<p>Son is a HS Senior. NMSF, good GPA and test scores. Alabama forum has tons of discussion about the Honors Program at Univ. of Alabama. Not much here in the Ole Miss forum about the Honors College. Recently visited and we were impressed but would love to hear more from parents/students with actual experience.</p>
<p>I would be happy to try to answer your questions. Feel free to post or pm if you prefer!</p>
<p>If possible, please post so everyone can see.</p>
<p>Slornow, as you said, Alabama’s forum has lots of info…but I think Ole Miss has a lot to offer top students, too. If we can post on the forum, many of us can share the info.</p>
<p>My D is a junior and we visited Ole Miss last spring including the Barksdale Honors College and we were impressed as well. I would also LOVE to know what current students think of the program.</p>
<p>She just took PSAT last week, SAT again on Oct 1. Hoping for NMSF, but will be satisfied if we get full OOS tuition.</p>
<p>Many thanks…</p>
<p>@seekingknowledge-hard to formulate specific questions. For some backgroud we did a tour of a bunch of schools last Spring including Davidson, UNC, Duke, W&M, Gtown, UVA and Princeton. Recently visited Ole Miss and Alabama with specific interest in the Honors programs at each school. Son does not have a “dream” school. We were looking at Bama and Ole Miss as “financial safety” schools due to great scholarships they offer and were pleasantly surprised with both schools.</p>
<p>I had read alot about the Alabama program on the CC Alabama forum and in the National Merit Forum. Everything sounded great. I realize that Ole Miss is a good bit smaller than Alabama and the Honors College is also smaller but there are very few posts on CC that discuss the Barksdale program. Was just hoping to hear from students/parents about any positives or negatives about the Honors College and Ole Miss in general.</p>
<p>We had a great visit at Ole Miss with Ryan making sure we were well taken care of and a nice meeting with DSG-Dean of the Honors College. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>slornow: Your search sounds very similar to ours a few years ago. Let me start by saying that I believe every school has its strengths and weaknesses. And, for us, the rankings were difficult to overcome.</p>
<p>We also intially considered Ole Miss/Bama a safety schools. And yes, in the end, finances played a part in the decision for my daughters. We would not have been able to afford the extra academic enrichment (extensive study abroad, Washington D.C. internships, etc.) at the higher ranked schools. The unique opportunities, quality of the Honors College (and honors courses). size and fit tipped the scales for them. Alabama did not offer a strong program in their chosen major.</p>
<p>DSG is there for the students. I can’t tell you how many crazy ideas my ds have presented to him. He listens, encourages and gives them the support to run with their ideas and opportunties. </p>
<p>Here is an article on recent SMBHC national recognition:
[Reader’s</a> Digest Praises UM Programs as Being on Par with Ivy League | Ole Miss Zing](<a href=“http://zing.olemiss.edu/readers-digest-praises-um-programs-as-being-on-par-with-ivy-league/]Reader’s”>http://zing.olemiss.edu/readers-digest-praises-um-programs-as-being-on-par-with-ivy-league/)</p>
<p>A few positives that you may not be familiar with:
- The honor college freshman ventures program
- Outstanding major scholarship advising (two dedicated staff members)
- The Honors building is only for honors students. The layout offers the best place to study on campus, while providing social areas and activities that encourage the development of friendships and participation.</p>
<p>Feel free to ask additional questions…I don’t want this post to drag on!</p>
<p>seekingknowledge-thanks for the response. I had found the article you linked when doing some google research on the Barksdale Honors College. Impressive stuff. Curious as to your child’s field of study at Ole Miss? Are they still there or graduated?</p>
<p>Some other questions
- What percent of classes did your child take within the Honors College (HC) as compared to the University itself?
- I know the HC classes are small…did your child feel that those classes were harder/more rigorous?
