I don’t think getting in would be a huge deal for S16, but is it even a possibility? He does have a 1460 M+CR SAT. I guess we’ll see if they recommend applying when we visit this summer.
@mstomper, Is your student a junior? Start talking with the dean, email him.
Yes, he’s a junior. It’s really up to my son of he wants to even apply for HC; I just want to know if it’s realistic enough to plant a seed in his mind. Of course they may mention it to him when he visits.
You may want to discuss his stats with the honors college, and what his learning style is. Was his GPA related to taking more challenging classes? Bet he could pull up his grades during first semester senior year.
He had a couple of D’s in English, which pulled his GPA down. That alone may remove him from consideration. He’s in a very rigorous math/science magnet program, and has done pretty well in the magnet classes. Despite the bad grades in English, he’s pretty confident of passing the AP exam. He’s the epitome of “bright slacker”.
Whatever his situation, I would strongly suggest he apply. He can explain his reasons for the grades on his essay. I am a STRONG advocate for honors colleges in any public university. I am an honors student at Texas Tech University (with eyes to Ole Miss for graduate school) & all I can say is it is great. Ole Miss has a very good honors college. I am a history major & one of the profs I would like to study at in graduate school there at Ole Miss is a prof in the honors college. The classes are usually smaller, & for the most part they go out of their way to make research opportunities & study abroad available. You have first dibs in scheduling classes & pretty much first dibs on just about any activities. I firmly believe that an honors college education at most public schools, or at least the ‘good’ honors colleges is comparable to an education at a more ‘prestigious’ university. The smaller classes & the investment profs make into the students is hard to top.
Anyways, sorry for being long winded but I just want to encourage your son to apply regardless. By the way I was rejected on my first try to get into the honors college. I wrote them a letter explaining my situation & was accepted based on my letter (I was off by less than .4 due to classes from a long time ago). Good luck!!
When I asked him he said he probably won’t apply for HC, but we’ll see whether they encourage him to apply when he visits in July.
I’m curious, what are his reasons for not wanting to apply to the HC?
He’s been in a competitive magnet program, and I think he’s burnt out.
I can’t speak for the Ole Miss HC, but I will say here it is not so much competitive as it is interactive & inspiring. I know that sounds cheesy, but there isn’t really competition it’s just good to be around people who you know are going places & are achieving things, it truly pushes you but not in the competitive sense as much as in you see someone like you do it so you feel you can do that as well. Anyways, good luck regardless of what he chooses.
Thanks. You’re looking at going to grad school in history, right? I almost did, but ended up taking a couple years and getting a Master’s in Library Science at UT-Knoxville. I’ve had a good career in academic, public, and elementary school libraries. If my son goes to Ole Miss it should be a good experience to not be surrounded by other liberal students. If they can talk to each other instead of at each other they can all learn something.
D seemed burnt out also, but after visiting schools and knowing she can focus on what she wants to study, is going through senioritis but is eager to move on. Good luck making a choice. What I remembered from our last visit was that everyone was SO accomodating and nice even though it was Ole Miss’ spring break (we couldn’t afford to miss any days so that’s when we went) and we didn’t schedule any formal visits.
Good luck making a choice.
@mstomper… @franko5150 is right about the fact that the program is much more interactive. The smaller classes will likely keep him more engaged than the larger lecture courses that he will encounter. I hope you have the meeting with Honors when you visit. Their application process has become very competitive with 1,300 applications for roughly 350 or so spots.
Joining an honors college is generally not a 4-year commitment. It’s also usually easier to leave an HC than to join it. If he feels overly pressured, he can walk away. There may be merit aid repercussions, but he shouldn’t imagine that he’ll be stuck there if it isn’t working for him.
@Hanna, that’s my thinking exactly. There shouldn’t be merit aid repercussions, since any aid he gets would be from being a NMSF. I’m hoping that when we visit someone prods him in that direction.
Be sure to schedule a visit with the HC as part of your official Ole Miss tour. Dr. Sullivan-Gonzalez is the most personable, enthusiatsic and genuine Dean you’ll ever meet. He’s so engaging and interested in the students. I’d be surprised if your son isn’t excited about the HC after meeting with Dr. S-G.
Dr. Sullivan-Gonzales is one of the history profs I would like to study under in grad school (I’m a history major).
We met him during spring break. Very nice.
I’d like to see him check it out, but in the end it’s his decision. He’s been in “advanced/gifted” programs since 3rd grade, and I think he’s a little tired of it.