<p>I have recently toured Barrett at ASU, as well as the University of Arizona's Honors College. What I loved about Barrett is that it really is like a smaller private school with the opportunities of a bigger research school. It is very self contained, with its own buildings that all freshman are required to live in, with their own dining hall, study areas, classrooms, etc. U of A's was not as impressive. There was not really an honors COLLEGE present... just honors students. Are there any other honors colleges across the country that follow this self-contained model? I've heard that Penn State and Mississippi are also top honors colleges - are they like this?</p>
<p>Kind of like living in the “nice part” of Lynchburg, eh Barrons? ;)</p>
<p>ASU Barrett honors is a good opportunity. I know two students who had a great experience there. One is now at grad school at UCLA and the other at Yale. Have you looked at IU’s HC undergraduate grant program? I am not as familiar with it, but it has self directed options that look attractive .[HC</a> Undergraduate Grant Program](<a href=“Indiana University Bloomington”>Indiana University Bloomington)</p>
<p>so many people are ‘uppity’ about undergrad prestige…remember this though, there is hardly an undergrad school in the land that will keep you from a prestigious grad school if you are an amazing performer…</p>
<p>comments that suggest schools should be discarded simply because of rankings are missing that important point. I recommend all students transitioon to the school they feel will offer the program they want and enough intellectual surroundings to draw them to their most inspired self…</p>
<p>If you are inspired at ASU or where ever, you will do amazing things that are certain to be noticed by grad schools when that time comes. </p>
<p>If grad school is Not in your plans, your selection now makes a greater difference - never the less, YOU are the #1 reason people will notice you, not the institution whose name is on your degree…</p>
<p>Not at all. The nice part of Lynchburg is geographically large–over half the city and adjacent suburbs while Barrett is a tiny piece of ASU and the dominant culture there. L also is well located adjacent to the Blue Ridge mountains and beautiful countryside of Central Va. How nice is it–see my photos</p>
<p>Gee Barrons…The OP liked what they saw and was asking for advice on similar programs. But, I guess one shouldn’t make judgements based on snarky, flippant comments after all? </p>
<p>(I’ve been to Lynchburg. Thanks but no thanks.)</p>
<p>I think such “colleges” at second and third tier schools are a band-aid to cover massive overall educational short-comings. That was the advice I was giving–reconsider such cardboard cutout “colleges”.</p>
<p>Thanks, but I’m not really interested in criticisms of a school that I liked. I am aware of ASU’s reputation - believe me; most kids at my school are diehard U of A fans - but I did see a difference in the culture at Barrett when I visited. I have heard nothing but good things about it. I was simply asking for similar programs around the country- because I like the idea of the program but am not a huge fan of the state of Arizona itself.</p>
<p>Honors colleges can be a great choice for those attending a larger school. Honors colleges offer valuable perks and let you meet some of the top students at your college. However they are often oversold with glossy pamphlets implying a small LAC has been set up inside the larger university giving ann elite private education at the public school price. On this forum you’ll read posters who also say/imply that.</p>
<p>Depending on the program offerings may range from separate honors classes to taking just one honors seminar per semester. And some of the “honors” offerings may just be a special discussion section of the regular class (at many U’s you meet 2-3x a week in a large class with the prof, then everyone meets weekly in a discussion section with a TA). You really need to dig in to find what a particular school offers.</p>
<p>Keep in mind honors programs typically offer the small classes and hand-picked profs only the 1st two years of college. They can do this because doesn’t take that many classes to come up with a set that will meet the lower-division requirements for most majors. It is rare to find more than a token amount of upper-division classes since the honors program simply doesn’t have enough faculty members to create entire major(s). So the last two years most/all classes are taken with the rest of the students in the regular U’s classes. The teaching of the profs will be geared towards the normal U level, the discussions and student involvement in class will be dominated by the regular students, and so on. Class sizes may balloon, too, if you’re in a popular major.</p>
<p>Since the OP is lauding Barrett, so its worth keeping in mind what they say on their website
In other words Barrett is able to supply about 1/4 of the classes you take; the rest are in the regular U. I’d bet they are the upper-division classes for particular majors, because as I mentioned the “Honors Colleges” typically aren’t really colleges in the sense of having their own set of faculty and majors.</p>
<p>Back to talking about honors colleges in general, peer effects are big; when almost everyone around you at school is a strong student you have lots of examples in class or outside to model after. If the top kids are a few hundred strong dispersed among tens of thousands at the U then strong examples may be harder to see. When it comes to finding a job, employers are less likely to send recruiters to a campus with a limited number of honors seniors when they can get a campus-full at more highly regarded schools.</p>
<p>Honors colleges do offer some valuable perks, in addition to the classes. Typical ones include registering for classes before everyone else so you get the classes you want (a perk worth its weight in gold!), special counselors, guaranteed housing, special library privileges. They will mark your diploma with special recognition. But I would be dubious about attending a college for its honors program in place of a more highly regarded U if finances are not an issue.</p>
<p>DachshundLover - my oldest daughter went to Barrett - she and her fellow Barrett graduates have been extremely successful getting into grad schools, which I happen to think is one of the most important tests of a school. She got into all the top law schools and when she went to the admitted student days, she saw other Barrett graduates - and these schools are all here on the east coast.</p>
<p>But I think your question was about other Honor colleges - we are from the east and with my younger daughter - about to attend Dartmouth - we saw a number of honor colleges UNH, Northeastern, Boston College. They all sounded pretty good to me, but I am not sure they isolated the students as much as Barrett.</p>
<p>My son attends Barrett and loves it. So do we. Funny, most of the kids from his high school love U of A too. But the culture at Barrett is great so far.</p>
<p>FlagMom - Can you elaborate? What makes the cultural better?</p>
<p>Schreyer at Penn State is not completely self contained, but close. 32 credits of honors courses are required. There is separate housing, separate Dean, etc.</p>
<p>I just think that Barrett’s a place where in general, most of the students are high achievers and care about learning. They are motivated types of kids and while sure, they want to have fun at school, they are mindful about academics. The staff, advisors, and faculty have been very supportive.</p>
<p>Not exactly an honors college, but if you like that college within a college experience, consider Oxford College of Emory University. It’s a 2 year liberal arts school located about 40 miles away from the main Druid Hills campus. After finishing that, students go on to the main campus where they take their upper division classes. Emory certainly has a better reputation than ASU (but a much steeper price!), and the students at Oxford are, on average just as qualified (in terms of GPA + ACT/SAT), if not more so, than their peers at Barrett.</p>
<p>Regarding what was said in post #9 about majors and upper division courses, do you know if you intended or possible major(s) are known as “rigorous” majors or “gut” majors at ASU? That can make a substantial difference in how intellectually oriented your fellow students in upper division courses will be. Note that the “rigorous” majors and “gut” majors are not necessarily the same at different universities. It is even theoretically possible for the same major to be both, depending on the choice of in-major electives.</p>