If you go to SDSU or are considering it, chances are good that you’ve heard of the Weber Honors College. For me, this was the deciding factor in my choice to go to SDSU, but I didn’t know too much about it before attending. Here, I break down five things you should absolutely know about SDSU’s Honors College!
1. If You Want Support, This Is for You
For me, this was the most important part of the Weber Honors College. I was supported in every way possible. The administration is incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and caring. They truly get to know their Honors students from before freshman year even begins to after graduation. Whenever I had a question, whether it was about applying for a Fulbright, figuring out what I wanted to do with my life, or planning my classes, I knew who to go to. In fact, they were the ones who helped to encourage me to graduate early! It was this compassion, combined with the expertise and honesty, that made my experience so great.
Beyond that, there’s the built in social support that it offers. By living in the same dorm as everyone, you get to know people a bit better. Normally, people take similar classes. What do you get when you have Honors kids, close proximity, and schedules that are aligned?
That’s right. Very effective study groups.
Whenever I had a question, there was someone on my floor (usually someone in my class) who could answer it. They could walk me through how to solve whatever econ problem I was struggling with, help me study for the test, or collaborate on group projects. This might sound simple, but it made life so much easier my first two years. Plus, once you create those connections, you can plan for the same classes in the future and continue keeping up that support.
The people are generally wonderful as well. They care about school and setting themselves up well–at least enough to join the program. That often translates well into other things as well (i.e., friendships, emotional support, community building), especially since you all live together.
2. There Are Requirements
While the Weber Honors College was definitely a net good for me, it doesn’t come without its share of requirements. In my opinion, they’re pretty manageable and none of them are bad in any way. In fact, they only make you a better student, job candidate, and person. Some requirements include:
- Living on campus for the first two years (in Zura specifically your first year)
- Taking a set amount of Honors classes (16 units for the minor)
- Studying abroad
- Doing a High Impact Experience (research, internship, service, creative activity)
- Participating in a certain amount of Honors events
When you consider everything you get out of the program, it’s really not that big of a deal. However, it is good to know what you’re signing up for before you go through the work of applying to the program.
3. If You Want a More Structured Freshman Year, It’s a Good Idea
Let me explain this one. When I found out that I was going to be living with all Honors kids, I was scared I’d be surrounded by a bunch of nerds. It might be rude, but it was true. This was definitely not the case. Honors kids were just as fun as everyone else, and the three floors we took up in Zura had their share of chaos. The beauty of it all was that these were people who were pretty good at balance. For example, when it came time to study, the noise died down a bit and everyone helped each other to hunker down.
Having everyone so close, as well as having some of the same small classes as these people, allows you to build bonds. For me, this made a huge university seem like a rather small place. The thing that probably helped with this the most was the one unit Honors class that each and every student had to take. For me, it was on 9 am every Wednesday. Around 8:45, it was like a mass migration to the auditorium, and you got to catch up with everyone you hadn’t talked to in a little bit. Just having this sense of peace, security, and consistency was fantastic.
4. There Are MANY Benefits
SDSU cares about the Weber Honors College. The Honors staff cares about its students. The students (generally) care about each other. Alumni often feel more invested in the school because of the experience they had.
What does this translate to?
Money. Connections. Help.
Like I mention in this general article about Honors programs, Honors colleges often offer more scholarships than being part of the general university. On top of that, they’re usually very generous scholarships. Through applying for internal scholarships within the Weber Honors College, I got significant financial aid, and college suddenly became a lot easier to pay for. Because it was limited to only people within Honors as well, I didn’t have to fight against an entire university for some money.
Additionally, there are some other fantastic benefits:
- Built in friends
- Interesting (and sometimes random) classes
- Professional development and connections
- More opportunities (through the Honors homepage)
- Constant access to advisors
- A push to achieve more in college
- Better housing
- A minor
- Resume points (and bragging rights)
And it goes on. But seriously, if you narrow it down to those critical things–money, support, connections–there’s no way you would want to pass this opportunity up.
5. Classes Are What You Make of Them
The biggest complaint I heard throughout my time in the Weber Honors College was about the classes. Specifically, how hard the classes were to get and fit into your schedule. I won’t deny that it was a struggle sometimes. But to be fair, that was the general nature of college. Sometimes you don’t get your first choice of classes (hint: take easy summer classes to boost your registration priority…you’ll thank me later), but you end up learning about something random instead.
Personally, I did sometimes find it frustrating to make sure that I was fitting Honors classes in and balancing my entire schedule. However, when I did take the classes, I was so glad that I had. They weren’t particularly difficult (not more than other classes, anyway). The professors were the best of the best and were incredibly passionate about what they taught. The material was a welcomed break from everything else we all focused on in our primary studies. Most importantly, it genuinely offered a way to expand horizons while still maintaining choice.
As an example, during my final year, the only Honors course that fit into my schedule was one on human sexuality. Was this something that I would have normally chosen to take? Absolutely not. But was it something that I learned a lot from and appreciated for showing me multiple perspectives on issues that I hadn’t considered before? Absolutely. All of my Honors classes, no matter how random they seemed, imparted a positive benefit on me and made my experience unique. Beyond that, those professors were also the ones who I felt closest with, primarily due to the small class sizes and their passion, and they were the ones who *generally* wrote the best letters of recommendation.
I say this to give you both sides of the coin. If you’re considering joining the Weber Honors College and hear people complaining about the classes, don’t freak out. Know that it might be frustrating sometimes to fit them in, but it is most often worth it in the end. 🙂
A Final Word
Choosing whether or not to join Honors can have a great impact on your college experience. For me, the experience was, undoubtedly, extremely positive. Opportunities, impact, and support all arose from it, and I could not be more grateful for it. When I think about my experience, it can all be summarized in the Weber Honors College motto: If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.
Let me know if you have any questions or comments!
