Graduating "Cum Laude" - Are Your Grades Good Enough?

Do you have what it takes to graduate "cum laude"? Some suggestions for those considering an honors program.

With so many people opting for post-secondary education, the necessity that a student defines himself above his peers is becoming more and more critical in a highly competitive world.

Hey, let's face it — in the realm of employment, a bachelor's degree just isn't as meaningful as it used to be. To distinguish yourself from the myriad of other job seekers, you'll need to get a post-grad education. Sometimes you need help writing a paper to succeed with your learning and career. The best way to ensure you qualify for continued studies is by enrolling in an honors program. Graduating cum laude is one of the best things you can do for your future.

Grade Requirements for an Honors Program

Unfortunately, there is no standard honors college GPA requirement that transcends all colleges. The requirement will depend entirely on the school. Some schools take the easy route and simply designate a certain minimum GPA as honors-worthy (students who attain this grade will graduate cum laude - "with honors"), while other schools go so far as to design completely segregated programs for honors students. Often students in honors programs will have to take more courses in their chosen field than their non-honors compatriots, or they will have to complete a thesis/seminar course in their final year. The only way to know for sure is to consult directly with the specific college and ask about their honors requirements.

In my case (a double-honors degree at a Canadian university), I was required to take more "core" courses in both of my fields but was spared the anxiety of having a thesis/seminar course because it was a double degree. I also had to maintain a "B" average to qualify as cum laude.

Applying for cum laude status

Should you apply for an honors program at your college? Yes, if you're a good student who's willing to work hard and make sacrifices to achieve your goals. It also helps if you know what degree you want to be hanging on your wall four years from now— after all, graduating cum laude means nothing if you're in the wrong field! Grades are not a mystery, and in the dirty world of Academia, prior experience seems to be a pretty good indicator of future success.

It takes a certain type of personality to adapt to the rigors of college life, and I would recommend that anyone thinking about going for an honors degree take an honest look back over their academic history and form an unbiased assessment of their student skills. It would be an expensive mistake to make, to find that you've applied for a program that is above the level you're capable of reaching. Of course, let's not be too negative: there's always something to be said for "rising to the occasion", and battling through an arduous college program is certainly the right time and place to discover your scholastic tenacity! Let the challenge of graduating cum laude inspire you to greatness.

Succeeding in an Honors Program

What does it take? Preparation, time commitment, and homework. Lots of homework. Good study skills are a necessity for any degree, and that's especially true for an honors degree.

I also think it's important that promising students have an advanced understanding of their medium: science students should know how to write a lab report backward as well as forwards, and students in the humanities should appreciate the form of an essay on an elevated level (for reference, see my article, "how to write an A+ college essay"). The first year of campus life, especially, is the time to develop these skills — so that by the third and fourth years you're able to produce work that's relevant, nuanced, and important. Your professors will expect all of these things.

Being a student is a way of life very similar to having a full-time job. Academics are only one part of college life, but they should always remain the foremost objective. Networking can help you improve your college GPA, but too many social outings can also be an unwanted distraction when there's a substantial amount of work that needs to be done. Make sure you're willing to put in the hours necessary to succeed.

College Success and Beyond

Finally, no degree - not even an honors college degree - is any guarantor of future success in the realm of employment. But in today's world, having experience in an honors program opens up many doors that might otherwise remain closed. And if you're considering any sort of post-graduate degree at all, then graduating cum laude is the best way to go. In my experience, working hard at college or university is well worth the effort is given to the enterprise. I do not doubt it— so good luck and have fun!

About the author: Nicholas H. Parker provides paper help for students. He used to manage the content team at the company he worked for. Currently, Nicholas writes articles to share his knowledge with others and obtain new skills. Besides it, he is highly interested in the web design sphere.