^The extrra classes that you take for the honors distinction might extend out the length of time that it takes to get your degree but those classes can also add a bit of variety to a highly rigorous schedule.

Like others said, it depends on the school.

Some honors you have to take more classes and credits for the honors distinction. Fine if they overlap with your degree but for an engineer major, it is really tough.

Others have live and learning communities. Almost like a first class lounge. Quicker access to registration, the best dining hall, bigger and new housing with other honors kids, a dedicated library, study rooms and tutors that all come to your honors building. Seminars and internship fairs too. Smaller classes, higher chance to research as an undergrad. A writing office that staffs editors to help the honors kids with their papers. Lots of perks. Many of these types have additional credits to take.

Previous dean from Swarthmore created the honors college at Arizona State called the Barrett School. Trying to do a SLAC in a big campus feel. You still get all the small perks but have a massive campus, facilities, sports games, etc.... It is nice for serious kids who don’t want the party atmosphere.

Others like at Pitt and UMD. A few perks but not much of anything. But you don’t have to take extra courses though so it is easier to claim.

I once heard someone say it isn’t a massive standout on your resume but it is a great topic in grad or job interviews. Most people are fascinated with them as they have never heard of them.

The honors program was one of my favorites parts of my experience at the University of Maryland

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the information. It sounds like it's a good call for larger schools. However, the school my DC is interested in is not as large...about 10,000-12,000. Not sure being in the honors college is all that important there.

You will need to research the program because they all offer their own advantages. Priority registration, research stipends, honors housing, study abroad and volunteer opportunities - are all examples of what an honors program might offer to their students.

These programs do vary among institutions so definitely look into the honors program at your daughter's school.

Some also *require* you to live in a particular dorm, which not all students want to do. And some have minimum GPAs you must maintain to stay in the Honors program. If you're in a competitive major (engineering) it can be stressful, and some drop out of the program the next year.

OP here. Thanks for the information. It sounds like it's a good call for larger schools. However, the school my DC is interested in is not as large...about 10,000-12,000. Not sure being in the honors college is all that important there.

We got better advising for grad school and had opportunities to get to know faculty. There was also support in place if we wanted to apply for big deal scholarships like Rhodes or Marshall.

I think it's a signal on a resume that a kid was in a top cohort at a school. I know I look favorably on that when I see it on resumes. Doesn't matter for grad school.

DC was in one at a state flagship. It meant preferential freshman housing (an important benefit at this university), honors only seminars and discussion groups, honors advisors, special lectures, and honors social activities. That part of the program was the first 2 years. It also required a certain set of classes/seminars, which DC found a little confining (because it took up schedule space and the classes didn't always count towards DCs majors). The honors program as DCs schools was small relative to the overall freshman class so was also a way to have a smaller peer/social group within a large school. DC ended up doing a lot outside of the honors program so didn't really take advantage of that.

Priority enrollment of classes is one huge asset in the large schools where it may be hard to get into classes.

I was in the honors college at a big stage school. I got priority scheduling, which was huge because many students got shut out of classes and took more than 4 years to graduate. I also was in honors classes which were smaller and more interesting. Plus we had an honors dorm, which was nice because I was around pretty serious students in a school that otherwise was known to be a bit of a party school. Overall, it was a good option for me. I have no idea if employers care about it. I went on to law school, so it was a moot point for me.

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering, because these types of programs did not exist when I went to college many moons ago. Do employers really look to see if students were in these programs? What about graduate schools?

Thanks for any info.

No and no. But it's an attractive (and effective) selling point when attracting high performing kids. May get some small benefits - early registration, dedicated dorm, specialized program...etc. - but that's about it.

Plus some honors programs give students early registration, so students get their first choice of classes/schedule. Pretty nice.

There are all very different - you have to do your own research. However, some offer living/learning opp where you live and take classes with a cohort of students.

Some offer priority registration - this is key if its a big university where its easy to get locked out of popular classes.

Some offer special scholarships.

Many offer smaller classes for Honors students. Again, an advantage to have such personal attention when everyone else has large lectures.

Some programs require honors students to have a capstone project or thesis to graduate with "Honors" designation. Some don't.

Just a to name a few of the advantages we've come across.

Good summary here http://www.thecollegesolution.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-honors-colleges/

I don't think employers care. Grad schools probably don't either, but students do have a better chance of interacting with full professors earlier in college / developing relationships.

Just wondering, because these types of programs did not exist when I went to college many moons ago. Do employers really look to see if students were in these programs? What about graduate schools?

Thanks for any info.