MORE THAN JUST BOOKS

The Honors College means “early registration” to Keisha Smith, a senior in accounting. Chris Martin, a junior in pre-nursing, jokingly stated, “these are kids that just won’t let go of overachieving.” However, to students in the Honors College, membership means much more.

According to Dr. James Hansen, director of the Honors College, “about 1,700 students, freshmen through seniors, participate in the college.”

Alisha Walker, a junior in international business and German, has been a member of the Auburn University Honors College since spring 2008 and has enjoyed “many memorable experiences” with the college.

Walker first became interested in the Honors College through a friend. “My best friend lived in one of the honors residence halls my freshman year. I was constantly spending time with and meeting other members of the AU Honors College while I was there, which sparked my initial interest in becoming a member.”

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After completing the application to become a member of the Honors College, Walker was able to participate in the “perks” of the college. “The perks are innumerable. Honors students are provided assistance in applying for prestigious scholarships. We are also given priority registration for classes. Academically, my classes have been extremely smaller in size in comparison to the non-honors courses that I have completed.”

Other benefits listed on the Honors College website include, summer orientation sessions to introduce incoming freshman to faculty and fellow honors students and the Mentor Program, which assist new students as they adjust to university life.

According to Walker, one of the biggest rewards of the Honors College is not mentioned on the website. “One of my favorite parts of being a member of the AU Honors College is the relationships/friendships that I have been able to build with the honors’ administration, faculty members and my fellow students.”

Contrary to the belief of some students, students in the Honors College have active social lives. “The Honors Congress, which is the student government of the Honors College, hosts various events throughout the school year. During the fall, they host football tailgates. Other events consist of various socials, such as Honors Casino Night at Greystone Mansion and ShamROCK, which is the annual spring philanthropy event,” said Walker.

After sharing her experiences in the Honors College, Walker offered a piece of advice to any interested students, “To any person interested in becoming a member of the AU Honors College, the Honors College office is located on the second floor of Cater Hall. Also, it can be extremely beneficial to speak with current honors students about their experiences as Auburn University honors College students.”

For more Honors College information, visit auburn.edu/honors/college.