<p>DS ia in Honors Program at Ohio State. He took honors classes his first year in engineering. He liked it and made some great friends. He chose housing in an engineering learning community rather than general honors housing. I don’t think he felt it hampered his social or intellectual growth to be in a non-honors dorm. There seem to be lots of opportunities thrown his way and not nearly enough time to engage in most. I think the priority registration is still his favorite perk. Probabaly because of his major, he doesn’t spend much time with kids who are not academically successful.</p>
<p>For me personally, I prefer the better overall education rather than a small program for smart kids in a bigger institution, which I know everyone can’t afford. Plus, really smart kids think on a different level than other people, So I think they’d be happier in a school where they can relate to the majority of their peers.</p>
<p>I know that you don’t necessarily mean “test scores” but in reality, it’s high test scores that gets these kids accepted to a school where everyone is really smart. These schools aren’t just taking these kids “word for it” that they’re smart…they’re being admitted because of their stats. </p>
<p>I know that you used the example of discussion in a literature class. You’re right that more highly intelligent people will likely have a deeper discussion. That’s why honors courses exist. By taking an honors version, your classmates are smart like you are. Honors courses are often more “seminar-like” and discussion based. They’re small in size and sometimes everyone sits around a conference table instead of desks. </p>
<p>That’s the purpose of an honors college.</p>
<p>My son is in an honors college that is amazing. The honors kids stay in the same dorm as the scholarship athletes with all of the same perks. All 150 of the honors students are given free housing in two or four room furnished suites with kitchens where they share a bathroom with only one other person. Most of the honors students have substantial merit scholarships in addition to the housing. They have mentors and they can borrow their books instead of buying them. The academic environment is superior with small classes and professor interaction.</p>
<p>“Did he/she find that their Honors College experience met their hopes and expectations?”</p>
<p>-D. has graduated from UG, in Honors at state school. She is at Med. School with mostly kids from Ivy’s and other elite schools. Her experiences at her UG went well beyond our expectations (in addition to being on full tuition+ Merit scholarships). She went back to visit several times even after starting at Med. School. She said she is missing her UG’s campus, aweosme rec. center…etc.</p>
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<p>I understand what you mean by this, but I don’t think it really represents reality for most kids. My son goes to a very selective LAC (Amherst) where these “smart” kids are the norm. He doesn’t relate any better or any worse to those kids than he does to the students at our regional public univ. where he has also taken classes. Kids are relate to new friends for lots of reasons, but “who’s smartest” isn’t usually one of them… at least I hope not.</p>
<p>Class discussions will vary from class to class in one school as much as they’ll vary from school to school. It depends on the topic, the interest level of the students, the professor, etc.</p>
<p>My D is at the honors college at UOregon. Although she had higher grades and test scores than my son did when they each applied to college, she chose to apply to her school because she found the larger college with all its opportunities and activities more to her liking. Being in the honors college, her classes there were small and filled with those “smart” kids, but in her major classes she has also found just as high quality conversation. Once kids get into the upper division classes in their majors, I don’t think you’ll see a visible difference in the quality of conversation.</p>
<p>While my son at Amherst is a very strong student and I love him and I’m tremendously proud of him, my daughter is certainly the more naturally intellectual of the two. She visited a variety of colleges, and she turned out to be quite right that UOregon’s honors college was going to be the place where she could do the most things, get the most interesting work opportunities, have the greatest breadth of classes to choose from, and really hone in on her special areas of interest. There are no shortage of other kids just like her at public universities all over the country.</p>
<p>Folks - please do mention the colleges your kids went to when you discuss their experience so we have a reference for the college and PM you if one is interested in that specific college.</p>
<p>Question about University of Oregon Honors:</p>
<p>I looked at the website and am still confused. This seems to be normal for me ;)</p>
