What are some honors colleges/programs to look into?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is in the Scholars program at UMD. It’s really not much of a program and more of a marketing ploy. You get a quiet dorm and smaller discussion sections first semester of college. You also get a certificate when you graduate but that’s it.

I thought the scholars program also participated in service activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is in the Scholars program at UMD. It’s really not much of a program and more of a marketing ploy. You get a quiet dorm and smaller discussion sections first semester of college. You also get a certificate when you graduate but that’s it.

I thought the scholars program also participated in service activities.

PP-Yes they do that and they have some welcome activities freshman year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have the stats for an honors college, maybe you can just go to a selective school.

IME the honors college students are typically kids who have the stats for the more selective school but not the budget. So, they get a good education and experience through the public U honors college and go on to a good life without massive debt. Good option for many.

I went to an honors college that has been mentioned on this thread. This was my experience.

[Anonymous]

OP, please don't put the cart before the horse, as the saying goes. Honors colleges are not, in and of themselves, the goal. There would be little real point in going to College X for its honors program if College X does not have the major your student wants, or the major program is there but is not as right for your kid as the program at a different college. I wouldn't shop for colleges with honors programs as the top criterion, or even very high on the list. Look for the right academic majors, solid teaching in those areas, good connections for internships/job placement/etc. if that applies, the right "fit" (it really does matter, your kid has to live there for four years).

Honors programs definitely can add challenge, and look good on that first resume, but to be blunt, getting the best education in the major subject, in a program that interest and engages the student, is what matters. If that education comes in an "honors college" package, that's great, but be aware that different colleges structure things different ways, and the best college for your kid might not use an "honors college/program" label at all. Honors college has a lot of meaning at some schools, is mostly a label at others, and doesn't even exist at some colleges. That's not necessarily any reflection on how good those colleges are--it's more a reflection on how they choose to structure and name their programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP, please don't put the cart before the horse, as the saying goes. Honors colleges are not, in and of themselves, the goal. There would be little real point in going to College X for its honors program if College X does not have the major your student wants, or the major program is there but is not as right for your kid as the program at a different college. I wouldn't shop for colleges with honors programs as the top criterion, or even very high on the list. Look for the right academic majors, solid teaching in those areas, good connections for internships/job placement/etc. if that applies, the right "fit" (it really does matter, your kid has to live there for four years).

Honors programs definitely can add challenge, and look good on that first resume, but to be blunt, getting the best education in the major subject, in a program that interest and engages the student, is what matters. If that education comes in an "honors college" package, that's great, but be aware that different colleges structure things different ways, and the best college for your kid might not use an "honors college/program" label at all. Honors college has a lot of meaning at some schools, is mostly a label at others, and doesn't even exist at some colleges. That's not necessarily any reflection on how good those colleges are--it's more a reflection on how they choose to structure and name their programs.

Truly insufferable

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP, please don't put the cart before the horse, as the saying goes. Honors colleges are not, in and of themselves, the goal. There would be little real point in going to College X for its honors program if College X does not have the major your student wants, or the major program is there but is not as right for your kid as the program at a different college. I wouldn't shop for colleges with honors programs as the top criterion, or even very high on the list. Look for the right academic majors, solid teaching in those areas, good connections for internships/job placement/etc. if that applies, the right "fit" (it really does matter, your kid has to live there for four years).

Honors programs definitely can add challenge, and look good on that first resume, but to be blunt, getting the best education in the major subject, in a program that interest and engages the student, is what matters. If that education comes in an "honors college" package, that's great, but be aware that different colleges structure things different ways, and the best college for your kid might not use an "honors college/program" label at all. Honors college has a lot of meaning at some schools, is mostly a label at others, and doesn't even exist at some colleges. That's not necessarily any reflection on how good those colleges are--it's more a reflection on how they choose to structure and name their programs.

Truly insufferable

No OP but I think this is good advice.