<p>Another note about the UNC system in general: If a kid graduates from any two-year institution within the UNC system, he/she is <em>guaranteed</em> admission into the UNC four-year institution of his/her choice. That has nothing to do with honors admissions, of course, but I find it kind of interestring. <em>Any</em> NC resident student can attend Chapel Hill as long as he/she has first graduated from an NC community college. FACT.</p>
<p>I believe several other states have a similar arrangement. Can’t remember which ones.</p>
<p>“Some of those students may not have had 700+ Math SATs, but in The Classics they’re head and shoulders above their engineering peers”</p>
<p>Oh my gosh, this sooooo brings back memories of my high school experience, when I was engaged in a friendly rivalry with a male classmate. (He won: He was valedictorian; I was salutatorian. Which was fine. Oh, also–he was six feet two and really cute. :)) </p>
<p>Anyway, I was born without a left brain, and he was apparently born without a right one. I would crush him in English, but he would totally obliterate me in math and science. LOL!</p>
<p>As you say, mom2collegekids, once you get into those upper-level classes where you’re mostly doing your major and not “fulfilling requirements,” then you’re definitely with your peers – kids who are interested in and good at the same stuff you are. So, where’s the problem? :)</p>
<p>My D, graduating from college this year (not UNC) was accepted to UNC-CH and invited to the Honors Program. From our understanding, departmental profs have a hand in who gets selected, but I don’t know if that is fact. </p>
<p>Anyhow, one can apply after beginning at the U, and it really isn’t like an Honors College.</p>
<p>I’m in-state as well, which was why I was confused. Thanks for the clarification.</p>
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<p>LadyD, this is something to keep in mind for your son if he doesn’t get in initially. I know several top students who weren’t admitted to the honors program as incoming freshman and reapplied once there.</p>
<p>Virginia has some reputed programs. Then, there’s Boston’s accelerated medical program, Brown’s RSID, and Penn has one too <i forget=“” the=“” name=“”></i></p><i forget=“” the=“” name=“”>
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<p>cltdad - That’s pretty amazing that your D got into Harvard and not UNC’s honor program. I’m sure she’s loving Cambridge and Boston!</p>
<p>LadyD - I don’t think your S should decide to pick UNC only if he gets into the Honors program. UNC’s program is not like other schools. Students can still take honors classes and can apply to join the honors program once they are at UNC. My son received a merit scholarship from UNC. He was also asked to be a First Year Fellow and a Research Scholar and was not asked to be in the Honors program. I have no idea how they choose. He is in an honors chemistry class, which the professor easily signed him into after looking at his stats. It may feel like a disappointment (and a bit of a slap), but I really don’t think it should be a deal breaker to not be placed into the program as an incoming freshman.</p>
<p>By invitation only at UCONN, too, it appears, around 7% of student body, with special residence halls. (the ice cream they make at the Dairy Bar is excellent, too) </p>
This thread was started to discuss honors programs that are supposed to provide the same experience as attending an elite college.</p>
<p>So are you now saying that once you’re in your upper division classes at a large school then the education is just the same as attending an elite college?</p>
<p>Well, I am sure it is not the SAME as an elite. </p>
<p>However, that doesn’t mean a good honors college at a public U doesn’t offer a fine education. My D was well-qualified and was admitted to several top LACs, but she was drawn to the ‘vibe’ of the larger public U’s. Now, part of the decision may have been financial. She would have had loans, fairly good sized ones, at those top-tier LACs. Still, I see that as a smart move on her part, (not getting in big debt). Through the honors dorms she’s surrounded with incredibly bright, committed students. And she’s met some wonderful, non-honors kids too. She likes getting to know a range of students. She has one large class, one medium-large, the other 3 are under 20 students and writing-intensive. She is learning a lot in ALL the classes, and knew there’d be a few large lectures. However, many honors college kids have lots of AP and other credits coming in, and can leapfrog over most of those. She will enter 2nd semester with mainly 300 level and up courses, and the ability to double major, and explore all the many resources of the big-state U. Her honors college offers free or heavily discounted entry to cultural events like Operas and Broadway-series plays, and has special events for honors students when speakers come to campus.</p>
