If you are in the University Honors Program, we encourage you to consider enrolling in the Honors sections of General Chemistry CHEM 1147Q (Fall) and CHEM 1148Q (Spring). Here is why:
Is it too hard? Will it hurt my GPA?
You may have heard that Honors General Chemistry is more difficult than the regular sections. The data tell a different story. Honors students earn higher average grades than non-honors sections. The course goes into greater depth on some topics, but that depth is supported by an environment designed to help you succeed.
A much smaller class with a faculty instructor.
The Honors section enrolls fewer than half the number of students in a typical General Chemistry section. This means your instructor (a faculty member, not a TA) knows who you are. You get real access, real feedback, and a learning environment that welcomes questions. It can also be valuable for recommendation letters down the road.
More material, better preparation.
CHEM 1147Q/1148Q covers more material than the regular sections and we anticipate that students have had an initial course of general chemistry so that we can explore beyond the treatment in the non-honors course. For students planning careers in chemistry, biology, medicine, or engineering, this deeper foundation pays dividends in every science course that follows. While calculus is not required for this course an understanding of the concepts can be useful.
A stronger foundation for medical school, graduate school, and beyond.
Medical schools and graduate programs look for students who have challenged themselves academically. Completing the Honors section signals exactly that, and the deeper content coverage means you will be better prepared for the MCAT, for upper-division chemistry and biology courses, and for research.
You earn Honors credit.
Completing CHEM 1147Q or 1148Q counts toward your Honors credit requirement for the year, so you are satisfying your Honors obligations while taking a course you need anyway.
Questions? Contact the Department of Chemistry at chemdept@uconn.edu