<p>I got into ASU Barrett Honors College and right now my decision is down to ASU vs Ohio University. What do you guys think? Is Barrett Honors program worth taking $4000 more in loans a year than I would take in OU? Which school might offer more internship opportunities and prepare me better for post-grad job? (I am business major: finance, but I can still change it).</p>
<p>Well again, will taking out $16,000 in loans if you graduate in 4 years be worthwhile?, well perhaps.
It depends on what field and career you pursue, but at the end of the day, you will graduate with ASU or OU, honors or not, employers don’t really care it’s nice to take more rigourous (honors) classes but better library access and smaller classes don’t make a difference to your potential employer, its whether you fit into their organisation and whether you can do the job they initially hire you to do, progress from there will be based on your performance. Where do you want to spend 4+ years and if paying $16K more come to Arizona, if you don’t think it will make much difference where you go (I don’t think it will), choose the lesser cost route without loans?. I expect you will have internship opportunities at both schools, where do you want to live Mid-West or Arizona?</p>
<p>In your cost analysis, have you included the extra costs for Barrett? $1000/yr Barrett fee and the Barrett dorms and food are both more expensive than the regular ones.That may or may not be in your COA estimates. You should get a detailed breakdown so you have a realistic idea of costs. Also Barrett students required to live in dorms 2 years, so can’t save money living off campus until 3rd year. Not trying to discourage ASU, just so you know.</p>
<p>The environments around the 2 schools are radically different, in case you have preference. I had relatives in Athens growing up and family alums, so spent a lot of time there. Haven’t been back for many years, but the census says population is the same as then. Athens is a college town. Totally dominated by the college kids and college activities. More college kids than the rest of population put together. Area around is very rural and many large parks and forests. Lots of trees, hills and winding roads, big rock formations. Very picturesque. Also many poor folks living just outside the town in run down homes mixed in with the college student digs. You know, shooting squirrels for a hobby and ruining the parks with their motor bikes (that would be my cousin’s kids.) Snow in winters and icy roads to navigate. Muggy humid summers. Nearest city, Columbus, 1.5 hour drive.</p>
<p>ASU is sunny desert. The campus is intensively gardened, a real horticultural treasure, but very few ‘real’ trees. Big city right there. Light rail to downtown and airport. Weather is beautiful most of school year and everyone rides longboards and bikes to class, but oppressively hot in September. My D is in Barrett there, but not business school, so can’t comment on that. Lots going on at campus and the city all the time. Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Ginsberg speaking there in 3 weeks. Just had a special event called ‘origins’ this past weekend with numerous luminaries for speakers- Steven Pinker, Richard Dawkins, and many others. Human rights film festival all this weekend, 11 films with Amnesty Intl, professors, and film directors leading discussions after the films. It’s like that all the time there, concerts, etc.</p>
<p>UA is the flagship school in AZ, not ASU. ASU has a HUGE campus, almost feels like its own city because there are so many people there which could be overwhelming for you. </p>
<p>ASU’s campus is only 642 acres - not huge for a state school. It’s not hard to get from one end to the other. I don’t see where “HUGE” comes from, you must’ve never visited. A “HUGE” campus would be Texas A&M, at 5200 acres.</p>
<p>@an6rew</p>
<p>@celesteroberts Yes I already factored additional fees of Barrett Honors in. As I mentioned earlier I will be an international student in some sense. (Although I’m considered US citizen in the application process). Can someone explain me what is better: attending ASU or OH and taking regular courses or being in Honors College? I assume that in regular courses I might keep better GPA. On the other hand, Honors College offers many great opportunities but my GPA in the Honors College will probably be lower. </p>
<p>Right now I think I will give this Barrett Honors a shot and then I’ll see if I can keep up with the workload. I’m mostly afraid of the fact that my english language level (Yes I took TOEFL and scored 100 on it, however I’ll certainly need some time to get accustomed to US educational system) might be a problem especially in my freshman year. I hope to achieve complete fluency during this first year and therefore take more honors classes afterwards. Do you think there is an option of leaving Barrett Honors College and transferring to regular ASU just in case I might have some problems keeping up with that program?</p>
<p>Actually, studies have concluded that students who have the grades to be in Honors have better grades in Honors, because their learning style benefits from more interaction and they perform better. (it may also be because classes are smaller so they may not have a curve and may include participation in the final grade, somethin that’s not possible in large lectures). As surprising as it sounds, it’s overall better for your GPA to be in Honors!
