Honor Classes, Do They Really Matter?

Question

Hello,

I'm curious, if I take any honors class (I am not talking about AP courses) meaning... If i take "Honors Algebra" or "Honors Physics" do colleges really care? Would taking "Normal Algebra" or "Normal Physics" be the same in a college's eye?

Example:

...........Student A:............Grades

.........Honors Math:..............A
......Honors Biology: ............A
.....Honors History:...............A
......Honors English:.............A

..Student B: ..Grades

.........Math..........A
.........Biology......A
.........History:......A
.........English:.....A
Would "Student A" or "Student B" have an easier chance of getting into a decent college?

Answer 1

The colleges DO care what classes you take. They dont just look at your GPA, they also look at the difficulty of your courses. So if you want to know if you should take honors course...yes in the subjects you feel comfortable in , if you are not comfortable in one subject take the "normal" class. While difficulty of classes is important, GPA will probably be the most important factor in whether you are admitted or not.

Answer 2

Student A However, an admissions person will certainly take into account many other things, of which I am sure you are aware, such as SAT scores, extracurricular activities, and probably even how you plan to pay for college. Sad but true. I learned also that it helps to know people in high places to get in, if it's difficult to get into that university.

I took both honors or what we might have called harder type courses in some subjects and normal ones in others. I based it upon my reasonable expectations of making a good grade. If I honestly felt that I wasn't strong enough for a particular honors course, I would just take the normal one. It didn't seem to matter later on, and probably helped since my grade point average was most likely more important in the end, rather than my taking honors courses. But taking at least a couple of them would make the admissions person see that you at least tried to push yourself. And they like that too. But in the end, you can more easily get into any college with extremely good GPA along with an extremely good SAT score, regardless of what courses you take.

Answer 3

Don't think of it as Student A or Student B being a better student. You should think of it like this: If there was only one spot open for the university and this was between a student with a 4.0 in honors and a 4.0 in regular the school would obviously take the honors student because he took more difficult classes. However, if student A had limited extra curricular/volunteer work/so-so SAT scores (1700-1900) and student B has many extra curriculars/tons of volunteer work/SAT score of 2000+ then the college would obviously take student B because the good overcompensates for the bad.

Answer 4

Colleges will look at the grades of both students, but having the "honors" added onto the class gives your grades the extra punch they need to make them look better than someone who doesn't take standard classes.

Taking honors classes will tell a college that you are willing to work harder and challenge yourself to earn the better grades as opposed to just sliding through in normal classes.

In this case, Student A would have the better chance.

Answer 5

Without question, Student A would have the better chance. Honors courses are more rigorous than are regular courses, and one of the things colleges, especially elite colleges, look at is the rigor of the student's program.

Answer 6

STUDENT A!!!!!!!!!!!!! It does matter, unless you are aiming for community college. The honors classes give you a higher GPA. A "B" in an honors class is higher than an "A" in a regular class. Colleges know the difference.

Answer 7

Well if there was one slot available and student A&B applied, studet A would get the spot.


Sorry man, that's just how it is...

If you have more people apply than you have openings this will happen. If you have grades like student B you will get in. Maybe not your first choice but you'll score.