The Value of the Honors Experience
We asked current students how the Honors Program has shaped their time in college. Here are some responses:
Major: Human Experience Design and Interaction
“The Honors Program has allowed me to discover who I am by encouraging me to question the world and how I experience it. Honors has also provided opportunities to meet new people and participate in activities that I otherwise would not have had the chance to experience.”
Major: Public Health
“The University Honors Program has added value to my experience at USU by introducing me to new friends and mentors who encourage me to challenge myself academically and personally. I have really appreciated all the different resources, events, and programs that Honors offers, specifically Honors Mentoring Agreements and Book Labs.”
Major: Veterinary Science
“The Utah State University Honors Program has added immense value to my educational experience by showing me that we are more than what we show on paper. We can all study for the same tests, take the same labs, and earn the same degree, but that is only part of the story. Through our experiences, reflections, and personal growth, we become the people we want to be, and the Honors Program has been a catalyst in helping me become that person.”
“The University Honors Program has given me a reason to fight for my education and opportunities to be recognized for my hard work. I have also learned from classes I have taken and from mentoring agreements what goals I do and do not want to pursue in my life and my career. As a result, I can tailor my education in a way that is aligned with my goals and that I can be proud of.”
“The Honors Program has given me mentors to guide me along my college journey. Having people whose goal is to help me succeed has made me feel like I belong and that I can succeed at Utah State University.”
“USU Honors has helped me find a community of people just like me! It has helped me gain confidence in myself and trust in my progress throughout my college journey.”
“Honors has opened so many doors for me. Not only have I met many incredible people, but I have made friends, found mentors, taken interesting classes, and been offered job opportunities because of my involvement with the program. I truly do not know where I'd be otherwise.”
Major: Veterinary Science
“I love the University Honors Program because it has provided me with opportunities to build my resume for grad school, to meet new people, and apply what I have learned in real life. I know that I am getting the most out of my college education because I am a part of the Honors Program.”
Major: English
“The USU Honors Program has broadened my perspective on the intrinsic value of higher education by showing me that learning extends beyond the classroom. Through Honors, I have been able to explore various opportunities outside my major, gain new experiences, and connect with people and ideas I would not have encountered otherwise. These opportunities have allowed me to develop a well-rounded education and a greater appreciation for learning.”
Major: Kinesiology
“The Honors Program has provided me with all the tools necessary to make the most of my college experience. Through the connections I have built, I have been able to explore a topic of personal interest in depth and conduct my own research study. The program has also helped me grow personally by teaching me to approach issues from multiple perspectives through its emphasis on interdisciplinary discourse.”
Major: Music Therapy/Music
“The Honors Program at Utah State has helped me personally to push myself to connect more with the community instead of staying focused inward as I pursue my music therapy degree. It is a challenging program, but I like that all the projects and classes are designed to help you. I have found that I’ve made a lot more friends as I have interacted with the Honors community and gained ideas to push myself for my capstone project in the future.”
Major: Veterinary Science
“Being a part of the Honors Program has allowed me to grow as a person by pursuing my interests, seeing new perspectives, making my own connections, and exploring new passions rather than just going through the motions of passing classes. My Honors journey has been hard work, but it has also allowed me to put my work ethic to use on projects and experiences I genuinely cared about. Because of this, it has been an incredibly individual and unique journey and has been one of the most enjoyable parts of my undergraduate career.”