<p>We went with our S to the UMASS Open House yesterday and he got a really good impression of the school (even though it isn't the prettiest campus around). After we came home, however, I had some concerns about whether a few programs created different classes of students before they even get in the door...</p>
<p>What really are the differences with the students who go to Commonwealth College? I've read some posts here that indicate that it isn't much of a big deal but don't they have a building dedicated for Commonwealth College students?</p>
<p>How about the BioTAP program? Is it really that big of a deal? Guess I'm not too crazy about the reality that it's not enough to have a Biology major to be considered...you have to be invited.</p>
<p>I guess I'm a little bothered by the idea that my S could have fewer opportunities at UMASS just because he didn't graduate with high honors in HS. I'd prefer to see him go to a school where the opportunities depend on what/how he is doing in the college environment, not on what he did/didn't do in HS.</p>
<p>Even if you aren’t in the Commonwealth College, you can still take honors classes and graduate with Latin honors. I’m not really sure what you mean by a building dedicated to ComCol students. There are a lot of honors RAPs at the Orchard Hill residential area, but not one residential building solely dedicated to honors students. There is one being planned though, and apparently it will be opened in Fall 2013 ([Facilities</a> Planning Commonwealth Honors College Residential Complex](<a href=“http://www.umass.edu/fp/CHCRC/]Facilities”>http://www.umass.edu/fp/CHCRC/)). </p>
<p>Oh, and you can apply to the ComCol after your first full semester as long as your GPA is at least 3.4: [Joining</a> CHC as a Current UMass Amherst Student | Commonwealth Honors College](<a href=“http://www.honors.umass.edu/admissions/apply-current-students]Joining”>http://www.honors.umass.edu/admissions/apply-current-students). Through this method, even if your son had an absolutely terrible GPA, SAT score, class rank etc., he could still join ComCol based on his work in college. I’m personally considering applying after my first semester next year.</p>
<p>And the BioTAP is only a first-year program as far as I know. BioTAP students take an honors bio class both semesters of their first year (not in the BioTAP dorm, by the way) along with a “1-credit TAP seminar”, whatever that is. They also take the basic writing class in the residential area, but most RAPs offer this too I think. If he really wants a way to be around and meet people in the science field, there are some other science-related RAPs: Health Sciences, Exploring the Sciences, and Connecting Science and Society.</p>
<p>The dedicated residential complex is what I believe I read about.</p>
<p>Guess I was wondering if Commonwealth College students had other advantages (more access to research projects in later years, preferred contact with professors, etc).</p>
<p>I would like to make sure that my S isn’t put in an educational disadvantage because he wasn’t at the top of the pack of those admitted. He was real positive on UMASS and will most likely attend…but I would (and he should) have reservations if this were the case.</p>
<p>Honestly, I’m in ComCol and its the one thing about the school I don’t like. I actually considered dropping it for awhile because I felt like I was getting literally nothing out of it.</p>
<p>$150 fee/semester but no preferred housing, no early class registration, not many honors classes for science majors, etc. I’m not even sure the ComCol students are much smarter than UMass as a whole.</p>
<p>With respect to research projects, I’m involved in research and I’m not even sure the professor knows I’m an honors student… it never came up when we started working together. It probably won’t come up until I tell him I have to do my Capstone project.</p>
<p>Your son will most definitely not be a second class citizen.</p>