<p>She’s already gotten to know several of her professors well. The worry about being ‘just another kid in the crowd’ at a big school has been put to rest.</p>
<p>Some posters seem to lump all the non-ivy-caliber kids together as if they remain at a static level through college, and imply that their presence at a school will pull the higher-level students down. But many kids bloom a little later. The 1900 SAT kid who’d never get into Harvard may in fact be a brilliant, creative, original thinker…who’s just matured later. </p>
<p>In any case, if money IS an object, I’d definitely consider an honors college as an avenue to a great education. It’s working out great for my D!</p>
<p>I believe the thread asked us to discuss the best and worst public school honors programs and their strenghts and weaknesses. It was suggested some may be “elite like” by the OP.</p>
<p>My kid had the time of his life at Schreyers PSU. He had great opportunities and not enough time to take advantage of them all. He ended up at a top 10 graduate school in his field with brilliant scholars from all over the world. I’d say, at least for him, it was a great fit.</p>
<p>William & Mary has to be considered in any conversation re top education at a public price. The biggest difference is peer group as a whole as well as reputation.</p>
<p>My son turned down admission offers from Princeton, Yale, Stanford, Washington U in St. Louis, Vanderbilt, Rice and a number of other great schools to enroll at UT Austin as a double major in the Engineering Honors Program and Deans Scholars Honors Program. This is an exceptional education at a bargain price made possible by the generosity of corporate donors and the alumni association. Application deadline is December 1. Honors housing is available on campus, and I suggest living there. Tuition waivers may be available for out of state students who receive at least $1,000 in department or university scholarships, although not all students will receive one. These are all very well-respected programs with extremely competitive admissions, and I encourage anyone who is admitted to these programs to attend UT Austin:</p>
<p>Business Honors Program (business school is ranked #7 in the nation; scholarships for current students available starting second year)
Engineering Honors Program (engineering school is ranked #11 in the nation, seven departments ranked in the top ten; scholarships up to $9,000 renewable annually available for incoming freshmen, also scholarships for current students; placement office is great)
Dean’s Scholars Honors Program (College of Natural Science, scholarships available; close to 100% placement for med school–only one person in history of the program did not get in, that person reapplied and got in the next year; research opportunities starting freshman year)
Health Science Honors Program
Liberal Arts Honors Program
Plan II Honors Program
Turing Scholars Program in Computer Science</p>
<p>Not the original subject, but my D has surveyed how her top picks (Ivy & similar) and state U Honors will award expected AP credit. Even with mostly 5’s, top schools award considerably less credit than state U, where she could begin as a sophomore. This equates to savings and opportunities. We’re also considering her personality. She will go after these opportunities, while S at Ivy is much more reserved. He hasn’t found the world-class education advertised, we think, because he hasn’t fully engaged (also has newly diagnosed learning disabilities) even though it’s all around him.</p>
<p>So, we’re thinking the decision to choose one over the other has more to do with the kid than the school. Does anyone concur?</p>
<p>So are you now saying that once you’re in your upper division classes at a large school then the education is just the same as attending an elite college?</p>
<p>Since the upper division classes at one elite college are not the “same” as the upper division classes at all elite colleges (or even the “same” at another ONE elite college), there is no answer for this. </p>
<p>Has anyone had experience with, or have knowledge of, the Indiana University and University of Michigan honors colleges?
Their rigor; university housing, whether student can remain in the honors colleges all four years, kinds of academic experiences?
We have heard that in some (perhaps the worst) honors programs the students are simply given more work than the kids in the regular university program; v.s. the better programs with direct research opps with professors, and so on.</p>
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