Should Honors classes be weighted more than regular classes?

It is often a common misconception that honors classes are weighed more than regular classes. Unfortunately, they’re not. To some that might mean something, namely the students that take honors classes, but that doesn’t mean that the people that don’t take an honors class shouldn’t be concerned.

First, it would make sense to be able to tell the difference between honors, regular and AP. In honors classes, you have a heavier workload and probably go further in depth than you would do a regular class. Taking a regular class doesn’t mean that you’re being a particular underachiever, it just means that your goals follow a different path. Typically, people who stick regular classes tend to go straight to work and go to less strict colleges. Honor classes and AP also have some known differences as well. If you do well in an AP class and pass the AP test at the end of the year then you can earn a college credit while honors classes look good on a college resume. Also, AP classes have a 1-point increase while honors classes aren’t weighted. They both tend to take more effort than regular classes, but AP tends to require more work.

Since honors classes do tend to take more effort and work than regular classes it does seem to make more sense to stick to a regular class and get an A then take honors and receive a B. However, taking an honors course that carries more weight and still managing to get a B can say more about your work effort. People that take regular classes that want to take honors should be aware of a few things. Even though it might look good to colleges, taking too many honors classes could backfire. Bluntly stating, it’s too much stress. The heavier classes might take more commitment that you’re able to give and it’ll take up free time and next thing you know you might be drowning in overdue papers. But taking the course does say that you’re willing to academically challenge yourself and will continue to challenge yourself in college. If you think you can pull your own weight in the class, do it. Just make sure that you can balance the class with your other classes and extracurriculars so you don’t drown in stress.

As for honors classes weighing more than regular: it definitely should. If you are doing more work and putting in more effort in an honors class then you should definitely see the impact of it in your GPA. Less than an AP class, but more than a regular. This way student’s that want to challenge themselves, but also see the benefit of it would be more likely to take the class and the midnight’s spent trying to finish homework aren’t spent in vain.