<p>Hi, I was recently admitted to the u of mn honors program for the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) and was given an invitation to the "Red Carpet Days" for future honors freshman at the CLA. For all of you past U of MN CLA honors students, i have a few questions about the CLA honors program and the Red Carpet Days: what do i need wear/bring to the CLA Red Carpet Days? is it casual? casual dress (jeans and nice shirt)? nice dress (dress pants, dress shoes, and dress shirt)? or "dress-dress" (dress pants, dress shoes, dress pants, and dress tie)? i know the honors living learning community is at middlebrook, but i'm wondering what it's like there--are all honors students (ones in CLA, engineering, business school, etc) at the honors LLC at middlebrook? is the LLC at middlebrook a mix of all grades and schools, or will an honors freshman at CLA be only paired with another honors freshman in CLA? is the honors LLC at middlebrook really competitive--like it would be at, say, harvard, stanford, etc? because middlebrook is on the westbank--pretty far from everything else--is it too far to get the "freshman experience?"</p>
<p>No idea, but how long after you were accepted did you know you were in the honors program? I think I was rejected but I have no idea.</p>
<p>I applied the first week of october and got an email for the honors program the first week of January and an official letter in mail on Friday, January 20th. I don’t think finding out matters when you apply as they have to send it out by around now because the first red carpet thing is the second week in february. I’m thinking that you prbly weren’t accepted into it, but i read that you can apply for the honors program after you start each school year (within the first month or so).</p>
<p>Well, that’s too bad. I’m just glad I got into the U haha. Thanks and good luck</p>
<p>Hi,
I found this post because I’m a current CLA Honors student that’s working at the event and I couldn’t remember when it was, hahaha…
Anyway:</p>
<p>1) Definitely not dress-dress. Some people will be wearing jeans and teeshirts…there are always people wearing jeans at college. You will be in a fancy club room (I think) because they really want to impress you, so you might feel more at home in khakis or dress pants. Just dress however you feel comfortable. I’d say jeans and nice shirt is fine.<br>
2) Middlebrook has 12 floors. 1-4 is the International LLC, 5-9 is Honors and 10-12 is Arts. There are about 70 kids per floor? There are just under 500 freshmen in Honors soooooo 70*5 = 350. Therefore most Honors kids are in Middlebrook…a few opt to live in the other dorms, a few commute.<br>
3) It is definitely a stronger and more defined LLC than most other Honors LLCs in other colleges, so don’t listen to what your high school friends might say about LLCs at their colleges. Your floor is 100% freshmen (plus Community Advisors), mix of all colleges, but your roommate (unless you specify a high school buddy or whatever) is guaranteed to be in your same college.<br>
4) I will say that Honors in general tends to run towards College of Science and Engineering/College of Biology Science/College of Food Animal and Natural Sciences blah blah Science…and a lot of these people take their intro courses together. They quickly form Intro Physics study groups and such that you will not get invited to. CLA is huge and varied so you will not have core classes in common with anyone and you may be frustrated you don’t have this same sense of community. It’s totally there though! Just sign up for an Honors seminar and make sure you go to the floor bonding events.<br>
5) If by competitive you mean smart…then yes, there are a billion National Merit Scholars running around who have done some seriously intimidating things. But overall there is a sense of healthy “springboard” competition…ie I applied for and got an internship, so my roommate had to apply for one too, and now we’re both all happy and our resumes kick butt. We are generally really supportive and appreciative of each other and our tastes run pretty intellectual (geeky)…expect late night Doctor Who/Colbert Report/Lord of the Rings marathons. If that’s not your thing you may be happier in another dorm.<br>
6) I still haven’t figured out what the “freshmen experience” is. I will tell you some of the advantages specific to Middlebrook…it is much closer to downtown (downtown is on West Bank in case you didn’t realize) and I think the Honors community really loves to take advantage of that (some of the things I’ve done: clubbing, Guthrie Theater, ice skating, planetarium, Mall of America, science museum, Hard Times Cafe, antique malls, Museum of Russian Art). The West Bank neighborhood specifically is much less of a dorm neighborhood and more of a young adult cultural/arts hotspot, so if you are into trying new foods, teaching kids to speak English (ADORBS), music festivals, etc, you will really enjoy it. If you want to wait a year or two before jumping out of your comfort zone like that you might like the East Bank dorms (this is I think more of a traditional freshmen experience…nearby restaurants cater specifically to college students, are run by college students, are full of college students, etc). Obviously I have fallen in love with the West Bank but it is not for everyone…I’m trying hard to give you a good general picture here!
Middlebrook does have all the freshmen community events that the other dorms have (some of them are fun…like the dining hall is open for breakfast from like 9pm to 2am during finals…some of them are extremely lame…you’ll see…no matter what college you go to, there will be lame). </p>
<p>Wow, I hope this helps! Feel free to ask for clarification!</p>
<p>We are signed up for this, thank you for the information.</p>
<p>Middlebrook is so far away from everything, it’s really inconvenient since most classes are on East Bank…in the winter… I’m so glad I live on East Bank haha
Only the St. Paul campus Bailey hall would be more inconvenient.
