<p>What do you know about it? How prestigious is it?</p>
<p>Not sure what exactly you are asking but I find this information from Plan II to the best all round info:</p>
<p>** Top 10 Reasons Why Current Students Think You Should Come to Plan II **
- Plan II Professors. Plan II professors are at the very top of their fields, a large majority of the faculty who teach Plan II core courses are members of the University’s Academy of Distinguished Teaching. In addition to teaching, brown bag discussions and special lectures, many of these professors spend a great deal of their spare time with students.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The Amazing Students. The average Plan II student has an SAT score in the mid-1400s (critical reading and math), is a National Merit Something, and graduated in the top 5% of their class. They have often been leaders of organizations, and have succeeded on state and national levels in everything from debate to clarinet.</p></li>
<li><p>The Community Environment of Plan II. For anyone worried about being lost at a school of 50,000, be reassured that Plan II is not just a degree, it is also a community and a group of friends who develop lasting relationships. There are two full-time Plan II academic advisers available year-round to help students select courses, determine areas of concentration, set long-term academic or career goals, or simply adjust to college life. The director, associate director, assistant director and other professors are active as faculty advisers, and trained peer advisers are on duty daily in the Plan II office to assist students. The office is a home-base for many students to come in to use the computers and printers, check out the latest announcements on the bulletin boards, or simply chat with each other while munching on a cookie from the renowned cookie jar. The Plan II Students Association sponsors discussion groups with faculty members and prominent speakers (including Pulitzer Award winners and National Book award winners). There is a monthly newsletter, a theater group, an off-campus freshman retreat, and occasional picnics and parties. In addition to all this, Plan II students participate with other honors students in events sponsored by the University Honors Center such as excursions to museums, plays and operas.</p></li>
<li><p>The Extraordinary Variety of Learning Opportunities. Plan II has many specialized courses available only to Plan II students. This goes beyond the five thousand or so courses offered by UT in various and sundry disciplines. We don’t know of many Ivy League schools that have classes in Arabic and Architectural Engineering, as well as Malayalam and Medieval Studies, but UT does. Many Plan II students also spend a semester or a year studying in another country. At UT you can write for one of the best college newspapers in the country, have your own TV show, be in the jazz band, play intramural sports (Plan II has teams!), or be a proud member in one of the 1000+ other student organizations.</p></li>
<li><p>It Costs Almost Nothing. Plan II students pay the same tuition and housing rates as other undergraduates at UT, thousands (often tens of thousands!) less than other institutions of comparable quality. For most of the last ten years, U.S. News and World Report has ranked The University of Texas at Austin one of the best educational buys in the country; Plan II enriches that standing ten-fold. In Plan II you get an Ivy League education at a state school price. What more could you want?</p></li>
<li><p>Scholarships. In addition to the extremely low cost of tuition, the University of Texas and Plan II both offer scholarships, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars every year. Many of the UT scholarships are based on merit as well as financial need. Furthermore, as the years pass, students become eligible for more scholarships including scholarships for summer school, study abroad and thesis research.</p></li>
<li><p>Dude, it’s Austin! Austin is one of the most beautiful and exciting cities in the United States. It has an active artistic and political scene, lots of live music, the highland lakes, hike and bike trails, marathons, music festivals, great restaurants (the best Tex-Mex in Texas) and Eeyore’s Birthday Party. Oh, and don’t forget the largest urban bat population in North America. Austin has all the perks of a big city with a small town sensibility–community and comfort. It also has one of the most educated populaces in the nation.</p></li>
<li><p>Multiple Major, Program and Degree Access. The Plan II program intends to expand your horizons. That means that they will do anything they can to help you learn what you want to learn. The enormous flexibility of the Plan II curriculum allows students to complete the equivalent of a second major or concentration in almost any subject area they wish. Many students simultaneously complete a second degree in the College of Engineering, Architecture, Communication, Fine Arts, Business Administration or Natural Science.</p></li>
