<p>I was just curious as to see if getting into a specific program is really that beneficial. I talked with a few people I know that are in a specific program and most of them think it's good. But the other undergraduates that I talked with on campus say that it's not worth it, or it's a waste of time, or it's not that benficial in the long run...
I received postive and negative feedback which I thought was good. ( I didnt want mainly positive feedback...)</p>
<p>So I just want to know if anyone else knows what goes on in these programs, how they're structured, if people are able to "have a social life" and if they have to take extra classes?</p>
<p>I don't attend, so I have no clue what it's actually like, but I just recieved some info on the Honors Program, and a lot of the seminars looked really interesting, FWIW. Also, you don't have to take extra classes (for honors, at least) because the Honors classes count towards core and/or major requirements.</p>
<p>It is the little things that scholars, gemstone and honors offer. For example FF yourself 4 yrs from now, you are applying for a job as a govt major with no Scholars citation and did not intern against the student that had the opportunity to intern at DOH through Scholars...which one will they recruit...the avg student with a UMD 3.5 GPA or the Scholars citation 3.5 GPA student?</p>
<p>Scholars, gemstone and honors have a slight edge in the real world because they came in being "targeted" as the gifted of UMD. Your hs resume makes or breaks you for college, those students with higher gpas, SATs, multiple 4 or 5 Aps with ECs will be recruited faster. Honors, Gemstone and Scholars is an EC, you have to do outside work to get the citation. The same is true in 4 yrs from now when you enter the workforce...your GPA, citations and internships will make or break you.</p>
<p>A big benefit of Honors is that you can take Honors classes & seminars, which are smaller than regular classes - plus many of them are on very interesting topics. Honors students also typically live in the same dorms as each other, so I think the idea is to make the large university seem a little smaller.</p>
<p>My son was in Honors Humanities but dropped it because he felt the workload of a 2-year project & extra course requirements were more than he wanted to deal with. But, he's still in Honors and is really glad he can take advantage of the Honors classes because he is enjoying them.</p>
<p>I'm a freshman in University Honors(I declined Gemstone, so I don't know anything about it) and I agree, you don't have to take any extra classes, but honors seminars are usually small and pretty interesting. And you can absolutely have a social life in UHonors and Scholars (I assume in everything else too, but i can't really say since i don't have close friends in those) but anyway, my friends in Honors and Scholars and I go out every weekend. If anything, the smaller programs encourage social-ness, cuz you see the same kids all the time.. well not all the time, but I've had a kid from my dorm, if not 2, in both my honors seminars, which is useful :)</p>
<p>so I say if you get UHonors or Scholars to go for it, everyone I know enjoys them</p>
<p>I'm a freshman in the Gemstone program (and Honors), and I'd have to say it is beneficial being part of a small community in a school of over 20,000 students!! You live with the people you go to class with, and have advisors and small classes where you know your professors (honors seminars). It may be more challenging, but like one of the previous posts said, it looks tremendous on your resume, and often you can get more involved in the program, I know in Gemstone you can actually teach one of the intro class for freshman, or get involved in the student council or service committee!</p>
<p>Thank you for all the responses I appreciate it alot! I was accepted into honors and gemstone but I'm honestly not sure if i'm going to do the gemstone...
The honors sounds great but I'm not sure about that either....
... is it true that for honors and gemstone you have to do a research practicum?</p>
<p>not for honors you don't.. like, of course you can do honors and still have time for research if thats what you're into, but to get an honors citation, all you need is HONR100, and 5 honors classes, 3 of which must be honors seminars. So you can do 3 seminars 2 H versions, or 4/1, or just 5 seminars... but you don't HAVE to do research for honors</p>
<p>If you're not sure about Gemstone, just try it for one semester. You'll find out more about what the program is about, and if you don't like it, you can still drop Gemstone and stay in Honors. I know some people who stayed in Gemstone only because they didn't want to take H-versions or honors seminars. Those classes are usually capped at 20 people (so attendance is basically required) and the honors seminars can feel like extra work sometimes. However, it's pretty easy to take an H-version or honors seminar that will fulfill both a CORE requirement (classes that every student must finish) and a Honors requirement. There're also some interesting honors seminars. Just ask around and you'll find out which ones are worth it. </p>
<p>With Gemstone, many of the students who drop usually do it during or after the spring semester of freshman year because they either preferred not to do the semester-long research project in GEMS104 or did not land in a project they wanted to do. If you decide to stick with you project, you'll spend the next 3 yrs narrowing down your topic, writing your proposal, applying for funding/lab space/IRB approval (if applicable), carrying out your project, and writing your thesis. It's a good idea to stick with Gemstone if you want a chance to conduct research as an undergraduate.</p>
<p>Thanks again for the responses!
milkncooki3s that is exactly what I was afraid of for gemstone about the research thing! lol
I did exactly what you said this year as a senior in high school but we didnt do it in groups we did it individualy...I did my research at NIH and i loved it but i reaallly dont know if i want to do that over again during the year...
so for honors all you have to do is attend seminars to complete the citation?</p>
<p>I believe it's strongly encouraged for Gemstones to all live in the same dorm; I think it's the one right behind Bird. But, OMG, that place looks pretty beat, esp compared to some places over adjacent to the quad. Isn't that dorm pretty much out of the way? Any Gemstone that have an opinion? </p>
<p>Also, how's the Gemstone life in general? Is it mostly 'bookworms' and propeller heads who have no other life? (Not my opinion, just hearsay I've heard from others)</p>
<p>jomass, the vast majority of Honors freshmen will be in Denton, similar construction to Ellicott (the Gemstone dorm you mention by the stadium). (St. Anne's and Anne Arundel near the quad are mostly sophomore Honors) i.e., you can't use freshman housing as any kind of determination of whether or not to do Gemstone.</p>
<p>As for Gemstone life, although you are much more likely to find people who spend more time studying so they excel in their classes---moreso than the general freshman population, for sure, be assured the Gemstone program does NOT distribute pocket protectors at the beginning of the semester! Your D is more likely to find people who choose things other than drinking and partying for entertainment.</p>
<p>She should focus on the program to determine if it's something she wants to do. 2 yrs ago, D determined that Gemstone didn't fit in with her other plans (and she's never been one for group projects....). It was the correct decision for her, but the decisions really depend on the person. For the record, I suggested that she start in Gemstone and see if she liked it, but once again, she proved that Mom isn't always right.</p>
<p>sportsmerci09 - these are the requirements for your citation:</p>
<p>The University Honors Program Citation requires a 3.2 cumulative GPA and completion of a minimum of 16 Honors credits, distributed as follows:</p>
<pre><code>* 15 Honors credits (five 3-credit Honors courses - HONR seminars or Honors versions of regular departmental courses) of which at least 9 credits must be Honors seminars
* one 1 credit Honors colloquium (usually HONR 100)
</code></pre>
<p>jomass, Ellicott has a pretty good location when you think about what's nearby. The gym and diner are basically less than 5 minutes away. Also, many Gemstone students are science or engineering majors, so their classes are only 10 minutes away. Business majors are the only ones with a disadvantage since the main building for the business school is at least 20 minutes away. However, as a freshman, you'll end up living on north campus anyway, so the business school will still be 20 minutes away.</p>
<p>Also, Gemstone students are pretty diverse. You'll definitely find some socially awkward ones who will fit that stereotype, but there are plenty of social people who party on a regular basis and are in frats/sororities.</p>