Full Careers - Should I take the Honors Program in college?

Should I take the Honors Program in college?

George Mason has invited me to join their Honors program. Truthfully, the school is decent. It is not ivy league, but its reputation is steadily increasing in a very positive fashion. The previous pool of applications was supposedly the largest and most competitive one that they've had in the history of the institution. As a Senior in high school, I have a 4.2 GPA and I'm currently taking three AP classes and four honors courses. I am very interested in the honors program but I'm scared about the difficulty...Will I be able to sleep? Do I take general classes as well? Is it worth it? I'm planning to take up a career in the medical field, which means I'm attempting to get into medical school. Please help! Thanks so much.

Public Comments

For medical school, yes, you should do the honors program. It will look very good on your application/resume.
Yes, I agree. If you go to this school, take the honors program. I imagine if you truly found it too difficult, you could go into the mainstream program. I'm betting that won't happen, though... you certainly seem qualified for the honors path.
yes, yes, and yes
It seems like you're used to working hard and are determined to get good grades since you're in AP classes and still manage to have a high GPA, so I'd say go for it! It may give you a challenge but will look great when you apply for medical school. Like my school says with the whole AP program, colleges would prefer a B average in an AP class than an A average in a standard class just because the student challenges themselves.
You'll be fine. Honor's usually isn't that much harder. Good luck on those AP tests. That's the best way to not take general courses. You might be able to request a placement test, but thats if you truly know the material.
Yes, it is definitely worth it if you want to go to medical school. They look at the rigor of your academic program, and honors definitely help. I can't speak to George Mason's program, but I supervised our Honors Program last year, and I can tell you that the students there worked hard, but played hard too. They seemed to do just fine, for the most part. I'm still in touch with some of the students, and they seem to have more going on than most of the non-honors students. There is money available for them to do things the others can't do, and they are more likely to be involved in things like Alternative Breaks, etc. Years ago, I taught in the Honors Program at Temple University, and I had the same experience with the students there. I Googled some of them recently, and several are doing some incredibly impressive things in life. I highly recommend trying the honors program. If it starts to ruin your life, you can always transfer into the regular program.
the one thing high school students do is OVER DO THEM SELVES. you have a gifted mind and a great GPA. you are focused and sound ready for this next step in your life. if you want to get in to the medical Field and you need these classes to do it then go for it. but if you are expected to attend an ivy league school to achieve your goals then you should do that...George Mason may not be decent enough for you to get a really good job in the medical Field...this is a disicion you need to ponder on and decide which road you need To go down to achieve what you want out of life.... good luck cheers mystic
Congratulations! I am hoping to get accepted into their honors college as well (don't hear back until April though). And I too am going to be doing pre-medicine there. I would definitely do it, because you will make so many good friends in the honors program, people that you have a lot in common with. George Mason has so many opportunities; granted it's no UVA or Princeton, but it's location close to both Maryland (NIH in bethesda) and D.C. can provide lucrative internship opportunities. The honors program replaces the general education requirements; you will fulfill all of your gen ed's credits, but they will be interdependent classes that are housed in the same building. Plus your participation will look very good on a medical school application.