<p>I'm looking for some input on the strength and depth of honors programs at these schools. And any personal experience with merit money for OOS students.
THANKS!</p>
<p>Any takers? I'd also like to add the Commonwealth College at UMass and the Robert Cook Honors College at Indiana University of PA.</p>
<p>Thanks for any information on these honors programs/colleges!</p>
<p>Hoping someone could share today! Thanks.</p>
<p>D accepted to all three, UNH, UVM, UMass (Comm College). I'm from MA.</p>
<p>UNH $9K merit aid/yr
UVM $3K
UMASS Free Tuition (about $1.5K/yr) + 6K comm college scholarship.</p>
<p>UVM is more expensive than UNH before any merit aid, after aid even more so. They don't seem to have much for merit aid based on their web site.</p>
<p>Now the question, is UNH worth $45K (over 4 yrs) more than Umass?</p>
<p>UVM is the best of the group by far!</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the replies. What is it about UVM that puts it above the others? And of course, as FooMonChew asks, is it worth it?</p>
<p>It's just a more enjoyable college experience. UVM has the whole ski resort town and mountains and plenty of good programs and cool students. UNH is..eh.</p>
<p>No honors college that I know of is an honors college in the true sense; having its own faculty and giving its own degrees. Typically offerings cover your 1st 2 years, and range from one class per semester to all your classes. These are indeed in the honors college with the hand-picked profs and bright fellow students.</p>
<p>But after the first 2 years you complete your degree by taking upper-division classes with the regular students in the regular university. Often there are supplementary honors classes available, but in the end the majority of the classes you take upper-division are the same ones everyone else takes. And class sizes may balloon, too, if your in a larger public U and a popular major. At the elites, of course, you continue in smaller classes with the same bright students around you that were there the 1st 2 years.</p>
<p>Honors colleges offer some valuable perks for those who can't attend a true elite for whatever reason. Typical ones include registering for classes before everyone else so you get the classes you want (a perk worth its weight in gold!), special counselors, guaranteed housing, special library privileges. They will stamp your diploma with some indication of honors college or make a note on your transcript.</p>
<p>But if you think its just like going to Williams or Dartmouth or whatever at 1/5 the cost, it just 'aint so.</p>