<p>I'm researching the honors programs at large state universities for my son. What I am looking for is a small school feel within the large university. Does the honors program have honors housing available for its students, are there small seminar type classes and separate social activities for the honors students? Do the honors students want to live in the honors dorms, or are they considered "boring"? Is there priority housing and registration for the honors students? Are there travel abroad opportunities or scholarships for the honors students?</p>
<p>What I am not looking for is a large school that has a few "honors" course offerings, and a small, difficult to get into, hall designated for housing, or no honors housing (or honors housing that no one wants to live in). </p>
<p>Any experience with Plan II at U of Texas, Honors at Texas A&M, Arizona State or University of Miami?</p>
<p>Yes, I know. We live in Texas, which is why my son is considering UT and A&M -- we have the Texas tomorrow fund, so we've already paid for the tuition. I think his personality is better suited to a small school, so that's why I am wondering about the "small school feel" of the honors programs.</p>
<p>However, DS wants to go away to school, and is really interested in U of Miami, because he's a scuba diver, etc. We are visiting U of Miami mid- Nov. I threw ASU in there because their honors program has a good reputation, and ASU has been known to give merit money to OOS. And he's an outdoorsy guy, so the desert location might appeal to him.</p>
<p>My S is a senior at UMiami and has had a wonderful college experience. He is not in the honors program, but I do know that UM does not have separate honors housing and the honors classes are small seminar type. My S chose UM over the scholars program at another large state school based on the personal attention he felt UM focused on its students. He hasn't regretted his choice. He will be graduating with a degree in microbiology and immunology and has loved the department and advising. </p>
<p>While not "away" from Texas, your S may want to consider Rice.</p>
<p>I teach at UT, and I have Plan II students mixed in with everyone else in my classes, so I don't know if you're going to find that small school feel you're looking for in Plan II. A lot of Plan II students double major. Plan II is itself a major, but four out of my seven Plan II students this semester are majoring in something else as well.</p>
<p>my-3-sons-
Good to hear your son loves Miami. I have a feeling my son is going to fall in love with it. Rice is on the radar, as a reach. He is visiting Rice shortly after we visit Miami.</p>
<p>spdf--- thanks for the "insider" comment. That is very helpful.</p>
<p>ASU has a very good Honors College and there will be a brand new complex including offices, class rooms and housing for the Barrett Honors College next year. You shall check it out.</p>
<p>My S and I visited ASU last year and were bowled over by the Honors College. Great personalized experience, honors core classes and honors sections of classes out in the broader university, terrific staff. The new building looks like it will make the place even better, especially in terms of housing. If you visit, be sure to arrange a meeting with your son's intended major or interest area. We met with a couple professors in the film department and were very impressed. He ended up choosing USC film school, but ASU was very tempting.</p>
<p>I didn't even know ASU had a film department. DS is a filmmaker, but doesn't plan to major in it for undergrad. He does natural history films, and there are specialized graduate programs for this. Undergrad film programs usually involve feature -type films.<br>
However, he'd love to have the opportunity to keep up his skills while in undergrad. That gives us one more reason to check out ASU.</p>