<p>So I got into UGA Honors, Georgia Tech, and Vanderbilt. Tech I'm somewhat ruling out because I'm not sure I want to be an engineer and none of their other strong programs like management really appeal to me. So the decision is now between UGA and Vandy. I just visited Vandy and loved it, but I'm worried about cost(offered no financial aid so I will have to go into debt to attend for 4 years) and distance from home. UGA is practically free because of in-state tuition and HOPE scholarship, and is close enough from home that I can visit almost as much as I want but can also feel like I'm in a different place away from home. My biggest concern about the Honors Program and UGA in general is that the general student attitude will make it difficult to feel like an accepted part of the community if I focus a ton on my studies and don't drink a whole lot. I'm also worried about not having the stimulation and competition from other students that I would hope to find in college (political discussion, academic competition as a petty form of motivation, etc.). Basically I'm worried that it won't feel like an academic step up from high school. Any opinions/comments/advice? Thanks.</p>
<p>Interesting, I think we’re looking for two completely different experiences our first year. I was also accepted into a really good school (even got a full ride) yet I’m still considering UGA because the atmosphere was AMAZING and I’m looking for a break from the continuous stream of schoolwork! </p>
<p>Ultimately, for you the deciding factor will be cost. If Vandy is too much you may have to go to UGA. But do not look down on UGA. Before I visited this week I was like “Ughh UGA is a bad school! I don’t see why I should waste my time even visiting” but I’ve learned so much about it after visiting for a mere two days!</p>
<p>For one thing, the whole drunk student scene is completely absent during the day and the week! Most parties take place from Thursday to Saturday night. During the weekdays, students focus on their studies. Since you’ll be in the Honors program, you should also sign up for Myers (the Honors dorm). This will place you in the environment that you want. I was in Myers and I must say, the doors were indeed closed and there wasn’t any discussion going on outside of the rooms. It seemed a bit…dead. But then again I did visit while a lot of students were in class.</p>
<p>Finally, I would like to emphasize that getting drunk isn’t a tradition that everyone has to follow at UGA. During the day there seems to be more “hippies” and normal kids than there are those looking for alcohol!</p>
<p>You’d be surprised! The city is amazing and the campus is great! To be honest, I am still considering UGA over the other school because I know that I will have SOOO much fun!</p>
<p>Are you planning to go on to graduate school/med. school/law school? If yes, the total bill for undergrad ($200,000) + grad ($0 - $250,000, depending on graduate school) will range from $200,000 to $500,000. Also, consider that your terminal degree will be most important if you are planning to attend grad. school.</p>
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A lot of introductory non-Honors classes @ UGA seem like high school sometimes, but in my experience Honors classes operate at a noticeably higher level. I’ve yet to take an Honors course in which the students don’t make discussions interesting and intelligent.</p>
<p>Thanks. Yes I’m interested in attending grad school and want to afford it. Hopefully I’ll work harder in college than in high school and might earn some scholarships, but of course I can’t count on that. Though like I said I want to be in an environment that will motivate and challenge me; I’m still worried that even Myers won’t provide that. I’m visiting to get a better feel of the place and hopefully find out more.
On a semi-relevant note, does anyone know anything about the UGA program where you can work towards a masters degree at the same time as your bachelors or something along those lines?</p>
<p>I’d encourage you to visit Myers – definitely a more intellectual and academically stimulating environment than other dorms. If you can, spend a day or two hanging out in Athens and see how you like it.</p>
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That’s what I’m planning to do – it’s called the combined BA/MA (or, BS/MS) program. If you come in with enough AP/SATII credit hours (generally 15 or more hours), then you can finish your core requirements in the first two or three semesters. For your second year, you work exclusively on your undergrad. degree. In the third year, you can enroll in some graduate courses without being formally admitted to graduate school. During this third year, you also apply to the Graduate School and finish your undergrad. requirements. Fourth year is graduate school work.</p>
<p>If you have a particular major and Master’s degree in mind, check out the respective college’s website for more information. I know that Terry College of Business, Franklin, and SPIA publish some pretty detailed information on their joint BA/MA programs, and I’m sure most other colleges also have information available on combined degree programs.</p>
<p>Definitely can work towards your master’s at UGA. As soon as you get on campus, make sure to start talking to the head of graduate studies in the departments that you’re interested in and see what their requirements are (even in areas where there aren’t officially BA/MA programs, you may be able to do it). The Honors Program can also help and has good institutional knowledge about what other students have done.</p>
<p>Myers is nothing if not inspiring. People playing Beethoven on the piano, Quidditch/Ultimate on the quad, hipsters talking about postmodernism, football on TVs in the background, drunk Classics majors conversing in Latin, and random study group clusters all over the place… good times. You can also get that “intellectual” atmosphere hanging out in the Honors Program building itself or at one of the many sidewalk cafe places downtown.</p>
<p>I appreciate all the replies. Vanderbilt’s great but it’s going to basically be $35,000 a year more when I have access to the same, if not better, education and opportunities at UGA Honors. I can’t really justify that gap in expense.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what you’re intended future career is or what your intended major is, but there are ways to make it very challenging just by taking the reportedly harder classes and by taking on a harder major. </p>
<p>I thought some of the classes I took as a freshman were pretty easy, but I also put in the effort to study for them and do all of the work for it which actually adds up to a lot of hours. When you think you have a lot of hours left in your day after class, you really don’t. Time goes by fast and studying takes longer than you think. But I think this is beside the point…</p>
<p>Taking honors classes will definitely help keep you motivated via other people. Your classmates will be academically focused and will make you feel the same (or at least make you feel like you should be the same). </p>
<p>But I’m not going to lie to you. It seems like school comes pretty easy to you. In that case, your intro classes are going to be easy regardless of whether you take the regular or Honors section. What I would suggest is to join one of the literary societies here on campus (Phi Kappa and Demosthenian). I’ve never been to one of their meetings and I don’t know anyone who’s in it, but I do know that those societies will probably give you the discussion and environment that you’re looking for. Or at least they’re supposed to.</p>
<p>Surrounding yourself with like-minded people (and believe me, there are plenty of people on campus who don’t enjoy drinking) will help keep you academically motivated. There are plenty of crazies on campus that can make you nervous as a cat and make you think you’re not doing enough. Just gotta scope 'em out (they’re usually on the front row :P)</p>
<p>UGA is a huge step up from high school in terms of academics. I was smart in high school (4.12 gpa, 11th out of 450 in my class, 29 on ACT) but it is difficult here. Im a freshman and I got a 3.12 gpa last semester here and Im not in honors. I also study a lot. There will definitely be competition with other students and there will be discussions. However, with all that being said, Vanderbilt was my #1 school but I didn’t get in. It came down to Wake Forest and UGA for me, and I chose UGA at the last second, and it was the best decision I have made. I can only imagine how difficult it is at Wake after bring here. Make a decision and go with it!</p>
<p>Something no one mentioned in this thread is that major matters. Whether the increased academics and prestige of Vanderbilt is worth an increase in tuition depends on the major. Someone majoring in education, for example, won’t see much of a difference. Someone intent on a career in banking will see a major difference.</p>