<p>Our son's status for UMN just changed to "very carefully considered, so we expect to be hearing something soon. When do they provide information on the National Scholarship (we are OOS) or the Presidential scholarship? Will that come in the initial packet or should we expect the timing to be later?</p>
<p>Also, when do announcements come out about the Honors programs?</p>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>mtown27 - these are exciting times for you and your son. We are in state and went through this process 2 years ago - though I remember it like it was yesterday.</p>
<p>U of MN has the best mailing envelopes - no need to hold this one up to the light! </p>
<p>Snail mail dates - acceptance on Nov 8, Honors admission letter on Nov 24 and Prez & Bentson scholarship letter on Feb 17 (If I recall, this was later than most and I think the out of state kids received theirs much earlier.)</p>
<p>Enjoy the process!</p>
<p>mtown27…Our D1 is a sophomore at UMinn, so I’m not sure if the timing of everything has changed or not but here is our experience. She received her admission acceptance in early November, but I don’t think they normally include any scholarship offers with that letter. Her scholarship offer was apparently mailed out in the last week of November but got delayed somewhere in the postal system. We called admissions just to see when she might expect to hear something and they were kind enough to tell us over the phone what she had been offered (we finally got the mail in the letter several days later). Her invitation to join Honors was the last to arrive, and IIRC that was towards the end of December. I believe Honors invites are done by the particular colleges though (she is in CBS) so there was a pretty wide variation on how and when students were notified. Some got a letter in the mail (like us) while others saw it on their Application Tracker page first. D1’s App Tracker page didn’t show anything about Honors until late spring even though the letter came in December. Since it sounds like your son’s application is about on the same timeline as our D’s was, I’d suspect you’ll have all your answers by Christmas at the latest and hopefully earlier than that at least for scholarships.</p>
<p>If your S is seriously considering UMinn, I’d recommend he submit his Housing application as soon as they become available online sometime this month. Keep checking the Housing website for more specific dates. If your S is interested in the Honors LLC in Middlebrook, he can list that as his first preference even if he hasn’t gotten an Honors invite yet (our D did this). I believe the LLC is guaranteed for Honors students if they request it, but regardless of what his preference is I think it’s worth the $25 fee to give him the best shot at whichever dorm he might prefer. Good Luck to you and your S!!</p>
<p>Our son is a freshman at the U in CSE and is in the Honors Program. He applied in Sept 2011 and was accepted to the U in early November via snail mail. He didn’t hear he about getting into the honors program and scholarships until early March 2011 via phone (followed up by snail mail)! I know a high school classmate of his was accepted to CBS and was notified about honors/scholarships much earlier, in December - but he was a national merit scholar and my son was not. I’m not sure if my son heard later because of the college or because he was a borderline candidate (probably both, I suspect) but it doesn’t matter. He got in, loves the U and living at Middlebrook. He is taking honors physics, honors calculus, and honors computer science and they are very challenging. He feels he’s getting as “good of an education as your average ivy league”. By the way, Middlebrook only has 3 floors of honors housing - it also has international and theater students. So it’s more eclectic than we expected but he loves it, even though all of his classes are across the river from his dorm. Good luck everyone!</p>
<p>Great news – DS was accepted today to CSE. You’re right that they don’t leave much suspense with their envelopes. Thank you, Kajon, Wolverine86, and Cutzhaus for your replies – especially the advice about housing.</p>
<p>Congrats to you and your S mtown!! I hope he chooses UMinn…I don’t think he’ll regret it. D1 absolutely loves the school, and we as parents haven’t found anything yet that we don’t love either. Hope you hear soon on the scholarships and Honors. GO GOPHERS!!</p>
<p>One more question: it appears that, though there’s only one Honor’s program, freshman admission to the UHP is based on the top students from each college. Thus, it would seem to be harder (higher stats required) to get into Honor’s from CSE than from CLA. Do I have that right?</p>
<p>mtown27 - just in case you have not seen this, here is a link showing admitted freshman into Honors. (note profile at bottom and remember these are averages not minimums)</p>
<p>[Honors</a> Program Review and Selection Process](<a href=“http://admissions.tc.umn.edu/honors/review.html]Honors”>University Honors Program | Office of Admissions)</p>
<p>Exactly my point, Kajon – it appears that it is harder to get into UHP from CSE than from CLA. Do I have that right? It just seems odd since it is a university-wide program. </p>
