Sophomores interested in joining the Honors Program have until Friday to fill out applications.
They'll have a much better shot at acceptance than they did as incoming first-year students.
Forty percent of students who apply during their sophomore year have been accepted during the past four years said Jason Clemmons University administrative manager for the Honors Program.
The program finds the majority of its new students each year from incoming first-year admissions. It invites about 600 every year or about 9 percent of admitted students.
This year 204 accepted their invitations and enrolled. Last year 200 students enrolled in the program.
But each fall honors administrators transfer a few dozen sophomores into the program.
In the spring the process is repeated with another small group of first-years raising the number to about 300 for the school year.
Senior Robin Hilmantel who joined the program in the spring of her first year at UNC" said she did not remember a complicated application process.
But she said the honors courses she took did have a different feel from her regular University classes.
""I felt like classes weren't more difficult" but more so from a peer expectation view she said. A lot of my peers were making pretty intelligent comments in class" and that's the level you hold yourself to.""
First-year students applying in their second semester have an even higher acceptance rate. About 47 percent have been admitted into the program in recent years.
Program applicants must submit a personal statement" a professor recommendation and recent grades.
When the program considers first-year students at acceptance to UNC" high school transcripts are a major factor.
But this is not the case for students applying once they're at UNC.
""When they apply after they get here" the application process is totally based on the work they've done here the initiative they've shown in terms of programs and a recommendation that they've gotten" Clemmons said.
While students do not have to be in the program to take its courses, the program's students have priority for these classes during registration.
To remain in the program, students must maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average and take at least two honors courses each year.
First-year student Jung-Yi Yoo said she enjoys the intimate atmosphere of her honors classes.
You interact with students and professors more easily" she said. And we get to understand the concepts of the real world" which really matters to me.""
Yoo added that she had an easier time getting into honors classes she wanted than other classes"" attributing it to less student interest.
""I think students don't know as much about the benefits of honors"" she said. It's whether you value intimacy in learning or not.""
Honors Program
If students are not accepted into the Honors Program as incoming first-years" they can apply in later semesters. Fall applicants are sophomores. Spring applicants are first-years. Fall of sophomore year is the last time students can apply.
Spring 2007: 63 applicants 25 admitted
Fall 2006: 60 applicants 29 admitted
Spring 2006: 72 applicants 42 admitted
Fall 2005: 53 applicants" 25 admitted
Click here to visit the Honors Program Web site.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
