Is it worth doing honors?

spectrum2
Thu, 01 Sep 2011 22:04:11 +0000

So if I have this straight, a student probably shouldn’t apply to honors if they are not going to take honors classes freshman year. Once they are in TAMU they have to have a 3.5 to take any honors classes. So if a student concludes first semester freshman year or all of freshman year with say a 3.2 they would not be allowed to take any honors classes until they get their GPA up to 3.5, if I’m understanding correctly. At that point are they not in the honors program? I know in some schools where students have to maintaln a GPA for scholarships there is usually a probation period before the scholarship is lost. Is the honors program similar to that? Its a little confusing but it may be that with the changes to the honors program some things are getting figured out along the way. Part of the confusion is, if said honors student is living in the honors dorm and they don’t make the 3.5 mark do they have to move out for second semester? My S is taking BC calc and AP physics right now. I don’t know how he’ll test on these but even if he gets 5’s I’ve heard it is a good idea to take at least Calc 2 in college. I’m not sure how accurate this is but when we attended the info session for engineering they said that the average engineering GPA is a 2.8. Judging by that scale a 3.5 sounds really high with all of the adjustment that happens freshman year. From what I’m hearing it sounds like it might be better to wait and see before taking on the extra pressure of honors. I raise the question because my S is apprehensive about if he will be able to maintain that 3.5. I know he wants to enjoy his college experience so he doesn’t want to go in feeling that he needs to study every minute. Any thoughts?