How difficult is the work at Honors College?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Massachusetts - Amherst
1

Please excuse the odd question, but my child was invited to the Commonwealth College at UMass and has expressed concern that it would be too hard and stressful for her. Her other option is a small private school (Brandeis). She wants to study and conduct research in biology.

There are several schools she wasn’t even interested in applying to (Ivies, Tufts, Cornell) because the academic culture felt too threatening to her. One doesn’t actually apply to the CC at UMass, and she didn’t expect to be accepted. But now that she has been, she’s expressing these concerns.

Can anyone speak to the difficulty of the work or (more importantly) the intensity of achievement pressure in the CHC at UMass?

Obviously she’s a smart kid, but she struggles with ADD and simultaneously holds herself to very high standards. Thank you.

2

Any thoughts?

3

You aren’t required to accept the CHC offer if you don’t want to. Regardless, I’d say there’s next to no competition in the CHC, most people just do it to have a bit extra to put on their resumes and to get into CHC housing (which is basically the best housing on campus, but also more money). Work wise, you’re just required to take a couple of extra honors level classes and write a thesis paper before you graduate. Personally, I just don’t find the extra effort worth it, but it’s up to you and your D if you think being in the CHC is worth the extra line on your resume and the option for better housing.

Also, Brandeis is fairly prestigious in its own right, so can’t really go wrong either way.