Students who enter the Honors Program as incoming freshmen have their first advising experience during summer orientation. After they have begun their first semester in the honors program, students select a more permanent advisor. More information about how to select an honors advisor can be found at http://www.honors.ku.edu/advising.shtml.
Absolutely. All professors at the University do advising as a part of their regular responsibilities. It is very important for students to find an advisor with whom they connect and feel comfortable.
Absolutely. In fact, it's encouraged. For example, Engineering students will be expected to meet with an Engineering advisor early in the advising period, but that student may/should also meet with an Honors advisor. Students who plan on double majors should meet with an advisor in each department or school before enrollment. Seeing different advisors provides you with a broader picture of your education, course offerings, scholarship opportunities, activities, etc.
As often as you think is necessary. Students with 60 hours or less are required to meet with an advisor prior to enrollment before their advising hold can be removed. It is best to set an appointment and have one or two specific things you want to talk about.
Establishing a positive relationship with your advisor is extremely important. Not only will they help students pick out courses that relate to their interests and major, but they are also good resources when it comes to requesting letters of recommendation.
The Honors Home Page lists the courses for each semester, with descriptions. This is the easiest way to find all the Honors courses listed in one place. Hard copies of course descriptions are also available at Nunemaker Center. ALWAYS check the Home Page and at Nunemaker to get the latest updates.
For some of them, yes. For English, Math, Chemistry and Physics Honors courses, students are required to go to those departments and get a permission number even if they are an honors student. These classes are coded with a "D" in the Timetable. If you are interested in taking a course coded with an "I", you will need to contact the instructor. For most Honors courses (that aren't coded as "I" or "D"), you will be able to enroll automatically provided the course is open.
That depends. If there is space in the classroom, you can approach the instructor of the class and see what the policy is for that particular class. If the answer is yes, you will need a permission number from the instructor or the department. Sometimes during the add/drop period, certain classes will open up, so it doesn't hurt to check on that possibility.
Yes. Students in their third semester of college (or beyond) who have not declared a major will have a hold (NDC) placed on their account. If you fall into this category, you will receive an e-mail from College Student Academic Services (CSAS) asking you to declare a major. Please go to the department of your chosen major in order to officially declare your major, after which you will be able to have your Non-Declared Major Hold (NDC) removed. If you are not yet ready to declare a major or are waiting to complete admissions requirements for your major or professional school, meet with an advisor at Nunemaker Center who can release the NDC hold once you are advised.
You may indicate your intention to pursue a major by filling out a major declaration form at the department in which you have decided to major. Some departments have admission requirements--check with individual departments to see if you qualify. We encourage students to declare their major by the beginning of their junior year. You may also indicate an interest in a major by completing a Change of Interest Code slip in the College Student Academic Services office. This means that you have a particular interest in that area, but have not yet declared it as a major (or have not yet been admitted to the major).
Yes, especially if you are a freshman. The first year of the undergraduate curriculum is designed for flexibility and experimentation; in fact, many students change their major at least twice during the course of their studies. However, students that are in their third semester of college (or beyond) and have yet to declare a major or have not been admitted into a professional school will have a Non-Declared Major Hold (NDC) placed on their account and will not be allowed to enroll for the next semester. While you are in your first year at KU, it's important that you think about and seek information about potential majors.
It depends on the purpose for which you need to be enrolled full-time. For most financial aid, greek houses, insurance, and other purposes, the minimum number of credit hours for full-time enrollment is 12 hours. Check with the agency or office which has the requirement to be sure.
Students can search the online timetable for principal course offerings, using the Advanced Search option. The Undergraduate Catalog lists all the approved principal and NWC courses at the time the Catalog was printed. Of course, only a limited number of those courses are offered during any given semester. The code for each course in the Timetable of Classes indicates principal course status. The codes translate as follows:
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree is more suited to the natural science fields such as Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. It allows students to concentrate more heavily on courses in their major and to take more supporting science and mathematics courses.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree is the traditional Liberal Arts degree with its broad foundation of general education requirements including foreign language proficiency. This degree works well with most Humanities and Social Science majors such as English, History, and Sociology.
The Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) is a fairly new degree, historically speaking. It was created in the 1970's when student activists campaigned for a degree with a more flexible curriculum. It has been modified somewhat over the past 25 years, but still remains as the CLAS Bachelor's degree option that includes the most elective hours. It is often well-suited for transfer or non-traditional students, students who have changed degree programs or students completing double majors or dual degrees.
Every CLAS department offers the B.A. degree option, but not all departments offer the B.G.S. and/or B.S. option. Be sure to check the Undergraduate Catalog to see if the major you want offers the degree you want. If your plans include admission to a gradute or post-baccalaureate program, it would be best to graduate with a B.A. or a B.S.
You can view your schedule through the Kyou Portal. If you need something official from the university, you can get a letter from the University Registrar’s office in 121 Strong Hall or you can call them at (785) 864-4423.
Current students can get their ARTS form online at www.artsform.ku.edu.
If you take an honors course as credit/no credit, it will count towards your honors completion if you get credit for the course. However, during the admissions process most graduate and post-baccalaureate programs will recalculate your undergraduate GPA with courses receiving "credit" counted as a "C" grade. Please keep this in mind before you decide to elect credit/no credit for any course.
Set an appointment with the person you are going to ask to write for you. Take whatever materials the person needs (such as a waiver form, a description of what you are applying for, etc). Ask the person if they can write a "good" letter for you; most instructors will be pretty honest with you about that. Avoid at all costs asking for a letter of recommendation the day before it is due.
It is okay to e-mail or drop a note to the recommender as a reminder of the due date. Drop a thank you note into the writer's mailbox a few days before the due date. Follow up with a visit to let the recommender know about the outcome of your application.
This is a good idea. Readers of such letters assume that if you have not waived your right to see the letter the writer will be less open and forthright about the content. Most committees appreciate getting a full picture of a student, his/her accomplishments and potential.
The Honors Program sends out a lot of information about national scholarship competitions, and local scholarships through its weekly e-mail. This information is on the Honors website, so check there frequently. Also, browse the bulletin boards in departments and schools. If you have questions about a specific scholarship available for current KU students, meet with someone at the Honors Program. If you are interested in scholarships for incoming freshmen, contact the Office of Admissions and Scholarships (864-3911).
College means working harder than you did in high school, so it is a good idea to understand that early on. Honors students do get B's and even an occasional "C". If you find yourself struggling more than you think you should in a class, talk to the instructor early on, find help, get a tutor.
To stay in the program, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25 in courses taken at KU (not the KU + Transfer GPA). Please meet with an Honors advisor if you have any questions about staying in the program.