Barrett as well as ASU will have a support system: math center, writing center, tutors, study groups… You can go just to show your work, see if you did what was required, if you misunderstood directions, to improve your work… or to get an explanation if you don’t understand. Furthermore, professors will have 1 or 2 hours of “office hours” each week, where students go to ask questions on the readings or parts of the lecture that they want more explanations about. It’s highly recommended to go, especially during your first month as an international student.
Honestly, I think Barrett is the best choice by far. Much more opportunities.</p>
<p>@teenbodybuilder I think by HUGE @an6rew means 74,000 students spread across 4 campus’s throughout the Valley, ASU is the largest University in the country, but also the easiest to get accepted to, in 15 residence years here, I have only ever known one person who was denied admittance. But Dr Crow has stated many times he wants the New American University to be the BIGGEST in the country, but not necessarily the best, in Arizona it is NOT the flagship University, that rests with the University of Arizona (UofA)</p>
<p><a href=“ASU a top university for international students | ASU News”>ASU a top university for international students | ASU News;
<p><a href=“https://students.asu.edu/international/support”>https://students.asu.edu/international/support</a></p>
<p>Englishman, why are you going on about UA being the flagship? What on earth has that got to do with anything being discussed here?</p>
<p>My S was accepted to both ASU Barrett and U of A Honors among others, but has chosen ASU. It has by far the better program for honors and the business school has much better opportunities. He is a direct admit at ASU versus having to wait until Junior year at U of A. I prefer the city of Tucson overall, but I have to say that I agree that ASU is the better choice for him. There is a definite revelry between the two, but really there isn’t that big of a difference. It is personal preference despite all of Englishman’s comments. </p>
<p>I think I merely noted @an6rew <a href=“mailto:....@1.15pm”>…@1.15pm</a> noted THE SAME, so perhaps thats why!</p>
<p>Indeed each to their own, the choice is theirs!</p>
<p>While one can debate UA vs ASU, there’s no doubt that Barrett >>>> either of them. There’s a reason it’s in the top 5 along UMichigan, UVA, and UNC-Chapel Hill, <em>even if</em> the university around Barrett is nowhere near any of these three in terms of reputation and selectivity. Even while dinged by the ASU average, Barrett remains among the top few and manages to lift ASU outside of “state school” to the level of “national powerhouse”. Barrett has national recognition and a lot of pull.
<a href=“Top Honors Programs! - Public University Honors”>http://publicuniversityhonors.com/new-top-programs-by-category/</a>
<a href=“Top 10 Honors Programs - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1310798-top-10-honors-programs.html</a>
There’s just no comparison.</p>
<p>an6rew has very few posts, all of which to support UA, which apparently he attends. Student enthusiasm is fine, but is hardly objective. </p>
<p>Honest question here. At the end of the day does any honors program matter? One will graduate with the name of the school they attended on the diploma, and have to get a job and go to work. Does the honors program help with the initial job or otherwise in ones career?</p>
<p>IMO, it means more to the alumni of that school. Otherwise, the employer only cares about what you can do for them regardless of your school.</p>
<p>As @WAPacker & frugaldoctor correctly state, it in reality really appears to only make a difference to the parents of said student as to whether they do honors or regular track, I suspect an element of parents either requiring or needing for their student to do honors, as they will see and as others have rightly stated in makes no difference. What matters is where you graduate from, what sort of an employee you become and how you fit with an employers requirements for progression in an organisation. Whether you did honors in school matters NOT ONE JOT. This from a parent who’s DS14 has an honors offer In-state, but will almost certainly attend HSLAC OOS on a full merit.</p>
<p>I think some people(parents) honestly think honors makes a difference, I wonder if those people actually went to college themselves. Honors simply offers amongst other things, more/different internship opportunities, smaller classes (for some selected classes not all), more advising (in my experience not required) and longer library privleges all for upwards of $1K pa. It is the unmentioned way to milk addl $$$ from parents, it is in other words something of a scam! No student paying their own way through college ever does honors because they see it.</p>
<p>The benefits are numerous but not as obvious. As stated above, employers care what you can do for them. Honors allow students to show that they can do more and better. (Englishman is the first employer I’ve heard say that they make zero difference, especially when it comes to something as drastic as Barrett and regular ASU.)</p>
<p>The first advantage is that students selected for honors do better in honors classes; they get higher grades, which allows them more choices (internships, especially some that are to get, require high GPAs; later, that affords them more choices for grad/professional school.) </p>
