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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the University of Wyoming Honors Program?
The Honors Program is a set of
opportunities. Innovative classes promote
exploration and discussion of important issues and ideas: what is chaos
theory? Postmodernism? Sociobiology? What are the social and scientific
challenges of the HIV/AIDS epidemic? How does dance embody cultural
values? What is a university and why do we have them? Small classes (20
or fewer students) offer the chance to get to know other students well
and to work closely with faculty. These sorts of classes (five in all)
and the senior research project are the academic heart of the Honors
Program. In addition,
the Honors Program and the Honors student organization offer
scholarships and promote off-campus study, sponsor service activities
and organize social and cultural events, provide housing and support
research.
Who participates in the
Program?
Honors students come from every undergraduate college and almost every
major. Among the 500+ members of the Honors Program are varsity
athletes, hardcore fans of The Simpsons, members of sororities
and fraternities, grandparents, leaders in student government, students
active in theater, art, and music, rodeo competitors, and students
interested in everything from paleontology and opera to partisan
politics and volunteer service.
Do I qualify for the
University Honors Program?
If you are an entering freshman and
have a high school GPA of 3.7 or a composite ACT score of at
least 28 or a total of 1240 on the SAT, you meet the
requirements. If you do not meet at least one of these criteria and are
interested in Honors, write a letter to the director and explain why you
want to participate. Members of the Honors Advisory Committee will
review your letter and let you know of their decision.
If you are a transfer student or a
currently-enrolled UW student, you need to meet two requirements:
you must have at least four semesters remaining before graduation and
you need at least a 3.25 college GPA. Some of the courses which you have
already taken may fulfill freshman and sophomore Honors course
requirements.
If I am interested in
joining the Program, can I visit classes and talk with students?
Yes. If you are coming for a campus visit,
contact Lillian Wise (307-766-4110 or email
honors@uwyo.edu) to make
arrangements.
Are there scholarships for
Honors students?
Yes. Each year the Honors Program awards over $200,000 in scholarships! See the
scholarship page for more information.
What about Honors housing?
Honors students have the option of living on
the Honors floors in White Hall or in the Honors House, a recently
renovated sorority house next to the residence halls. See the
honors living page for more information.
Will Honors courses hurt my
GPA?
Average grades in Honors courses are very close to the average of the
grades which Honors students earn in their other courses. In the spring
of 2000, freshmen earned an average GPA of 3.39 in their Honors course,
and their grades in their other courses averaged out to 3.37. Including
all honors courses, the averages were 3.46 for Honors and 3.48 for other
courses in which Honors students enrolled.
Will being in the Honors
Program help me get into a great medical, law, or business school? Or a
top-rated graduate school? Or get a job?
For lots of reasons, the answer is probably
yes, but there is no hard evidence on these issues. The Honors Program
is designed to broaden your knowledge, to increase your thinking and
communication skills, and to provide you with research experience.
Because these qualities are important to a law school or a business
school or a potential employer, Honors should help.
If I am in the Honors
Program, will I get to know other students?
Yes! Many Honors graduates say that they
have met lifelong friends in HP classes and Honors housing. Honors is
only a part of the undergraduate experience, and you'll no doubt have
plenty of time to make friends outside of the Program as well.
What’s WHO and what do they
do? WHO
(the Wyoming Honors Organization) is an active group of Honors students
who organize social and cultural events, take responsibility for the
fall freshman retreat and the spring awards dinner, help select courses
and award scholarships, read to students at local elementary schools,
and represent the UW Honors Program at regional and national
conferences. See the WHO
page for more information on the group and upcoming events.
Will taking Honors Program
requirements mean that I need extra courses to graduate?
In the vast majority of cases, the answer is
no. Honors courses fulfill all-university requirements which students
need to meet in any case.
Is there a GPA requirement
in order to stay in the Honors Program?
Yes. Honors students need to maintain a
cumulative GPA of 3.25 in order to remain in good standing in the
program. If a GPA falls below that, you are placed on probation.
Probation means that you can take honors classes and participate in
activities but are ineligible for scholarships.
Does the Honors Program cost
more? No.
Tuition and fees are the same for Honors students as for other UW
students.
Can I stay in Honors and
study at another university for a semester or a year?
Yes. In fact, the Honors Program has
scholarships to help students participate
in international student exchanges and the National Student Exchange. A
course which you take while on exchange often fulfills an Honors Program
requirement.
Where can I find out about
Honors Program classes?
You can pick up a brochure in the Honors
Program office (Merica Hall room 102), or see the
classes page for more information on current course offerings.
Will the Honors Program help
me to prepare for national scholarship competitions?
Yes. Many students come to the Honors
Program for help, including many students not in the Program. See the
scholarship page for information about
the Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Mellon, Goldwater, Hughes, NSF, and other
scholarships.
Where can I find out about
credits earned through AP, IB, and CLEP exams?
Honors Program office staff can help you
with that, as can the Admissions
Office. Also see the
transfer credit
page for more information on transferring credits from other
institutions.
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