During his State of the Union address, President George Bush stated that his goal was for the United States to replace 35 billion gallons of gasoline with renewable and alternative fuels by 2017.

The Honors Program sophomore problem-solving course focused on that statement this semester, and through research and debate analyzed its feasibility and whether or not the implementation of biofuels into society should be supported.The sophomore class focused on three up-and-coming alternative fuels: ethanol, butanol, biodiesel.

How do I apply for the Honors Program?
When is the application due?
How many people apply for the Honors Program?
How are Honors students selected?
Does the Honors Program involve extra classes?
How are the Honors Program classes selected?
Do Honors classes involve more work?
Does the Honors Program work well with demanding extracurricular activites like varsity athletics, campus newspaper, and so on?
Can Honors students participate in co-ops, internships, and study abroad and still complete the program on time?
Do Honors students live together?
What kinds of activities are associated with the Honors Program?
How is the retention for Honors students?
What types of research opportunites are available to Honors Program students?
Is summer research required?
Is there a scholarship for Honors Program students?
How well have Honors Program graduates dones?
What are the benefits of the Honors Program?

How do I apply for the Honors Program?
An Honors application is seperate from a Clarkson admission application and consists of an application data sheet and:

• an essay that addresses the student's qualifications for the Honors Program;
• a letter of recommendation that is specific to the Honors Program; and
• an interview that may be scheduled in person or by phone and, typically, occurs when the student's Honors application is complete.
  

• the Honors Office - contact Marcy Wilcox at (315) 268-2290 or honors@clarkson.edu
• the Admission Office - contact your admissions representative (800) 527-6577; or
• Or online, at - www.clarkson.edu/honors/toapply.html

When is the application due?
The deadline is March 1, athough late applications are accepted on a space-available or wait list basis.

How many people apply for the Honors Program?
We are expecting approximately 180-to-200 students to apply this year.

How are Honors students selected?
The Honors Program has its own admission committee consisting of five professors from a variety of departments. While the admission committee looks at such factors as class rank, advance placement courses taken, grades on regents exams, Board scores, and extracurricular activities, it is especially concerned with the qualities that enable students to thrive in the Honors Program. They are:

• love of learning
• intellectual curiosity
• initiative
• motivation
• ability to handle risk and uncertainty
• strong work ethic
• or other outstanding qualities that qualify them for the program

Does the Honors Program involve extra classes?
No, typically Honors classes replace classes in the Common Experience Curriculum (courses that all students take regardless of major).  These courses focus on current and emerging problems in science, technology, and society. 

How are the Honors Program classes selected?
Professors from all areas of study on campus are invited to submit proposals.  The proposals themselves are evaluated by the Honors Council, the group of faculty and students who serve as the board of directors for the program.  Students, who will take the prospective class, are also polled for their reactions and comments on the submitted proposals. 

Do Honors classes involve more work?
It depends on the class.  Honors professors are advided to plan a workload that is equivalent to an upper-level class in one's major.

Does the Honors Program work well with demanding extracurricular activities like varsity athletics, campus newspaper, and so on?
Yes, many Honors student are varsity athletes or carry similar time demanding out-of-class activities. 

Can Honors students participate in co-ops, internships, and study abroad and still complete the program on time?
Yes, in fact we encourage students to take advantage of these kinds of opportunities.  Some of the moste interesting Honors theses have resulted from these experiences.

Do Honors students live together?
No, the Honors students voted to have the same housing as all other students.

What kinds of activities are associated with the Honors Program?
The Honors Program coordinates fun activities like Ben & Jerry nights and takes trips to such places as Ottawa and Montreal.

How is the retention for Honors students?
Ninety four precent of Honors students graduate from Clarkson within four years.  Most of these students graduate with an Honors degree.

What types of research opportunities are available to Honors Program students?
Honors students have the opportunity to work on a research project on campus in the summer before their freshman year and in all subsequent summers.  Honors student receive funding for room, board, and research supplies for summer research.  Also, a senior thesis project is required for completion of the program.

Is summer research required?
No, it is an option that approximately one-third of Honors students choose.

Is there a scholarship for Honors Program students?
Yes, every Honors student receives an Honors Scholarship of $2,000 per year, and for student accepted into the program, we work closely with the Financial Aid office and the families on an individual basis to address financil aid interests and concerns.

How well have Honors Program graduates done?
They have done exceedingly well.  They have ben accepted to prestigious graduate schools like MIT and Cal Tech and have been awarded fine graduate fellowships.  Similarily, they receive multiple job offers, often for fast-track positions, from top companies like GE, IBM and Proctor & Gamble.

What are the benefits of the Honors Program?
The principal benefit of the Honors Program is greatly increased problem-solving skills.  Others include:

• problem-based curriculum that enables students to develop as well as gain knowledge and skills by exploring challenging contemporary issues;
• opportunities to participate in summer research at the Honors Program's expense;
• collaborative relationships with students and faculty as members of a stimulating, intensely personal community; and
• a network of alumni, industry, and graduate school contacts that students can take advantage of while they are in the program and after.

For more information about these and other benefits, see our website: http://www.clarkson.edu/honors

For more information about the Honors Program, please contact:

Dr. David Craig
Director Honors Program
Box 5755
Clarkson University
Potsdam, NY 13699-5755
Phone: (315) 268-2320 or 268-2290
Fax: (315) 268-2344
dcraig@clarkson.edu