<p>My son isn’t in the honors dorm, but in a dorm in the same area. The dorm assignment is pretty random and the party atmosphere depends on the kids that end up there. His dorm has a rep for being one of the quieter dorms, but that can change if kids are placed there that are big party-ers. I hear some of the honor’s dorms are pretty rowdy so being honors doesn’t necessarily guarantee a studious dorm either. As far as being placed with your major, it’s not a given. My son started out as a Math/Economics major (special program in math dept). His roommate is engineering. His friend who started out in same program as him (and it’s a small program) lives in another dorm in a completely different area on campus. </p>
<p>My son has since switched into the business school for a BS in Economics, and many of his friend have already changed as well.</p>
<p>What bothers me most about this thread is the divide between honors and non-honors students. I hope it’s not actually such a divide at school (I realize that honors has special classes and live together). </p>
<p>My daughter is not going to be in the honors program at UD. Yet she took mostly honors classes and four AP classes in HS. She is very conscientious and cares about her grades. Oh, and she has tons of friends, loves to socialize, is out all the time on weekends… And does not drink or do drugs. We talk about that (even came up again tonight). Let’s not make this an honors - non-honors issue. It is starting to sound elitist. Some teens drink, some don’t. That’s it. UD has about 15,000 students… Our freshmen will surely find people they can relate to. And they have to learn how to cope being around people who have different values. That’s what growing up is about. Sure I worry about peer pressure. But I trust my D and, while I’m sure she will try to spread her wings, I know she’s got a good head on her shoulders (even though she’s not in honors!).</p>
<p>LINYMOM don’t fret, my d chose not to live in honors, as did several that lived on her floor freshman year she had a very quiet dorm, which I credit the RA for, she ran a tight no nonsense floor. Mandatory quiet hours from 8 pm onwards, and that included TV. The lounge they could watch TV but the dorm rooms themselves were quiet zones. My d floor had majority of kids on scholarships, kids that were their to get an education meanwhile still enjoying the fun. Like always meets like. Now the few kids that she knows that are the opposite found those that are of like mind. Look Delaware is no walk in the park academically, yes some majors have way more free time than others, but kids that mess around do not return, kids get kicked out, she knows of a few that did not take it seriously and they are no longer attending.</p>
<p>I dont think it is an honors, non-honors thing at all and I apologize if I contributed to your feeling it was going that way. I was just trying to emphasize my opinion regarding whether UD was a party school and tried to make myself clear when I said that my D happens to be a social but serious student. Her friends are honors and non honors. Some of her non honors friends are more conscientious than some of her honors friends. Some of the honors students go out A LOT. As for a divide, I dont believe there is one at all. Yes, the honors kids live in one dorm but there are at least 3 other complexes on the same part of the campus. Also, as far as classes are concerned, the kids in honors take both honors and non honors classes in fact I believe freshman year they take the majority of what they need and D has only had 2 honors out of her 5 classes this semester. I think what you said Linymom is very true and I wrote in a previous post, D will be moving into an apartment next year one roommate who is in honors and the other two (excellent students and conscientious like D - if not more) non honors. Friends D has met have been both and I think there is more of a classification by major than honors/non-honors, meaning that D has been in many classes with students in her major whether they are honors or not. Also, depending on the clubs that they join and kids who they meet, I think they mix based on personalities and interests more than anything else. D has surprised us and has met and become friends with kids who are SO different than her. That is one thing I love about this school (and I guess would be the case at many schools) there are so many opportunities to meet students that are different than you and although there are 15,000 students there you dont get that feeling once you are there.</p>
<p>It may have changed but when DD was a freshman, it was a 60/40 mix of honors/nonhonors (they used Russell, Lane and Thompson that year). I honestly could not tell on our visits who was honors and who was not. There were plenty of students that could have been in Honors that didn’t feel the need or didn’t want to deal with the extra work. Over the 4 years, it is clear that some people are partiers and others aren’t and they will eventually find their own kind. One great thing about UD is that there are so many activities that everyone should be able to find their niche without much effort. In DD’s dorm, first semester, there was a LOT of partying. By the second semester, it had calmed down. First time away from home sparks some crazy behavior that eventually subsides. It certainly didn’t seem any worse that her friend’s experiences at other schools.</p>
<p>My daughter took all honors/ap classes in high school, but chose not to do the honors route at UD. She ended up in Smyth and for the most part has been very happy there. I agree that there are going to be partiers, no matter which dorm your child ends up in; however, I believe that if you have done your job as a parent that your child will find their way. My daughter partied a little in the fall semester, but it wore off quickly and she has realized that she needs to focus on her schoolwork. She ended up gravitating to friends who were more into studying and less into partying. That being said, they still keep busy with the myriad of activities that are available to them - I have never once heard her say that she is bored or has nothing to do - even without going to parties.</p>