Frequently Asked Questions
1. Question: Will being an Honors Student increase my work load?
Will I be taking on too much?
Answer: This varies with each student. The purpose of the Honors
Program is to make Penn State Altoona a more exciting school for the motivated
student. The Honors Sections and Honors Options are different more in a
qualitative sense than in a quantitative sense. They give a deeper and
more engaging treatment of the subject matter of the class. It is true
that this might involve a bit more reading and writing than a normal class.
However, this sort of study should not take a significantly greater amount of
time. To summarize: Students who already feel overworked before they enter
the Honors Program may find the additional Honors requirements to be a chore.
However, students who are well prepared and motivated will not notice much
difference except that their classes are more interesting.
2. Question: If I am already a Penn State Altoona student, what is the
deadline for applying to the PSA Honors Program?
Answer: There is no deadline! Penn State Altoona students can apply
to the Program at any time by downloading the application form,
here, filling it
out, and submitting it to the address noted on the form (Carole Bookhamer).
3. Question: For Penn State students, why is the GPA requirement for
entry into the Honors Program 3.50, but the requirement for retention only 3.33?
Answer: Most honors programs adopt such a policy. It does not make
good sense to admit students into the Honors Program if they are performing
right at the retention cut-off. This puts them in significant danger of
being dismissed from the program during an ensuing semester. Because many
students tend to get somewhat higher grades early in the college careers (when
classes often are a bit easier), this policy provides a cushion.
4. Question: Can non-Honors students register for Honors Sections?
Answer: Yes! The Honors Coordinator (Gary Weisel) will sign in
non-Honors students (bring him a filled-out Drop/Add from the Registrar's
Office) as long as they understand that an Honors Section is intended for
motivated and engaged students. Honors Sections are NOT available to
students who simply are looking for a convenient way to complete their schedule.
As the first question (above) notes, the work load for an Honors Section is not
greater in quantity. However, if a student is not motivated, then the
higher quality of the class will no doubt translate to greater difficulty and,
ultimately, a lower grade.
5. Question: Non-Honors students can take Honors Sections. Does
that mean that they also can turn one of their standard classes into a special
Honors Option?
Answer: No. The Honors Option is available only to students in the
PSA Honors Program or the Schreyer Honors College.
6. Question: Is being a member of the Penn State Altoona Honors
Program the same as being a member of the Schreyer Honors College?
Answer: No. The Altoona Honors Program is distinct from the
Schreyer Honors College (SHC). However, the Altoona Program maintains
academic standards that are consistent with SHC. Students wishing to apply
to SHC can do so at Junior Gate (or, in special cases, with the Sophomore
Petition).
