<p>My son is interested in studying the humanities in college and is interested in applying to the UMD College Park and UMBC Honors Programs. He is a strong (but not very top) student at a highly regarded public high school and will have completed 12 AP courses by graduation (so far 4s and 5s). He likes seminars and close association with profs./students. Can someone comment on the relative strengths and weaknesses between the two programs? He also is looking at LACs and one concern he has is whether UMD is "too big" a place for him? Is the Honors Program at UMD like a college within the university where most of the students get to know each other? Thanks.</p>
<p>bump. because I am interested in the answer, if anyone has one out there.</p>
<p>im in the honors program, and all my friends i've made here are pretty much all honors. i do, however, have friends besides honors, too.</p>
<p>If he wants instate (i'm assuming he's from Maryland) St mary's College of Maryland is a public LAC Honors College, it is tougher than UMBC and is smaller and more focussed on studies concerning humanities.</p>
<p>I don't know anything about UMBC except that everyone I know who's checked out both thinks UMD is a prettier campus and better school. <em>grin</em> But I can tell you about Maryland.</p>
<p>The University Honors Program isn't a "college" at all. The way you described it in your question is exactly what it is not. Many students do get to know each other, from being in seminars together or living in Honors dormitories. There are also a lot of activities offered for Honors students to get to know each other. Personally, I think it's a good thing....honors students are in no way separated from everyone else on campus. </p>
<p>That said, your son's interest in the humanities might make him a great candidate for Honors Humanities. That's a smaller program within the Honors program. Students live together and take a few Honors Humanities colloquium classes together. </p>
<p>Members of the Honors program are able to take Honors seminars (1 per semester, occasionally more if there are openings), which are typically about 20 students. Honors seminars are offered on all sorts of topics and the professors are REALLY interested in them. They're discussion-based and typically a lot of fun. There's a lot less busy work and a lot more actual thought-provoking assignments.</p>
<p>I'd recommend you come to a Visit Maryland Day or a Junior Open House (not sure what year your son is) and attend the Honors & Honors Humanities info sessions. They give a lot of information, and going to that session really helped solidify my decision to come to UMD :)</p>
<p>And just FYI:
Selectivity ratings from Princeton Review:
University of Maryland-- 93
St. Mary's College of Maryland-- 89
University of Maryland Baltimore County-- 86</p>
<p>UMBC has a STRONG bias toward the sciences - and much of the money there goes to support those programs. What about St. Johns College in Annapolis? I loved St Mary's of Maryland - really beautiful place - and it too has more of a focus on the humanities and sits right on the water. </p>
<p>I'm a science fanatic and am loving College Park - I'm in one of the living-learning communities here - you can check them out online at umd.edu - so it cuts the place down to size - but CP a massive place! The honors programs have some cool opportunities - but they are still very large groups - not much opportunity for educational "initimacy" here until you get past the humongous classes and get well into your major.</p>