How impactful are honors classes during the college admissions process?

Hey folks, I'm currently a junior and planning my senior year schedule. I'm curious about how much weight WSU (or similar universities) put on honors classes when evaluating applicants. Would it be better to have a mix of honors and regular classes or to fully load up on all the honors classes available to me, even if they're not directly related to my intended major?

Hi there! Honors classes can certainly play an important role in the college admissions process. Generally, colleges like to see that students have challenged themselves with rigorous coursework, and honors classes can be a component of that. At institutions like WSU, the key is balance and demonstrating that you are capable of handling more difficult material.

It's usually preferable to perform well in honors classes than to struggle excessively in them simply to have them on your transcript. It's also beneficial to enroll in honors classes that are aligned with your intended major if available, as this shows both your commitment and foundation in that area of study. For example, if you plan to study biology, taking honors courses in biology or other sciences can highlight your enthusiasm and aptitude in that subject.

If certain honors classes are notorious for being excessively challenging and could detract from your overall GPA or your ability to engage in meaningful extracurriculars, then it's perfectly fine to opt for a mix of honors and regular classes. Ultimately, you want a schedule that is challenging but also one that you can handle well to keep those grades up.