Honors Program Student Experience

As a composition major, the most meaningful aspect of the Honors Program was the opportunity to write, cast, and produce an original musical, Escaping Eden: A New Folk Musical. The process allowed Dawson to develop many real-world skills that can be used as they continue to write and produce their own works. Dawson was selected to present their work at the Northeast Regional Honors Conference in Philadelphia.

The Honors Program has prepared me for the future by helping me create artistic works that I will use in my professional career as a composer to market myself and my abilities. Following graduation, I am moving to New York City, and I will use the work I've done on Escaping Eden to apply for workshops, readings, and grad school."

Upon graduation, Dana Brooks plans to attend law school to become a criminal defense lawyer. An Honors student pursuing a major in criminal justice and minors in sociology and Spanish, Dana wants to work to reform the criminal justice system, particularly with regard to how it impacts marginalized and oppressed people. Her Senior Project was titled Perceptions of Zero-Tolerance Policies in High Schools.

The Honors Program allowed me to develop my academic writing skills through Honors writing-intensive courses. In addition, the Honors Program enhanced my oral presentation skills through practice with Northeast Regional Honors Council, the Honors Colloquium, and the Honors Defense; I often use this experience when presenting research at my internships! I was provided with the opportunity to have smaller class sizes, develop critical thinking and interdisciplinary skills, and study a topic that I am passionate about. I am now able to use my Honors thesis as material to show I have done research and studies in my field and I believe this was a big factor in my acceptance to law school!"

Camryn Butera ’22 has recently been accepted into medical school and looks forward to the opportunity to explore and select the specialty that will allow her to pursue helping others, while also enhancing the school community in which she attends. Her ultimate goal is to create a community of patients that feel valued and respected under her care. When reflecting on the Honors Program, and how it prepared her for this next step in her educational journey, Butera said “It really helped prepare me in many ways. I was able to make close connections with faculty, enhancing my ability to have many experiences that diversified me as a medical school applicant.” “The Honors seminar classes also allow for you to experience a course outside of your specific major. For me specifically, this allowed me to combine my interest in science with my desire to learn more about politics and take Science and Public Policy. I was able to expand my thinking outside of my typical courses which in turn expanded my ability to see issues from different perspectives, another important skill when applying to medical school.”

Try it out! You can start by just taking one Honors class to see how you like it and then go from there. There are many different tracks and options within the program that make it flexible. Your professors and the Honors Coordinators want you to succeed, and they will help you along the way. It may seem daunting at first but with the support of staff, faculty, and students it is an enriching experience."

Thomas is a Computer Science major with minors in Data Science, Mathematics, and Multimedia Web Design. His senior project, titled Evaluating Fairness in Prospective Public Funding Algorithms Using Domain Knowledge and Equity Analyses allowed him to to explore the interactions between computer science and data science. Thomas is currently working at Travelers as a Data Engineer. 

Every honors course I have taken has propelled my thinking in a new and exciting direction, not only in my individual studies, but also generally as a human."

Kim Ly '22 is an Illustration major with minors in Animation and Art History. Kim presented her Honors senior project Connections Through Storytelling: Reimagining With Illustration at the Northeast Regional Honors Conference with her peers. This experience helped her to grow as an artist and to create stronger artwork.

The most meaningful aspect of the Honors Program for me was encouraging me to push past my comfort zone. You work with your professors throughout the semester on work you propose yourself. Not only did I form closer connections with professors who supported me and helped me find opportunities, it fostered independence and self-direction which in turn boosted my confidence in myself."