Best Honor Programs at Public Universities (Updated)

College Search & Selection
41

<p>Added UGA Honors info -</p>

<p>Schreyer at Penn State,</p>

<p>Barrett Honors College at Arizona (Barrett is Craig Barrett of Intel),</p>

<p>(Take off the University of Florida)</p>

<p>the University of Georgia - In 2008, only Columbia, Stanford, Yale, and UGA had recipients of the Rhodes, Truman, Goldwater, and Udall scholarships. Over the past decade, UGA Honors students have won more than 50 such awards. The Honors Program’s Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (better known as CURO) makes it possible for Honors students to conduct frontline research alongside faculty mentors. Honors dorm. Additionally, UGA ranks in the top 1% of food services based on customer satisfaction and national awards earned (73 since 1986).</p>

<p>University of Mississippi.</p>

<p>UNC-CH</p>

<p>Alabama - Four very different Honors Programs. Two have competitive admissions (Computer-Based Honors Program and University Fellows Experience) and two admit by stats (UHP and International Honors Program). The Honors College offers very LAC-like courses limited to 15 students in each class. Many kids from OOS…likely about 50% OOS in honors. Fabulous honors super suites with private bedrooms for each kid in a 4 bedroom suite.</p>

<p>South Carolina</p>

<p>UVM</p>

<p>UT - Plan II</p>

<p>FSU</p>

<p>UCF - Excellent residence halls, smaller/better class opportunities, treated as elite, small. </p>

<p>USF -</p>

42

<p>Macaulay Honors college at CUNY? I heard it’s excellent.</p>

43

<p>One quick correction, Barrett Honors College is at Arizona State University, not University of Arizona.</p>

44

<p>To answer the question above about which honors college is more difficult to get into, Pitt or Schreyers, it would appear that based on their standardized test averages, Pitt would be more selective. However, the two schools don’t report their figures in exactly the same way. According to Schreyer’s brochure, the average combined SAT range, with the writing component included, is 1960-2160. If you extrapolate a comparable score by taking 2/3rds of the average of that range, it comes out to 1373, which roughly compares to the 1457 CR+M average that Pitt reports. That obviously in not a perfect comparison, but it is not a surprise since it closely reflects the overall test score admission statistic differences at Pitt, which are higher, compared to Penn State. At Pitt, the minimum to be considered for Honors Admission as an incoming freshman is a 1400 CR+M and top 5% of your graduating class. Reports on CC suggest that minimum may no longer be adequate. Honors enrollment at Pitt isn’t reported to be capped, but it seems that they target about 20% of the incoming class for honors, or about 700 students. That is twice as large as Penn State which caps its honors enrollment at 300. That probably makes admissions for Schreyers more difficult for those that apply directly to it, even if the applicant pool doesn’t have as high of admissions statistics. It seems to be clear that Penn State does make its potential honors students jump through more hoops to get honors admissions, probably because of the guarantee of the minimal merit award for each student accepted (although from reports on here, Pitt freshman honor admits usually get some sort of award as well, and generally Pitt has a reputation for offering more awards). Pitt’s admissions to honors seems to be more automated and open. The bottom line is that the two honors colleges seem to be run in very differently ways. Whether one is better than the other depends on the type of setting, goals, and desires of any particular student.</p>

<p>BTW, sorry for the mangled grammar in the post above, as I have been typing quickly in between other tasks and the distractions are killing me.</p>

45

<p>I like to respond to Post #26 regarding why good students not just apply to higher end schools instead of going to a good horors college/program. The reasons can be many. Many good honors colleges/programs are just very good. They are highly respected, highly recruited and well known among academia and employers. There is also the very strong incentive of big merit scholarships from these programs. For example a student who intents to go to medical school will be in a very good financial shape when he/she can graduates debt free. This also apply to students who plan to attend graduate or other professional schools. There also come with many perks as a big fish in the school. You have good opportunities to do research and work with professors. The bottom line is that you can get a very good education at a very resonable price and with peers that are of the same ability and motivation.</p>

46

<p>Adding USF …</p>

<p>Schreyer at Penn State,</p>

<p>Barrett Honors College at Arizona (Barrett is Craig Barrett of Intel),</p>

<p>(Take off the University of Florida)</p>

<p>the University of Georgia</p>

<p>University of Mississippi.</p>

<p>UNC-CH</p>

<p>Alabama - Four very different Honors Programs. Two have competitive admissions (Computer-Based Honors Program and University Fellows Experience) and two admit by stats (UHP and International Honors Program). The Honors College offers very LAC-like courses limited to 15 students in each class. Many kids from OOS…likely about 50% OOS in honors. Fabulous honors super suites with private bedrooms for each kid in a 4 bedroom suite.</p>

