| macnyc-- Like BigJ said, New Yorkers definitely do not feel out of place at UMD!! There are a lot of students from that area here.
I think that for the most part, students in the honors program are more excited by learning than the general population of the school. But weīre also a bunch of students who have gotten good grades throughout our lives, and continue to want to do so. Iīve definitely picked certain classes or professors over others because of the grading policy or workload.
The best example of the way we feel about learning is seen in the honors seminars. In smaller groups of students of the same caliber (for the most part) the whole "excited about learning" quality really comes out. Most seminars can be counted towards your CORE curriculum courses, but honors students continue to take seminars through their junior and senior year--after most have finished their CORE requirements and the required 5 courses for the honors citation.
The personalities of students in the honors program vary immensely. When I got to UMD, I was worried that all the honors students would be quiet, want to study all the time, and never have any fun. I spent my freshman year living in two different honors dormitories, Denton Hall and Queen Anneīs Hall, and loved them both. I met so many fun people with a variety of interests and talents. Some honors students are in fraternities and sororities, some are in performing arts groups, many volunteer during their free time, or have a research fellowship with a professor. Some are more introverted, quiet, and studious. Of course, some students are lazy, play video games all day, and arenīt motivated. But I would say within the honors program, thatīs not very common.
Itīs very hard to put a label on an honors student here, just like itīs hard to describe a "typical" UMD student.
I hope you enjoy your visit, and it doesnīt rain on you (send the rain my way please, Iīm studying abroad in the south of Spain and could use some relief from the heat!!). |