<p>We are going to the Honors Weekend at Tulane, and would appreciate any comments beforehand on what the Honors program is really like or things to look for. For example:</p>
<li> How helpful is the academic advising?</li>
<li> How worthwhile are the Honors courses?</li>
<li> How worthwhile are the Honors sponsored social and other events?</li>
<li> Do you know of students required to leave the Honors program due to not maintaining the required GPA?<br></li>
</ol>
<p>Hope you will report back, happydad. I am the parent of a prospective student, also accepted to Honors. He is going into Engineering and is invited to Engineering Scholar Days (4/8),so we are doing that instead of Honors Weekend.</p>
<p>Other parents here have S/Ds in honors, so I'm sure they will respond when they see your post.</p>
<p>I'd be interested in hearing that information too. I'll also be at honors weekend. If I like it, Tulane it is. But I'd love to hear from some who know first-hand how all of that goes.</p>
<p>My son has enjoyed the events and speakers that the honors program has hosted this year. He has taken honors sections of Calculus to satisfy his requirements. The main benefit to honors students is being able to get the nomination of your school and help on your application and resume for such scholarships as the Rhodes and Marshall. It is our understanding from Dr. Brady (if we understood him correctly) that the engineering school handles recs and such for engineering students applying for graduate scholarships and fellowships in the engineering field. (Please correct me if I am wrong on this.) It is also harder for engineering students to maintain the GPA required to remain in the program. Departmental honors in arts and sciences and perhaps business require a GPA of 3.5 with a 3.6 in your major and engineering requires a 3.0 gpa. Period. And for good reason.</p>
<p>But as has been said on another thread, honors is year by year. If you don't make your grades at the end of your freshman year, you can reapply at the end of your sophomore year, and even if you aren't in honors, you can take honors courses with approval.</p>
<p>Honors at Tulane is totally different than honors in high school since you only have to take one course at a time. The regular courses will provide enough challenge. The honors is icing on the cake.</p>
<p>All in all, I think the Honors Program during his freshman year was a positive experience for my son.</p>
<p>I would agree with Along~, although my son is in Honors, he did not take any Honors courses his first year -- manily because he was heavy into the premed required courses and they were either not offerd in an Honors class, or it conflicted. As mentioned, the real benefit aside from the prestige factor, access to honors courses, etc, it that the honor's program will reall groom and support a student in pursuing those post-grad fellowships</p>
<ol>
<li><p>How helpful is the academic advising?
There is no special academic advising beyond casual questions answered by the program's director</p></li>
<li><p>How worthwhile are the Honors courses?
Some, but not nearly as many as there should be. Be FOREWARNED. MANY of the honors courses listed in the catalog are not often taught or don't even exist. This is true of many of the courses in the catalog. HOwever, the director is working to get more and more courses honors. I'm signed up for two great ones next fall. </p></li>
<li><p>How worthwhile are the Honors sponsored social and other events?
