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Hi, I'm currently a freshman at a fairly well-known, very large state university. I am pretty set on going to law school after I graduate, but recently I've received a letter from my school telling me that I'm eligible to become an honors student. I did some research and talked with an honors advisor, and although she tells me that honors courses are not more difficult but are just more discussion-based, I think they might be harder than normal classes, which might impact my grades negatively. Also, if I become an honors student I will have to take more than twice the amount of general education courses, which, frankly, I dislike as a whole. I'm a 4.0 student and would like to stay that way, and law school admissions are supposed to look at your LSAT, GPA and personal statement (in that order), so that's my argument for not going into the honors program. Would you agree? Any other kind of advice would be very much appreciated!

simplyrebelling wrote:Hi, I'm currently a freshman at a fairly well-known, very large state university. I am pretty set on going to law school after I graduate, but recently I've received a letter from my school telling me that I'm eligible to become an honors student. I did some research and talked with an honors advisor, and although she tells me that honors courses are not more difficult but are just more discussion-based, I think they might be harder than normal classes, which might impact my grades negatively. Also, if I become an honors student I will have to take more than twice the amount of general education courses, which, frankly, I dislike as a whole. I'm a 4.0 student and would like to stay that way, and law school admissions are supposed to look at your LSAT, GPA and personal statement (in that order), so that's my argument for not going into the honors program. Would you agree? Any other kind of advice would be very much appreciated!

A honors student doesn't make a different. I'd rather have a 3.8 in non-honors than a 3.75 in honors. But between identical 3.8s, the honors person might win out. But I would probably join the honors college, I'm sure you can do well as long as you give some effort. I wasn't in a honors program, but I had friends who were, and I don't think it's really harder or anything.

simplyrebelling wrote:Hi, I'm currently a freshman at a fairly well-known, very large state university. I am pretty set on going to law school after I graduate, but recently I've received a letter from my school telling me that I'm eligible to become an honors student. I did some research and talked with an honors advisor, and although she tells me that honors courses are not more difficult but are just more discussion-based, I think they might be harder than normal classes, which might impact my grades negatively. Also, if I become an honors student I will have to take more than twice the amount of general education courses, which, frankly, I dislike as a whole. I'm a 4.0 student and would like to stay that way, and law school admissions are supposed to look at your LSAT, GPA and personal statement (in that order), so that's my argument for not going into the honors program. Would you agree? Any other kind of advice would be very much appreciated!

If you don't want to do it, then don't.

/

hoos89 wrote:someone asked this EXACT same question earlier today.

I saw it after you pointed it out, sorry about that... Thanks to everyone who replied though!

I would honestly suggest no. The bump you get is really really small...but if this hurts your gpa, you're screwed.

The only positive things I COULD see if you join is that you get more interaction with profs and mentors which could result in better internships/research/ and letters of rec....but if these come at the expense of anything more than a 0.1 gpa drop, don't do it

It doesn't really matter either way, but I will say my honors classes in undergrad at a large state school were some of the easiest classes I took and my absolute favorite classes as well.

Dany wrote:It doesn't really matter either way, but I will say my honors classes in undergrad at a large state school were some of the easiest classes I took and my absolute favorite classes as well.

That^.
The honors college also tends to enjoy better treatment at large state schools. I had more access to faculty, special advising, smaller sections etc etc. The only difference was that I had to write a thesis which wasn't the most arduous task. Go Honors College.

I did honors freshman and sophmore years for the easy A's, and then dropped it junior year when I was supposed to start my thesis.

No, because thousands upon thousands of applicants have it (or something comparable) on their law school applications.

Do an Honors thesis because you want to and you find it interesting. Don't do it for law school admissions purposes. Just get your GPA as high as possible and nail the LSAT. That's it.