During the spring break of my senior year of high school, my family was driving around the streets of New York City as I sat in the passenger's seat with my iPhone in hand, constantly refreshing my email and anxiously waiting for an acceptance letter to pop up in my inbox.
I logged into my account to look at my status, and I couldn't believe it. I wasn't certain that I was going to get accepted into the Honors program at the university of my choice, but I had confidence. At least I was confident until I saw the words "we are sorry" and "alternate" printed on my smart phone screen.
I tried to hold back my tears and my disappointment, but I couldn't. I was so frustrated. Even though I was listed as an alternate, I doubted that I would get a spot. Acceptance into the Honors program came with a huge scholarship, but I didn't apply for the money. I applied solely for the experience of being in the the program and the undergraduate research opportunities that being an Honors Fellow would have given me.
I was torn between going to a more prestigious college with more academic rigor and going to the university that I actually wanted to go to. I was worried that I wouldn't be challenged enough at the school I wanted to go to, but in the end, I decided to make it my home.
Now, I'm a rising sophomore at Elon University. I'm not an Honors Fellow, and I'm loving it. I'm friends with a lot of people who are Honors Fellows, and after hearing about and seeing all the things they have to do academically, I'm pretty grateful that I'm not with them. Not being in the Honors program at your college or university can actually be great because...
1. You don't have to take those extra classes.
I have two majors and a minor, so I'm really happy that I'm not required to take the extra honors classes that my peers have to take. I already have enough on my plate. Not being in the Honors Program leaves more room in your schedule for courses that you want to take.
2. Your undergraduate research doesn't have to be restricted by the program's structure.
At Elon, Honors Fellows are required to do undergraduate research and write a thesis and all of those things. This research is conducted in a structured way throughout their four years at Elon, which can apparently be really annoying. If you're not in the program, you can still do independent undergraduate research, and you'll have more freedom because there's no structure that your research is required to follow.
Even though I'm not a Fellow, I've still been able to do independent studies and aid professors in research because I knew what I was passionate about. You don't need to be an honors student to have a fulfilling academic experience. As long as you're dedicated and driven about learning, success will come to you.
If you're an Honors reject, then don't worry about what the future holds for you. Go to the school you want to go to. Take your learning into your own hands. You'll accomplish many things, regardless of your academic standing.
You got this. I believe in you.
