<p>Hi, you've probably heard these questions a hundred times, but hopefully you can humor me. </p>
<p>I am a florida resident, a senior in high school, and looking at majoring in engineering. I really like UF, however i want a good education as well. Therefore i am interested in UF's honors program. i have already applied ED to UF, but may not attend if i am not accepted into the honors program. From everyone ive asked it seems as if i have a good chance.</p>
<p>What are the advantages of the honors program in comparison to other schools such as Rice or University of Michigan? On paper it looks more advantageous, but how is it in reality. does a graduate from th honors program receive the same respect as a graduate from Michigan? </p>
<p>Also what are my chances for the honors program. in short i have a 1470 SAT (670v , 800m) and a 4.3 GPA with 7 AP classes (ECs include student council, community service, clubs...). from what i understand it seems i have a good shot. From experience, what do you guys think. I understand i may receive biased answers from where i posted, but im asking more to be convinced than informed...</p>
<p>I think that you are definetly going to get into the Honors Program. The standards are a 4.0, and a 1400 on the SAT. You are well over on both of these.</p>
<p>Check out this website for more information.</p>
<p>The Honors Program at the University of Florida attracts academically talented and highly motivated students by providing them with additional opportunities beyond those available to the general student population. There are five distinct components of the program that enhance the experiences of honors students at the University of Florida: honors courses, honors housing, honors advisors, extracurricular organizations, and special academic opportunities (prestigious scholarships, research, internships, and study abroad). We encourage you to follow these links to learn more about what our program has to offer.</p>
<p>I think the minimum requirements for the honors program are a 1380 and ~4.0 gpa. So there's no doubt, you can be in the honors program if you want to be. You don't apply to the honors program, you get invited. You should get something in the mail after you get accepted to UF in general admissions. </p>
<p>To be honest, the honors program isn't really that advantageous. The pro's to the program are its non-academic perks. As an honors student, you get to live in a newly built honors dorm, Hume. The set up is pretty nice. You have a roommate and then two suite mates connected through a door with a shared bathroom between the four of you (a lot better than sharing a bathroom with 30 other guys ;) ). Across the hall, you have the girls' rooms, which is nice, the hall is co-ed, unlike other dorms on campus. The location of the dorm is right on museum, so you are close to your classes and rec centers. It is also pretty clean, maintenance persons come every Saturday to clean your bathroom and the halls. </p>
<p>The other nice things is that you get your own advisers and an early registration, which is nice since you can get the exact schedule you want. </p>
<p>As for the program itself, it really isn't that big of a deal. The program only last for your first two years where you have to complete a certain number of "honors" courses. After you complete the courses, you get an honors sticker on your diploma. I honestly don't think grad schools would give a hoot about it because it is a program you did your first two years and therefore will not reflect the true work you did as an engineering major during your junior and senior years.</p>
<p>Most engineering students, to satisfy their honors course requirements, take an honors version of calculus or physics . Supposedly, it is harder, but it really isn't that different from taking the regular calculus or physics sequence. The other honors courses are pretty interesting, like "magic in the 18th century." But do they really serve an advantageous purpose for grad school? Not really. They are more just to learn some interesting things while in college, to divert away from the traditional course material, so that you can have a more open mind.</p>
<p>Once you complete your required courses, you go into the engineering program with everyone else. There is no honors
engineering program and there are no honors engineering courses. So as an engineering major, there really is no advantage to the program. Your engineering professors and fellow classmates will not care that you were in the honors program. </p>
<p>I, however, would still recommend it because of Hume Hall and all the little perks such as early registration.</p>
<p>that is how its been explained to me, as in advantageous, but not in an academical sense. From what i understand a graduate from UF and UM will have similar appeal to grad schools depending on GPA and rank. If that is true, i think the honors program seems much more appealing over another university such as Michigan (i keep using Michigan because i just got accepted). However, i applied ED to UF so that is somewhat irrelevant. I also like the honors program because after talking to students it seems that it makes getting acclimated to the school a little easier. So assuming the honors program is not academically influential, is UF just as prestigious an engineering school as a "better" public school such as Michigan or UVa (assuming graduation in the top % for all).</p>
<p>Basically what im asking is if i am making a mistake going to UF for engineering if i have an opportunity to go to a "better academic" school?</p>
<p>No, I don't think you are making a mistake going to UF for engineering. It is a very good program. I think it is ranked around 30 (public and private) for undergraduate and 25 for graduate. The program is not as prestigious as Michigan, but it is ranked higher than UVA. The bottom line is that you will get a solid engineering education coming to UF and as long as you do well, I think you have a good chance at getting into top programs or companies. For example, a guy I knew graduated with a 4.0 last spring and is currently at Stanford for graduate school. </p>
<p>If I may ask, what engineering do you plan to study?</p>
<p>I am looking at mechanical. originally i was going to do aeronautical at the Air Force Academy, but for a number of reasons i decided id rather go to a civilian school. also i decided that mechanical engineering allowed for more freedom in the engineering community. esp after speaking with the ME, AeroE, and EE professors at UF, i am convinced that ME is the way to go...</p>
<p>but yeah, im not too concerned with school ranks because from what i understand, the school isnt that important in the scheme of things because initial job aside, its more what you do than where you were educated that employers focus on. however, i could be totally wrong....</p>