The Iowa Honors Program was something that I knew NOTHING about when I was applying. I hadn’t even heard about it until my roommate (who I had just started texting at the time) told me he was a part of it. I looked it up and found out that applications for the Honors Program were due. that. day.

I grinded an essay out and turned it in about half an hour before the deadline. I’m still convinced that I was the last person to submit an application. Luckily, I got accepted a week or two later and began to learn about what the program offers.

The Honors Program encourages students to take advantage of their time on campus and do more than just average classwork. You’re required to complete a certain amount of experiential learning – basically, things like research, internships, study abroad, etc. It’s a great reason to do things that are both interesting and progressing your career.

Honors students get priority when it comes to choosing classes, too. You’ll have a better chance of getting the classes you want each semester if you’re in Honors.
You also get the option to live in special housing for freshman Honors students in Daum Hall. At first, the idea of living in Daum can be off-putting to some people; I mean, who wants to live with a bunch of nerds?

A lot of people are afraid that they won’t make friends in Daum because they imagine Honors students to be antisocial. That is definitely not the case. I live in Daum, and even though I had those fears myself, it quickly became clear that people in Daum are just… normal people. The Honors Program isn’t full of freak genius-type weirdos. It just is full of people who have shown in some way or another that they’re driven. My closest friends all live on my floor and are outgoing, friendly, and involved on campus. The dorm rooms are some of the larger ones on campus too!

There are a few requirements in order to graduate with Honors, but they’re nothing crazy. You need to maintain a 3.3 GPA and earn a certain number of Honors credits and experiential learning credits. They’re things that you’ll most likely do anyway as an Honors student.

Overall, the Honors Program is something you should definitely check out if you want to make the most of your time at Iowa. It gives you connections with others that have large goals, it prompts you to progress your own career in your undergrad, and it offers advantages that can’t be passed up. Be sure to check it out!