I’m in my fourth semester of the Honors Program at ULM, and I can honestly say there is no difference between the average student and myself besides the fact that the average student is $45 richer per year.

If you’ve fallen for the lie that the Honors Program is academically stimulating, I don’t blame you. A 27 composite score on the ACT is required for automatic admission. Other students can be admitted with solid grades and two well-composed letters of recommendation. 

Honors students are lured in with perks like priority registration, exclusive housing and scholarships available only to honors students.The priority registration is nice. Out of all the things about honors, I enjoy it the most. The scholarship opportunities are extremely limited, which is understandable. Meanwhile students can get access to the “exclusive housing” without being in the program but must have a higher GPA than for standard housing.

That’s where the perks dry up. The program is upfront about the requirements to stay in. Students are expected to pay a $45 fee every year. Once I pay my dues, I forget I’m in the program. That is until the mandatory banquet at the end of the year. Make sure you’re free during finals week because there are no exceptions except a work conflict.

Students are required to take a certain amount of honors core classes, which are alternative classes taught with slightly different curriculums. 

Then there are the dreaded honors contracts. They are a handful if not properly managed as each one should be equal in work to a 10 to 15 page paper, and six are required to graduate with honors. Contracts are an extra project that must be approved by a professor in your major. Once again, it’s honors, so extra work is expected.

I wish I could say there were exclusive opportunities to participate in research or connect with internships, but it just feels like nerdy version of Greek Life. The club pushes socials and gatherings way more than anything of academic value. So if you are an incoming freshman reading this, save your $45 and don’t join the Honors Program.