<p>South Carolina</p>

<p>UVM - Universitas Viridis Montis, aka University of the Green Mountains, aka University of Vermont! Historical university (fifth oldest in New England).
Very nice and new residence hall that is well-located and dedicated to honors college students. Honors College takes care of the students from Day 1 of Orientation (which is in June!). UVM has been in the USNWR top 10 “up-and-coming” universities for the past two years. Lovely University town in Burlington. Finally, they are somewhat generous with merit money.</p>

<p>UT - Plan II</p>

<p>FSU</p>

<p>UCF - Excellent residence halls, smaller/better class opportunities, treated as elite, small. </p>

<p>USF -</p>

47

<p>I recently got accepted to the Ohio State University’s Honors Program.
Does anyone here know anything about it or know someone who was in it?</p>

48

<p>For Ohio State Honors take a look at:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ohio-state-university-columbus/1030756-when-does-osu-send-invitations-honors-program.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ohio-state-university-columbus/1030756-when-does-osu-send-invitations-honors-program.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I think Ohio State is really upping its profile, my younger son received a lot of their material, whereas two years ago my older son didn’t receive anything from them.</p>

49

<p>The UT Business Honors Program is small and very difficult to get to. It gives the undergrads an MBA-type experience, and a lot of attention and focus is given to these students.</p>

50

<p>UVA-Echols is a program and not really any more “honors” than the rest of the university itself, other than giving them somewhat-priority registration (used to be full priority but they started scaling even that back recently; also you used to be able to not declare a major but now anyone with >3.4 can make their own major so that is not as useful anymore either) and no gen-ed requirements (but admitted students usually have them already fulfilled with AP credits anyways).</p>

51

<p>UW has a well-known program.</p>

<p>From the UW website:
The University Honors Program enhances the UW experience through small classes, individualized advising, a community of Honors students, and much more. The application process is competitive: Last year, the Honors Program reviewed over 2,700 applications for 225 spaces</p>

52

<p>After re-reading this thread…we should add that FSU’s Honors Program features special on-campus housing ([Landis</a> Hall](<a href=“http://www.housing.fsu.edu/housing/ungrad/landis.html]Landis”>http://www.housing.fsu.edu/housing/ungrad/landis.html)), [early-priority</a> class registration](<a href=“http://honors.fsu.edu/about.html]early-priority”>http://honors.fsu.edu/about.html), smaller classes, access to the best faculty, specialized advising, grants for international travel, head starts for top students into medical and law schools and automatic consideration for university scholarships. Plus…[undergraduate</a> research](<a href=“http://our.fsu.edu/]undergraduate”>http://our.fsu.edu/) opportunities and [assistance</a> for the very best students with Rhodes Scholarship applications and a multitude of other awards and fellowships.](<a href=“http://onf.fsu.edu/]assistance”>http://onf.fsu.edu/)</p>

<p>Plus, FSU holds the [Alpha</a> Chapter](<a href=“http://pbk.fsu.edu/]Alpha”>http://pbk.fsu.edu/) of [Phi</a> Beta Kappa](<a href=“http://www.pbk.org/home/index.aspx]Phi”>http://www.pbk.org/home/index.aspx) in Florida, which is nationally recognized testament to academic quality.</p>

<p>An elite education at bargain prices - [FSU</a> was recently declared a “Budget Ivy” by Fiske in his Guide to Colleges.](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/27/budget-ivy/]FSU”>Searching the Bargain Bin for a Premier Public Education - The New York Times)</p>

53

<p>adding program info, tried to alphabetize:</p>

<p>Barrett Honors College at Arizona (Barrett is Craig Barrett of Intel)</p>

<p>CUNY (Macaulay Honors college at)</p>

<p>FSU’s Honors Program features special on-campus housing (Landis Hall), early-priority class registration, smaller classes, access to the best faculty, specialized advising, grants for international travel, head starts for top students into medical and law schools and automatic consideration for university scholarships. Plus…undergraduate research opportunities and assistance for the very best students with Rhodes Scholarship applications and a multitude of other awards and fellowships. An elite education at bargain prices - FSU was recently declared a “Budget Ivy” by Fiske in his Guide to Colleges. </p>

<p>Ohio State Honors - talk.collegeconfidential.com/...s-program.html I think Ohio State is really upping its profile, my younger son received a lot of their material, whereas two years ago my older son didn’t receive anything from them. </p>

<p>Penn State (Schreyer at) - see post #31 & #44</p>

<p>U of Alabama - Four very different Honors Programs. Two have competitive admissions (Computer-Based Honors Program and University Fellows Experience) and two admit by stats (UHP and International Honors Program). The Honors College offers very LAC-like courses limited to 15 students in each class. Many kids from OOS…likely about 50% OOS in honors. Fabulous honors super suites with private bedrooms for each kid in a 4 bedroom suite.</p>

