<p>So UC Davis took me as a Regents Scholar. That comes with guaranteed admission into ISHP (Integrated Studies Honors Program), which I think I should accept. It sounds interesting, its past classes looked pretty good, and there’s guaranteed housing in Segundo. Might be a good place to meet people too.</p>
<p>Davis also has the DHC (Davis Honors Program) which I am not sure whether I should apply for. I’m still not so sure on what the point of it is – it looks much like ISHP in many respects. I read somewhere that DHC will take too much time and preclude me from taking electives/classes I like/want to take to explore other majors. Is that true?</p>
<p>Davis sent me an invitation for STEP (Summer Transitional Enrichment Program) for a month during early-August through early-September. They told me that I could apply for financial aid to cover it. I’m thinking that it may be helpful to me, given that I don’t really have a stellar background in math/chemistry/physics, which they say they will have classes in. And of course, it might be another chance to meet people.</p>
<p>And finally, Davis invited me to apply for EOP (Educational Opportunity Program). I’m still not really sure what that does, although it seems like it wouldn’t hurt.</p>
<p>Has anyone been a part of any of these programs and can share some experience? Are there any downsides of any of these programs that I don’t know about yet?</p>
<p>Many thanks in advance for your help and advice!</p>
<p>If you’re going to do ISHP, then you probably don’t want to do DHC. I don’t really have much knowledge of these programs, so maybe someone can chime in about them.</p>
<p>As for STEP, the only benefit I received from doing this was the 5 quarters of priority registration for classes, so I pretty much got all the classes I wanted for 2 years. I’m not sure if ISHP gives you priority registration, but if it does then I would forego the STEP opportunity as I really did not enjoy my time in STEP. I stuck closely to my high school friend and made very few other friends during the time. (I made a ton of friends during regular school, however). How I see it is that STEP is for people who are enrolled in challenging majors and are minorities since they have the highest likelihood of dropping out or being dismissed from school for academic reasons. They group these people together for a month and teach you how to succeed in college and tone your writing, math, and/or science skills (depending on your major) so you’ll be ready for the real thing. It’s college prep in a nutshell. </p>
<p>STEP wasn’t for me, but I know a lot of people enjoyed the experience and made friends during the time. So if you feel like you need that extra help to get you into the college mindset, you should apply to STEP :). They give you enough meals for 3 swipes a day at the dining commons and you get to live in the dorms a month before the freshmen do =). By the end of the program, you’ll pretty much know your way around campus so you won’t get lost looking for your classes for fall quarter!</p>
<p>There aren’t really any obligations for EOP. With EOP, your SIR is free…and… that’s all I can think of. Haha.</p>
<p>can someone who has had a more positive experience with STEP, EOP and DHC weigh in…? especially if you were entering davis from another part of california, and so did not have a built-in friendship network coming in…</p>
<p>i can see STEP as being a great way to meet people (especially if you are entering from southern cal or out-of-state) as well as an excellent opportunity to receive priority registration. from what i’ve read, i do NOT think that it is in any way remedial, and shouldn’t be characterized as such. if you needed remedial help, chances are u wouldn’t have made it in to any of the UCs. same with EOP. with numbers hovering around 2-3% for ‘minorities’ at many UCs, i think it’s wonderful that there are supports in place to facilitate academic success as well as lessening isolation. these are GOOD things that shouldn’t be disparaged nor stigmatized.</p>
<p>Well, I am a Regents Scholar, so I think I already have priority registration from that.</p>
<p>Somewhere on the UC Davis site it said that one can’t do ISHP and DHC together, and therefore many people do ISHP their first year and DHC their remaining years. It also said that ISHP is more first-year oriented, and DHC is evenly spread out across the years.</p>
<p>DHC seems like an interesting challenge (I guess from its name that that’s what it’s supposed to be) but if it takes too much time/opportunity cost, I’m not so sure about it. I think I’ll apply for it anyway though. It’s just another couple of essays, haha.</p>
<p>Like calamami, I’m also one without a built-in friendship network, so I thought perhaps STEP would be of some help in developing relationships. My writing skills are strong, but my science knowledge not so much (I homeschooled through high school, so my chem and physics are probably relatively weak) so I don’t think I would mind taking some introductory science classes, even if they were remedial-ish.</p>
<p>i can’t speak for DHC, STEP, or EOP, but i can for ISHP!</p>
