Petersons honors programs and colleges

Although community colleges are often seen as training grounds for skill-specific industries, more and more students are turning to two-year colleges to meet their educational goals. Beginning higher education at a two-year college makes sense financially. Tuition at a two-year college is often much lower than at any four-year school, and students can save money on room and board by living at home and commuting to class.

Community colleges have classes that are much smaller than those at a four-year school, so students can build both an academic record, as well as confidence in a safe environment close to home. While the academic expectations are higher in honors classes, colleges offer many benefits to these students to aid their studies including smaller class sizes, networking opportunities, research opportunities, extracurricular academic opportunities, and early class registration.

In this particular honors program, students take designated honors classes during their first and second year. During junior and senior years, honors students participate in weekly seminars. The program also puts on various events and activities throughout the year, provides students with funding for special projects, and provides advising and mentoring for students.

I saw the benefit of more challenging work, but got way more: smaller class sizes, easier access to extracurricular academic opportunities, and having similarly driven people in class with me.

Honors students are also often able to live on the same floor during their first-year on-campus living, which allows students to form connections. Mantsch continued on this path throughout her time at the university due to the various academic and professional benefits she received as an honors student.

Now as a college graduate, Mantsch shared how the program has benefited her. Some of my best friends in college were my honors friends, and I was able to do some really cool portfolio and extra class work. Rather, it required me to take a Dana freshman year seminar, complete an internship and mentorship, and participate in a senior year forum.

If you are qualified and have received an offer to participate in an honors college or a college honors program, here are some things to consider. Many students who are faced with an opportunity to participate in honors college can forget about other factors, or quickly move that college to the top of their list.

That may not always be wise.