Think about where your classes are going to be. Assuming you’re in CLA, a lot if not ALL of them will be on East bank.</p>
<p>Have most of the honors program and scholarships been awarded? My son was invited to the Honors Preview over the summer and we were surprisingly impressed so he applied was accepted into the CSE. He hasn’t heard anything since being accepted in Nov. Do many of those honors preview candidates actually get into the honors program or is it just a big sales pitch? Haven’t heard too much on this site lately on the topic but I would have thought he would have heard by now so I’m thinking he didn’t get in. I know it’s very competitive and there are a ton of smart kids out there, but getting into honors was a major factor in determining if he goes to the U - we see it as a way to open doors for research opportunities and perhaps make a big university smaller.</p>
<p>He was accepted into other schools that he liked so it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but we did like the U’s Honor Program. Oh well.</p>
<p>Interpretthis, what is the ADORBS thing? What’s it like? That seems interesting, but is there something I have to do to volunteer for it, like have a degree in another language? </p>
<p>Also, nationals rot scholars??? That’s a little intimidating, as I live in MN (so all I took was the ACT) and got only a 30, compared to national merit scholars who got perfects on their SATs…
So am I reading this correctly: only a fellow CLA freshman will Be in the same room as me, and only Freshman on my floor?
Asking for you personally, did you become pretty close with your roommate? </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Hahahaha, “adorbs” is my horribly awkward slang for adorable. I won’t do it again, promise. There are so many options for volunteer/internships/work here, even if you don’t have your degree…the U has a Service Learning Center where you just go in and check boxes off of what you’re interested in, then meet with an advisor, then they pick stuff out that you’d like. (I’m sure most colleges have programs like this…but since college is really what you make of it, take advantage of this kind of stuf!)<br>
I work at the Brian Coyle Community Center because I checked off that I’m comfortable with kids and immigrants/it’s a 3 minute walk from my dorm - check it out here: [Youth</a> and Teens](<a href=“http://puc-mn.org/NeighborhoodCenters/BrianCoyleCenter/YouthTeens/tabid/151/Default.aspx]Youth”>http://puc-mn.org/NeighborhoodCenters/BrianCoyleCenter/YouthTeens/tabid/151/Default.aspx).</p>
<p>I know it sounds hard to believe, but once you get to college, ACT DOES NOT MATTER. There are always people that will introduce themselves with “Hi I’m ____ and I took ___ AP/IB credits in high school and got a ____ on my ____”. But you don’t have to be their friend, hahaha (I’m not). Most of them stopped doing this after the first week anyway…after that they become normal…</p>
<p>Other people have done intimidating stuff (in labs and such) but there’s no need to feel intimidated by them…be proud of them and use them in your study groups, hahaha…In my personal experience, I am an art kid who struggled with standardized tests (never broke 30…), and I feel like a princess here. In college, regardless of what college you go to, it’s much easier to use and get appreciation for your own unique talents. </p>
<p>Yes - you’re reading that correctly! There is the “new addition” that I forgot to mention earlier that has honors sophomores, but you don’t need to interact with them if you don’t want to. </p>
<p>Naokifresh brings up a good point - when you visit, make sure to check out Middlebrook on foot or by bus (about 3 minute bus ride?). Personally, walking/biking over the Mississippi every morning and night is my dream commute, but you definitely need to judge for yourself. If they don’t build it into your activities then take an extra hour before you leave to check it out. </p>
<p>My roommate and I don’t have much in common but she has been an absolute dream to live with. It’s like…we probably wouldn’t have been friends if we weren’t roommates, but now we love our room and each other and and have a ton of inside jokes. We will probably be living together next year, woohoo!</p>
<p>Another novel, hahaha…feel free to ask more questions!</p>
<p>Haha. I thought ADORBS was an acronym. After readin mine, i meant to say “national merit scholars” not “nationals rot scholars.”… Ok, thanks for the information!</p>
<p>Another question, though. Do you think the honors program is really worth it? Are all the studying and hard classes worth the (suma/magna) cum laude honors? Are the honors “incentives” like small classes and “private” forums just for honors students worth the time and stress? These incentives seem pretty cool, but I don’t know if it’s worth it…</p>
<p>Eh…I don’t think people should structure their life around being in honors, but if they are getting above a 3.5 and such, then why not? I almost dropped it this semester because none of the CLA honors classes seemed interesting (you have to take 2 honors courses per year, I think?) but decided not to cause it ended up working out. </p>
<p>They will sell it to you hardcore at the Red Carpet Event…but remember that you don’t NEED to be in honors in order to go places in life. They will also talk about their excellent blah blah so good top rated honors advising system, but I have met with my adviser 2x and was not impressed with either meeting…partially because I am completely undecided on a major, so there’s only so far she can go before I start rolling my eyes. That’s my bad though.</p>
<p>In my personal opinion (please no one be offended by my personal opinions):
Professors are more engaged with Honors students/classes…though this may be because of factors other than honors designation. It definitely has weight within the university though. </p>
