Honors vs. No Honors?

<p>UCF sent me their application for applying to their Burnett's Honors college, but I was wondering what are the benefits of being in the Honors program? If I don't apply and just enroll like a regular student, am I forfeiting a big opportunity or no?</p>

<p>The Honors College was the main reason my youngest son chose UCF over UF. The smaller classes, early registration, Honors advising and the opportunity to live in the Honors dorm (Towers III) were all factors. The intangible for me was that he’d be hanging with other Honors students, who theoretically are somewhat more likely to be going to class and pursuing their majors. (they have a lot of fun, too!) Oh, a biggie for the Honors kids is the unlimited free printing at Burnett.</p>

<p>Son #2, his older brother, has had a wonderful experience in Honors at UCF. </p>

<p>It was absolutely the right decision and place for my guys. Go ahead and apply. It costs nothing until you are accepted, and then it’s $100 or so (I think) to join the Honors Congress. If you are accepted and don’t decide to go, at least you gave yourself the choice.</p>

<p>Thanks! Well what I was wondering was, if I go to UCF but end up not being in the Honors program, will it make a big difference, “future-wise”?</p>

<p>In my opinion, while there are great opportunities in the Honors College, if you max out your opportunities at UCF (make great grades, pursue internships and undergraduate research, etc) there would not be much difference, future-wise.</p>

<p>I think that being in the Honors College makes it easier to make the most of those opportunities, because they are constantly being presented to you, and you are surrounded by others who are making similar choices.</p>

<p>Having had 2 sons in college already, I knew how important the environment is, as least for some kids. I wanted the Honors environment for my son. YMMV. :-)</p>

<p>Mom2three, did your son send letters of recommendation with his Honors application? On the form they sent, it said they are recommended, but there’s no form to use, and I couldn’t find one on the website. My daughter’s already been accepted (with a nice OOS scholarship) and I think if she chooses UCF she should definitely go for the Honors experience, especially in such a large university (I’m concerned she might get “lost”).
Thanks!</p>

<p>If they are recommended, I’m pretty sure he did send in letters of rec. I honestly don’t remember.</p>

<p>I think the Honors College is a GREAT way to not get lost in the big university feel. Or at least it’s worked that way for my 2 guys. They are in the Towers, and see the same kids in the building that they do in their classes… works out great.</p>

<p>Thanks. She’s going to get one of her teachers to send a letter, but maybe she should send more than one? Is the Towers separate honors housing?</p>

<p>She got in USF honors without a separate appliction, but apparently UCF requires a supplemental application. She really wants to go to school in Florida, so we’ll see…</p>

<p>Question, what are the cut offs for test scores they are looking for (or will get you in). Is a 28 ACT (assuming all other credentials such as GPA and etc are in good order) good enough?</p>

<p>bonafide what are your other stats?? and there is no cutoff. honors does look for high GPA and test scores but it isnt as blunt as the regular UCF admittance that just looks for good enough numbers. they really do take into consideration all other aspects of your honors application. a 28 seems solid enough to me though.</p>

<p>Ah, that gives me some relief!</p>

<p>Here are my credentials, copied from the Accepted/Rejected thread…</p>

<p>HS Major: Computer Science (equivalent to an AS degree in CS).
GPA: 3.66
HPA: 4.5
SAT: 1850 (CR: 630/M: 620)
ACT: 28 (English: 31, Math: 30, Reading: 26, Science: 25)
7 AP Classes: English Literature, English Language, Computer Sci., Calculus, Chemistry, U.S. History, and U.S. Government
6 College Courses: Macroeconomics (PBCC), English Composition II (PBCC), Discrete Mathematics (FAU), Graph Theory (FAU), English Literature Before the 1800’s (PBCC), English Literature After the 1800’s (PBCC).
Community Service: 120 hours
Work Experience: Paid Internship with the School District of Palm Beach County in the Information Technology Department (240 hrs).
Clubs: Association for Computing Machinery (Computer Club), Caribbean Student Association, National Honor Society, and Cinematograhy Club
Sports: JV Soccer (2 yrs), V Soccer (3 yrs).</p>

<p>I also qualified (and accepted) for the UCF Pegasus Gold Scholarship, if that means anything…</p>

<p>Do my chances look good marlins97?</p>

<p>IMO (2 kids in Honors)…
Grades good, SAT… could be higher.</p>

<p>Yea, my SATs certainly could be, but I’m riding on my ACT scores (which, according to Georgia Tech, is equivalent to a 1380 M/CR score; 2030 total) and the difficulty of my curriculum…</p>

<p>Good luck. I hope you get in.</p>