<p>If a student is accepted into Clarks, but is out of state, do WUE tuition rates apply or not? It doesn’t look like it, but I would be delighted to be wrong about this!</p>
<p>^^
Can you provide the link?</p>
<p>What state are you in? What are your stats?</p>
<p>Clark HC</p>
<p>The University of Oregon participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program as part of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. The CHC has been allotted five of the University of Oregon’s WUE awards to distribute each year to its incoming freshman* class. These awards differ from the University of Oregon’s WUE scholarships in that they are given out on the basis of demonstrated financial need and are not bound by an applicants’ declared major. No separate application is needed. Consideration for these scholarship awards will be given to all students who submit completed UO and CHC applications for admission and supporting documents. Applicants must meet the WUE’s state requirement and complete the FAFSA. </p>
<p>[Tuition</a> & Financial Aid | Robert D. Clark Honors College](<a href=“http://honors.uoregon.edu/content/tuition-financial-aid]Tuition”>Tuition & Financial Aid | UO Clark Honors College)</p>
<p>It looks like there are 5 WUE awards…it looks like the 5 winners pay 150% of the instate Clark rate (which is higher than normal instate) …Clark instate is $12,023.25 …so 150% of that would be about: $18k per year for tuition alone (plus room, board, books, etc). That’s a lot. </p>
<p>What is your budget? What are your other options?</p>
<p>What are your stats?</p>
<p>oops, cross post, sorry!</p>
<p>So, it looks like WUE is possible, but limited and given out in scholarship form?
Without WUE, cost of honors college is quite steep as an OOS.</p>
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</p>
<p>[2011-2012</a> Tuition and Fees | Office of the Registrar](<a href=“How Much Will It Cost? | Office of the Registrar”>How Much Will It Cost? | Office of the Registrar)</p>
<p>[Tuition</a> & Financial Aid | Robert D. Clark Honors College](<a href=“http://honors.uoregon.edu/content/tuition-financial-aid]Tuition”>http://honors.uoregon.edu/content/tuition-financial-aid)</p>
<p>[Western</a> Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) | Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships](<a href=“http://financialaid.uoregon.edu/western_undergraduate_exchange_scholarship]Western”>Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) | Financial Aid & Scholarships)</p>
<p>Student is a junior, stats are in the works.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Clark’s tuition is higher…$12k for instate…so WUE rate would be $18k. Not are real bargain. And, certainly not a bargain if you don’t get one of the 5 scholarships!!</p>
<p>And, it looks like the 5 WUE awards are “need based”. Do you have high need? If not, then not likely going to get one.</p>
<p>without WUE…OOS at Clark is $31k for tuition alone! wow!</p>
<p>Since your son is a junior, I suggest that he study for the PSAT, try to do well there. That can yield generous scholarships.</p>
<p>Thanks, mom2. I guess I was a little in denial with the sticker shock of Clark’s as an OOS not eligible for need based. Okay, cross that one of the list. booh!</p>
<p>Don’t think NMF is in the cards for this student.</p>
<p>My dd turned down UMCP scholars life science program. UMCP is funny about how they give out honors vs. scholars imo. Sometimes it makes sense and sometimes it does not. The candidates scores overlap. The scholars program is only two years and living and learning community is only one year. Campus housing is only guaranteed until sophmore year. Honors is a four year progam and students do get special honors level classes but not all their classes will be this way. For the most part these programs are good to get like minded kids together and then let them do what they will after freshman or sophmore years. </p>
<p>I graduated from MD and I was not happy with the large classes even into senior year. I also was not happy with off campus housing 26 years ago and feel it is even worse now. I am pretty sure that is why they are offering that over priced off campus housing they have now. To be honest housing was the biggest problem I had with MD. Also, when I went to MD you had to show your drivers license to take a test which was mostly multiple choice. You grades were posted on a long list by last four digits of your SS#. I felt like a number. </p>
<p>My bother and I were both commenting on this honors stamping of diplomas at our public colleges. We both came the same conclusion that they have water down academics so much over the years that they wanted show a way that these honors kids really had the stuff. </p>
<p>We decided to send dd to The Honors College of Maryland were everyone is an honors student. Who knows but atleast she will have small discussion based classes in a STEM program. She will also have guaranteed housing for four years.</p>
