I wanted to start this thread to help asking and answering questions about the Honors Carolina program. My D was accepted and is now looking at what opportunities would be included. She is attending the scholars diner on March 2 and Honors Carolina day on March 3.
We would love to connect with other students.
I applied for reconsideration and got accepted. I have a really good friend at UNC right now who is in Honors Carolina, and he says that it is the “most meaningless honors program in the country,” but I find that a little hard to believe. He didn’t really give any specific info (I suppose I could ask) but, as someone who has been accepted to some of the best honors colleges in the country, the program is a little lack-luster (the average stats are extremely low, there is no separate housing, there are not that many Honors classes, lack of specific honors advisors, etc). At any rate, it looks good on paper and has a nice website, so employers would be thoroughly impressed. My friend also said that “anyone outside of Honors Carolina thinks it is impressive, anyone in it knows it’s BS.”
For me, personally, I applied for reconsideration as a point of personal pride. It’s not a deciding factor and it sounds like it should absolutely not be a deciding factor for your daughter, but rather a small perk and added prestige on a degree.
I wasn’t going to go to UNC solely because of Honors Carolina alone, but I’m likely going to UNC anyway because I got the Carolina Scholarship so I’m hoping there’s something to be gleaned in Honors Carolina. I do know it’s not as prestigious as those make it out to be compared to your honors colleges at state schools which give you a myriad of opportunities.
The HR offices and hiring managers are very familiar with the universities and their programs. And if you go to a school that is overall top notch, it just isn’t going to matter much that you are “in honors.” (Thinking of the Top 25 here) As someone who has been responsible for recruiting and hiring in a professional environment, it’s the education in general w/GPA, plus experience that counts. As you get older, the GPA and to a lesser extent the education doesn’t even matter as much, although for certain jobs you just aren’t going to get your foot in the door w/o a degree from a prestigious university. That doesn’t mean you aren’t going to be successful BTW.
Choose an HC for what it gives you academically or in scholarship money while you are a student, not for what you perceive the “honor” to be.
@Pastpower @VAMom23 @lesjubilants You all make good points and bring up things to think about. My D also received the Carolina Scholars Scholarship which is wonderful and early admission to the journalism school which is one of her intended majors. I have learned there are some good advantages for the students in the Honors program and that added to the scholarship and early admit to the J School may be enough. She is still waiting on Ivy to before making her decisions. She was admitted to UVA but with no scholarship.
@lesjubilants how long after you applied for reconsideration were you notified? Also, after you submitted the reconsideration form, did you get any email for confirmation?
Where does one find the reconsideration form?
I heard back a week later and was also personally emailed an apology for being “looked over during the application season,” which I found to be particularly funny. I did not receive confirmation after submitting it. @gradclass2022
@Bttbtt go to the Honors Carolina website and go to “Join once you’re here” and there should be a link you can click for the form
@MayBIvyMomma that combo would make UNC an easy decision unless you are expecting need based financial aid from an Ivy. I seriously would have paid the deposit already! Congrats!
@MayBIvyMomma - Journalism at UNC is the bomb! Congrats to your daughter!
The courses offered seem very interesting- Any young men here, looking at BioMedical Engineering, Honors Carolina?