By Kathryn Harris

Staff Writer

As a senior graduating with honors this year, I would like to share a bit about my experience in the honors program. Particularly, I would like to encourage students with the academic talent and initiative to consider participating in the honors program here at Calvin. I fear that many students have the wrong idea of what it means to be an honors student, and this keeps many great students from giving serious consideration to participating. Therefore, I hope to dispel a few myths and to encourage students to consider the honors program in their college career.

Two years ago I transferred to Calvin College. At the community college that I attended, I also participated in the honors program. In fact, it was a condition of my scholarship to do so. Coming to Calvin, I had very little difficulty transferring the honors courses that I had taken, and therefore was able to meet the requirements to graduate with honors this spring. This is something that I hope transfer students will take notice of; that it is possible to transfer some honors courses into Calvin as such. Proper documentation of the work done in those courses is needed in order to make this happen, and the most important thing is that the courses are similar in content to the courses that would be taken here.

Okay, so the big question: are honors students geeks who do nothing but study and talk about Plato all day? No! Are honors students a separate ``elite,'' cut off from the rest of the Calvin community? No! As a matter of fact, it is the goal of the honors program that honors students (like regular students) will participate fully in the life of the College and will be involved in a wide variety of activities. The honors program allows for an academic experience that goes a bit deeper than the typical curriculum. Honors classes are not even necessarily ``harder'' than regular courses; the difference is that they typically cover material with more depth and spend less time on elementary concepts. They also typically allow for greater discussion and interaction among peers and professors than might be found a typical class.

Another benefit of taking honors courses is that students often have the opportunity to develop a stronger relationship with their professor. Many times professors of honors meet with the students outside of the classroom. This is easier because the classes are smaller, and it helps the students and the professor to know each other better.

One might think that onecould get a similar experience at a public university honors program; smaller classes, closer interaction with professors, etc. To an extent, this is true; some of those benefits will be found there. However, I would argue that an honors program in a Christian liberal arts college like Calvin provides even greater opportunities. For example, the strong core curriculum at Calvin allows for honors students from all disciplines to come together in common classes to think and learn together. Calvin's commitment to a strong liberal arts base for all disciplines means that graduates leave with a broader view of the world and an education that is in many ways deeper.

This can be even more true for honors students, who have participated in projects and activities beyond the normal requirements. Calvin's Christian commitment also cannot be overlooked, and the opportunities that an honors program in this context can provide both at Calvin and beyond. For example, through the Pew Younger Scholars Program, honors students who are interested in pursuing careers in academic life can receive assistance in applying to graduate school and can be connected with Christian scholars at the universities that they are considering.

Participation in the honors program typically begins in the first two years at Calvin. Several honors classes are offered each year which satisfy core requirements. As students reach their junior and senior years, they usually take regular sections of courses in their major and contract for honors credit. I have found that this allows quite a bit of flexibility in terms of what kind of work one wants to do; the professor and the students simply come to an agreement as to what is satisfactory to earn honors credit.

In order to graduate with honors from Calvin, students fulfill the specific requirements set by the department in which they are majoring. All students must complete six honors courses, with at least two in their major and maintain a GPA of at least 3.3. In addition, many departments also require a research project, thesis, and/or presentation in order to graduate with honors.

The best reason why someone should pursue graduating with honors is that it is a tremendous help when applying to graduate school or even for jobs. Getting into graduate school can be difficult, and graduating with honors will help an applicant ``stand out in the crowd.'' Even taking just a few honors courses can tell a potential school or employer that a student has the initiative to go the extra mile.

This is another thing that students should consider; no one was ever hurt by having an honors course on their transcript. Taking an honors course does not mean that one has to graduate with honors. It simply means that a student had an extra interest in, and wanted a greater challenge in a particular course. Students who have been invited to participate in the honors program are highly encouraged to consider the possibility of doing so. Other students who want more information can check out the honors program website at:

http://www.calvin.edu/academic/honors/