Advice

[gwoodclone]

So, I am currently a high school senior who'll be heading off to Iowa State in just a few more months. I have already been accepted, sent in the FAFSA, applied for scholarships, and all that good stuff. But I'm still undecided on a couple of things. And so I thought, "Where better to ask for advice about ISU than on a site full of ISU students/grads?"

The first thing is the Honors Progam. My parents want me to do it, but I'm....just neutral on it. To those who were/are involved with it, do you think it is worth it?

And the other is band. I've been in band all through high school, but the last few years it's been more just because my parents are friends with our director(and because I doubt they'd let me quit). That said, I still generally enjoy it. They all want me to stay in band in college, and I'm leaning towards it too. I know the ISUCF"V"MB members will tell me to join, so I guess instead I'll ask about what the overall experience in band is like.

Thanks all!:smile:

 

[Longhorns3131]

Just don't live in Larch Hall.

 

[Cyclone62]

I've never heard of people having a bad time in the MB in college.

I've never heard anything really being a huge benefit of the honors program.

 

[alarson]

Its a big time committment, but definitely a lot of fun. I miss the free trips (bowl games, big 12 and ncaa tourneys...). A great way to meet a lot of fun people really quickly.

 

[CyForPresident]

DO NOT do honors. They make you jump through a bunch of hoops for little benefit.

For band, do what you enjoy. If your not really into it, don't do it.

Whats your major gonna be?

 

[Erik4Cy]

As someone who always played football in HS and someone who constantly goes to college football games: stay in band. Some kids are a-holes to a band member in HS or so the stereotypes say and I never liked it. Go to a college stadium on saturday in America and see how the atmosphere is or imagine it without a band. I love the Iowa State marching band and think they are awesome. They do a great job of creating an atmosphere and coming up with cool songs to cover and even help in chants and cheers at events. That'd being said, all you can do is follow your heart. do what you want to do, that is basically what college is all about. You are now an adult and the decisions of what you do or do not want to do are up to you.

 

[isucyfan]

The first thing is the Honors Progam. My parents want me to do it, but I'm....just neutral on it. To those who were/are involved with it, do you think it is worth it?

I was in the Honors Program at ISU and was ambivalent about it, like you. I only joined because I was complaining to my advisor that I couldn't take some electives I wanted to take. She talked me into the HP, because you can tailor-make your curriculum, to an extent. This rocked for me, because there were some classes I didn't want to take, and some I really did, and as long as my advisor signed off on it, that was fine.

I didn't want to be a part of the Honors "group", and really didn't have to be. I did have to take some Honors seminars (1 credit each) but those turned out to be very interesting.

The HP also enabled me to tap into a Study Abroad program through them, which was probably the best experience I had at ISU, and there were some great ones!

 

[isunorth]

So, I am currently a high school senior who'll be heading off to Iowa State in just a few more months. I have already been accepted, sent in the FAFSA, applied for scholarships, and all that good stuff. But I'm still undecided on a couple of things. And so I thought, "Where better to ask for advice about ISU than on a site full of ISU students/grads?"

The first thing is the Honors Progam. My parents want me to do it, but I'm....just neutral on it. To those who were/are involved with it, do you think it is worth it?

And the other is band. I've been in band all through high school, but the last few years it's been more just because my parents are friends with our director(and because I doubt they'd let me quit). That said, I still generally enjoy it. They all want me to stay in band in college, and I'm leaning towards it too. I know the ISUCF"V"MB members will tell me to join, so I guess instead I'll ask about what the overall experience in band is like.

Thanks all!:smile:

The honors program is a joke. I was in it and got kicked out because I refused to go to their adolescent group meetings and overnight lock-ins. Maybe it changed, but it was really childish when I was in school. No advantages...just a bunch of smart kids that wanted to sit around and be smart together.

 

[illinoiscyclone]

I would never in a million years do band. however, i am not, nor ever have been a bandie. that said, the people who do it do REALLY seem to enjoy it.

I feel bad because I sorta label people who do band before i even know them just like i do to frat guys. the frat guy labels are generally more accurate.

 

[Longhorns3131]

As someone who always played football in HS and someone who constantly goes to college football games: stay in band. Some kids are a-holes to a band member in HS or so the stereotypes say and I never liked it. Go to a college stadium on saturday in America and see how the atmosphere is or imagine it without a band. I love the Iowa State marching band and think they are awesome. They do a great job of creating an atmosphere and coming up with cool songs to cover and even help in chants and cheers at events. That'd being said, all you can do is follow your heart. do what you want to do, that is basically what college is all about. You are now an adult and the decisions of what you do or do not want to do are up to you.

I think theres a HUGE difference between band in High School and band in College.

 

[Flag Guy]

Freshman Honors is ok... it will certainly give you a flavor for if you want to continue with it or not. It certainly is not for everyone, and not for the reasons you'd think... (not related just to extra work...)

