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Chloe111 wrote:Hi,
I'm a sophomore student and I'm doing major-minor program now. I want to expand my minor to a major, but I'm wondering whether AOs have a preference for students who do Honours program(equivalent to Honours track)? Because Honours program students should write a very long and demanding Honours thesis which can demonstrate stronger writing, critical thinking and time management abilities.
In my university, if you choose the multiple programs track (i.e. double major/major-minor), you cannot write the honours thesis. I think it's a good idea to major in two subjects that I'm interested in, but I really love my current major and I'm okay to make efforts to do an Honours program.

DO you think AOs have a preference? Which one should I choose? I'll appreciate it if you have any advices.

KENYADIGG1T wrote:

Chloe111 wrote:Hi,
I'm a sophomore student and I'm doing major-minor program now. I want to expand my minor to a major, but I'm wondering whether AOs have a preference for students who do Honours program(equivalent to Honours track)? Because Honours program students should write a very long and demanding Honours thesis which can demonstrate stronger writing, critical thinking and time management abilities.
In my university, if you choose the multiple programs track (i.e. double major/major-minor), you cannot write the honours thesis. I think it's a good idea to major in two subjects that I'm interested in, but I really love my current major and I'm okay to make efforts to do an Honours program.

DO you think AOs have a preference? Which one should I choose? I'll appreciate it if you have any advices.

This may or may not answer your question, but I hope this helps you think about it with more nuance. The benefits of the thesis are that (if it is how I envision it) you get to work closely with a faculty member. The resulting recommendation (I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to have your advisor be a recommender) is more likely to include your ability to do self-directed work, the ability to think deeply about a certain issue, and your potential to be a professional. On this last point, one of the things I noticed as well is that the thesis writing process is more conducive to the faculty advisor seeing you as a potential colleague; this helped me in my PhD apps, and I'm hoping it helps me in my JD applications this cycle. If you do end up doing the major/minor track, see if there are opportunities to do an independent study with an extensive piece of writing as the end product (maybe not thesis-length). In short, you want faculty to not only be your recommenders, but to see you as people who have the potential to be strong colleagues--this is a much better light than merely being regarded as an above average student.

That make sense?

Chloe111 wrote:

KENYADIGG1T wrote:

Chloe111 wrote:Hi,
I'm a sophomore student and I'm doing major-minor program now. I want to expand my minor to a major, but I'm wondering whether AOs have a preference for students who do Honours program(equivalent to Honours track)? Because Honours program students should write a very long and demanding Honours thesis which can demonstrate stronger writing, critical thinking and time management abilities.
In my university, if you choose the multiple programs track (i.e. double major/major-minor), you cannot write the honours thesis. I think it's a good idea to major in two subjects that I'm interested in, but I really love my current major and I'm okay to make efforts to do an Honours program.

DO you think AOs have a preference? Which one should I choose? I'll appreciate it if you have any advices.

This may or may not answer your question, but I hope this helps you think about it with more nuance. The benefits of the thesis are that (if it is how I envision it) you get to work closely with a faculty member. The resulting recommendation (I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to have your advisor be a recommender) is more likely to include your ability to do self-directed work, the ability to think deeply about a certain issue, and your potential to be a professional. On this last point, one of the things I noticed as well is that the thesis writing process is more conducive to the faculty advisor seeing you as a potential colleague; this helped me in my PhD apps, and I'm hoping it helps me in my JD applications this cycle. If you do end up doing the major/minor track, see if there are opportunities to do an independent study with an extensive piece of writing as the end product (maybe not thesis-length). In short, you want faculty to not only be your recommenders, but to see you as people who have the potential to be strong colleagues--this is a much better light than merely being regarded as an above average student.

That make sense?

Yes, thank you, it's very clear. If I do the double major track, I don't think I have opportunities to conduct independent study, but I can enroll in senior seminars. Usually, there are 20 students in each seminar and they are required to write a quite long, but not thesis-length, term paper. This may probably allow me to work closer with some professors.

01panm wrote:Assuming you're applying to law schools in the US, the best option is the one that you can get the highest GPA with.

Platopus wrote:

Chloe111 wrote:? Or if I can have a very high GPA, which track I take is not important?

This. It really doesn't matter as long as you graduate. Do whatever you find most interesting, and try to cultivate a meaningful relationship with a professor nonetheless.