To apply to be in Honors, or not to be in Honors. That is the question many incoming students may have when registering to attend Andrews University. On the one hand, the title of being an Honors student may add an extra bullet point to a resume, but on the other hand, how does Honors actually contribute to the college experience? An even better question I know I had as an incoming freshman is, what even is the J.N. Andrews Honors Program?
According to the Andrews University website, the J.N. Andrews Honors Program is designed to “offer undergraduate students greater opportunities for intellectual, spiritual, and social development.” The core general education classes students take are replaced with a separate sequence of courses that involve discussion-based and interdisciplinary learning. The program is text-based, so most learning comes from reading and critiquing primary sources as well as from participating in class lectures. Classes also feature special projects, homework, and the occasional field trip. The mixture of class content typically results in fewer required general education credits because there may be information from different areas included in one single class. Additional perks include one free audit per semester, several different events, off-campus outings, and free access to the Forsyth Honors house. The requirements for acceptance include a high school GPA of 3.5 and standardized test scores of either a 25 composite for the ACT or 1200 for the math and critical reading combined sections of the SAT.
So, that leads to the question, how valuable is the Honors program? The short answer is that it depends. I have been an Honors student since I started attending Andrews in August of 2021, and since joining the Honors program, I have heard many discussions among fellow Honors students, and non-Honors students, including both praises and some complaints about the department. Most students agree that joining the Honors program is not necessary to earn acceptance into graduate school or get a job. There are plenty of other opportunities to experience things that will boost your resume. Some people even argue that if you attend a graduate program unfamiliar with Andrews University, listing “J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar” on your resume will not provide any advantage at all. However, while the program itself may be helpful but not strictly necessary for future success, there are other aspects of the program that are beneficial in this way. For example, every individual in the Honors program is required to complete a research project, which can be a valuable addition to any resume. This shows some aspects to be considered in the value of the Honors program.
A lot of the value found in the program is very individualized. For example, students who learn better with an interactive experience may find the discussion-based structure increases their level of learning compared to those who do not require as much personal interaction. Personally, as a student pursuing a degree that is mostly science-based, I also enjoy the deep dive into humanities courses I would not be able to experience without being a part of the program. I also share a feeling with many of my friends that Honors feels like having a second department versus being the central part of our college experience.
Other praises and critiques of Honors often include comments about the social scene. Some people have the perception that Honors is exclusive, but this is not always the case. The program is designed in a way that builds community and friendships between Honors students. For example, incoming freshmen often bond together after being thrust into the world of Western Heritage, a 5-credit course that meets several times a week and can seem overwhelming to young people who are new to college. It is true that Honors may seem unwelcoming because some individuals exist within social networks that include friends almost exclusively from Honors. However, the majority of students in Honors have extensive social networks outside the Honors program. In my experience, some of my friends are in Honors, but a large percentage of my friends are not a part of the program. Despite the large number of people who socialize with students who are not in Honors, the program may seem exclusive because Honors events are attended mostly by Honors students. However, it is worth noting that the program makes an effort to welcome and invite non-Honors students to events.
One honors student shared a nuanced view they have of the program, including both benefits and shortcomings of the program: “It is a very welcome and open community of individuals who love the journey of learning and enjoy sharing their knowledge with each other. As a part of the Honors program, I hold it very dear to my
heart, with its many excursions and wonderful classes. I do notice, though, that from time to time, there
seems to be a very distinctive and oftentimes disturbing line drawn between 'Honors people' and 'not
Honors people.' It might be completely accidental, but it is something that we, as an open-minded and
justice-seeking community, should work on.”
To show the experience of a student not in Honors, Bianca Loss (sophomore, education) says, “I think it’s a great opportunity for people. I’m not in the program, as it didn’t work well with my major and my goals but I would recommend it to people. I’ve enjoyed all the honors activities and programs I’ve been able to be a part of.”
So, how valuable is the Honors program? I reiterate that the answer is "that depends." Is it valuable to Andrews University? The program can be valuable to the university because its existence at least provides the option for students to take part in the community, regardless of their motivation for joining. Some students join because they genuinely find value in the learning style. Others only find value in the decreased credit requirement and free course audit. Some students see value in the department and wish to join but cannot fit it into their program. And still others carry with them the perception that Honors students see themselves as an exclusive group and steer clear of the department. Thus, the value of the Honors program comes down to what the students in the department put into their own experience. Is there value in having an Honors program on campus? That is something you must decide for yourself.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.