<p>Hi, I'm a senior from Idaho who has been accepted to the Honors Program and the J-School and I was curious if there are any current honors program members out there who wouldn't mind telling me about their experiences with the college. I was very impressed by the school when I met with the director of the honors college during my visit last june, but I would also like to hear from some students/parents who would be able to shed some light on the positives/negatives of the honors program?</p>
<p>Also, I don't know anyone who is applying to Missouri, so if anyone out there would like to chat with me, that would also be much appreciated!</p>
<p>I sent you a PM with more specifics, but I'll summarize here in case anyone else is interested. The advantages of the Honor College for a j-school student (and others, too):
1. Opportunity to live in an honors journalism FIG
2. Excellent advising through the Honors College
3. Small honors sections of regular courses
4. Other courses developed and offered through the Honors College</p>
<p>I don't think there are any negatives. You can make what you want of it. Living in an honors FIG enhances the benefits. Some honors programs can be mostly "fluff" designed to attract top students, but the Mizzou program doesn't seem to fall in that category.</p>
<p>I don't know why anyone would turn down the Honors Program. It gets you such a large amount of benefits over the years, why would you turn it down? I second EVERYTHING Geezermom has said. My D is a WW Scholar in the J-school and lived in the Honors J FIG in Twain her freshman year. They would have profs come and eat/meet with them, she has been to the associate dean's house several times over the years and is on a first name basis with him(he knows each and every honors kid by name), they attended J-school events together. She felt the only lower division classes that were harder than high school were the Honors classes. Also, you live with kids that are like minded as you. Don't think the smart kids don't party. They can do their work in half the time the others can, leading to a lot of free time. Her floor had its share of party people on it! She has lived with her friends from the FIG for 4 years now(in an apt. the last couple)and they have similar goals. They have all interned the last couple of summers around the country and all studied abroad last year all over the world. You would be missing out on a lot if you don't go for it! Good luck!</p>
<p>^I'm currently a WW Scholar and lived in the WW FIG in Mark Twain. Let me say that if you qualify, you will probably fit in with everybody else. But don't kid yourself - these kids don't party. Maybe once every few weeks they'll go to an apartment of somebody who works for the Maneater and drink, but these kids don't party. Trust me, it's so bad that I have decided to move out of the dorm this semester. I just couldn't take it anymore. If you want to live with a bunch of immature high schoolers who freak out about grades, this is the place for you. The few non WW kids that live on the floor will be the first to echo my feelings as well. It's pretty much seen as the normal kids vs. the WW scholars. </p>
<p>The helpfulness of the associate dean is also vastly overrated. I was told coming in how valuable it would be and whatnot, and so far he has managed to only look down upon us and has not been helpful in my experience. </p>
<p>As for the Honors College, I guess there are no real disadvantages, but the advantages are also real overrated. First of all, the Honors courses you take will be your most difficult most likely. You have to take at least 2 every academic year. They could potentially bring down your GPA (not necessarily though). Also consider that if you are in an Honors course, everyone else enrolled in the class is pretty smart. So you have more competition essentially. Most people I've talked to don't have a problem with the Honors College, I just personally believe it is all for show, and hasn't helped me at all. But I guess I wouldn't see the results until after graduating. </p>
<p>Overall I'd recommend joining the Honors College, and becoming a WW Scholar as well if you can, but DO NOT live in the WW FIG unless you enjoy studying on the weekends.</p>
<p>Wow, my D had just the opposite experience with WW Scholars! What a shame! She still consults with the mentors she met through the FIG and has gotten internships through connections with WW scholars! Also, she was one of FOUR kids on her floor that did not drink and party....how things have changed!</p>
<p>My son says he knows students in journalism FIGs in Mark Twain this year who are not happy, but that doesn't mean it'll be that way for everyone, every year. Keep in mind that many, many factors come into play--not just in this situation but in ANY university living setting. Next year there will be a whole new group of people, and the chemistry might be different. </p>
<p>Mizzou12, it sounds like you ended up in a situation you don't enjoy, and it seems like a smart move to make a change. But others (my son is a good example, though not in Twain) have had a different experience. He is a smart, social, and laid-back person, and he has found a good group of friends in his honors journalism FIG. I can guarantee that he doesn't study on weekends, yet he ended up with a first-semester GPA that makes his mother happy! (He is embarrassed that I post here, so I hope I'm being just a little bit helpful.)</p>
<p>IMHO, and slightly off-topic: Kids freak out over grades too much and too early. Apparently it doesn't let up in college. Too bad. Learning could be so much fun.</p>
<p>I'm an '11 WW who was in Mark Twain last year. There was a small exclusion factor as a clique within WW formed. I'm aghast at mizzou12's depiction (and priorities) however...</p>
<p>While I was a bit more on the outside of the WW's inner circle, they seemed to have a very sociable time. Not so much the hardcore partying that mizzou12 is looking for, but they would eat together for just about every meal and go out downtown for birthdays and general fun. The associate dean was available often and had lunch in Mark Twain on frequent occasions. I, like many others, was able to eat with him and talk about whatever. Still, the WW program is a great way to make connections and have a good group to rely on, even if I wasn't as involved as others.
