<p>My S got into the Scholars Program, which is housed in Hughes Hall. He says that he prefers to live in Letts/Anderson on the South side of campus. Should he stay in the program and live in Hughes, or will he have a better freshman experience in one of the freshman dorms on the South side? (He will not lose his merit award if he switches out of the Scholars program). </p>
<p>He’s probably heard that South Side is more fun. Having lived there myself during my freshman year, I think he has the right idea. At the same time, the newly revamped honors program is very competitive to get into and he might not want to give that up. </p>
<p>I think it’s a bad idea to say that South Side is more fun than North Side. The people on your floor really determines if you will like your living experience (and you can’t predict that until you live there in the first place). I think South Side is just a better environment because it’s mostly freshman and sophomores. If it were me, I would pick the honors program, but I guess it all depends on priorities. </p>
<p>Is Scholars and Honors the same thing?</p>
<p>AU’s Honors Program and Scholars Program, as far as I know, aren’t the same thing. I was told that I was, despite my “strong” application, not accepted into the Honors Program but did get into their Scholars program. If I recall correctly, the Scholars are housed on separate floors in Letts. I haven’t done my housing yet since I’m waiting until Freshman Day to make my “official” decision, so I don’t know for certain.</p>
<p>My daughter liked Hughes. It is also mostly freshman. It’s six floors. There was one floor, maybe one and a half, with sophomores and juniors, all in the honors program. </p>
<p>I think its all about your roommate and the friends you make. My daughter was in Hughes freshman year and found it a very convenient location. Wouldn’t have minded it if she had a good roommate. Guess you have to decide if you really want to give up Scholars.</p>
<p>Honors and Scholars are different. Scholars provides you a path that serves as a gateway into earning Honors, unlike the UC program. I’m most likely attending in the fall as a Scholar! I think I’ll like Hughes all especially for the living-learning aspect that comes with the Scholars program. I’ve heard that Scholars this year will be housed in Hughes, not Letts, but I could be wrong!</p>