University of Houston Honors College

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Houston
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We had an excellent visit to University of Houston. We attended the Honors College Open House and the Engineering School Admitted Students Day. Both events were well organized and well attended. I’ll focus on the Honors College visit here in an attempt to start a discussion about people’s experiences and opinions…

At the Honors Open House there were between 200 and 300 people in attendance - a 50/50 mix of students and parents. It took place in the Honors section of the MD Anderson Library - this is their own private space within the University that has classrooms, workrooms, computer labs, guidance offices, and a well appointed lounge. The Dean of Honors spoke to the group. He was genuine and gave off a paternal vibe. He has a son at Honors and is proud of that. A few additional administrators and faculty spoke and gave the same caring, nurturing message. They mentioned their top ten rank in John Wilingham’s Top Honors book about a hundred times - good for them.

I was very impressed with the design of the Honors College curriculum and how it is FULLY integrated with the student’s major. S will need to take many core courses for engineering and he will be able to take them in the Honors College - for example Accelerated Calc 2 & 3, which briefly reviews Calc 1, then moves on the Calc 2 & 3 over the course of two semesters. These classes will have 25 Honors students max, compared to 200+ at the regular college. Same is true for Intro to Engineering, Physics, and Chemistry. The Honors College does not have a boatload of “extra” work for the students - they just truly enhance the courses required for all students. Honors students have the option live together in a relatively new dorm for their first and second year. The housing facilities were good (not great) but getting better.

The commuter/suitcase feel was real. The event was late on a Wednesday night. The campus was relatively empty and several students noted that many go home after class and/or on weekends. This is disappointing, but something they are ambitiously trying to change at UH. New dorms in the planning phase and the current dorms are constantly being renovated.

The Honors College costs about $125 per semester - not too expensive. With scholarship money ($4500 AES Award + in-state tuition bonus), S’s all in cost for UH will be about $15,000 a year. An excellent bargain, IMO.

Please use this thread to comment about your experience with the Honors College, good and bad - all opinions are welcome. Also, please post questions you have and hopefully someone will be able to help.

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I’m a student in the Honors College and just want to let everyone know that it is excellent, and, frankly, the University’s greatest asset. STEM2017, I actually volunteered at two of the Engineering Admitted Students Days.

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I’m an Honors College graduate. I was a NMF from east Texas. I started in chemical engineering pre-med and finished in finance which was a learning experience. Honors courses were great and I felt like I learned things from the tests as well as the prep for them. Professors were excellent and available. Please go see them during office hours.

I went to Columbia Business School after UH and was an investment banker for a few years before settling into corporate finance. My roommate in the honors dorms went to the U of Michigan med school on scholarship and is a very successful ER doctor. All of my chemical engineering classmates that I started with secured great jobs. Somewhat surprisingly, even those with low grades.

I was challenged by my fellow students and really enjoyed the geographic diversity of students in Honors housing. We had a group of 12 or so that went out every Sunday night because the dorms didn’t serve food that night. They probably do now. The group had students from Michigan (my roommate), NY, TX, AR, KS, MD and IN that I recall.

I hope that helps. The HC at UH is a gem.