre med requirements as well. I have had two friends who had similar academic backgrounds join honors programs at other universitys and they both couldn't handle the workload and had to drop out of the programs. I really think I would benefit from the research opportunities but I am afraid that I would be unable to handle the workload and mess up my gpa and my chances at a good medical school. I was thinking that I could try the program out and if it is too intense, drop out of the program. Any advice or expierences anyone has to offer would be very helpful.
Thanks!

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 03:52 pm: Edit

Find out what the honors program entails. Sometimes the work is way more rigorous or requires independent research which may be more than you want to do. Sometimes it means smaller classes and more detail in the subject and better profs, better group of kids, which could help you. At Pitt, for instance, honors is not more rigorous, I do not think. At other schools, the bar is raised substancially and not much nurturing given since it is presumed the kids do not need as much attention. You need to take a look-see.

By Bamagirl (Bamagirl) on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 05:52 pm: Edit

Thanks for your advice.
At loyola, all honors students take 48 credit hours of honors classes to replace the Core Curriculm and all honor students are required to complete a senior thesis based on original research. Special advisors are assigned to each student and, according to the view book, the level of analysis required is much higher than what is usually demanded in a normal class, which is what would be expected in any honors class. I just can't decide if I want to work so hard (not that I dont plan on working hard) for four years and then just have to work for four more years in medical school, providing I get in. Do you think it would be better to be in the regular classes and get As or be in the honors classes and get mediocre grades. Of course the most desirible option would be to get As in honors classes but Im not so sure that is possible for me.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 05:57 pm: Edit

If you want to go to med school the two most important things are the MCATs and grades. As long as you take the premed courses, they really do not care what your major is. You would have to have a heck of a good reason , though to explain low grades.

By Ambitiousyokel (Ambitiousyokel) on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 11:12 pm: Edit

I read something recently - the Wall Street journal (I think) - in which a graduate admissions officer (from Harvard, I think) said they didn't really care about honors.