You don't even have to study over the weekends ;) I joined the on-campus television station. Others joined the on-campus newspaper, radio station, and some even started with small time work at KOMU, the Mizzou-owned NBC station.</p>
<p>It's the Honors School that you have to look out for. Many of the "honors" classes are just the regular class with an extra assignment attached. In Greek Culture, for example, it was the normal class, but the honor students had to write an extra paper at the end of the semester. In math and science classes, the honor student will just have to solve extra problems. There are a few classes that are honors only, but they did not appear to have much relevance to anything needed. To its credit, I haven't taken any of those classes, so I'm only extrapolating on the last point. I leave it to you to decide whether or not the honors credit is worth it.</p>
<p>I just want to say how glad I am to see real-live students on this forum. I'm a proud Mizzou parent, and my son is pretty talkative about his college life, so I can pass along his insights. But the student perspective here means a lot. Keep coming back to answer questions!</p>
<p>BTW, he would probably say the same thing about honors, though he did like Early Modern World and his honors English Comp section.</p>
<p>It can't hurt to join the honors college, but it's nothing special. As said before, most honors classes are just classes with an extra assignment tacked on (unless it is specifically a honors class like the Early Moderns). In addition, they are really small a lot of the time, so it's hard to get into the honors classes, so you have a good shot of ending up in an honors course you have no interest in just so you are not kicked out of the honors college. In addition, you have to take 1 honors course a semester minimum I believe, so as you get higher up, just to avoid getting kicked out (even if you get your 20 hours in your first 2 years), you'll have to spend the money to take those pain in the ass 1 hour seminar courses to avoid getting kicked out of the honors college. </p>
<p>Also, don't join the maneater. And as said, don't go in the Mark Twain figs. There are nice people in Mark Twain of course, but on the whole, it's a bit different from the rest of campus.</p>
<p>I don't see what the great advising would be either. They give you a sheet with all the courses that count towards your journalism credits for each semester. In addition, if you're double majoring, just look at the course catalog. If you can't figure out what to do by yourself with the course catalog, you have more problems than that. The advising is just stricter than the rest of the school, and it's harder to get an appointment in. Definitely not an advantage.</p>
<p>The only thing I can think that is an advantage of the honors college is getting that designation on your transcript. Other than that, it will probably bring down your academic experience.</p>
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Also, don't join the maneater. And as said, don't go in the Mark Twain figs. There are nice people in Mark Twain of course, but on the whole, it's a bit different from the rest of campus.
<p>akhman, your negativity about everything Mizzou is astounding! Why did you choose this school? School is what you make of it, this is no longer a dress rehearsal. Life is not always entertaining and fun, you have to work at it. Steelerfan, my D did work at the Maneater and I must say that although she perceived it as VERY clique-y, she did get good experience there when she was too inexperienced to work at the Missourian. It gave her an advantage to a better assignment when her Missourian class came up. She is a WW scholar and she has taken advantage of every opportunity they offered. People are different. When the WW group is invited to the Ass't Dean's house, she still goes, figuring 10 minutes of face time with him is always a plus, while other kids just can't be bothered to go(one 5 minute conversation with him gave her a tip about an internship that she later got!). When the group attended talks, she and her friends always went while other kids just stayed in their rooms watching TV. Akhman might be different than you. My D felt that the only lower level classes that challenged her and were interesting were the Honors classes. It is all how you perceive life. You can go to the best journalism school in the country and reap all the benefits you can or you can just sit back with a negative attitude and complain there are not enough parties. If you are the latter, you might as well go to ANY school and major in Journalism!!! If you choose Mizzou, seek out all the opportunities and advantages it offers. Akhman, what position did you hold at the Maneater?</p>
<p>yes, i am a freshman. and yes, i understand and agree that every class is going to be different. WW scholars from 07 could be COMPLETELY different from 08 for all I know. I mean, I know a few, so I doubt it, but whatever. </p>
<p>And please don't think that all I want to get out of college is a lot of fun times of drinking and partying. It's more so than I'd like to enjoy all aspects of college, and can appreciate much more besides grades. </p>
<p>The thing with WW Scholars is that everything is so happy, polite, and basically just unrealistic. These kids do not have a good sense of the college they go to, they become sheltered in the friendly confines of Mark Twain and the Maneater. What that other guy was talking about with Mark Twain, I assume is that it's just more of a friendly "lame" community. I'm sorry, that sounds mean, but I just can't figure out another way to say it. When I go to Gillette or Schurz or really anywhere else, there's a ton of different types of people in each hall. There's stuff going on, music playing, people doing things that could be described as "up to no good". Mark Twain is just, bleh. It's quiet and a ton of people just stick to their own room on their computer listening to music and doing their own thing. They have every right to do this, and if that's what they enjoy, great. It's just that it's not a true college experience IMO. All the expectations I had of dorms were not met by Mark Twain, but from my visits to other dorms, I think they are more on line with what I expected. </p>