- How did they like Ole Miss in general…not just the HC?</p>
<p>I liked the idea of the student graduating from the HC. I didn’t get the feel at Alabama that there was so much of an HC as an Honors Program with certain Honors classes available. Just my perception. Also like the smaller size at Ole Miss. </p>
<p>Also seems that Ole Miss HC gives credit for AP’s. A big plus for my son since it would give him some flexibility to pursue a double major or take a lighter load when needed.</p>
<p>Would be thrilled to read everything you have to offer on your’s and your child’s experience.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>DDs are still at Ole Miss. Though both are taking full advantage of the study abroad opportunities. They are international studies & language majors. I believe you need 29 honors hours to graduate with the designation. I know they will have at least that. </p>
<p>They have said that the honors courses are typically more writing intensive than a regular class of the same level. But, much more interesting. With the smaller class size, the classes are much more discussion based. (Not so sure about the upper level hard sciences though). They like that the professors really challenge them to think and form their own opinions in the HC classes.</p>
<p>The HC requires an honors thesis. I think they loose a certain percentage of students because they decide that they do not want to complete the thesis. It is a must for my DDs majors, they like to write, so no big deal.</p>
<p>They have really enjoyed Ole Miss. Without the HC and other special programs…who knows…they like to be challenged and involved. One thing that is evident…you can make the HC what you want. Choose to go through the motions, or really make it amazing. The choice is up to the student.</p>
<p>AP and dual enrollment credit is very generous. With some planning, double and triple majors are possible. Or, double majors with two or more minors.</p>
<p>A bit off topic…the Residential College (a dorm) is a great place for a Honors College student. Yes, it is a bit more expensive, but so much nicer and supportive of academic excellence. They had a great time there…certainly not a boring place. I am very thankful they chose the RC.</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Seekingknowledge-thanks for all of the info. We did get a chance to tour a residential college building…very nice.</p>
<p>Thank you for sharing your info.</p>
<p>We really enjoyed our tour of Ole miss and the honors college. I really loved all of the various enrichment activities the honors college offered.</p>
<p>We also liked the Residential College…believe it would be worth the extra $$ particularly if tuition is all paid for…</p>
<p>Thanks again for keeping the convo public so we can all learn from your experience!!</p>
<p>What is in the Honors College section of the application?</p>
<p>When I applied, it was a supplemental app that required 2 recommendations, a resume, some basic academic info, the general essay, and then a separate honors essay. Parts of it overlapped with the scholarship app, if I’m remembering correctly, and I’m not sure if the process is still the same or not…</p>
<p>And on a personal note, I’ve loved my experience in the SMBHC and wouldn’t trade anything for it. I applied to all different types of schools, but at the end of the day, the SMBHC felt like home and has given me so many opportunities that other colleges would not have. With the SMBHC, we definitely grow academically, but programs like freshman ventures, sophomore service, and junior quest nurture the independence and passions necessary to continue beyond undergraduate work, all while having an honors college staff that knows us by name. If you have any questions, please ask! I can also explain what it’s like to live on an honors floor in a “traditional” residence hall vs. the RC community, having done both. :)</p>
<p>Can someone tell me the requirements for entrance to the honors college? Minimum GPA? SAT/ACT minimum score? Teacher recommendations? Any other specific requirements?</p>
<p>To the above question: I think the published recommendation is that you have at least a 28 on the ACT (and it’s equivalent percentile SAT) score and a 3.5 high school GPA, or hold a very high class rank. Two teacher recommendations are required (if I remember correctly). The entering class ACT score Average was a 31 this year, and a couple years ago even students with a 28 and the above GPA were rejected because the applicant pool has gotten larger. Entrance is getting more and more competitive, as the honors college does not want more than roughly 300 in the freshman class, so they can keep classes small and classmates can really get to know one another.</p>
<p>Side note: I have loved my time with the honors college and have thoroughly enjoyed my honors coursework over my “regular” university coursework. Very enriching with professors who care. Your honors classmates will be the most diverse and interesting (most likely) on campus, and you’ll find that they are the most involved on campus. Ole Miss really values its honors college students, and top students in general, and makes sure they are taken care of. You’ll find many students in the honors college who attend Ole Miss either full paid, or for relatively low costs. Ole Miss, with its various programs on the rise such as its Honors College, is really becoming one of the best values in the nation.</p>
<p>Since the SMBHC deadline is very close, please see some links about outstanding student achievement within the Honors College at Ole Miss. The SMBHC provides resources for students to engage in research in their discipline.</p>
<p>[Goldwater</a> Scholar Researches Alternative Energy ? View From Ventress](<a href=“http://viewfromventress.org/awards/goldwater-scholar-anna-hailey-researches-alternative-energy/]Goldwater”>http://viewfromventress.org/awards/goldwater-scholar-anna-hailey-researches-alternative-energy/)</p>
<p>[Animal</a>, Vegetable, or Cellular ? Biology Theses Explore Our World ? View From Ventress](<a href=“http://viewfromventress.org/newsletter/summer-2011-newsletter/animal-vegetable-or-cellular-–-biology-theses-explore-our-world/]Animal”>http://viewfromventress.org/newsletter/summer-2011-newsletter/animal-vegetable-or-cellular-–-biology-theses-explore-our-world/)</p>
<p>[Chemistry</a> Student Researches Clean Energy ? View From Ventress](<a href=“http://viewfromventress.org/newsletter/summer-2011-newsletter/chemistry-student-researches-clean-energy/]Chemistry”>http://viewfromventress.org/newsletter/summer-2011-newsletter/chemistry-student-researches-clean-energy/)</p>
<p>I visited a site called publicuniversityhonors.com that shows admissions requirements, unique qualities, and strength of academic departments at about 50 honors programs and colleges. Ole Miss is one of them, and it is grouped with several other southern schools, I think. Don’t know much about Ole Miss, except on the site I got the idea that Ole Miss, S. Carolina, and maybe Arkansas were some of the better options.</p>
<p>It seems like the honors building at Ole Miss like a clubhouse for the honors students.</p>
<p>@MidwestMom2Kids You aren’t entirely too far off. Although there are classes and administration during the day, the Honors College building is open 24 hours a day to honors students (you have to swipe your card for entry). Students can be found having study groups, studying independently, just have good discussion, or even watching a movie at all (and I do mean all) hours of the day.</p>
<p>That sounds good.</p>
<p>For anyone interested, the Barksdale Honors College received over 1,000 applications for admission this year. Last year, they received a little over 800. They are hoping to notify students by the end of this month regarding admission.</p>
<p>Has anyone heard yet about Honors college acceptances? Or I wonder if they will let everyone know all at once at the end of the month? D is on “pins and needles” because she is right in the average of what accepted last year.</p>