<p>What are the specific differences amongst these three programs? I read the general overview on the website, but I'm still unsure how much these programs differ by and what each focuses more on. If anyone has any more in-depth info, I'd really appreciate it!</p>
<p>I'm a Muhlenberg Scholar so obviously I know much more about that program than the others, but I can try to explain how honors programs work (in general) at the 'berg. Each class year has 15 Scholars, 15 Danas, and 30 RJs. </p>
<p>Honors programs have special classes. Dana scholars have specific seminars they have to take, an internship, mentorship, and the Dana forum. I'm sure you've seen the requirements (muhlenberg.edu/depts/interdis/dana/). Muhlenberg Scholars and RJ Fellows (muhlenberg.edu/depts/interdis/rjfellows/index.html) are a bit more open- courses are first open for pre-registration from Scholars and then the remaining spots are open to the campus. It's nice that you can get more of a mix but it also prevents some of the bonding with fellow Scholars/RJs. More from the website: </p>
<p>" What are the differences between Muhlenberg Scholars, RJ Fellows, and Dana Scholars?</p>
<p>Dana scholars are assigned to one of the first year seminars designed specifically for Danas. Afterwards, they are required to satisfy 3.0 course units of independent internships/mentorships under faculty guidance. </p>
<p>Muhlenberg Scholars are required to take Scholars Courses in all fields of study: Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. In their Senior year, they must take a seminar and complete a Scholars project. </p>
<p>RJ Fellows are required to take a specially designed first year seminar as a group. Like Muhlenberg Scholars, they must complete courses in all fields of study. Additionally, they take a Senior Signature Interdisciplinary course and participate in the planning and execution of the annual RJ Symposium, a public program involving former RJ Fellows, scholars, and speakers in appropriate fields."</p>
<p>All three programs have program-specific First Year Seminars (FYS). All freshmen here MUST take an FYS in their first year. It's basically a small class that can focus on any number of topics. These include things like "Dark and Stormy Knights", "Playing with Food: Cuisine as Culture", and "Queer and Pleasant Danger". The list changes each year. These are the groups that you spend orientation with. The classes focus on helping students develop college writing skills and learn how to actively participate and discuss.</p>
<p>The groups have a fun kind of rivalry going on...mostly between Dana and Muhlenberg Scholars. Clearly, Scholars are the best. We were hand-picked from the applicant pool ;) There's been talk of quiz nights and paintball attacks.</p>
<p>D was invited to apply for Dana, but didn't make it. She also got her FA package recently. The letters said she was still eligible for the other honors programs, but when should she hear if she made it? Should we assume that, since she hasn't heard, she's not in RJ Fellows or Scholars?</p>
<p>I believe everyone would have gotten that information with their acceptance packet but I would call just to make sure. My acceptance times were really screwed up (I applied in May of my senior year) so I am not 100% sure of the real timeframe.</p>
<p>sushirox, thanks for all the info, and please forgive one naive question...</p>
<p>Are Scholars really above the Danas in terms of pecking order and top percentage of students, or are you just saying that out of Scholar loyalty? ;)</p>
<p>Glad to answer your question! It was out of Scholar loyalty- and all in good fun.
I really haven't found there to be a pecking order between the honor programs. The selection processes are different enough so it isn't as if one group is somehow better or worse. People are picked for reasons beyond GPA and SAT scores. They must meet minimum reqs but Danas, Scholars, and RJs must also have qualities that match the goal of the program. I believe RJs and Danas have financial need taken into consideration and directors have the first choice out of the applicant pool. I'm not sure if both or just RJs have a seperate essay application. Scholars are chosen soley on merit out of the remaining pool. So who goes where may be anyone's guess. I'm sure students with superior qualifications may have been passed over by RJs (and then accepted by the Scholars) because they didn't have enough financial need AND that Scholars have lost some great applicants because they were snatched up by the RJs first. There is a system of give-and-take between them all. Again, there is fun rivalry but no -real- belief of superiority.</p>
<p>Much of the information provided by suhsirox is an accurate explanation of the honors programs (despite the fact that many of us STILL don't understand the differences between the programs), but as an RJ Fellow, some of the info about that program is not 100% correct. I did not have to complete a separate essay application in order to be accepted into the program. Additionally, I do not think financial need was considered because I did not receive any need-based financial aid at all. Thirdly, the first group of RJs (the class of '06) had about 15 members, the class of '07 has about 11 members and I'm not sure if those numbers have increased for the underclassmen.</p>
<p>If you're curious: the RJ program is supposed to be centered on the idea of "change" and both our Freshman seminar and our senior seminar focus on this topic. The symposiums that are held each year also stress this concepts. </p>
<p>It is possible that the application process has changed since my acceptance, but I thought I'd share that bit of input.</p>
<p>Ack, thank you for correcting me! For some reason I had assumed there were two FYSes for RJs (?) with 15 per class, making 30 per year. Also, when Dr. Schick explained why he started Muhlenberg Scholars he said it was because he wanted something that was entirely merit based. I assumed this meant the other programs took financial need into consideration.</p>
<p>D was just accepted as an RJ Fellow (no separate essay/application required). The website still says "about 15" become RJ Fellows. Thanks for the links and for the specific information.</p>