2 answers
Indeera
Student
Stoughton, Massachusetts
1
Question
Updated
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Is there a benefit to doing the honors program at your college if you are a nursing student as well as a student athlete?
I am currently a 18 year old high school senior graduating next month. I have been accepted into majority nursing programs I applied to. I have decided to go to Providence College and I have been accepted into the nursing school as well as the D1 cheer team. I also got an invite for the honors college but I am deciding if the course-load of the nursing program on its own will be too much along with the extra work from the honors program.
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2 answers
Lindsey Flagg
Freelancer
16
Answers
Crown Point, Indiana
Updated
Lindsey’s Answer
I wasn't a nursing student myself, but I was in my university's Honors Program (which eventually became its own College), and I knew several nursing students (and even taught a few) while I was in the Program. Some nursing majors didn't want to join for the concerns you have, but most of the students who did join thrived in the Program as well as their nursing studies.
What I can say is that most Honors faculty and staff want to work with you to make your experience as beneficial as possible. There may even be a dedicated Honors advisor and/or mentor(s) for you to get advice from. We also had several student athletes in our Program, and the Program (including myself as a Teaching Fellow) worked with them to make their experience and their schedules less hectic when possible.
My experiences in Honors were some of the most beneficial I had in college, as I had hands-on experiences that I wouldn't have been able to pursue otherwise. On the other hand, you can still have great academic achievements without an Honors Program. There may also be opportunities to join Honors Societies or nursing-related extracurriculars as your academic career goes on.
I think your best bet is to get in touch with Providence College and ask if you can talk to a current Honors student—preferably a nursing major and/or athlete, or someone else with an intensive academic schedule—and see what their experience has been like. You may also be able to talk to an Honors advisor or faculty member who can give you a better idea of what your academic career will look like if you take on this extra commitment. Once you have a better picture of what the Honors time commitment looks like, you will be better able to decide if it is an extra responsibility you are willing to add to your schedule.
Whatever you decide about honors, it sounds like you are already have made great choices with your major and the cheer team. Best of luck to you!
What I can say is that most Honors faculty and staff want to work with you to make your experience as beneficial as possible. There may even be a dedicated Honors advisor and/or mentor(s) for you to get advice from. We also had several student athletes in our Program, and the Program (including myself as a Teaching Fellow) worked with them to make their experience and their schedules less hectic when possible.
My experiences in Honors were some of the most beneficial I had in college, as I had hands-on experiences that I wouldn't have been able to pursue otherwise. On the other hand, you can still have great academic achievements without an Honors Program. There may also be opportunities to join Honors Societies or nursing-related extracurriculars as your academic career goes on.
I think your best bet is to get in touch with Providence College and ask if you can talk to a current Honors student—preferably a nursing major and/or athlete, or someone else with an intensive academic schedule—and see what their experience has been like. You may also be able to talk to an Honors advisor or faculty member who can give you a better idea of what your academic career will look like if you take on this extra commitment. Once you have a better picture of what the Honors time commitment looks like, you will be better able to decide if it is an extra responsibility you are willing to add to your schedule.
Whatever you decide about honors, it sounds like you are already have made great choices with your major and the cheer team. Best of luck to you!
Yesenia Salazar
Profesor Primaria
32
Answers
Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador
Updated
Yesenia’s Answer
Hello! Congratulations! I completely understand your concerns about the academic load and whether combining the rigorous nursing program with the demands of the honors program and athletics will be too much. That's a very intelligent and thoughtful question. From my perspective as a faculty advisor, I believe there are significant benefits to pursuing the honors program even as a nursing student and athlete, although it's crucial to carefully weigh these benefits against the demands on your time and energy. Here are some points to consider: Potential Benefits of the Honors Program for a Nursing Student and Athlete:
Academic Deepening and Critical Thinking.
Development of Research and Writing Skills.
Enriched Academic Community.
Leadership and Personal Development Opportunities.
Future Competitive Advantage.
Closer Connection with the Faculty. Important Considerations and Potential Challenges: Time Management: Without a doubt, combining a rigorous nursing program with the demands of an honors program and cheerleading training and competitions will require exceptional time management and great discipline. You'll need to be highly organized and prioritize your responsibilities effectively. Academic Load: The additional workload of the honors program (readings, essays, projects) may be significant. You will need to honestly assess your ability to handle this load without compromising your performance in nursing or your commitment to the cheerleading team. Potential Stress: Trying to balance so many high-level responsibilities can be stressful. It's important to have healthy coping strategies and know when to ask for help if you feel overwhelmed. Flexibility: Research the structure of the honors program at Providence College. Do they offer flexibility regarding course selection or completion of requirements? Can you take a semester off from the honors program if the load becomes too heavy at any point? My Recommendation: I suggest you further investigate the specific structure of the honors program at Providence College. Talk to current honors program students who are also in challenging programs (though perhaps not both nursing and athletics) to get their perspective. It would also be very helpful to speak with an academic advisor from both the nursing school and the honors program to better understand the expectations and the possibility of integrating the two programs. Don't rule out the idea entirely yet. You might consider taking one or two honors courses your freshman year to assess whether it's manageable alongside your other responsibilities. If you find it's too much, you may be able to opt out of the full program without affecting your progress in nursing or your participation on the cheerleading team. Ultimately, the decision depends on your priorities, your organizational skills, and your level of commitment. Be honest with yourself about how much you can handle without feeling overwhelmed. I trust you'll make the best decision for your future academic and personal success at Providence College! With Love. Yesenia Salazar
Academic Deepening and Critical Thinking.
Development of Research and Writing Skills.
Enriched Academic Community.
Leadership and Personal Development Opportunities.
Future Competitive Advantage.
Closer Connection with the Faculty. Important Considerations and Potential Challenges: Time Management: Without a doubt, combining a rigorous nursing program with the demands of an honors program and cheerleading training and competitions will require exceptional time management and great discipline. You'll need to be highly organized and prioritize your responsibilities effectively. Academic Load: The additional workload of the honors program (readings, essays, projects) may be significant. You will need to honestly assess your ability to handle this load without compromising your performance in nursing or your commitment to the cheerleading team. Potential Stress: Trying to balance so many high-level responsibilities can be stressful. It's important to have healthy coping strategies and know when to ask for help if you feel overwhelmed. Flexibility: Research the structure of the honors program at Providence College. Do they offer flexibility regarding course selection or completion of requirements? Can you take a semester off from the honors program if the load becomes too heavy at any point? My Recommendation: I suggest you further investigate the specific structure of the honors program at Providence College. Talk to current honors program students who are also in challenging programs (though perhaps not both nursing and athletics) to get their perspective. It would also be very helpful to speak with an academic advisor from both the nursing school and the honors program to better understand the expectations and the possibility of integrating the two programs. Don't rule out the idea entirely yet. You might consider taking one or two honors courses your freshman year to assess whether it's manageable alongside your other responsibilities. If you find it's too much, you may be able to opt out of the full program without affecting your progress in nursing or your participation on the cheerleading team. Ultimately, the decision depends on your priorities, your organizational skills, and your level of commitment. Be honest with yourself about how much you can handle without feeling overwhelmed. I trust you'll make the best decision for your future academic and personal success at Providence College! With Love. Yesenia Salazar