<p>Hey, I am a current junior, and almost 100% positive I am going to Ohio State (I love just about everything about the school). However, my parents are a bit concerned that Ohio State doesn’t carry the academic reputation of some of the other colleges I could get into. I was interested in the Honors Program, and I was wondering 1) if anyone could tell me some experiences with it, and 2) how prestigious it is (I’m looking to go to grad school, so how I do in college really matters, darn it!). </p>
<p>I was also wondering about the Scholars Program. I am planning to study Political Science/Government, and the Politics, Soceity, and Law Scholars Progam seemed perfect. I think that the website said that you can’t do both that and Honors, can anyone confirm that? And if I had to choose one, which do you think would be the more beneficial for me to participate in? Thank you so much for your input, and GO BUCKS!!!</p>
<p>What are the other schools that you would be considering?</p>
<p>Ohio State's political science department, depending on the survey, is ranked between 13th in the United States and 4th in the world. Three of the area studies centers (Russian and East European, East Asian and Middle Eastern) are federally designated "National Comprehensive Resource Centers." The Mershon Center for International Security has a global reputation. If you do well in the undergraduate program at Ohio State, the political science faculty there can place you into any doctoral poly sci program or Masters in International Relations program in the country.</p>
<p>You can do honors and scholars, but only if you enter as a scholars student and then join honors while you are at OSU. You can join after 2 quarters if you meet the requirements for your college, which vary.</p>
<p>I would definitely either do honors in the first place or make sure to try and join once you get in - the benefits (<em>especially priority scheduling</em>) are very, very helpful. </p>
<p>The political science department is great, as sh60614 said. I don't think people would consider OSU prestigious, but I'm very skeptical of "prestige" in the first place. That being said, it's absolutely possible to be involved in a rigorous academic program (you can usually take 500-level poli sci courses right away). I would also recommend honors for that. There are many fantastic polisci professors and programs here. </p>
<p>Honestly, I'm not a scholars student so I can't speak to that. I'm obviously a big fan of honors, but if that specific scholars program really appeals to you talk to some current members about what it involves.</p>
<p>BTW - I'm a political science student, so if you ever have any questions about that in the future feel free to pm me.</p>
<p>My daughter and her friends all say, only consider OSU if you are accepted into honors. Amazingly good priority scheduling for honors students - especially honors students who come in with a reasonable number of AP credits.</p>
<p>Thanks for the comments. They really help. My parents want me to look at schools like Michigan (booo!!!!!), but I keep trying to use the argument that they have a good political science program. The proximity of Columbus is also a huge plus. Not to mention that OSU basically has everything I'm looking for in a college, and I'm not really one to just go to to the best school I can get into. Another question- do scholars students also get priority scheduling? And for those in Honors/Scholars, did you live in Honors/Scholars dorms, and if so, which building and what was it like?</p>
<p>My son is in both Honors AND Scholars. He was first admitted to Scholars, and is now in honors..which he was admitted to after 2nd quarter.</p>
<p>Scholars does get some priority scheduling. You schedule ahead of other students in the same rank. That means, if you are a freshman in Scholars, you schedule ahead of other freshman...with the exception of those in Honors.</p>
<p>That being said, my son loves OSU -- and really enjoys Scholars. There is something to be said for the "living/learning" community of students that Scholars possesses. Even for the first two quarters that my son scheduled when he was not in Honors, he never got a class at an "irregular" time and was not closed out of anything he wanted to take.</p>
<p>I'm live in an honors dorm (Lincoln.) I enjoy it and am living here again next year. The biggest issue is between south/north/west campus, which you don't really need to worry about yet. </p>
<p>The living/learning community sounds like a good benefit of scholars, though I personally enjoy having a variety of majors as my friends. The people I know in scholars enjoy their living arrangements. </p>
<p>You should look at other schools, even if you're sure you want to go to OSU. It's not too hard to apply to several, and it's nice to have a range of choices (especially when it comes to financial issues) when you're actually making the final decision.</p>
<p>RSquare- Do you know how managable the honors and scholars is for your son? I want to work hard in college, but it's COLLEGE and I want to have fun!</p>
<p>And ya I'm definitey applying to other schools, but OSU is a perfect fit, and I can't forsee anything coming up that would change my decision, but I'm trying to keep an open mind!</p>
<p>Basically, Scholars is "Honors Lite"...that is, Scholars has a lower GPA/ACT requirement for admission. If you get into Honors (top 10%, 30 ACT) when you first apply, then you're set.</p>
<p>If you get into Honors, you get all sorts of perks (in-state tuition, more scholarships, scheduling, housing). Honors housing is mostly big suites and doubles (compared to other schools). The Honors buildings are Lincoln (big tower, suites, I liked it a lot when I visited), Bradley/Siebert (doubles), or Taylor (quads). You can also choose to live in non-Honors housing, but I don't know why you would.</p>
<p>My friends in OSU Honors are all doing pretty well (maintaining impressive GPAs while having plenty of time to do other stuff). Since you did pretty well in high school, it shouldn't be too difficult at all.</p>
<p>The Honors program (and by extension, the "Collegium") offers a lot in terms of advising/mentoring for grad school and fellowship applications. They will help nit-pick your essays, do mock interviews, etc to get your applications ready. If you do well academically and get an OSU Honors diploma, you can definitely get into a decent grad school. (Some of the prestige-minded people claim that OSU can't get you into a top/elite grad school, but I think it's possible; you'll just have to work harder for it, which is true at any other school.)</p>
<p>Honors DOES NOT mean in-state tuition rates! There is a Buckeye Scholarship for out-of-state but even if someone receives that it is only about half of the out-of-state surcharge.</p>
<p>Sorry 'bout that. MaryTN is right, the National Buckeye is $7000/year, but that combined with Provost/Maximus gets you pretty close to in-state. In the end, most out-of-staters who end up in OSU Honors would've had to pay more at their own home state school than at OSU.</p>
<p>i am a senior and i have been in the biological sciences scholars for the whole time and i think it was beneficial, it sucks though being a senior and scheduling for my last quarter at college and a freshman honors student still schedules like 2 weeks before me.</p>