The Honors College looks at your application holistically. They don’t merely decide based on good extracurriculars or good stats. It’s a comprehensive look at your application.
@lro375 There are many benefits to Honors. As maryversity said, the Honors College allows you to take H-level classes (smaller class sizes and accelerated learning) for classes that offer an H-level version. Adding onto the discussion about Honors Seminars, they are AMAZING classes. Not all of them require a lot of work, but most of them offer credit for more than one gen-ed requirement, which is good (especially so if your 4 year plan is jam packed with credits.) Honors also allows you to join an LLP - a living and learning program. In my LLP, I’ve made my closest friends and had the most fun. I, personally, think that was one of the biggest benefits of joining the Honors College. Additionally, every day during the semester, the Honors College will send a newsletter email out with links of opportunities for Honors students like internships, scholarship applications, jobs, and ways to get involved on campus.
If anyone has any more questions about the Honors College, feel free to DM me! I’m an student Honors Ambassador at UMD and would love to help as much as I can!