<li><p>Leading-Edge Technology. The University of Texas at Austin has some of the most advanced computer facilities in the world with multiple student computer facilities open 24 hours a day almost year-round. The University of Texas was one of the first state universities to install ethernet access in all campus dormitory rooms. Tech support, blogs, free e-mail, web sites and technology classes are available. Plan II has a small computer lab specifically set up for Plan II students.</p></li>
<li><p>A Bright Future. Many Plan II students continue post-baccalaureate in law school, business school, medical school or graduate schools in biology, philosophy, public policy, engineering, and other fields. They are accepted into the most selective graduate programs across the nation. Plan II graduates work in some of the most prestigious firms in the nation. In essence, a Plan II degree is the most fulfilling way to step forward to a bigger and brighter future.</p></li>
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<p>Plan II’s general basis can all found on the Website. Just Google the website :)</p>
<p>Overall, it’s a core curriculum-based liberal arts. You’re required to take classes in different areas of the liberal arts. Some of the classes will be Plan II-honors, but a number, like World History, will not. Also, I’m not going to lie. If you’re expecting some total immersion into an intense AND intellectual environment, Plan II is totally not it. A lot of the classes are kinda jokes not in easiness but just not really be totally jibbing with students (heard a lot complains about Logic). However, there are still a number of gems in the classes. World Lit, though most exhibit grade inflation, are a great way to discuss books (though once again, it’s still with people that aren’t the most excited everyday to come in, even I can get tired of the monotony in that class). Some TCs have AMAZING professors who will just allow you to discuss and think. Seriously, although the reading got to be crazy in that class it was fun just to listen and talk. Wow, I’m rambling. </p>
<p>So, I think the thing to keep in mind is that Plan II is just like any compltitive school. There will be a number who love to learn, who are naturally curious. And there will also be a number who are smart but don’t find their passion in learning. They’re there because that’s what’s expected and they can phone it in and so forth. It’s something to keep in mind. I think it can be very hard not to fall into stereotypes of colleges and I think Plan II tries to perpetuate that they’re the Austin version of UChicago, but there can be a definite disillusionment if you’re expecting something totally different. </p>
<p>Lastly, to your last question, Plan II is among the best honors programs at UT (I would say along with DS and BHP). But don’t expect too many people, even on campus, to know what the hell it is. It’s not that well known publicly in any forum or place. Though, George W. Bush did make a shout in his autobiography about how good it was. Also, students at P2 do really well overall in graduate schools. But that is more correlation overall because I know P2 is infamous for its fifth years and “burn-outs.” Those students who strive to go to Harvard Law, investments banks, UT Southwestern get there because just like in high school, they take advantage of the best professors, classes and so on. Plan II offers the opportunity. So just because you’re in P2 doesn’t mean you’ll automatically go to an Ivy League Graduate school or get a Marshall Scholarship. It’s what you put in. </p>
<p>That’s really long but I hope that helps!!</p>
<p>Plan II and Petroleum/Chemical Engineering. How crazy will this drive me next year?</p>
<p>Is finishing in five years bad? Will I be considered a burn-out if I do?</p>
<p>And I thought Plan II was very prestigious, like it helps you get jobs</p>
<p>@bob64
The Engineering/Plan II dual degree seekers I’ve met only struggle if they don’t have a lot of AP credit coming in. If you AP out of Physics E&M, Chem, and all the other core classes (Basically, every AP you can take that counts toward your degree(s), including language) you still need to take about 16-17 hours a semester to finish in 4 years. Otherwise, you’ll be taking 21+ hours along with summer school if you want to finish.
I’m assuming you’re from Bellaire HS; it won’t be too difficult if you did well there with a rigorous courseload.</p>
<p>@cendrillion
There’s nothing wrong with finishing in five years. You probably won’t need to do that unless if you’re pursuing another degree along with Plan II that has a lot of requirements.</p>
<p>as for it’s prestige… this is my own opinion and I risk sounding like an *******, but it’s really not that prestigious for jobs. Nobody will be awe-struck that you took a different core curriculum. Perhaps the thesis is a plus, but you can easily pursue that for every other degree if you want. What you make out of your college experience is generally more important than your degree.
