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From what I understand, the honors program is open to anyone who wishes to apply, but still a student must be "accepted." This is not really different, I think, from Carroll's regular admissions policy of applying to Carroll, but also having your admissions package reviewed by the department housing your "major" and getting their acceptance as well. Again, from what I recall from our official visit, it was not considered a big deal -- and applicants did not have to declare a major right away.
I may have mentioned my daughter is applying to pre-med and that means a major in biology or chemistry. The professor she spoke with seemed to feel she would have little problem "getting in" to the pre-med program. However, they talked quite a bit about how successful pre-med students were who "majored" in other areas. Technically, pre-med, pre-dental and so on do not actually major in those programs and med schools typically say a student can major in anything. As the professor mentioned, the half-dozen or so faculty advisers to pre-med are all in the biology or chemistry departments. Consequently, they work more closely with and get to know those students, are able to suggest areas toward the pre-med focus, and give them the pointers that gets them accepted to med school. Our daughter was also interested in the "honors" program and asked about that and, while the prof didn't discourage her, mentioned that it was a focus in the student's whole collegiate program that was similar to the "pre-med" focus, and that the downside was that there may be some requirement in the honors program that might take away from the time spent in the pre- med concentration. My D also has an interest in history and the same was said about "majoring" in history. The pre-med adviser said that she could certainly do that, but that a history major would have requirements in that major -- research, theses, etc. -- that would focus her attention, rightfully so, on becoming a graduate historian first, and the pre-med requirements second, similar to the honors program. He suggested a history minor or even, since it was her interest, taking the history courses she liked as electives, allowing her to concentrate on the rigorous course of study necessary for success in pre-med.
This made me realize that my D, like most kids, just really wants to do it all! I think the honors program produces more of a classic, liberal arts education in many things and is a "concentration" all in its own. It does that with a honors cohort of students who go through the same courses and focus. From friends whose children are in pre-med at Carroll, they all seem to think that pre-med is "concentration" enough in terms of rigor and work! We've had discussions with our D as to choosing what she really wants -- the classic BA education from the honors program, to be a historian, or to get into medical school. These are all her choices and we're only trying to point out the pluses and minuses.
Forgive me for rambling on with stuff you may not really want to know. But I say all that in suggesting you talk to two people -- a professor in the program your daughter is interested in -- vet or animal bonding I think? -- and ask them about how difficult it would be to fulfill those requirements and participate in the honors program, and call as well the honors program coordinator and ask the same question -- you'll get the two opposite perspectives you need, I think!
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