<p>The second advantage is the peer environment. Highly regarded Honors Colleges (such as Barrett) include a lot of honors classes which are very interactive and where students are engaged. They can’t skip, they can’t coast, they’re kept on their toes (unlike in lecture halls). The general drive is higher, which correlates with a higher sense of standards for self and others, more productive team work, and more development of qualities&skills that employers want to see in their teams. Their skills are pushed further and they’re more competitive. This is especially important if general peer pressure goes toward non-academic activities. (doesn’t mean honors students don’t party, goof off, or such - but that they know how to be focused and efficient.)</p>
<p>The third advantage is opportunities. Honors students are involved in research, internships, study abroad - sometimes with stipends. They may have their own advisers for national fellowships or prestigious programs. They demonstrate that they know how to create or seize opportunities, and make the best of them.Their resumes are full and consistent. It’s very clear they didn’t spend college going to class and playing beer pong, and that they mean to go somewhere.</p>
<p>There’s a reason at ASU, UA, or UMass the Honors College pretty much has its own corner of the campus. The fourth advantage simply makes their life easier: better dorms (often with better food), sometimes more conducive to productive work during the week; priority registration (which is worth its price in gold: not only are they sure they can take the classes they need and won’t delay graduation, but they can choose at what time they want to take a class so that it fits their efficiency patterns, allows them to go to an afternoon internship, so that it doesn’t conflict with another opportunity or a club or a job, and they can pick the classes when they’re taught by the best professors.) </p>
<p>Strong grades, good internships, interesting resume, all become very important to an employer at hiring time… or a grad school/professional school. Obviously, some employers will be impressed (Barrett! Shreyer! USCHonors!) in the same way they’d be impressed by any “brand”. Others won’t be. But ultimately, what matters is what a student has done while they were at school and the honors program provides them with every opportunity to be as impressive as they can be. After a couple years, it’s what they’ve done at their job that matters - if they confirm the promise that could be shown in their college years or if they proved to be a disappointment. All the honors college does is give them the opportunity to shine, it doesn’t magically transform anyone. It confirms and develops youth toward a goal, and once the job/grad position has been obtained, the skills and the growth obtained through the program have to help found the layer for the next level of success.</p>
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<p>I never hear of Barrett outside of these forums, including from ASU graduates who seem smart enough that they likely were either in Barrett or had the option of being in Barrett.</p>
<p>If offered an honors program, look mainly at what it provides, academically and otherwise, while you are at the school.</p>
<p>This is great feedback. I am a mechanical engineer that went to a relatively small school did well but was not an honors student and have done well in the work place in the last 25 years. We have never considered honors colleges as a factor in any hires I have been involved with and I don’t have a clue as to whether any of my co-workers were in honors programs in college. Now I have a son that wants to study computer science and will likely be honors elgible at most of the schools he is considering. I have felt that the honors programs may be more work but also offer some opportunities that would not otherwise be available and also help with the high school to college transition. He is a junior so we have a year before the decision will be made but my suggestion has been to accept an offer to an honors program if offered and participate for the first year. After the first year, if you don’t think it is worth it you can leave the program. Does this seem like a reasonable approach?</p>
<p>I’m not from the Southwest and I had heard of Barrett a long time before I’d read anything on these boards…
It’s possible you “never hear” of Barrett because people don’t refer to their undergrad college much as they grow older – since obviously what they did in college and the minutiae of how, doesn’t matter much once they’ve started their career. It’d be a bit ridiculous to be 35 and continue referring to your honors college :p. But it does matter on a resume. “Honors college” signals something, like a brand. However it only does so if the resume is commensurate with what that “signals” and of course only for one to get their first job.
You can check the links above though. The website is comprehensive and covers honors colleges and programs. A big factor for the ranking is getting national fellowships; the general strength of the university also plays into the ranking, which is why it’s exceptional for Barrett to remain that high (because undergrad ASU isn’t that good overall, despite some of its commendable higher level classes and strong depts at the grad level.)</p>