It’s prestige is definitely overhyped by a couple of people, and from what I’ve seen in terms of stats, it’s not that difficult to get in. You just have to know that’s what you wanna do, and express that on your app. No disrespect for the people in it: they’re awesome people and since I’m a liberal-artsy kinda guy, I think it’s a great program.</p>
<p>Plan II is a major but I think most people who major in Plan II have a double major in some other field.</p>
<p>How difficult is it to maintain a high GPA (3.8+) in Plan II? Especially if I pair it with engineering.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that it’s prestigious in Texas, but simply because it’s honors. No different from doing honors liberal arts, etc.</p>
<p>Would you consider Texas to be a prestigious school?</p>
<p>Why is prestige so important to you?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>No, if you’re a fifth year, you won’t be considered a burn-out. It’s just that a lot of the fifth-year P2 majors are ironically with less than “rigorous” majors or just P2 so it seems weird. It’s just a stereotype, so don’t worry about that. </p></li>
<li><p>Once again, prestige for P2 is those in the know. There are relatively large number of successful people with P2 degrees (Carmax founder, Pulitzer Prize winners, i-bankers, lawyers, doctors). So yes that in way it is. But no, your family and friends will not be impressed. I totally get your feeling; prestige matters for yourself and how you feel. But this is def not an Ivy League. </p></li>
<li><p>And P2 is def more prestigious than others ones including honors LAH because it has a more defined path and history.</p></li>
<li><p>And also, if not clear, P2 in itself will NOT get you a job or even an interview. This isn’t Harvard. However, if you take the skills you learn (critical thinking, writing) you should have the right path to the jobs. Moreover, because certain companies have a history with P2, so give them a slight preference. Consulting companies, I’ve seen, like BCG and Bain like P2 people because of their creative skills.</p></li>
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<p>Any other questions?</p>
<p>I would be triple-majoring, with a mix of hard and easy.</p>
<p>I asked my question in a strange way. I meant prestige in terms of how far it would take me in terms of jobs–not like “oh, it’s not an Ivy, NIX.” BTW, above poster, I am extremely happy to be accepted into Plan II! Also, it is actually very selective (I didn’t think I would get in). It’s not easy at all (I would have been happier if it was…then easier for me)</p>
<p>Yeah, I thought that. I guess it would be a slight edge, graduating in honors at a good school. It wouldn’t help nearly as much as a bunch of connections would, but it’s still an edge.</p>
<p>actually, some of the students here say that some of the Plan II classes are really easy. it could be sampling bias: they could just be incredibly intelligent, but I’m pretty sure UT is aware that it’s not within their best interests to make those classes super hard and give out low GPAs.</p>
<p>IMO, the selectivity is something that’s a little overhyped though. Take what I say with a grain of salt: I’m no admissions officer, so if my post offends you, just ignore it. Sure, it’s like 25% acceptance rate, but the applicant pool is not going to be as self-selective as say, Rice, which has a similar acceptance rate.
I’m not trying to diss the program, but if you’re making it harder on yourself by doing Plan II (Triple major sounds tough!), you have to evaluate if it’s ultimately worth it for you. If it fits your interests and you’re genuinely enticed by the idea of a traditional Liberal Arts core, then you’ll have loads of fun with it and you’ll breeze through! However, if taking a bunch of classes that aren’t relevant to your future career sounds like a waste of time, then I would advise against it because the prestige won’t take you that far.</p>
<p>It’s great that you got in though, congrats!</p>
<p>Well, truthfully the prestige you’re talking about is the same thing that applies to jobs. Why do you think so many people who work in top firms and companies go to Ivies and the like? It’s not really just because they’re smarter. They went to a school that had the prestige that is intrinsic to the name of the school and companies want that represented with them. So it’s one in the same. </p>
<p>And to agpyn31, I would say the P2 selection is more self-selective in that people who know P2, which is a very small group of people, apply and they all have very similar “creative” streaks. However, note that that the P2 selectivity is as random as can come. They choose what seems to be a capricious way. In one way, the diversity is great, but there are times I wonder how some people got in, truthfully. So it’s great you got in, but the you can’t pinpoint the reason to some all greatness being. </p>
<p>And the classes vary wildly in difficulty. There are a great many P2 classes that are jokes in rigor and there are some that are rigorous, but grading isn’t harsh (which is actually great since you learn to enjoy learning for once). </p>
<p>Just some final advice when thinking about P2: really think about, as well you can, what you want to do, what you want from school and talk to as many people as possible. Do not fall into what you think it’s going to be like, what you think it’s going to happen. College life is important, first and foremost. Everything else is second.</p>
<p>We are trying to compare the following programs as far as (1) academic rigor and (2) value of degree for graduate school/job placement. Any insights are appreciated. Here is the list:
University of Texas Plan II
Southern Methodist University - University Honors Program
University of Oklahoma - Honors College
Tulane University - Honors College
Washington University in St. Louis</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>If your student was accepted into all five programs, the best bet would be to visit each and see which one is the better fit for your student. Of the list, Plan II is much different than the others. I never use the word “better” because what is better for student A can be very different than what is different for student B. Plan II was a good fit for our student, because she wants to explore a magnitude of things, exactly what Plan II does. And she likes to express her knowledge through writing. If your student does not like to write, Plan II will not be a good match.</p>
<p>Many thanks. We have visited each campus at least once. She likes pieces of each of them and fit seems to be an equal factor based on the visits. Four to five year stays are a bit different, however, than weekend visits, prompting the issue of long-term value. Thanks for the confirmation on the writing rigor at Plan II.</p>
<p>One good thing about Plan II that we did not see in other honors programs was the depth of administrative support. To have an office dedicated just to that program, with independent advisors, was a huge selling point to us. The administrators and professors are very accessible and that can make all the difference in the world. It more than just a degree program, it is a community. With a Plan II acceptance in hand, you should feel comfortable about your student’s writing ability. Because without it, there would be no letter…KWIM?</p>
<p>I wish I had known about plan II back when I was applying to UT. I assume Plan II doesn’t allow in-school transfers?</p>