<p>Accepted to Honors -- Is Honors any good in comparison to...UVA? Cornell? Or other top schools that i applied to? (got a likely letter from UVA yesterday and was deferred ED from Cornell) </p>
<p>What makes Honors special? In general, should i be fond of UMD? I hear safety is terrible, and many other aspects of the University suck. Give us some feedback please.</p>
<p>All I know is that you have a lot more flexibility with the honors program. You can take honors classes instead of the university requirements and even graduate courses if you're advanced enough. I've heard their honors program is excellent and has great job and internship recruitment, so I think it would be right up there with other great schools. Also I've heard that you get nicer dorms. Plus its cheaper than Cornell :)</p>
<p>i don't know of anyone who thinks aspects of the university "suck", as you put it. personally, most people i know love it here. we're in a much better location than UVA, have more school spirit, and a much more diverse student body. (i know nothing about the features of cornell; i didn't apply there.) as far as safety being terrible, it's right outside of washington DC. if you use common sense and don't walk by yourself late at night, you'll be fine. i promise. i'm from a small town and i was pretty freaked out about coming to an urban area (part of the reason why i came to UMD instead of NYU).</p>
<p>on a nicer note.......i love the honors program at UMD. the honors seminars, which only honors students get to take, are interesting, focused, small, and discussion-based. we often get free tickets to theatre productions and shows at CSPAC (the performing arts center). every member of the faculty that i've interacted with is amazing.</p>
<p>i'd recommend coming to a UMD open house (one of those friday things) and attending an honors info session. (come at 2--i'll be on the Q&A panel, haha!!) you'll get a lot of good info.</p>
<p>it seems to me like you're unimpressed with the general prestige of UMD. obviously that's not something i'll be able to talk you out of, but i hope you know that the stats of honors students at UMD are up there with any Ivy, and the university's reputation is rising quickly as well.</p>
<p>good luck with your decision!! feel free to email me if you have any questions. :)</p>
<p>You said feel free to email you, so here goes. My son is thinking about UMD for the fall. He is curious about which of the honors dorms you recommend. His brother attends Rugters, and he told him to stay out of honors dorms because they're no fun. We know someone who's living at Denton who's really not happy. We'd appreciate your advice.</p>