<p>UCF - Excellent residence halls, smaller/better class opportunities, treated as elite, small.</p>

<p>(Take off the University of Florida)</p>

<p>the University of Georgia - In 2008, only Columbia, Stanford, Yale, and UGA had recipients of the Rhodes, Truman, Goldwater, and Udall scholarships. Over the past decade, UGA Honors students have won more than 50 such awards. The Honors Program’s Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (better known as CURO) makes it possible for Honors students to conduct frontline research alongside faculty mentors. Honors dorm. Additionally, UGA ranks in the top 1% of food services based on customer satisfaction and national awards earned (73 since 1986).</p>

<p>University of Mississippi.</p>

<p>UNC-CH</p>

<p>UPitt - see post #40 & #44</p>

<p>U South Carolina - see post #28 </p>

<p>USF -</p>

<p>UT - Plan II
The UT Business Honors Program is small and very difficult to get to. It gives the undergrads an MBA-type experience, and a lot of attention and focus is given to these students. </p>

<p>UW - University of Washington Honors Program has a well-known program. From the UW website: The University Honors Program enhances the UW experience through small classes, individualized advising, a community of Honors students, and much more. The application process is competitive: Last year, the Honors Program reviewed over 2,700 applications for 225 spaces </p>

<p>UVA-Echols is a program and not really any more “honors” than the rest of the university itself, other than giving them somewhat-priority registration (used to be full priority but they started scaling even that back recently; also you used to be able to not declare a major but now anyone with >3.4 can make their own major so that is not as useful anymore either) and no gen-ed requirements (but admitted students usually have them already fulfilled with AP credits anyways).</p>

<p>UVM - Universitas Viridis Montis, aka University of the Green Mountains, aka University of Vermont! Historical university (fifth oldest in New England).
Very nice and new residence hall that is well-located and dedicated to honors college students. Honors College takes care of the students from Day 1 of Orientation (which is in June!). UVM has been in the USNWR top 10 “up-and-coming” universities for the past two years. Lovely University town in Burlington. Finally, they are somewhat generous with merit money.</p>

54

<p>About UW - University of Washington Honors Program:</p>

<p>According to D, you cannot get any credits from AP/IB tests you worked hard for. So she has decided not to apply to Honors program in order to graduate in 3 yrs if she goes there.</p>

55

<p>I echo Old Bay Mom’s assessment of the South Carolina Honors program and add that as a honor’s student, one has the ability to apply for grants for oversees study and also some terrific networking opportunities. D is a nursing major and has had a number of opportunities for interaction with Dean of Nursing and other high level faculty members (who also offer all important recommendations for internships and grad school).</p>

<p>Also addressing post #26 – there are benefits to be realized from being a “big fish” in a “small pond”. These top performing students are at the head of the line for internship & research opportunities, and later with top recruiters. Being potentially debt free upon gradutation is huge, whether one joins the work force or continues on to grad school.</p>

56

<p>Thank you to everyone for help with they Schreyer/Pitt question! :slight_smile: Your help was very appreciated!</p>

57

<p>I’m interested to know if anyone has a feel for the honors program/college at USF? I know they have honors dorms and smaller classes. Is there anything else that could sell me on it?</p>

<p>My son has applied to UF, FSU and USF (he’s interested in research and I was surprised to find out that USF is ranked higher than FSU for research). He is a good student (4.4 GPA, 10 AP classes and 8 honors and a 30 composite ACT with a 31 english/math). He qualifies for FSU and USF honors programs but unfortunately not for UF honors. USF gives a scholarship for of $3000 per year for kids with a high GPA and and ACT score of 29 and higher, so that would be a huge benefit. They also have the 7 year med program (like FSU) if you maintain a high GPA.</p>

<p>Anything else I should know?</p>

58

<p>University of Maryland, College Park has a good Honors Program – you pick which Honors program you want —Honors Humanities, Gemstone, etc. It really makes a large university smaller.</p>

59

<p>Hutton Honors College at Indiana U
My D has found the HHC a good thing, so far! She absolutely loves the honors course she’s taking this semester, very challenging, discussion-based, small, etc. Next semester she’s taking 2 honors courses. HHC offers grants for travel or other academic pursuits, which she plans to pursue. And the extra advising has been helpful. </p>

<p>They offer lots of events, too–speakers, etc. And there are honors floors in each dorm ‘neighborhood’.</p>

60

<p>Re: UW honors- it’s not that you can’t earn AP credit; it’s that you can’t put those credits towards the program’s core requirements. You can still put it towards other requirements (writing, foreign language, etc.)</p>

<p>Policy is here: [UW</a> Honors - AP & IB Credit Guidelines](<a href=“http://depts.washington.edu/uwhonors/apply/ap_ib/]UW”>AP & IB Credit Guidelines | University of Washington Honors Program)</p>