<p>Another school we’re looking at – Rutgers – has a separate honors program for each school, so it’s understandable that the criteria for admission vary.</p>
<p>My son was admitted on 10/21 . . . as of yesterday, there is another box under the admissions acceptance saying that he was admitted to UHP and the letter is in the mail (not sure how long it’s said that though.) He is also CSE.</p>
<p>Thanks, Mommydearest. May I ask your son’s Gpa and test scores? My son has a 3.96 weighted Gpa (mostly Honors and AP), a 3.58 UW Gpa, and a 34 ACT. His HS does not rank. Having access to an Honor’s program, especially in a large school, is an important (but not essential factor) in his decision.</p>
<p>Sent you a PM</p>
<p>Just saw this thread and checked application tracker for D. She also is accepted to honors(CSE)! She applied 8/31, was accepted 10/23, though received NMF scholarship offer and invites to events starting early October. We’re in WI, going to visit in 2 weeks. At first she was kind of negative about Twin Cities, but is changing her mind now, even before the visit. She ends up liking every place we look at. I think Twin Cities is a wonderful place.</p>
<p>celesteroberts - congrats to your D. I agree that a visit would be a great idea. if you are while classes are in session, you could take a bus between east and west bank (honors dorm is on west bank) or better yet…walk the pedestrian bridge- which is what most kids do. It is kind of fun and you will note that the number of organizations to join is limitless. For lunch, we always enjoy burgers or sandwiches and old fashioned malts at Annies Parlor in Dinkytown.</p>
<p>My son is a 2nd year Elect Eng student and he loved Middlebrook. I thought the best part was that his honors calc and honors physic courses had weekly study groups right at Middlebrook. For our visit, we set up a meeting with the Honors program and were very impressed. My son has enjoyed amazing Honor’s professors and the Honor’s advisor for engineering is unbelievably talented.</p>
<p>Kajon, Oh thanks. It’s funny how the high stats kids like to diss the big state schools and everyone feels like they really should be going to a top-20 school to impress people. Then mid-senior year, financial reality sets in, and their attitude changes as they talk it over with one another. My D is pretty lucky, can get scholarships at lots of places because of NMSF and stats, but so many families trying to figure out how to pay full price at in-state schools, feel really bad for people. I’ve been telling her all the big state schools have honors programs that take good care of the kids these days and there is such a broad spectrum, plenty of really bright kids. To see what students/classes are like she will sit in on honors seminars, multivar calc, etc, in addition to the music classes and tour. She wants oboe as a second major and Middlebrook is across street from music bldg, so ideal, and has an arts community as well as honors community. Trying to arrange a tour of Middlebrook. I don’t understand the room description. What is a 2-person suite? Is the 2nd room the bath? Any singles in honors? My husband got PhD at MN, and we used to visit a lot. She’s been to all the zoos, museums, parks a million times, fireworks on riverbank, tromping around by the locks and old flour mills. Really love the place. Any info you can share about honors and life at tne university would be appreciated.</p>
<p>celesteroberts, i will do my best, but since you have a D I think that at some point Wolverine might jump in to give you the perspective from the parent of a D.</p>
<p>First - i am not 100% sure the 2 person suites are for honors freshman, but they are 2 kids with their own bathroom and the sink in the sleeping area. (they have to clean their own bath) In the towers where they put the Honor’s kid the set up is a handful of rooms per wing and each room had 2 kids with a nice desk, dresser, decent closet area, cork board and magnetic board. (if you are going to loft your bed, you have to order it in advance) I am having a mental block, but I think it was one bathroom for 2 rooms. (U cleans the bathrooms) But they were not allowed to keep anything in the bathrooms since anyone on the wing could use any bathroom. S2 said maybe once or twice he used someone else’s bath…the kids seemed to respect each others space. </p>
<p>Middlebrook is known to have the best dining hall and there is a little convenience store on the main floor. There are little kitchen areas on each floor, a large open gathering area, TV rooms and study rooms. The kid next door decided to try drinking in excess and I was encouraged to hear that the RA’s sat with him until they knew there was no danger of alcohol poisoning. He met his girlfriend (Chem E major) in Middlebrook and this year he and 3 of his wing mates moved to an apartment and chose to remain on WestBank. I am amazed at the campus activities that these kids are involved in.</p>
<p>From the west bank they have taken the bus to downtown where there is Target store and the light rail to the Twins game (or Mall of America). </p>
<p>For football, hockey or basketball games there are buses bringing them back to West Bank they choose not to walk.</p>
