<p>The theory apparently is that if you get into the honors program at your state's flagship university, that this helps to make up for the fact that the flagship is much larger than a private college, and perhaps less prestigious.</p>
<p>Is going to the honors program really a sufficient substitute to going to a more prestigious, smaller, private college?.</p>
<p>Depends on the honors college…some schools have rather weak programs. </p>
<p>Some have well-developed programs and amazing LAC-like classes. Some provide research opps. Some have staff who work with top students to get national recognition…Rhodes Scholars, Hollings Scholars, USA Today Academic Team, etc.</p>
<p>Floridadad- a few of the honors colleges that we looked at at state schools did not offer any additional opportunity or class benefits The only thing honors did was provide priority registration, and sometimes housing. Then maybe a party or seminar during the year. Other schools compeltely seperate the students from the non-honors students by classes and housing. And yet others offer some perks, with some specialized classes. It kind of depends on what the school has developed.</p>