What are the best Honors colleges at large schools

[Anonymous]

^should be and/or offers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:One of my kids started out in the Honors College at a large state university, but after the first year decided to drop it. It was really just a lot of extra busy work (required classes) that had nothing to do with her major but was mandatory for the HC. In addition, the diploma doesn't make any mention of HC, so she ultimately decided it wasn't worth her time and we agreed. She had a fantastic four years and took advantage of so many opportunities - but HC simply wasn't the advantage a lot of people paint it to be.

I had a similar experience - granted it was years ago. Biggest perks were getting early registration for classes my freshman and sophomore years. Should have dropped it after that.

+2

It would help the rest of us if you named the schools. This is exactly what we’re trying to figure out - which honors programs are real/worth it and which are not.

I mean, the concept is the same everywhere. Yes, you get early registration for classes, but even that isn't a big deal IMO. The extra busy work is the dealbreaker that I wish I had known about earlier.

Not true at all. The TOP colleges like U South Carolina are fantastic and not what you’re describing. Don’t get an honors college confused with an honors program. There’s a difference.

Maybe this is what I’m missing when trying to follow opinions on this thread. Can you please explain the difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone in the outside world care or give preference to a honors grad vs regular? I have not seen that. Seems then that it’s useful if there are enough perks or access to things but otherwise no?

I’m the UT Austin poster, which is an honors program and not an honors college. And yes, employers care about the program and look for graduates from this particular honors program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my kids started out in the Honors College at a large state university, but after the first year decided to drop it. It was really just a lot of extra busy work (required classes) that had nothing to do with her major but was mandatory for the HC. In addition, the diploma doesn't make any mention of HC, so she ultimately decided it wasn't worth her time and we agreed. She had a fantastic four years and took advantage of so many opportunities - but HC simply wasn't the advantage a lot of people paint it to be.

I had a similar experience - granted it was years ago. Biggest perks were getting early registration for classes my freshman and sophomore years. Should have dropped it after that.

+2

It would help the rest of us if you named the schools. This is exactly what we’re trying to figure out - which honors programs are real/worth it and which are not.

I mean, the concept is the same everywhere. Yes, you get early registration for classes, but even that isn't a big deal IMO. The extra busy work is the dealbreaker that I wish I had known about earlier.

Not true at all. The TOP colleges like U South Carolina are fantastic and not what you’re describing. Don’t get an honors college confused with an honors program. There’s a difference.

Maybe this is what I’m missing when trying to follow opinions on this thread. Can you please explain the difference?

There’s no standardized definitions so you really need to read the details for each school being considered. But in general, and honors college acts more like a small school within a big school. Likely to offer honors-only dorms and class sections, sometimes like a living-learning community, so that honors students are largely surrounded by other honors students at least in the first year or two.

An honors program is likely less formal and “separated,” for lack of a better term. It might offer perks like earlier registration, but not a separate dorm or designated class sections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What is UNV?

UNV is likely UNC. V and C are next to each other on the keyboard.

UNLV is good, too.

I’ve become quite attached to my UVULA.

[Anonymous]

My kid as at South Carolina and is a Capstone Scholar, not Honors, but is loving their experience there. Has the equivalent of VA in state COA ($40k) because of scholarship.

They’ve been very happy there.

[Anonymous]

Rutgers has a traditional honors college - separate housing, classes, merit aid, true selective experience getting in.

[Anonymous]

The essays for honors programs just add work on top of all the supplemental essays. DC decided it wasn’t worth it. YMMV

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my kids started out in the Honors College at a large state university, but after the first year decided to drop it. It was really just a lot of extra busy work (required classes) that had nothing to do with her major but was mandatory for the HC. In addition, the diploma doesn't make any mention of HC, so she ultimately decided it wasn't worth her time and we agreed. She had a fantastic four years and took advantage of so many opportunities - but HC simply wasn't the advantage a lot of people paint it to be.