<p>LOVED my honors seminar last semester. Hands down the most fulfilling experience I’ve had at college. 11 kids in the class. Made 2 of my best friends there. Kept in touch with most of the others. You can technically still take honors classes without being IN the honors program…yeah, I’m like 90% sure…no one does it, but if for some reason you’re out of honors and you still want to take an honors class I think they let you. </p>
<p>Honors housing = good situation. Again, I think (?) you can still apply to live there if you aren’t in honors…would be awkward though…</p>
<p>Bottom line is that you should DEFINITELY start in the honors program and see how it goes for you. People drop out all the time, midsemester, whatever, there’s no penalization and no one judges you. You can reapply at any point too (but to graduate with honors you need to be in by sophomore year?). This may explain the technical stuff better: [Honors</a> Experience Requirements - University Honors Program](<a href=“http://honors.umn.edu/experiences/requirements/]Honors”>http://honors.umn.edu/experiences/requirements/)</p>
<p>Woohoo go gophers!</p>
<p>Any suggestions for accommodations for Red Carpet day? We will be flying in early Saturday morning hoping to have time to get a sense of the school, city, campus. Would love to stay somewhere on campus, or even better, near where the honors dorms are located so my D can get a sense of what it’d be like walking around there.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Well I don’t seem to have the technical skills to delete the prior pst, so I will just apologize for not checking before posting that question! I will also share that the university hotel on campus has a visitor rate of $104 and change for the Sunday night of our Red Carpet day.</p>
<p>The university’s hotel is a good choice (was The Radisson up until last year - guess they officially own it now??). Don’t be too put off by the construction on Washington Ave (putting in a lightrail there) on the front side of the hotel - there are still pedestrian paths around and all the businesses are open. Guests also get free access to our Rec Center, if you want to get in a work out session there and see what it’s like (they’re building an addition to that, too, which will open fall '13). So, the construction may look overwhelming but it’s all on or ahead of schedule (mild winter) and it doesn’t really restrict access to anything. </p>
<p>The Holiday Inn is the closest to honors housing (on West Bank) but not on campus or particularly close to anything college-y. </p>
<p>Other visitor information from my freshman CLA perspective:::
(I am also an out-of-stater so apologies that I sound like such a dorky tourist)::: </p>
<p>Everything is pretty dead on Saturdays during the day…as in, you won’t see the student body in action…but do check out Dinkytown (college town where a lot of the action is) on East Bank. Annie’s Parlour is delicious and not an embarrassing place to be seen with mom and dad…be sure to split a malt. Also Punch Pizza is good, which is not in Dinkytown but very close to the University Hotel. </p>
<p>Weisman Art Museum is on campus and free admission. And the Walker is downtown (with sculpture garden…yes, that’s where the big spoon and cherry are!). </p>
<p>If you’re into theater, the Guthrie Theater downtown is also putting on End of the Rainbow, which is off to Broadway in March, blah blah 5 stars don’t miss! Not as depressing as the summary sounds…Guthrie is also open all the time for public viewing because the architecture and views are fabulous, so if you don’t want to spend a ton of $$$ or even if you aren’t into theater, you should still check out the Endless Bridge and Amber Box. </p>
<p>Of course there’s our neighborhood Mall of America (amusement park is pricey but worth going once in a lifetime…during Welcome Week there is a night where it is closed to the public so all the U of M freshmen can have really awkward bonding experiences on the rollercoasters) and downtown is Nicollet Mall. No clothing tax. ;)</p>
<p>Ice skating at the Depot downtown…</p>
<p>If you like food and you end up downtown, I recommend the Old Spaghetti Factory. It’s definitely family friendly. </p>
<p>If you’re outdoorsy, there’s Midwest Mountaineering (West Bank) for shopping, gorgeous lakes, #1 bike friendly city in America, etc etc etc and part of our campus is in National Park boundaries, so definitely check out the river trails. [Mississippi</a> National River and Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)](<a href=“http://www.nps.gov/miss/index.htm]Mississippi”>Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service))</p>
<p>Mill City Museum is for history buffs and/or anyone that likes beautiful views…Mill Ruins Park and Stone Arch Bridge is what you see on Minneapolis post cards. </p>
<p>Science Museum…</p>
<p>If you need a space to hang out and not do anything (do homework), check out Coffman (our student union) or Rapson (architecture building) or Walter (library). </p>
<p>I just wrote another novel…well…hope it helps! Safe travels everyone!</p>
<p>Interpretthis, thanks for your help. And sujormilk, see ya there!</p>
<p>Same as you, accepted to CLE but nothing re: honors or scholarships. Do we assume no on both? The website says they send Honors decisions in March; obviously not entirely true…Has anyone gotten a deny letter from Honors, do they send those out?</p>
<p>Been a bit awol, but looking forward to heading up tomorrow morning, hoping for food and then she wants the Mall of America. Interpret, I sent you an email, please text me!! Billium, where are you staying and do you have a S or a D? Wanna hang out?</p>
<p>We want to go somewhere fun (maybe?) to watch the Academy Awards Sunday night (can’t miss that!) if anyone visiting is game…</p>