Does anyone know the general retention rate for programs like Dean’s Scholar, Health Science Scholar, etc? If a significant portion do drop out, that could explain the program’s high premed acceptance rate.
Doesn’t the fact that those accepted into the program are incredible candidates explain the high med school acceptance rate? These students would be successful at most anything they tried.
I’ve heard of a few examples where students(including valedictorians) simply flunk out or drop the program.
If most people think that Plan II is the hardest honors program, here’s the answer to that question taken from the Plan II FAQs page:
"At Plan II, we have very few issues of retention. Of around 175 students who enter Plan II Honors each year, approximately 160-165 students will graduate with a major in Plan II Honors in 4 or 5 years. In an average year, 3-8 students may be dismissed for not maintaining the minimum GPA requirement (3.25) for several semesters (usually in the spring of their second year or fall of their third year). Each year a few Plan II students will leave the University for academic, family, financial, health, or other personal reasons; a very few students will complete another major at the University, but not the Plan II Honors major. A student who leaves Plan II for another major generally finds that he or she would rather go in depth in their particular field of interest and not meet the broad curriculum requirements of Plan II Honors. "
My take is that as hard as these programs may be versus a regular course load, the fact that many/most/all your classes are smaller, more one on one time with Profs, maybe a better comradery/study group with fellow honors students helps retention. Peer support versus peer pressure. JMO