<p>I'd be happy to elaborate or answer any other questions. I think the advise from a student who isn't going to sugar coat stuff is pretty valuable, so please let me know. While a parent's opinion is good, there's no denying that kids don't tell their parents everything. And if they do, then they just aren't doing enough fun stuff. Know what I mean?</p>
<p>STUDENTS - Keep posting your real experiences. As a Father of an incoming student, this is very helpful information for my soon-to-be Tiger to make decisions which will impact her future, college experience and general happiness. College is about what students make it and decisions you regret and celebrate are helpful.</p>
<p>HELICOPTER MOMS - Respectfully, if you wish to post agruments online to Student comments, then let your Students do this - let them live their lives and share their opinions. Your interpreted opinions and arguments are not relevant for students who will be making their college, dorm, career and program decisions.</p>
<p>We are all on this site for one reason - to uncover the complete information for our young adults to base their decisions on. So bring on the information from all perspectives and let our students make their calls!</p>
<p>^^The opinions I post actually come from my son (dorm, FIG, honors program, etc.). I don’t make this up out of thin air, and they’re not my impressions because I’m not there. They’re his. He’s just not a CC kid and is not interested in spending time here. If I say he likes his dorm and has been lucky to make a group of great friends, well, that’s what he says. Just for the record, my son is a positive, flexible person who lives the principle, “If you have a lemon, make lemonade.” If you don’t hear a whole lot of negative stuff from me, it’s because whatever it is just doesn’t bother him. It’s his reality, not mine. I don’t say anything on this forum that the whole world can’t read daily on his Twitter.</p>
<p>I really do not appreciate having my involvement in this forum trashed. If you knew me (and my son), you would know that I am far from a helicopter parent. I have a hard time tolerating parents who live their lives through their children, so you have pushed the wrong button with me. </p>
<p>I have to go now so I can find out what my son did last night, ask if he needs me to call any unreasonable professors on his behalf, and tell him to wear his mittens. (It can get cold in Columbia, you know. But that’s just my opinion.)</p>
<p>Mizzoubuff, I second Geezermom. I just know my daughter’s a senior and has had SUCH a positive and successful experience at Mizzou. Having a four year perspective is very different from a freshman’s eye. Also, kids are different and some people are being turned off by these negative reviews from kids. As a mother who is over ten hours away from Mizzou, I am anything but a helicopter mom. Actually, I encourage ALL Journalism majors to go to Mizzou!! I hope your child doesn’t make important decisions based upon any of these negative comments. All kids are different, looking for a different college experience and makes what they want of the four years. </p>
<p>My helicopter mom would like me to repeat that, as a student, I have loved Mizzou. This IS IN NO WAY an attempt to impress possible helicopter professors through an anonymous internet identity… because quite frankly, I personally would not understand the logic of such a move (<em>cough</em>).</p>
<p>That being said, again, Walter Williams was nice for Journalism and the Honors College just seemed to be extra work but with a few exclusive classes. I still am in contact with some fellow WWs, so it has been nice. One got a front page article on columbiamissourian.com the other day.</p>
<p>I can’t bring much information into honors programs of the non-journalism variety, but I have heard of a couple. One involves golf (Evans Scholar?). As for what to encourage Journalism majors to do, I would encourage studying in the sciences as well, especially of the Computer Science / Information Technology variety. It gives perspective about the true difficulty of classes (I would love to see most J-majors’ views on an upper level Calculus course after complaining about the “difficulty” of a journalism class). Also, CS/IT works well with the merging, convergence as we call it, of the internet to news.</p>
<p>In response to geezermom, I don’t think ANY student is a CC kid, as there is no reason to be on here once we are at college. Most here are venting or ventriloquized.</p>
<p>Mizzou J-school or other Students - Love to read your opinions, experiences about dorms, honors colleges, what you wished you knew, etc…</p>
<p>This forum should not judge or censor those opinions and as such are highly valuable to read. Those who insist upon writing to respond to your opinions are missing the point. Your opinions should not be debated or challenged (especially given that you lived them) and should stand as your opinion for others to decide the relevance.</p>
<p>If there are any WW Scholars who wish to write “their own” experiences here - these will be interesting opinions to read as well.</p>
<p>For those who may not be aware, Walter Williams wrote the Journalist Creed which includes</p>
<p>“I believe that a journalist should write only what he holds in his heart to be true. I believe that suppression of the news, for any consideration other than the welfare of society, is indefensible.”</p>
<p>I think ALL opinions are very helpful; and I’m really grateful for all kinds of answers I got here from students as well as their parents. A lot of kids don’t participate in such forums, but they share their thoughts and experience with the parents, and it’s pretty obvious for us to see if a D. or S. is happy and successful in a school. So I don’t understand why parents’ opinions are less appreciated than students’.
Please keep posting all of you.</p>