'Super-Honors' Programs

College Search & Selection
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<p>I'm working with my daughter on her college list, and have come come across a couple of programs I think of as 'super-honors' programs, which are often part of the honors programs at either state universities or 'good-but-not-stellar' privates. Examples I've found are the President's Scholarship Program at Georgia Tech and the Integrated Business and Engineering honors program at Lehigh, University of Alabama also has some special programs.</p>

<p>I've tried to find more programs on the internet, CC, and the Public University Honors Programs site and book, but no luck. Is there any way, short of looking at the websites of all public colleges and scores of privates, to find out where these programs exist? If anyone knows of more, I'd love to hear about them.</p>

<p>Another issue, of course, is whether it's worthwhile to spent time applying for this programs when there is such a small chance of actually being accepted to any one of them. My daughter's stats are good: 3.8-3.9 unweighted GPA, approx. 4.5 weighted GPA (her public school limits the number of AP courses students can take), SAT total 2190 with even distribution of 700-730 for each section and she will take it again in October, no rank has her school doesn't rank but guesstimate top 10%. Her EC's are Prozdor (a 4-year post-bat mitzvah religious studies program, she graduated in May), mock trial team all four years (no leadership, she doesn't want to be co-captain as it's 95% administrative work), and six years total attendance at after-school and summer science programs. We're trying to convince her to participate in a science research program next year but I'm not sure she will. Not sure about NMF status yet, her scores are on the cusp.</p>

<p>We're still working on the colleges list but right now it looks like her reaches are Rice, Harvey Mudd, Dartmouth, possibly Williams-Amherst-Smith-Wellesley, matches are Trinity College (CT), Scripps, Case Western, possibly Bucknell- Lehigh-OOS flagships, safeties are our state flagship and University of Alabama (qualifies for full-ride).</p>

<p>Any help or advice would be welcome. </p>

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<p>Forgot to add SATII results in case it makes a difference - Math II - 780, also took Bio and Chem but results have not come in yet.</p>

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<p>It looks like you already have a good list together already. I’ll ask you since you’ll probably be bombarded with this question by many others: How much are you able to spend? Have you run NPC on these school’s websites and is the estimated net price viable for you? Also, what is her intended major? I’d assume something liberal-artsy, since she is potentially applying to several LACs.</p>

<p>I’m not 100% sure what you mean by super-honors colleges. Ohio State may be an idea. UA has a good honors college and its an overall great campus as far as I have heard.</p>

<p>If she does get NMF status though that can open a lot of doors for scholarships and more. I know USC has a half-tuition scholarship for NMFs and they also have a highly regarded honors college, but you’d have to look at the requirements to apply for that.</p>

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<p>check the UAlabama merit page. I believe your D qualifies for oos full tuition, not full ride. </p>

<p>I assume you’ve been using the websites for honors colleges rankings. I’m surprised that such good schools, such as UMich, also have honors programs.</p>

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<p>She’ll probably be a chemistry major (at least she’s starting out with that goal). Re the NPC and how much we can spend - it’s a problem, because we actually don’t know. Our situation is unusual to begin with and is further complicated by legal issues. Our EFC as estimated by the price calculator is all over the place. I’m planning to write a detailed explanation in the next couple of weeks and see if I can speak to a financial aid person (not sure where) and also consult a college financial advisor for help.</p>

<p>Michigan has a great honors program, D. was hesitant because of the weather although nothing is set in stone. She’s also interested in the honors programs at U. of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and U. of South Carolina, and possibly the Dean’s Honors Programs (science-oriented) at U Texas-Austin. I haven’t checked these closely re admission requirements yet.</p>

<p>jkeil911, I re-checked the site and it looks like she qualifies for a Presidential Scholarship which covers tuition, with another award if she qualifies in the National Merit program.</p>

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<p>I think the OP is referring to programs like UA’s UFE and CBHP. Another comes to mind is NCSU’s Park Scholars. I believe that UFE, Park, and GT’s presidential programs are all leadership and mentoring-oriented programs. CBHP is research-oriented.</p>

<p>I would suspect that many universities have programs like these. Try researching schools of interest and follow the scholarship/honors links and see what you turn up. </p>

<p>The other issue is qualifying. With GT, every applicant is automatically considered. The others listed require actually applying. NCSU’s Park Scholarship is going to look 4 major areas: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. UFE states “academic, extracurricular, service, and leadership achievements more heavily than grades and test scores… And The University Fellows Experience seeks students with a true passion for service and leadership. Those selected will pursue knowledge and action in the classroom, on the campus, in the community, and in the world.” CBHP, otoh, is based on the desire to engage in research. </p>

<p>For all of them, admission is extremely competitive. GT’s the most since, for example, all 5000 EA accepted students were automatically considered for 2013-14 applications.</p>

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<p>Since she likes mock trial, maybe Plan II at UT. She could apply to both Plan II and Dean’s Scholars. </p>

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<p>Exactly, Mom2, I think academic-oriented programs would be her best shot. Although I’ve seen DD act in leader-like ways, she’s not really a ‘leader’ as defined by being a club president, etc.</p>

<p>Lizardly, I think Dean’s Scholars would be good for her. Plan II is a great program, but she doesn’t like English and History courses (though she gets good grades in them). She realizes that most colleges have writing and distribution requirements so she’ll have to take some humanities, but she wants to limit the amount of courses she’d have to take. </p>

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<p>DBG- I wonder if you have seen this thread- <a href=“Colleges for the Jewish "B" student (Part 1) - Parents Forum - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/931514-colleges-for-the-jewish-b-student.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Although your daughter is above a B student, some of the colleges discussed have honors programs that may fit your daughter. Also, the thread has been going a while, so while some parents started with a focus on their B students, they came back to discuss siblings, some of which were A students. I think if you post some of your questions about colleges and any Jewish life there, there will be posters who might be able to inform you. </p>

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<p>The two that come into mind for me are UVA Jefferson Scholars and Northeastern University Scholars</p>

<p><a href=“University Scholars Program - Northeastern University”>http://www.northeastern.edu/universityscholars/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://www.jeffersonscholars.org/undergraduate_program/the-jefferson-scholarship/”>http://www.jeffersonscholars.org/undergraduate_program/the-jefferson-scholarship/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;