<p>I'm wondering, what exactly is the definition of an honors college? Even my friend Mr GOOGLE hasn't been able to help me answer that question.</p>
<p>Here's my definition:</p>
<p>An Honors College is a program within a university that caters to the "best" students in the university. The Honors College offers some mix of scholarships, classes, programs, housing, perks, etc. geared towards this population. The stated objective is to provide an appropriately stimulating environment for these students.</p>
<p>It's often a "colleges within a college" for a select group of students. Some honors colleges/programs offer separate classes from the rest of the school, some offer perks when it comes to housing and registration, many offer merit scholarships...it varies from school to school.</p>
<p>Here's a good definition, from the Barrett Honors College at ASU:
Barrett</a>, The Honors College - Arizona State University</p>
<p>I was looking at stand-alone Honors Colleges (e.g. New College of Florida) rather than divisions within larger schools. So, obvious, with that moniker, they cater to the "better" students. But is there some particular metric that their applicants need to meet that would set them apart from any other selective college?</p>
<p>There are not that many "honors" colleges. THe only two I know are New College and St Mary's of MD. Geneseo of the SUNYs has the rep. The thing that I notice is that because they are smaller than most State schools, they can provide more personal attention, more like a private LAC. Unlike other small state colleges that tend to be commuter oriented, these colleges are residential and their course offerings are decidedly academic without heavy focus on business, criminal justice, education, nursing. You see, most of the smaller state schools are former teachers' colleges with a legacy based on the courses as I listed. As a result of this focus, the kids they get tend to be more interested in the liberal arts and may have higher academic profiles. However, the numbers are not waaay up there, and unless a small school is what a kid prefers, the state's flag ship schools may have a stronger set of students in those same subjects.</p>
<p>I have a question regarding the honors college program at our flagship state university. I hope all you experienced CCers can help me.</p>
<p>My son will qualify for honors college and is considering applying. However, he is reluctant because he is concerned that he may isolated from the rest of the student body, and will spend all of his time with the same group of students (they also have a dorm for the honors college students). While we both think he would benefit from the more challenging curriculum, it is very important to him to be exposed to a diverse student body. He has always sought out people who are different than himself and thrives on varied life experiences.</p>
<p>Any thoughts or experience regarding his concerns?</p>
<p>JDA, I think a visit to the campus would help on this. At Ohio State and at U Texas Austin, the two large state colleges whose honors programs I am familiar with, there are honors dorms and honors classes but the honors students are fully immersed in the entire university and its diversity. My daughter was accepted to the honors program at Fordham, and at Fordham, we got the feeling that in this program, the kids in the honors program were somewhat separated from the others - many required courses open only to their small group, so they'd be together a lot. I think it depends on the college. And on the size of the honors program.</p>
<p>My D loves her honors program at UT. Honors kids who live in honors dorms still eat in the college cafeterias, join college clubs, go to college football games, and drink college beer at college fraternity parties. They are not cloistered. :) My thought would be that if the honors program sounds like a possibility, he should try it. Exta attention and extra privileges are nice. Ohio State provides great perks to honors students as far as when they get to register for their classes. If your son really doesn't like being in the honors program, he can always move into the regular program.</p>
<p>JDA: I don't think isolation will be too much of a concern. While different schools do it differently, usually the "honors" requirement is only 1-2 courses/semester, therefore, the students will be with "regular" kids for most of their academics. I have 2 kids in the honors programs at their respective schools, and while they have similar characteristics and goals, the programs are different. The housing, classes, activities (can include social, community service etc.), are designed not to isolate the students from the rest of the student body, but to create a sense of community. If there is a residential requirement, it is usually only for the first year.</p>
<p>JDA, if your son has an opportunity to do an honors college program -- especially in a large university -- you should really encourage him. </p>
<p>The students are not isolated. While some schools do offer specific honors housing, the students still take classes everyone else takes. The difference may be additional (and usually very worthwhile) opportunities such as honors seminars, research/internship opportunities, and even fewer general ed requirements to allow these students to take more classes in the field of their interest. It really depends on the school. But no matter where you go, honors programs can be very enriching academically - and graduating 'with honors' or from 'honors college' looks really good on that diploma :)</p>
<p>Also remember at a large university or small, they are never going to get to know the whole student body. Honors housing or regular dorm - either way they are housed with a "group" of students they may know best, but not exclusively. Classes, clubs, other friends friends, meetings, etc. all give other opportunities to branch out with friendships.</p>
<p>JDA, you have to read and check out the situation because it really depends on the honors college if the kids are isolated from the rest of the students. I know that the Robert Cook Honors College of Indiana U of Pa does separate the kids, but most of the schools I know do not. In fact, many schools just add a few perks, assign a few floors in a dorm building, and have some courses designated Honors with some additional requirements and that is it. Some do even less than that. All honors programs are not the same. Bear in mind too, that if the requirements of an honors program are not in line with your kid regardless of how good of a student he is, it may not be the program for him.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone for your insight. Some very helpful things for us to follow up on. I appreciate your help!</p>
<p>The honors college at our Flagship State U has some separate classes and different general ed requirements, but students still complete the requirements for their majors in their respective major departments. And some of the honors college general ed requirements are met by taking regular classes too. There is a wing of a dorm for the honors college students, but it's not required that you choose that dorm if you're in the honors college. I think the integration with the larger univ. is just fine, but also there is a benefit of a smaller program within the school where all the classes are small and taught by actual professors. It's a good mix of both worlds.</p>
<p>The regional state univ near our home has an "honors program" --not "honors college"-- and it is distinguished mostly just by the fact that certain lower division classes are designated "honors" and only students admitted the honors program can register for them. It's less fully developed than the honors college at the Flagship U, but still helps focus certain class opportunities for very bright kids to come together for challenging work.</p>
<p>Even in high school, similar high schools, honors programs can be run in different ways. My son had a choice between two schools, and it was how they ran their programs that was a big factor in picking one over the other. One school has an honors program where the top 30 or so kids in each class are enrolled. They all take pretty much the same courses on an advanced level. The other school has honors courses without the program, so a kid can be in honors math but not in honors English.</p>
<p>The advantage is that a less than top school can have what amounts to an oasis of very smart kids (who they usually support) through their honors program (college). The profiles at these students is very cc like often and they get stuff. So if you do not have money, but want a top education look at an honors college as an alternative.</p>
<p>Go for any honors classes/programs/colleges that interest your student within the chosen school. Public U's try to accomodate the gifted students as well as educate the more typical college bound state residents. A student is more likely to be academically challenged/satisfied with the honors courses, and to meet intellectual peers in these courses. Just because a freestanding college claims to be an honors one does not mean it offers a more rigorous curriculum or a more intellectual student body- check on the credentials of the student body, such as test scores and class standings. Different states choose different means of doing honors, and have differing overall student statistics. Being with regular students at some schools may be more challenging than with honors students at others- even among state flagship schools.</p>
<p>Sometimes there are scholarships with honors colleges. My friends son got a 1400 SAT and was offered a full ride his state honors college. Some work was harder, some was at a faster pace, but being at a large college, he was happy to get first dibs on classes and special library time. Also the dorm was quieter, he could still visit friends, but having a quieter room to study was also a perk.</p>