<p>What is the difference between the University Honors Program and the University Academic Scholars Program? How do you apply and how are you evaluated for each of these?</p>
<p>im also curious which one is more difficult to get into?</p>
<p>The UASP is the more selective of the 2. It is “Miami’s premier academic program” according to the acceptance packet. You cannot apply directly to the programs, rather they make decisions based upon your application for admissions. The UASP is a collaboration between individual scholars programs at each school, ie. I was admitted into the Farmer School of Business Scholars program because I am a business major. The scholars program differs from the honors program in that it includes a scholarship (ranging from 1-2000 dollars) and is more major centric, versus the University Honors program which impacts mostly Miami Plan courses. Benefits include designation as a Wilks Leadership Fellow, personal interaction with President Hodge, guaranteed placement into experiential learning opportunities as well as certain courses, internships, a designated study room, unique networking opportunities, consideration for the Stamps Scholarship, as well as certain major specific benefits. </p>
<p>Not sure if you also “graduate with honors”, and take honors courses if you partake in the Scholars program. I have reached out to the school to find out more and will keep you posted.</p>
<p>Do you also live in Honors housing if you are in UASP?</p>
<p>I was also wondering about this. I was invited to UASP but not to Honors. I cannot tell whether or not this is a good thing.</p>
<p>I am a current member of the University Honors Program, and I am also very familiar with the Scholars program.</p>
<p>Both programs are equally prestigious. As of this year, you cannot apply to them, admissions will consider all students and admit students to the programs from there. A student could be admitted to USAP or UHP or both. Both have amazing benefits and both can live in Honors housing. (Technically any student can live in Honors housing, but preference goes to Honors and Scholars.) Both programs also share a special quiet study room in King Library.</p>
<p>The Honors Program focuses on the whole education and is meant to supplement and further Miami’s Liberal Education. Students can take Honors classes and get priority registration for classes (this is a HUGE advantage, trust me). Students are required to complete a certain number of honors “experiences”, which include honors classes, but students can also petition other things to count as an experience, such as internships or study abroad. Honors is a two year program (this is new - if you talk to any current honors students, it is a 4 year program for us) and after two years, students have the option to apply to Advanced University Honors for their last two years at Miami.</p>
<p>The Scholars program is more focused on a student’s area of interest. Pretty much everything chromecast said was true about Scholars. I don’t think they have the ability to take the honors classes though.</p>
<p>In my opinion, Honors is really focused on advancing a student’s curriculum and challenging students there, while Scholars provides other “outside the classroom” opportunities.</p>
<p>Scholars just started with the 2013-14 school year, so they are pretty new. Honors has been around for a while. There really isn’t competition or anything between the programs and neither of them is really considered “better.” They are both meant to serve high-achieving students, but in different ways.</p>
<p>So if I was not automatically accepted into Honors, then there is no way for me to apply?</p>
<p>My son is in the Scholars program but did not get into the Honors program. However, he did get into the Honors dorm. A little confusing I know…He says he hasn’t seen too many disadvantages in not being in the Honors program other than the Honors students get to register for classes earlier. As a Scholar though, he gets 2,000 per year on top of his full tuition scholarship.</p>
<p>I believe the essay weighed heavily into who got into Honors. On the other hand, he didn’t do anything extra to get designated as a Scholar. When he got his Miami acceptance he was named a Scholar. Last year, when he got his Honors rejection letter (in March I believe), it said he could re-apply for Honors in the fall. I am hearing this isn’t really the case though from others on this board? Nonetheless he has been happy and content being named a Scholar, getting the 2,000 scholarship and living in the Honors dorm and said he wasn’t planning on re-applying anyway. Hope that helps!</p>
<p>Way back when my D. was at Miami (she graduated in 2011), when she was accepted, the top 200 were accepted to Honors and the next 500 were accepted to Scholars. Many (majoriry?) of Honors were valedictorians, since the requirement was ACT=31+ and top 2% of HS graduting class. But some said that the requirements were used more like guidelines and were not that strict. However, many around my D. were in fact valedictorians.
I believe that it has changed since then. Back then, Honors had more benefits than Scholars. I am not familiar with Scholars. The biggest benefit of Honors was a priority registration. Not sure if it was available for Scholars.</p>
<p>To apply for Honors, applicants used to have to write an extra essay on the Miami supplement. This is no longer the case - nothing more has to be done to “apply”, admissions just considers everyone and accepts students from there. For anyone “rejected” from honors last year and before, there was a way to reapply once you are a student a Miami, however, for current high school seniors who would attend Miami this fall, there is no other way to be accepted to honors or reapply or anything.</p>
<p>I am not familiar with the Scholars program that MiamiDAP is referring to. The current Scholars program at Miami is in its first year as of this school year.</p>
<p>As for who is accepted to Honors, it varies greatly. I live in the Honors dorm this year, and yes, there are many valedictorians in the Honors program, but I also know of valedictorians who were rejected from Honors. Admissions does a holistic review of applications, so ACT/SAT scores are considered, along with GPA, and the common app essay.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info but still a bit confusing.</p>