FHP was fun though, especially the weekend retreat thing they had. The Honors section also usually does some fun activities, I know some have rented canoes and canoed in Lake LaVern, my Honors section took a tour of the Campinelle, ect

The real question is... Honors Housing vs Honors Cluster vs Regular housing. That will make a difference... as it is a strong influence on who you will meet and develop friendships with. I lived on an Honors cluster my freshman year... then on the same floor for the next two years


When I was a freshman, it was the first year that cluster was there, so we were exposed to the influence of some people that uh, didn't fit the Honors program mold... in fact, the Res Hall put us there to clean the floor up.

It worked - the floor I lived on Freshman year was a very different floor from when I moved off, and even more so than when i graduated. The people I lived with Freshman year definitly provided a different perspective on life... the people towards the end were definitly much more sanitized and less diverse.


Something to consider. Honors Clusters / Floors will have people who are (generally) more study minded, drink less, etc. Note that is a generalization

 

[MrGreg]

So, I am currently a high school senior who'll be heading off to Iowa State in just a few more months. I have already been accepted, sent in the FAFSA, applied for scholarships, and all that good stuff. But I'm still undecided on a couple of things. And so I thought, "Where better to ask for advice about ISU than on a site full of ISU students/grads?"

The first thing is the Honors Progam. My parents want me to do it, but I'm....just neutral on it. To those who were/are involved with it, do you think it is worth it?

And the other is band. I've been in band all through high school, but the last few years it's been more just because my parents are friends with our director(and because I doubt they'd let me quit). That said, I still generally enjoy it. They all want me to stay in band in college, and I'm leaning towards it too. I know the ISUCF"V"MB members will tell me to join, so I guess instead I'll ask about what the overall experience in band is like.

Thanks all!:smile:

i say do the freshman honors program. there isn't much commitment, but you can sign up for honors classes and i think you may get to register for classes a little earlier too. the honors classes can be nice...i took honors physics, we were in the same lecture as the regular physics class, but we had our own ta who was great.

edit: but dont live in the honors housing
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[mwitt]

I think the Honor's program requires you to do some big project, right? That's why I decided against it. A lot of extra work, and for what?

If you're smart, your GPA will say so. If you're not smart, you wouldn't stay in Honor's, anyway.

 

[CyForPresident]

I feel bad because I sorta label people who do band before i even know them just like i do to frat guys. the frat guy labels are generally more accurate.

Your not the only one, I do too. I'll be honest, when I'm walking across campus, half the people I see I absolutely hate. Especially So-whores.

 

[isunorth]

I would never in a million years do band. however, i am not, nor ever have been a bandie. that said, the people who do it do REALLY seem to enjoy it.

I feel bad because I sorta label people who do band before i even know them just like i do to frat guys. the frat guy labels are generally more accurate.

Wow. Stereotype much?

 

[gwoodclone]

Wow! So many respones so fast. Thanks guys:smile:

DO NOT do honors. They make you jump through a bunch of hoops for little benefit.

That's what I've been told, and why I'm leaning against it.

Whats your major gonna be?

Architecture.

 

[isucyfan]

I also forgot to mention that as an Honors Student, I got to register for classes before anyone else each semester.

That ensures you don't get 8AM classes, which is a big perk!

Contrary to what has been posted here, I did not do one Honors social function. I used the program for my own selfish purposes, nothing else.

You do have to do a project at the end, but I didn't put a lot into it, and that was fine.

 

[Flag Guy]

Ok so now that others have bashed Honors some... yeah. The people that run that program are full of themselves and toot their own horn, and on a whole there is little to no value from the program unless you have ambitious post-college plans

The only real benefit to the program is they use their clout to make special arrangements for you, get you into classes (or even housing, in one case that I know of), ect. The friends I have that stuck it out did it not because they wanted the degree, but because they could use the program's pull to help them in a few cases.

If you want to stick to a standard degree program, you don't need Honors

 

[LindenCy]

i say do the freshman honors program. there isn't much commitment, but you can sign up for honors classes and i think you may get to register for classes a little earlier too. the honors classes can be nice...i took honors physics, we were in the same lecture as the regular physics class, but we had our own ta who was great.

edit: but dont live in the honors housing
Posted via Mobile Device

Don't the honors students get a TA that actually speaks English clearly? I think the TA I had also did the honors section and he was great.

 

[abe2010]

I was in honors my freshman year, which was nice because it let me signup for classes earlier. I recommend the research project option they have the second semester, it got me comfortable interacting with professors and interested in research. However, I got out as soon as I found out the hoops engineers have to jump through to graduate with honors. Besides having to do an extra senior design project, we have to get 10 points on a ridiculous point system that only gives two points for double majoring.