<p>Just LOOOOOVE this thread, thank you all SOOO much for sharing your stories. </p>
<p>My daughter is in a 4-year district-wide honors program in our school district (2 high schools) that is considered very prestigious and has a lot of the perks described in these college programs (except the housing obviously LOL) and I have unfortunately been HIGHLY disappointed with it. Cannot recommend it to my neighbors whose kids ask about it. We were sold on it expecting MUCH more going for it than I’ve seen, and it is NOT valued within the separate schools. ANYWAY, it really is nice to hear that at least some of these college programs are actually what they profess to be!</p>
<p>We’re looking closely at Pitt, if anyone else wants to offer endorsements (or detractions). Thanks.</p>
<p>So, I have a one whole day of experience as a parent of a student at the University of Missouri (Mizzou) who is in the Honors College. Can I chime in?</p>
<p>Mizzou has a special Honors College Day on campus in the summer before senior year that lays out the benefits of being an HC student and Honors College Evenings in St. Louis, Kansas City, Dallas and Chicago–the top four cities for Mizzou enrollment.</p>
<p>HC students can live in several honors Freshman Interest Groups in different majors. A FIG is a residential living group and the students take three of the same classes first semester. Our son opted to be in a Math & Science Learning Community rather than an HC FIG because of the suite-style room.</p>
<p>Other Mizzou HC features: designated advisors from the start (that sped up the summer registration process considerably), smaller freshman and sophomore HC classes (DS2 is in Honors Calculus II this semester), seminar classes on unique subjects (DS2 is taking “The Science Wars,” a class with physics, chemistry and biology majors to discuss science for 90 minutes each week) and research opportunities. </p>
<p>There are no specific HC scholarships, but most HC students qualify for merit aid of $2000 to $3500. Admittance requires a 29 on the ACT. The average ACT score of this year’s freshman class is 25.7. (Saw that today in the news.)</p>
<p>When I was a student at Mizzou, the Honors College was just forming, but 35 years later, I can remember two of the HC classes I took that I absolutely loved: Pulitzer Prize Winners in American Literature and Sports and Society. Great classes, great professors and great discussion. </p>
<p>As others have mentioned, an Honors College in a large state flagship can provide the best of both worlds–challenging classes with like-minded students and the “rah-rah” school spirit and traditions.</p>
<p>Yeah, once you’re paying out-of-state tuition in most states you’re getting into pretty big bucks. For us (in-state in Oregon) Clark Honors College has turned out to be pretty affordable. My daughter has a scholarship from CHC, one from UO, and another from one of her minor departments – the latter is the biggest one, oddly, but they are all generous.</p>
<p>The scholarship element is an important part of this theme all around, though, isn’t it? I know there aren’t full-rides for everyone, but I’d like to think that if you are considering a school where you are in the highest level of stats, you would be eligible for some good merit money.</p>
<p>As I’ve said, my D is going to the HC at a private University. Her main reason for going there is the major (auditioned arts program) but they were extremely generous with merit money because she was a very strong academic candidate, and the HC made the liberal arts piece very attractive.</p>
<p>We’ve seen pros on this thread like broad research opportunities, campus life (if someone wants big, rah-rah, which many kids do), and a mix of peers and other experiences, but often a scholarship is part of the appeal, too. I would wonder if the cost ends up the same, how many kids would still go to a school where they are far above the usual stats, even with an Honors College. Fit is THE most important thing, but this is where the question arises of how many kids feel the fit is BETTER in an HC than in a school where the student body is more homogeneous. </p>
<p>I don’t have a pre-conceived notion - I’m curious.</p>
<p>There is even a fit for kids that want an honors college or program but don’t want to feel separated from the student body as a whole. The University of Illinois is one such place. They are adamant about having a strong (CHP) honors program and about not restricting honors students from association with the rest of the students. Therefore, there is no honors housing at UIUC. I believe UW Madison and UM Twin Cities are similar in this respect.</p>
<p>Anyone know anything about Creighton University honors program?</p>
<p>As another poster inquired, any info on ASU’s Barrett Honors college?</p>