<p>etherdome: I can’t speak for the other schools in the state, but at FSU the latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) are awarded based on GPA (3.5, 3.7, and 3.9 respectively, if i recall). </p>
<p>Graduating “with Honors” requires the completion of the Honors in the Major Thesis project prior to graduation. Being part of the honors program is not required to complete the Thesis, nor is it commit you to doing so. They are two separate programs - in fact, many of my friends in the honors program are not completing a thesis, while a few not in the program when the enrolled have gone on to complete thesis projects.</p>
<p>That being said, the Honors Program at FSU is VERY supportive and encouraging to guide you to the proper resources to help you achieve your goals and accomplish great things. However, the motivated college student will certainly seek out these contacts and opportunities on their own.</p>
<p>You obviously missed larryw09’s post where he was wondering if students at UF can graduate with “X-Honors” without being in the honors program like they do at FSU. Lets try to read the whole thread to get a better understanding of the conversation at hand. If you still haven’t found larry’s post, then i’ll give you a hint: It’s on the first page! Let me know if you still need help finding it!</p>
<p>fsu has the fsu honors law scholars program where you get to work and study in the law school as an undergraduate. means connections and building up your resume and meeting graduate students who can help you a whole lot.</p>
<p>my bad; totally misread what was previously posted.</p>
<p>Now I’m only a junior in college but have been told by many that students majoring in stem majors shouldn’t really worry about there undergraduate but be more concerned with the their graduate work. Now I agree with goufgators that certain engineering programs are better at uf but a more personal undergraduate education,something you would get at an honors college, would be more beneficial right?Regardless,there both good options and from what many have posted on this forum, pick the one that you would feel more comfortable spending the next 4 years of your life at.</p>
<p>rodfrommiami, sorry but I completely disagree that going to school’s honors program while studying, say engineering, is better than getting an engineering degree from a higher ranked school while not being enrolled in its honors program.</p>
<p>The reason is that honor program classes only cover pre-reqs classes. When you get into your core classes of your major, you take the same classes as everyone else who is taking the same core classes. In the example of engineering, UF’s college of engineering is ranked high because of its core classes… not because of how good the, say, calculus program is… does that make sense?</p>
<p>The honors program is beneficial only for your pre-req courses… So what you’re trading off is core classes (that everyone takes) from a higher-ranked college/major for honors classes in pre-reqs (like calc).</p>
<p>I understand what your saying goufgators, but I don’t agree with your statement saying it would benefit the student more to go to UF who has a better program of engineering than FSU honors college. I understand that UF’s engineering school is very good but I don’t think thats a good enough reason to not consider the honors college. This is only undergraduate and I believe the student should consider what would be a better learning environment than which school has a better engineering program. now, if we were just comparing entry to the regular university than I would pick the one with the better ranked program but this isn’t the case. a strong foundation is essential for success in graduate school and making sure your strong in your core classes will be more beneficial than take engineering classes that are better ranked at another university;thats what graduate school is for. There are a plethora of opportunities available for honors college students and if it were me I would never pass the opportunity.</p>
<p>Rod, are you saying that core courses which aren’t honors cannot build a strong foundation? You’re saying that the professors who teach regular courses treat their students like ■■■■■■■ compared to honors? And lastly, are you saying that if you’re not honors, you get no opportunities? I just can’t accept that. Opportunities are out there for the go-getters, honors or not. Shoot, I got an IB diploma I’m well qualified to be an honors student, but I think I’ll be just fine and with my traits I will get my opportunities in regular courses.</p>
<p>no thats not what I’m saying. opportunities are available for EVERYONE. the point that I was trying to make was that attending an honors college is a huge benefit for students because there taught in smaller classes, work closely with professors, and yes being in any honors college there are some opportunities exclusive to them. honors courses teaches the same material as regular courses but the big difference is the size of the class which for some people, learn better in a situation like that.</p>
