AdmissionsGPAGraduation
I got to delve into the discussion of philosophy, music, and fine arts, something I would have had little chance to do within my major. The Honors College made UWM a smaller place: my education became a personal endeavor.
My experience in the Honors College was, without hesitation, the most beneficial component of my education at UWM. I am indebted to the staff and professors in the HC for their time and help throughout my undergraduate career. I simply would not have attained the standards I have without the Honors College.
Whenever someone asks me what I liked most about UWM, I always answer "The Honors College!" I could also see tangible results in how I improved as a scholar while taking the courses: my writing improved, my analyses became more sophisticated, even my reading got faster and more thorough.
I was given the unique opportunity to tailor my undergraduate education to my specific interests.
If you have any doubts whatsoever about the value of a liberal arts education in the 21st century, join the Honors College. In terms of my thinking, the education I received was and continues to be revolutionary.
The joy and sense of accomplishment from an achievement like graduating from the Honors College is won not from walking down a nice path at a leisurely pace; rather, it is won from pushing yourself further than your peers were willing to go, faster than your peers were willing to go there.
In many ways, all of the courses I took have helped me look at the world through a different lens.
I came out of each class with a nuanced understanding of the subject material, often as a result of compelling materials selection and stimulating conversation.
Because I was constantly working on my communication skills in the Honors College, all of my other coursework greatly benefited.
Every professor I have had in the Honors College was incredible. More than anything, being a part of Honors College pushed me to achieve a higher GPA than I would have strived for if I hadn't been in the Honors College. This has opened up many doors for me. I am hardly ever limited by the programs/scholarships I apply for due to a high GPA.
I ended up having seven different Honors professors, and I learned a lot from each of them. Honors gave me a forum to not just learn about a wide variety of topics - everything from ancient Greek plays to U.S. Supreme Court decisions to contemporary novels - but to critically evaluate what I was reading and to understand and appreciate the deeper themes.
It is easy to feel like a mere cog in the functioning of the university. In the Honors College, however, I have continuously felt that I have received the attention necessary for a truly successful education.
At first the Honors College was just something my mother told me I should do, now it's something that I wouldn't and couldn't trade for any other experience in my undergraduate career.
The courses not only drastically improved my writing skills, but several courses persuaded new ideas and viewpoints that allowed me to question and/or perceive the world in a different way.
My Honors courses were some of the most intellectually exhilarating classes I have ever taken, but surprisingly, they were not difficult. The lack of mindless homework, the serious discussions in class, the difficult readings that we dissected in class, and the papers that practically wrote themselves after weeks of discourse on the topics actually made my Honors courses some of the easiest and most enjoyable classes of my academic career. I would do it all over again if I had the chance�and again� and again!
© 2007 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Send your comments concerning the site to the Honors College
Last Updated: August 29, 2012