<p>i LOVE IS! easily one of the best decisions i made going into college. seriously. when they mean community… they MEAN community. you will get to know everyone on your floor, and you’ll leave your first year with at least a couple of friends. ;] i came into college not knowing ANYONE… haha, but i left my first year with several friends from IS.</p>
<p>the drawback are the classes you have to take every quarter your first year in IS (yeah… they’re a drag sometimes), but otherwise, it’s great! :]</p>
<p>plus you live in miller. miller is shiny & new & beautiful. </p>
<p>DHC. eh. well, idk, i can’t really speak for it.</p>
<p>but it’s true: you can only do DHC or IS. i say IS… 'cause yeah, you’ll meet some pretty terrific people. and i do believe it’s the only themed housing program where you actually get to take classes with people in your dorm. (the best part is when you have classes IN miller… yeah, i’ve gone to class in PJs!)</p>
<p>PurpleTurtle, of all those choices, I think ISHP is best. UC Davis awarded you with the Regents scholarship, so you must know your stuff! </p>
<p>STEP may be of some help with you with the summer (non-credit) courses. Most teachers during STEP are tutors at the Learning Skills Center, so they have a lot of knowledge on how to get students to understand difficult concepts. The courses aren’t so much remedial… STEP tries to place you in a level that is similar to your results from the placement exams.</p>
<p>However, an invitation to apply doesn’t mean you’re automatically in! I had a lot of friends from high school who unfortunately were not accepted into the STEP program. </p>
<p>Oh and don’t let my negative experience from STEP give you the wrong impression of it. I stand by my opinion based off my experience, but there are a lot of students who really enjoyed their experience during STEP! Let me know if you have any particular questions about the program… I’m starting to remember more about it now :)</p>
<p>Hmm, <em>bump</em> anyone about DHC? From the sounds of it, it would probably be too much commitment – I would probably be spending quite a lot of time abroad, or in D.C.</p>
<p>And actually, lovefliesx3, I got EOP. I fit your first description, but my mom went to college. I think we apply for it in our UC applications (I checked the box, just because, why not).</p>
<p>If you are apply for housing but then you find out that you get in DHC and you want to live in the hall how do you go about applying to live there?</p>
<p>^What I was told for ISHP was that I would be automatically housed in Miller, because the program director will submit a list of names of people in the program. She also said she will send out directions for the contract in a couple days, so maybe you will receive an e-mail about what to do. You will live in Kearney, regardless :)</p>
<p>ISHP is an excellent program. Participate if you can. Miller Hall is worth living in, you’ll meet some great people, and it’s just a good jumping off point for the rest of college…</p>
<p>Somewhat adding on to the topic, but what would be better to do BUSP( then junior and senior year the BUSP Honors) or DHC? Anyone have any personal experience or know of people who have done or are in BUSP?</p>
<p>Unless you are of Junior standing, I HIGHLY recommend AGAINST signing up for DHC. The first two years of the program is a complete joke. Not only that, the professors who teach the seminars in those two years fail to understand the intentions program and often end up wasting your time with extraneous homework.</p>
<p>My D is in DHC. A current 2nd year. The BIGGEST perk is the prority registration—she gets EVERY class she wants—and has since her freshman year. She would definately not call it a waste of time. You get our of things what you put into them…but there is serious jealousy from her friends when it comes to signing up for classes!!!</p>
<p>Yeah, but PurpleTurtle mentioned that s/he was accepted in ISHP, which already grants priority registration.</p>
<p>Anyone who enters one of these honors programs looking to take advantage of the Priority Registration are doing it for the wrong reasons. In my year, almost half of the people who took DHC are dropping out simply because of “I don’t need priority registration anymore.”</p>
<p>so my question is this: if a student ‘passes’ on DHC as a freshman, will they have another opportunity to apply as a sophomore? </p>
<p>coupons: are u saying that you were given too much work with DHC? if priority registration isn’t enough of an incentive (and i can see how if you’re loaded down with too much work as a freshman that it wouldn’t be), what ARE the benefits of the program?</p>
<p>Yes- I am pretty sure you can apply as a sophomore (even a Junior?) to DHC. Check the website for sure. Next year when D is a Junior she is still going to be in DHC----so the registration is her biggest perk–but certainly not the only reason she is doing it. She has really like some of the seminars and is currently working with her economics professor on her special project that she has to do in that class to count towards her DHC commitment.</p>