<p>That is where you’re mistaken. A student in the honors program sits in the EXACT same classroom as a student who is not in the honors program when it comes to core classes. You’re going to get a better education from a better engineering school as a “regular student”… compared to being an honors student at a much lower ranked engineering school.</p>
<p>Yea, I noticed that I’m taking a regular art history class and I was looking at my schedule when it said that “this class sits with art history section Y,” which is an honors course.</p>
<p>Honors sections of regular courses are generally limited to 25 Honors students each. Such courses are not necessarily harder than regular courses but they tend to move at a faster pace than the corresponding regular course. Because they are smaller, they also provide more chances for interaction between fellow classmates and between professors and students. Honors sections of regular courses can be used to meet liberal studies requirements. They may also meet the liberal studies “x” and “y” requirements, depending on the topic.</p>
<p>Sorry… this is the message I wanted to post… I ended up accidentally posting my incomplete message then I got distracted and couldn’t go back to finish it because of this stupid 20 min rule they have here.</p>
<p>rodfrommiami,</p>
<p>I think that is were you’re confused. A student in the honors program sits in the EXACT same classroom as a student who is not in the honors program when it comes to core classes. In other words, core classes DO NOT have honors and non-honors. Honors courses only apply to the pre-req courses during your first two years. You’re going to get a better education from a better engineering school as a “regular student”… compared to being an honors student at a much lower ranked engineering school.</p>
<p>Again, I go back to my original statement. You have to decide for yourself if taking honors history, honors calculus, etc… (only the pre-req classes) is more important to you than taking core engineering classes (where ALL engineering students have to take… honors AND non-honors students) from a much higher engineering school.</p>
<p>Remember… when you go for your job interview, engineering companies are not going to test your history skills… they are going to test your engineering knowledge.</p>
<p>rodfrommiami, no, calculus, etc… is not your core engineering classes. Those are pre-req classes. Examples of core classes are: Microcontroller Applications, Circuits, Digital Design, Database Systems, etc… core classes are the classes you take in your 3rd and 4th year. Maybe we have different definitions for “core classes”, but I’ve always heard it being used to describe the way I have it above.</p>
<p>
</a></p>
<p>Show me where the core engineering classes are on that honors course list??</p>
<p>I understand what you mean by core classes, I misinterpreted. Also, most engineer majors have to go to graduate school so most probably employers will be looking at their graduate school rather then their undergraduate university right? the subject specific rankings ARE based on graduate schools not undergraduate…now I’m only going to be a junior in college so I only know so much…goufgators are you a student or graduate?</p>
<p>also how do you quote on this message board? fairly new to this board</p>
<p>rodfrommiami, from my experience, the vast majority of engineers working in the field do not have master’s degrees. I already graduated with a BS and MS in engineering and I am currently working at an engineering corporation.</p>
<p>No… undergraduate AND graduate engineering schools have their own rankings in US News.</p>
<p>I use “[ quote ]” and “[ /quote ]” around the text you want to quote. Make sure you remove the spaces between the brackets.</p>
<p>I am in the exact same situation and I have been wanting to go to UF, but I was concerned I wouldn’t get in. To my surprise, I did, and even though I got into the FSU Honors program, I didn’t think twice about where I would go considering I’ve always wanted to go to UF. However, after reading many of your posts, I am having a hard time making a decision, but I know I am leaning towards UF. I think its reputation and prestige is keeping me from objectively analyzing the 2 schools. I attend a private high school, and of course it is very competitive within my grade, and everyone cares about going to the best schools. FSU is looked down upon and UF is thought of as a great school, and I think my classmates’ opinions is affecting my decision, but I really don’t want that to be the case. I honestly don’t think FSU is that bad but if you look at the rankings, there is a significant difference. I don’t know what to do! I would really appreciate some non-biased advice!</p>
<p>My daughter was in the exact same position as you last year. She was leaning toward UF because of its reputation. She qualified for the FSU honors program and was awarded a freshman scholarship as well. We decided to visit both schools again, even though she had a brother at each one and had seen them both several times. She had to decide where she felt the most comfortable, forgetting about friends’ opinions and things she had heard. In the end, she chose FSU and is very happy with her decision. I know it’s a hard thing to do, but you really do need to shut out everyone else’s opinions, go with your heart and find which school best fits you.</p>
Let me know if you still need help finding it!</p>