I was never really interested in Honors. But after looking at so many people obsess over CHC, and ranting about not getting in, I feel like I’m missing something here.
Is CHC that much better? I didn’t get into CHC. I wasn’t interested in Honors college anyway. Not that I think it’s not good. I know how awesome Honors colleges are.
But I’m gonna be majoring in Computer Science. Working on personal hobby projects and joining interesting clubs was my intention. And I felt like not doing Honors would give me that freedom. I’m not sure how right I am.
But after looking at all these discussions about CHC, I kinda regret not getting in. And it makes me feel like nobody thinks UMass good without CHC. Any opinions or advice from current students or alumni or anybody is welcome.
Note: I already asked this question on the admissions thread twice. I just posted here again so that I can get more answers.
If you got into CS then not getting into CHC is no big deal. And if you feel that it is all you have to do is get good grades after 1st year and they will invite you any how. My son was invited after his first semester (sports management major) and although it was nice to receive he decided against it. Extra money, more work, and in his case not really a game changer for internships/jobs after school. Don’t sweat the small stuff and not getting into CHC is very small stuff.
The biggest draw is the housing. People view the CHC housing to be less of a zoo than the other dorms where parties rein supreme. Parties at UMASS happen everywhere so this really is just a misconception. You will find once you go that many of kids in the CHC drop the program. They just do not see the point.
All that being said, the UMASS CHC program is better in that they do offer a separate housing location. Other state schools and many private schools only offer a separate floor within general housing.
If you get there and find the kids are really saying it is a big deal, then you can simply apply to get in. I do not think that will happen. You will be just find doing your normal coursework.
Another parents perspective of a curent Freshman and a newly accepted potential student, not getting Honors is not a big deal. My d is a current freshman in mechanical engineering. She did not get into CHC. She decided to join an engineering RAP (Residential Academic Program) which means her floor in the dorm is all students in engineering. So it gives some of the Honors benefits without being in CHC.
You can have a great experience at UMASS without CHC. The angst of CHC is really for those students who strongly preferred to go to a small, selective school, with small classes, and either couldn’t get into them or couldn’t afford those schools. But if that was never your intention, there is nothing to mourn for not getting it.
These “honors colleges” are also a marketing ploy. CHC is more expensive. At UMASS you can get that small school experience at one of the other colleges in the consortium as well. Your experience will be exactly what you make of it.
@wolfwing123, I feel the exact same way about S not getting into the honors college. It was also made out to be a very big deal on the tour. Because the housing is so much better and there are perks galore with registering for classes early and so forth, it feels like a different place entirely. My S did not get into honors at other schools, but I didn’t feel as though he was missing too much in those places. At this point, we both have a negative view of going to UMass and not being in the honors college. So, UMass is out for this reason. This is not the way he feels about other schools like UVM or UNH for instance.
@Lerxst, I was pretty certain that someone asked this question of the tour guide, but is it possible that I am incorrect on this one. Still if you look at the lengthy description of the honors college and the incredible perks, one can’t help but feel like a second class citizen. I imagine that lots of resources and funding gets pumped into this program and I am not comfortable sending S to a school in which the distribution of resources is so very unequal. Now, this may be true at other schools, but I don’t feel it in the same way. Good luck to all of those who will attend the college both in CHC and non CHC. The school has a great reputation and I am likely overreacting.
@elise303 The “Second class citizen” nails it. That’s exactly how I feel about attending UMass. The air-conditioned dorms just for CHC(I know students not in CHC can also get it,but) makes me feel like I deserve less than those kids. Especially when I’m paying international tuition fee.
Nevertheless, I hear that the CS program is very competitive, and the kids who get in are pretty smart. So I guess I should just kill my ego and feel happy about the acceptance and the 14k merit. I’m pretty sure Honors isn’t for me, and I’d prefer to live in the CS RAP than the CHC dorms.
Just gonna let that sink in and attend. I’m pretty sure it isn’t a huge deal. I think you should still give UMass a thought without rejecting it completely just because your S didn’t get into CHC.
I agree with the second class citizen analogy. The kids there know who is in and who is not. As was stated, they live in a totally separate area apart from the “general population” if they choose to. One only has to tour the college to see the huge amount of funds being pumped into the CHC.
Personally I feel the housing is the main benefit for obvious reasons.
DS was accepted for ME but not admitted into CHC. I agree it hurts your pride if you have high stats but don’t get offered a spot, but it’s not that big of a deal. DD15 was accepted to CHC so we had an info session with a CHC ambassador. We left thinking it really wasn’t that great for stem/engineering majors. For most of the classes you would tell the prof you were in the honors college and be required to do some extra assignments, but you were in the same lectures as everyone else. Nothing special there. We are in-state and I know many students who have had fantastic experiences at UMass /nonCHC.
I really like @Motiv8tedmom23’s suggestion of the RAP/engineering based housing. That seems like a much better alternative for DS.
Bottom line is that UMass is a good financial alternative for us so it stays on the table regardless of CHC.
My DS (Chem Eng major, graduated a few years ago) dropped out of CHC after a couple of years because he was getting nothing from it. This was before the Honors dorm was open, maybe it’s worth paying an extra $600/year to live in a dorm that costs an extra $600/year as well, I don’t know.
My kid placed out of a bunch of the Gen Eds via AP test, so he didn’t even take that many Honors courses.
An absurdly high percentage of students are in the Honors College, like 15% or so. It’s not actually that great of an honor.
And I always questioned the logic of a school charging the “honors” students more. These are the students you should most want to attend your school! They should be charged less!
I pointed this out to the Dean at the time (my kid was there when they first added the extra fees), and got a shrug in response.
tl;dr The Honors College is not that big a deal, it will cost you more, and you can always join it after you get there if you really want to.