I had a similar experience - granted it was years ago. Biggest perks were getting early registration for classes my freshman and sophomore years. Should have dropped it after that.

+2

It would help the rest of us if you named the schools. This is exactly what we’re trying to figure out - which honors programs are real/worth it and which are not.

I mean, the concept is the same everywhere. Yes, you get early registration for classes, but even that isn't a big deal IMO. The extra busy work is the dealbreaker that I wish I had known about earlier.

Not true at all. The TOP colleges like U South Carolina are fantastic and not what you’re describing. Don’t get an honors college confused with an honors program. There’s a difference.

Maybe this is what I’m missing when trying to follow opinions on this thread. Can you please explain the difference?

Honors programs tend to be a marketing tool and mostly about perks like priority registration and maybe special housing. The HC at SC, for example, is an independent academic unit with its own dean. It’s literally a liberal arts college within the university. SC is starting this project that was scrapped during covid: https://www.heraldonline.com/news/state/south-carolina/article99236087.html

[Anonymous]

Can anyone comment on UMD honors college? Or Pitt?

[Anonymous]

Penn state held a huge college fair specifically for honors college students. I don’t know if they still do that but every single student that attended walked out with a job offer. Their alumni network is no joke and they specifically seek out grads, esp those from the honors college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For anyone with experience with their kids at honors programs, is it a way for incoming freshman to make friends? My very introverted ASD DD wants to go to a big state school for engineering and I am nervous that it will be too big or overwhelming for her socially.

My honest assessment is that you can't know that ahead of time.

I was a female liberal arts student in PSUs (much more prestigious now) Honors College during my freshman year long ago. I had a manic depressive roommate who was struggling/flunking (also liberal arts). We had dorm safety problems (dorm not locked until late at night, co-ed dorm). I couldn't get out of my roommate assignment. The program was dominated by male engineers and they were super nerdy. Calculator speed races, a guy who regularly carried brine shrimp in a gallon jar down to the student lounge as a conversation starter, and a bunch of awful people taking a "Purity Test" quiz are a couple highlights. I transferred out. Told this story so many times people on here recognize me and one of them told me they were tired of hearing me tell it. I do hear that after my time, the program was diversified and better balanced away from Engineering. Just too late for me.

With a female engineer, I'd look for a program where there is a good-sized contingent of women.

I'd also look into living-learning communities.

Also look into the nature of engineering project teams (for co-ed friendship opportunities) and the SWE (Society of Women Engineers) activities.

Be careful and honest about filling out roommate questionnaires. (I was blind assigned within the population of Honors College women. The only person's room I could have swapped into was a girl whose roommate moved out because the person would invite dates back to have sex in the room and the roommate woke up to that a couple times.)

If it helps, I know many women who have graduated from the University of Michigan Engineering college and 100% recommend the ones I know. Nice, grounded, smart people. But it is a big school.

With respect to small schools, I have heard good things about Kettering University and Rose-Hulman for ND students. I've also read some chatter about Olin being very female-friendly.

I work with women who graduated from Kettering. It seems to be a small tight-knit community. There is a fraternity/sorority scenes but it's non-traditional and not exclusive. Kettering is co-op-oriented so grads are highly employable. The most common majors are mechanical engineering and business. Business is the only non-STEM major. It's a little similar to Drexel Engineering. It's a feeder to the auto industry. Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, attended Kettering in an earlier school name format.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Penn state held a huge college fair specifically for honors college students. I don’t know if they still do that but every single student that attended walked out with a job offer. Their alumni network is no joke and they specifically seek out grads, esp those from the honors college.

Schreyer is an amazing HC. My NMF got into it as well as ASU Barrett and Purdue’s HC. Ultimately took a free ride to Alabama. Yes Alabama and is thriving in the Blount Scholars program within the HC.

Smart kids will do well and HC usually offer additional opportunities for research, study abroad, and internships in addition to special dorms, priority registration, etc.

[Anonymous]

We were impressed with Auburns honors college- especially for engineering.

[Anonymous]

UMD
Penn State