They are alright. Roundtables are great, when the topic is something you're interested in. Dean Jean on the Mezzanine is great, because Dean Jean is perhaps the coolest person alive (I partially made my decision to go here because of her -- and then she leaves her post right when i get here <em>sigh</em>) But in general, they are like all activities son campus: vacant. There is very little "community" here and social life is NOT campus centered. Although the honors dorm/program does add a little bit of community</p></li>
<li><p>Do you know of students required to leave the Honors program due to not maintaining the required GPA?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Not yet, because my friends are still freshman. Though I do know several people on probation. Most of them are engineers :) </p>
<p>If you choose to go to Tulane, take the Ways to Know Colloquia if you can!! It was great</p>
<p>I will second the accolades for Dean Jean. She is not only the "coolest" person on Campus, but she is the greatest asset a Tulane Honors student can have. My son never misses an opportunity to just sit and chat with her about school and life.</p>
<p>And, although "retired" (it was for medical reasons), Dean Jean still wields a lot of power at Tulane, and is treasure chest of information on evrything Tulane and New Orleans.</p>
<p>Any Tulane student who does not at least meet her once is missing one of the real gems at Tulame, IMHO.</p>
<p>why are there so many people commenting on the subject when they aren't even students of the school. Just because your son or daughter tells you about the school does not mean that you should reply to people w/ a post that makes it seem like you are attending the school.</p>
<p>The honors program is nothing to brag about.</p>
<p>The dorm is good because you get to live w/ students who are smart (Ask alot of tulane students and they will realistically tell you that the majority of the students at the school aren't what you would consider academic)</p>
<p>Don't base your honor course selection on the course catalog because those classes aren't offered. Tulane doesn't offer as many useful honor courses as they say they do. For instance, they do not offer honors genetics, honors chemistry; most of the honor courses are like "art history" or "russian culture and art".</p>
<p>I think they really need to improve the honors program.</p>
<p>hnbui--
because parents care about their sons and daughters and because many sons and daughters like their parents enough to share details of their lives and educational experiences with them. If you can tell a poster is not attending the school, then I imagine others can as well. Hence, it's not a problem that writers are "mak[ing] it seem like [they] are attending the school." If you can't tell, then there's no issue there, either.</p>
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[quote]
hnbui--
because parents care about their sons and daughters and because many sons and daughters like their parents enough to share details of their lives and educational experiences with them. If you can tell a poster is not attending the school, then I imagine others can as well. Hence, it's not a problem that writers are "mak[ing] it seem like [they] are attending the school." If you can't tell, then there's no issue there, either.
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<p>let's dissect</p>
<p>
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hnbui--
because parents care about their sons and daughters and because many sons and daughters like their parents enough to share details of their lives and educational experiences with them.
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<p>i don't remember stating that that was a bad thing? I'm sorry but are you reading something i'm not.</p>
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If you can tell a poster is not attending the school, then I imagine others can as well.
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I know they don't attend the school because they have been on this board posting since the beginning of time. Also because they have always mentioned their sons and daughters. YOU IMAGINE WRONG.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Hence, it's not a problem that writers are "mak[ing] it seem like [they] are attending the school." If you can't tell, then there's no issue there, either.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>that reasoning has been void.</p>
<p>It good that parents have a strong relationship w/ their sons and daughters, but to post information or personal opinions about specific aspect of the school on the board as though they are attending it themselves is wrong and misleading.</p>
<p>You're certainly entitled to ignore any posting you like, but I honestly don't see the problem with gathering information from as many sources as possible. And when people use names that include "dad" and "mom," well, they really don't seem to be hiding behind bushes to me.</p>
<p>I don't pretend a thing, myself, and I've never noticed anyone else here doing that, either. The truth is, I just don't have a problem with anyone who has information to offer. I've gained an awful lot by "listening" to both students and parents of students at these schools, and I hope they will all continue to offer what they know.</p>
<p>
[quote]
You're certainly entitled to ignore any posting you like, but I honestly don't see the problem with gathering information from as many sources as possible. And when people use names that include "dad" and "mom," well, they really don't seem to be hiding behind bushes to me.</p>
<p>I don't pretend a thing, myself, and I've never noticed anyone else here doing that, either. The truth is, I just don't have a problem with anyone who has information to offer. I've gained an awful lot by "listening" to both students and parents of students at these schools, and I hope they will all continue to offer what they know.