<p>We just got back from a whirlwind trip to campus this morning. Was able to meet with an admissions advisor and discussed a little bit about next steps concerning honors acceptances and scholarship. Special shout out to Wolverine for his communication leading up to the trip. Daughter was accepted 10/21 and enrolled 10-24. She didn’t want to wait because UMinn has been her first choice school since our visit in March. Anxiously awaiting notification for Honors acceptance as her admissions tracker has gone away now that she’s enrolled. D’s stats are 3.996 UW GPA with 13 AP’s through Sr. year. 2260 SAT (first and only time taking it) but missed NMF by 2 points wasn’t feeling “it” that day 
</p>
<p>Anyway, meeting with advisor and describing our situation having two in college next year, one in Sr. year of private school and wife in college finishing BSN. Hoping/praying for help with tuition. </p>
<p>Went to game yesterday - had an amazing time - Go Gophers! Too bad we lost, but it was still great. Actually sat next to a professor in the dental school. Had a great conversation with him about football, politics and cost of college. He described how many of his students are graduating the dental program with $200 - $300K in loans. I was flabbergasted to say the least. Hoping daughter will get involved in UROP programs that can help cover some expenses or some form of work/study financial aid.</p>
<p>Congrats to all families - exciting times!!</p>
<p>Kajon…No need for me to jump in (although I can’t pass up a chance to brag on the U 
). Looks like you nailed everything on the description of Middlebrook. </p>
<p>Celesteroberts…I believe anyone, including freshman, can request the 2-person suites in Middlebrook, but since they’re much fewer of these than the 2-person regular rooms the odds of them getting one are fairly slim. Same deal with the singles. Request them if that’s your D’s preference, but you’ll more than likely end up in a 2-person regular. As Kajon said, the suites have the bathroom located between the two rooms with no exterior access, and the students are responsible for cleaining it themselves. The regular rooms are situated 8 rooms per “hall”, with 4 bathrooms per 8 rooms. The bathrooms are located across the hallway from the dorm rooms but within about 10 feet or so. “Generally”, 2 rooms (4 kids) share each bathroom but as Kajon said the bathrooms are technically open to anyone who lives on the floor. In practice though, the kids will almost always stick with the bathroom that’s closest to their dorm room. Being the world’s worst smother father, I was a little concerned that the bathroom “walls” didn’t quite go completely from floor to ceiling but D1 said it was no big deal. She had no privacy issues, and other than one Saturday morning listening to someone “purge” their Friday night overindulgence…no complaints at all. She really liked being in Middlebrook (location, atmosphere, study groups, food, etc.) and had no problems with crossing back and forth between banks in-between classes. She enjoyed the exercise walking across the bridge, and rarely opted for the campus shuttle. Given the forecast for a harsher winter this year…she might’ve taken more advantage of it. She attended several of the Honors functions and participated in 2 or 3 CBS-related clubs. If your D is offered a Bentson scholarship, they have their own events (picnics, etc.) and she has enjoyed those as well. She also applied for and was accepted into the Student Ambassadors group so she gives campus tours to visiting students and parents. Don’t know what her schedule is for tours, but if your guide is from Michigan it could be her!! This year she’s living in one of the on-campus apartments in University Village and absolutely loves being there. Season tickets for football were pretty cheap ($91 I think?) and we get her the U-Pass ($97 per semester) which gives her unlimited bus and light rail usage. Great for getting to downtown area, airport, and Mall of America!! Let us know what your D thinks about the campus after her visit, and if there’s anything else you’d like to know feel free to ask. I’m happy to help if I can.</p>
<p>BigBadDad…Outstanding to hear your D has accepted enrollment to the U!! Hoping right along with you that the scholarships/Honors will fall in place like you’re hoping. I’m glad I could help in any way, and I’ll gladly answer any other questions I can. Everything we’ve encountered so far (Admissions, Orientation, financial aid disbursement, advisors, etc., etc., etc.) has been very impressive. Glad you got to go to the football game and see my two favorite teams go head to head!! I would’ve been thrilled if the Gophers could’ve pulled off a win, but I can’t say I’m disappointed to see my Wolverines keep the Little Brown Jug either. D1’s irritated with me for cheering for Michigan…but a lifetime habit is hard to overcome in less than 3 semesters. Maybe next year…:)</p>
<p>Keep the good news coming folks!! Always glad to hear about GREAT students choosing the U. GO GOPHERS!!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great tips everyone. I see Minnesota has some very enthusiastic parents. Looking forward to our visit.</p>