National Merit, Honors at UK?

<p>We’re registered for March 15/16. We’re also in Virginia. We’re waiting to hear from VT, JMU, W&M, and UR. Not trying to sound ungrateful, but I think we’re going to need something more than the Provost Scholarship - $3000. If there are opportunities at Merit Weekend for further scholarships, I would be most interested to know.</p>

<p>My son got admission into Biology scholars program, not sure if this is the same as honors? He is a National Merit Finalist and we were told the Patterson scholarship is automatic and guaranteed as long as he names UK as the first choice.</p>

<p>We are trying to decide between Ohio State honors program and UK. OSU is only giving their Provost scholarship (3K per year) but we are Ohio residents and will pay in state tuition. What are the thoughts on which program is better?</p>

<p>He wants to do the premed program and wants to go to Med school. Not sure which of the two programs is better for getting into a med school…</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>Honors letter came in the mail today. Good luck to those waiting!</p>

<p>DD got her Honors College acceptance in the mail today. We were quite happy. She only received the Provost Scholarship because her ACT was only a 30. </p>

<p>We can’t attend merit weekend as she is flying out the last weekend in march for tryouts and I can’t budget 2 across the country air flights!</p>

<p>Hoping we can schedule a visit with the Honors College when we go in late March and get a better idea of what it offers.</p>

Hi. This question comes , perhaps, a year late but my son listed U.of K. As first choice Early Admission on PSAT and earned national merit finalist honors for admission in fall of 2015. Yet he has not been invited for any interviews for scholarships. It was my understanding that if he indicated the above and achieved nmf honors he would automatically win or earn full ride for this fall. Am I mistaken? If he hasn’t been invited to interview is he not even being considered?

Students who become National Merit Finalists do not need to interview for the Patterson scholarship. It is automatic. I believe that last year we got a letter around this time that congratulated D on her academic success and reminded her that IF she achieved NMF status AND named UK as her college choice with NMSC, she would be eligible for the Patterson scholarship. Until that letter comes, there is a worry that someone has messed up, forgotten something, etc.

It was in March last year that we actually got the letter indicating that she was being offered the Patterson scholarship. The people in admissions are very nice, so feel free to call and relieve your fears. If your son has been accepted to UK and listed UK with NMSC, things should be good.

@123monkey has your son been accepted to the honors program at UK?

One thing to know on NMF. IF you are a NMF you get the great scholarship but unless you actually applied for honors program, you are NOT in the honors program, which means no honors housing etc. We thought NMF standing meant automatic admission into honors, which alot of the other NMF schools do. Not so with UK, so, make sure, before you apply if you are now NMF that you are ok with no honors, which my son absolutely was not.

@joe2015‌ yes my son was accepted on presidential scholarship. Honors program.

@ZBD5421‌ WHEN We Toured U.of K. and discussed honors dorms and programs I was a bit surprised that since biology is one of their top areas of study they don’t offer honors in that area…i forget how it was mentioned as the tour was over 6 months ago but I think they had 2 areas honors dorms? of which biology wasn’t included. …i also thought I recalled they had specific honors dorms related to major of study.my husband told me that isn’t likely.does anyone have more accurate information than I might be confused about? Hubby says honors is general umbrella of study options/distinction not specifically devoted to a major.

My son received an email about acceptance to the Biology Scholars program at the University of Kentucky. Then about a month later received an email stating he was rejected from the honors program.

Could someone explain the difference between the two programs?

He is also a NMF so he will receive the Patterson Scholarship if he decides to attend. As of now, his UK is not high on his list because of the rejection from the honors program.

The Honors Program encompasses students from the entire University. Major specific scholars programs are designed for the specific major. Major specific programs all vary. I am not at all familiar with the Biology Scholars program.

The Honors Program at UK requires a student to take specific sections of classes designed only for HP students, which often have lower enrollment numbers and instructors that are hand picked. There is a specific minimum number of these classes that one needs to take. HP allows one to live in one of the Honors dorms, though some students who are not a part of the HP also live in these dorms. (HP students are not required to live in one of the dorms set aside for this program.) Some students in the HP choose to live in other Living Learning Programs. There are some special privileges that one gets if in the HP, like priority registration, events like lectures that are specifically geared toward students in the HP, etc.

My D is a freshman at UK who was not accepted into the Honors Program. She is a Patterson Scholar. She loves the school and it is a good fit for her. As of yet, not getting priority registration has not impacted her. She is living in a newer dorm, though did not try to become a part of an LLP. I think not being a part of Honors bothered me more than it did her.

@Joe2015‌ it seems odd that your son is NMF but didn’t make biology honors program at U.of K…

From what I heard there is a Facebook page to search for roommates within the Honors dorms (Central Hall). However, I can’t find it. If anybody knows can they send me a link to it? Thanks!

I do not know of a Facebook page, but a portion of the housing application has a similar feature to find a roommate. Not sure if this helps at all.

@NaperMom‌.hi.may I ask why your daughter from Chicago chose Kentucky? Also what is her area of study?

My daughter got her Patterson notification this past Friday.

@AuntieFascist‌
Is your daughter accepting the patterson?

@123Monkey, it sure looks like she will. UK’s all she talks about. She’s signed the pink form that came with the letter. We’re going to Merit Weekend this weekend. If that’s a positive experience, I’m pretty sure we’ll mail the acceptance next week.

@123Monkey, My D is a Mathematics major. She is “pure math,” versus Mathematical Economics. I am not sure of statistics, but I believe more people choose Mathematical Economics than “Math.”

My D chose UKy for a few reasons. The biggest reason was the Patterson scholarship. Although other schools, such as UCF and Bama, offered very similar and very generous packages, this was the only school that was drivable for us. She can take the “Ride Home Express” to come home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring breaks ($155 round trip versus plane ticket). Her boyfriend also got a very nice scholarship, which made his cost similar to what Illinois in-state tuition is for him. The biggest consideration is financial. She can save her college fund for Graduate Studies, as UKy’s scholarships are so generous.

At one time, she was considering Pharmacy. Uky has a PharmD program, as well as opportunities related to Pre-Med. Although this is no longer her path, it is nice to have these programs available. UKy offers many different majors and minors. There are many options for field of study, which was important to her, as she did not have a solidified profession identified when she started. She is still not sure what she wants to do for the rest of her life. She turned 18 right before she left for college last Fall.

The biggest draw for her was the “feel” of the school. She was looking for something that had an urban feel. When she first visited, it was the first (and only) school that she left saying “I think this is it.” We visited many more schools than most people. We don’t take many vacations. We spent Sophomore and Junior year Spring breaks visiting schools, as well as some summer visits to places closer to home. We drove to states we had never been in, including Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, Ohio, and Iowa. Although my husband and I loved some of these schools, D did not fall in love. UKy was the place that made her have that “spark.” She loves UKy and the choice was right for her.