<p>Hey,</p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone could comment about whether or not going to an honors program at a school is worth it. The one I’m considering right now is UO’s clarke honors program, and am debating about whether going to University of Washington (without honors) or UO w/ honors would be a better choice. </p>
<p>There are a couple of things I am wondering about:
- What are the benefits besides living in a better dorm (at least in some cases), more priviledges, and smaller classes? If there is anyone that went, or is in one, can you comment about whether or not the ammenities you recieve are worth it, or just a marketing scam to draw top students?</p>
<li>Are the honors classes significantly harder? The reason I ask this is because I’m looking at a career in medicine or dentistry, and I need a high gpa, so I dont want to go to an honors program and get a lower gpa than if I go to the state school without honors and do better there because it is less challenging.</li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks for the help!</p>
<p>Opinions differ on honors colleges. I think they are a marketing scam. You would be wiser going to a better school without honors than a lesser school with honors.</p>
<p>In your case, it depends on whether you live in Oregon or Washington. You didn't say. If you live in Oregon, then go to Oregon. If you live in Washington, then go to Washington. In-state tuition trumps honors in your case.</p>
<p>Woops, yeah I live in Oregon, but I've heard great things about Oregon's honors program. But yeah, more opinions please!</p>
<p>I've heard from many that unless it's Schreyer (PSU) or a couple similar, honors colleges are a scam and a joke. You'd be much better going to UDub unless you like Oregon better.</p>
<p>hmmmm the honors college i'm going to is advertised as 'one of the few REAL honors colleges in the US' i guess because it's seperate from the university, you take all honors classes, and is right next door to the scrips medical center, etc....I like the idea. It sounds like i'll be gettin a rockin education and its at a public university's price. And it can't look bad to grad schools when your entire schedule for the past four years has classes that all say 'honors' in front of em.</p>
<p>I believe in honors college it has to go case by case. They generally offer the benefits of first in registration for class (a big benefit for large universities), seperate and smaller class size honor classes, separate dorm, special research opportunities and internship. But you have to do research to find out more about each of the honors college program. One major item to look into is the funding for the honors college.</p>
<p>What are considered to be the top honors programs, besides Schreyer's at PSU? List the honors college with the university it's associated with. Thanks!</p>
<p>There is a National Collegiate Honors Council that provides a whole bunch of links to schools w/ honors programs (click on members). </p>
<p><a href="http://www.nchchonors.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.nchchonors.org/</a></p>
<p>you may also want to compare any schools you are interested in to the 'basic characteristics'.</p>
<p>^^ you live in Boca?</p>
<p>can anyone comment on their experiences at an honors college and whether or not they think that the profs are better and such, because my question still hasn't been answered that well IMO</p>
<p>Cuny Honors is also really good.</p>
<p>My S is looking at ASU's Barrett Honors College. I heard it is pretty good.</p>
<p>My friend also got into Clark D honors colelge and regular University of Washington...he picked University of Washington. I think that even though Clark honors has a really really good program, he thought going to a better overall school would help gain accpetance into medical school.</p>
<p>if you're thinking of a medical career you need to do further investigation to find out if the program will satisfy the requirements. It sounds like a typical honors program that tries to make it sound like you're in this entirely different college that happens to be housed on the big-U campus, but when you start to read further you find
[quote]
Survey courses taken in the first two years are supplemented with special colloquia and seminars in the junior and senior years. Course enrollments are limited to twenty-five students.
[/quote]
So here's what you get. The 1st 2 years, you're in great classes with top profs and the best kids at the U. Life is good! After that you finish your degree taking the regular classes with the regular kids, and the occasional special class. Life isn't so good anymore :( </p>
<p>And for med/dental schools you need specific classes; so much calculus, physics, etc. You need to contact OU and find out if the 1st 2 years satisfy the requirements or if you'll need to take separate classes to do so. If it does, it might be a good option for you. Here's why. Getting into med/dental school requires good recs, and the profs will definitely get to know you in those classes the 1st 2 years. However it doesn't really sound like that great of a program to me. One of the benefits of a true LAC is the advising and personal attention, and yet on the website for OU they say "Students are encouraged to meet with their CHC Faculty Advisor at least once per academic year." Gee, 3 years go by and you've seen this person 3 times; how much worthwhile guidance have you really go to prepare for applying to med school?</p>
<p>I think you need to look beyond the honors colleges in terms of choosing a school. It can push one college over the edge, however, because of better research opportunities, smaller classes, or better dorms. Otherwise, most of your classes are in the main college anyways, so it's not that big of a difference.</p>