The past few months I have been offered a few rare opportunities. Two of the biggest opportunities were invitations to interview and compete for a spot in the top honors program at two of my top colleges, Westmont College and Gordon College. I am still waiting to hear from the Torrey Honors Institute at Biola, which I was accepted to last year, and Texas A&M Honors.
Because my high school Freshman GPA was lower, due to a lack of maturity and drive, my invitations to honors day at these three schools came as a welcome surprise. I can only imagine that my much more respectable Junior and Senior year GPA and Gap year SAT possibly made the difference.
Attending the honors weekends at these well-respected liberal arts colleges, I have found myself in the company of top students from high schools across the country.
Here’s a glimpse into my honors weekends…
At Gordon college, my honors opportunity was unique, because I was invited to interview last year (Early Winter 2017), when1 I qualified for their second-tier honors program. However, this year I qualified for the top honors program, due to my hundred-point increase in my SAT score. I arrived on campus in early December feeling very confident, comfortable, and calm. I had been to campus four times prior, for an assortment of reasons, so I was comfortable with the campus. I had already interviewed once before, so I was confident in my ability to portray myself well. The weekend went smoothly, and I felt confident throughout the process. After the honors day activities, I had the chance to attend a Men’s basketball game and hangout with some of the recruits for the class of 2019. Overall, the experience was, personally, a success and I feel confident as I await their response.
My time at Westmont’s Augustinian weekend was a very different experience. This weekend had a very different vibe. Westmont invited half the number of candidates as Gordon did to their honors weekend, which gave the experience a very competitive feel. Coming into the weekend, I had little idea as to what to expect. I hadn’t previously been invited senior year to their honors weekend. However, despite the competitive nature, with every hour, I felt more comfortable, more confident, and had more fun. The other candidates were relatable and engaging, and I really enjoyed getting to know them. We took part in informative and deep discussions on topics from problems the church faces to artificial intelligence. By the conclusion of the weekend, I felt very confident in my performance and am excited to hear their response in late February.
These two very different honors weekends were formative experiences and could prove to be invaluable opportunities, whether I attend the honors programs or not. Both programs are prestigious and uniquely beneficial, but no matter which college I choose, I will be forever changed by the faculty, staff, and friends who impact me during my four years there. I am very grateful for these opportunities from Westmont and Gordon College.
J. Fletcher Brown 