<p>How do the honors programs for first year students compare at UNC and UVA? My son has been invited to join the Echols Scholars progran ay UVA but for some reason we're trying to determine he wasn't invited to join the UNC first year honors program whose name we don't even know.</p>
<p>Based on what I have been able to determine, the following summarizes the similarities, and differences, between the two programs.</p>
<p>VIRGINIA </p>
<p>Exemption from general requirements
Priority registration
Option to declare an interdisciplinary major
Shared living experience (i.e. living in an honors dorm)
Special advising</p>
<p>UNC</p>
<p>No exemption from general requirements
Priority registration for honors classes only
Any student can create an interdisciplinary major
No honors dorms (can request an honors roommate)
Special advising</p>
<p>Perhaps the most significant difference is that UNC has an honors curriculum of over 100 courses, for which honors students have priority registration. Generally, these classes are smaller than normal classes and have exceptionally talented teachers. Though honors students have priority in registering, other students can also register for the classes. I am not aware of any special honors curriculum at UVA.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response about UNC vs UVA honors programs. Is anyone else personally familiar with the Echols honors program at UVA compared with UNC’s honors program?</p>
<p>Regarding UNC Honors Programs for incoming first year students:</p>
<p>I am interested to know if anyone has been invited/selected for the UNC Chapel Hill Honors program. If so, how did UNC notify you, by email and/or postal mail? Thank you.</p>
<p>The Honors Invite is sent through the mail–no e-mails, no notifications in your MyUNC portal, etc.</p>
<p>The Honors program at Chapel Hill is MUCH smaller than any other honors program I’ve seen students discuss. Every year, approximately 250 incoming freshmen are invited to join the program. However, once you matriculate, you can personally apply to become a part of the honors program (at the end of your freshman year, I believe).</p>
<p>However, I’ll be honest. Being in honors gets you very little. You get first pick at honors courses, but ANYBODY can take honors classes at UNC. You also have the opportunity to be paired with an honors roommate, but I chose not to do this. </p>
<p>In order to remain in good standing with the honors program, a student has to take two honors classes each year. Being in the honors program, though, does NOT mean that a person graduates with honors. ANYONE can graduate with honors as long as he or she writes a senior thesis.</p>
<p>Although it’s nice to be invited to attend the honors program, it really isn’t much more than a pat on the back. Honors or not, I still would have attended UNC–I just love the school! :]</p>
<p>Glimmer1991 – thank you for your feedback.</p>
<p>Thanks for those honors pogram thoughts. How would you also compare UVA vs. UNC-Chapel Hill if you want to study political science/international studies/ and possibly journalism and marketing ,e.g., quality of teachers, quality of fellow students, course selection, internship opportunities, and study abroad opportunities, etc.?</p>
<p>As far as political science, at least at the graduate level UNC is ranking higher than UVA. According to the NRC rankings I could locate, UNC is ranked 18 and UVA 26. I frankly expect the difference is marginal, particularly at the undergraduate level.</p>
<p>UNC wins hands down as far as journalism. It is recognized as having one of the best journalism schools in the country. </p>
<p>As far as marketing, both UVA and UNC have respected business schools. </p>
<p>I know nothing about opportunities for study abroad at UVA, but do know that UNC has a very strong study abroad program with many options. There are even a reasonable number of scholarships for the some of the programs, though these seem to be focused primarily in Southeast Asia and can be competitive. The Burch Fellows Program is also worth checking out.</p>
<p>Otherwise, I doubt that anyone on this board has sufficient knowledge to give you the kind qualitative comparisons you are seeking. However, I think it would be fair to say both schools have students of similar quality, and both schools have good professors (as well as some that are not so good). As far as course selection, I would suggest spending some time on the websites of the various departments.</p>
<p>There are more similarities than differences between UNC and UVA, and they are both great schools. That being said, some students seem to have an affinity for one but not the other. While purely anecdotal, I know of a brother and sister, the sister being a graduate of UVA and the brother presently a student at UNC. The sister visited UNC but did not apply. The brother, though very familiar with UVA by the time his sister graduated, had no interest in applying UVA. Different kids saw the schools differently. My point is that if he has not done so, I would suggest your son visit both campuses now that he knows he has been admitted. I suspect, after visiting, he will know which school he prefers.</p>
<p>PS: I would try not to let the lack of an invitation to the honors program at UNC drive the decision. As has been said, it is not a huge deal. If he is bright enough to be an Echols Scholar at UVA, he should have no problem joining the honors program later.</p>
<p>Study abroad was very limited at UVA. When we visited there, they told us about 8% of their students study abroad. Not sure what UNC’s number is but it’s much, much higher.</p>
<p>It is about 40% at UNC.</p>