Auburn University’s core principles of instruction, research and extension have long been defining characteristics of one of the most prestigious universities in the southeast. The high standards and expectations of the university shine especially bright from the Auburn Honors College, where high-achieving students can elevate their education to new heights and can gain valuable experiences along the way.
The Auburn Honors College was first established in 1979, with only 15 students in the program during its first year. Since then, the program has grown to having over 2,000 enrolled across nearly all fields of study at Auburn. This past summer, Auburn’s Honors College was ranked 39th out of the top 50 honors programs in the nation, as well as the only institution in Alabama included in the top 50, according to College Transitions.
In addition to special classes, the program also offers a multitude of student events, as well as international study opportunities. As of the most recent Honors College Annual Report, over 73% of surveyed students in the college agree that Honors courses has been intellectually enriching to them. The program also provides a strong feeling of comradery between members, through communal activities and events outside of classes.
“As a freshman coming in, I felt that I really valued the community the honors college gave me very quickly,” said Madeleine Cargile, senior majoring in speech, language and hearing sciences and an Honors College Ambassador.
Cargile participated in the Honors College Week of Service program, which involved moving onto campus a week early to serve different organizations across the city. In the evenings after service, the counselors would lead the freshmen in karaoke, bowling and even a campus-wide game of capture the flag.
"Through that, I was able to make friends with the people within the program and people living in the same dorm, and then in classes with me later on, so it gave me a nice niche group right away,” Cargile said.
In recent years, the Honors College at Auburn has undergone many significant changes. This past fall, the program welcomed a new director, Laura Stevens, an English professor who previously worked as a director at the University of Tulsa’s undergraduate research. More recently, Honors Congress, the official student organization of the Honors College, underwent a structural reorganization in order to broaden the opportunities for Honors students to get involved in various interests and services throughout the university at large.
“The Honors College is very much take it or leave it. You get as much out of it as you put in,” said Carson Kim, senior majoring in biomedical science, who is also an Honors College Ambassador at Auburn.
Kim encouraged people to get involved in the Honors College and truly invest in it because of the incredible impact it's had on his Auburn experience. To him, it's more than an extra graduation cord or resume entry. It's helped him achieve in ways he will always be grateful for.
“The way I describe the Honors College to prospective students is like it’s a supplemental institution,” Kim explained. “You’re an Auburn student first, where you get to pursue all the avenues you want, and the Honors College is going to help you with that, whether that's finding research, mentorship or getting into classes more catered to your learning style. I would definitely recommend it.”
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