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<p>and i'm certainly entitled to state what i object too. the truth is that even though getting alot of opinions is very helpful, at times it can be misleading, especially when the sources you are getting it from is not accurate.</p>
<p>I have not seen you post anything that is wrong. My message was for the other two parents here who tends to post about things they do not have a personal experience with; personal as in daily encounters which in this particular case is the honors program</p>
<p>I answer questions on this board sometimes because they are relevant for parents to answer.</p>
<p>Many times I answer questions because too often much time has passed and current students either do not answer or provide flippant answers which are not helpful to the poster who has a genuine question wanting helpful information.</p>
<p>You can help by providing helpful information whenever possible.</p>
<p>The problem with parents posting describing a school is that they simply don't go there. What they <em>hear</em> from their kids about Tulane may be something entirely different than what the kid thinks of the school or actually does. For instance, a kid is probalby not going to say to his mom that a large majority of the people go out drinking several nights a week and that there is a bar a half of a block from campus, and about 4 more within walking distance. And carding? Please...</p>
<p>And furthemore, people who recieve their information through a seperate source often get the information wrong. This is just how things work. A primary source is far more reliable than a secondary one (unless we're talking about Engles...) So take what parents say with a grain of salt. In fact, take what everyone says with a grain of salt because we are all biased to some extent. But use an extra big one for the people who don't actually go there.</p>
<p>Here's an example. Alongfortheride (a mom) once said that she felt like a kid in a candy shop looking through the tulane catalog, what with the wonderful course selection. I felt this way too until I got to the candy shop and realized only half of the candy was for sale, many could not be eaten together, and the others were made by inexperienced chefs.</p>
<p>Hahah, such a brilliant anaolgy. To explain that, very few of the courses in the catalog are offered reguarly, IF AT ALL. Only generic classes are regularly offered, and even then, sometimes in only one season (more so than at many schools). Often times only one section of a course is offered and it conflicts with the only section of another course, rendering you unable to take one of the two. And if it's a course that won't come around for another 7 years? SOL baby. And for my final clever comparison (ooh, alliteration! such literary prowess), many teachers are inexperienced or temporary faculty getting their feet wet ... with us freshman talking the hit. </p>
<p>To conclude, I have also met some wonderful professors here and had some classes that I really liked. I feel like I've learned a lot (I mean come on, how where would I come up with an Engles reference but from a pretty good college education). But please, let's keep this in perspective and give the most weight in conveying information to those who have it -- the students.</p>
<p>I had hoped a year would help, hinbui, but i see it hasn't. i'm sorry you are still unhappy. Claysoul, so happy for you that you are pleased with yourself and your analogies. Those of us who are balancing jobs, taxes and tuition and still have other kids at home are just trying to make sure the family finances aren't suffering for naught. We also want to see our kids happy. Sorry that doesn't work for you and offends you so much. I think I'll go and shower the venom off..</p>
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I had hoped a year would help, hinbui, but i see it hasn't. i'm sorry you are still unhappy. Claysoul, so happy for you that you are pleased with yourself and your analogies. Those of us who are balancing jobs, taxes and tuition and still have other kids at home are just trying to make sure the family finances aren't suffering for naught. We also want to see our kids happy. Sorry that doesn't work for you and offends you so much. I think I'll go and shower the venom off..
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<p>a year has not help. In fact it has only made it worst. That's why i'm transferring. </p>
<p>And claysoul is right. Most of the parents, (concerndad and alongfortheride), post as though they are attending the school. You just simply can't. I doub't your child tells you everything he or she does; new orleans has alot of things to do that goes untold. </p>
<p>You do not have a first hand account of the matter. You're not the one who is currently attending the school. Infact many of the post you two have made gleam over tulane as a whole. When someone ask for information you need to inform them of the bad and good. You can't just say "tulane is so good.... great bio dept (not!), wonderful people, beautiful campus....." and so forth. there are many bad things about the school. </p>
<p>The lack of a solid community. How after 4-5pm there is no one in the academic quad because more than half of the school is off at the boot or some other place drinking it away. The lack of honor courses. The list goes on.</p>
<p>Well, if we all step back a bit there are some good points being made, although hnubi we have been down this road with you before and as I remember, it is not always what you have to say, but the manner in which you say it.</p>
<p>There are just some "thruths" that are undeniable -- parents are not the students and we are not living on campus or experiencing the day-to-day life of campus -- its problems or its glories. However, ClaySoul, some of us do have relationships with our children that do allow for us to hear the "truth." For example, my son called me, half in the bag from the The Boot the night he danced with Lindsay Lohan. </p>
<p>Tulane is not perfect, and maybe even has more than its fair share of problems for a school that is trying to improve its rankings, student body and facilities all at the same time. But, there are many of us parents here in this forum who's kids are finding EXACTLY what they were looking for at Tulane, and it is unfair to ask these kids, or their happy parents, to take off their rose-colored glasses.</p>