are honors dorms always the best dorms on campus?

MikeWozowski · 10-20-2008, 12:09 PM

i have read a good bit here about the honors dorms being so nice at some of the schools. i was wondering if the honors dorms are ALWAYS the nicest dorms?

my D might be honors material, but i am not sure if she would want to be in honors. if the dorms are usually nicer, then i might be able to use that as a "hook" for her.

so, those of you who have been around more than i have (which is ALL of you), what has your experience been with regard to honors dorms.

hope4freeride · 10-20-2008, 12:16 PM

Not necessarily from several standpoints. My niece is a freshman at Baylor and she did not see any physical difference between honors dorms and regular. If anything, these dorms are not popular with many who could stay there but choose not to for social reasons-kind of quiet and nerdy kids choose those dorms.

somebodynew · 10-20-2008, 12:16 PM

At the University of Maryland, most of the Honors freshmen are housed in dorms that are pretty much the same as the rest of the standard high-rise buildings. However, there is the opportunity to live in two smaller honors dorms later on that are among the nicest on campus (one is the most newly renovated). I lived in one of the nice honors dorms my sophomore year and it was easily one of the nicest doubles I had seen. But on the whole, the dorms at Maryland were equal across the board.

NewHope33 · 10-20-2008, 12:17 PM

I suppose it depends on the school, but in my two experiences, no. What honors dorms can offer is (a) good location, and (b) kids who are more academically oriented that the general school population.

jmmom · 10-20-2008, 12:33 PM

I think my S's experience was more like what New Hope describes. He had overnighted in the Honors Dorm and knew immediately that (1) this was the school for him and (2) this was the dorm for him. He'd found "his people" - cared about academics, cared about fun, but not the "party" or frat crowd.

At this school, the Honors Dorm was decidely not the most attractive physically. S hardly seemed to notice that, even though I did. He had absolutely no interest in the brand new really attractive suite-style dorm.

YMMV.

NewHope33 · 10-20-2008, 12:43 PM

"He had absolutely no interest in the brand new really attractive suite-style dorm."

Which incidentally, was right next door to the Honors dorm.

JL50ish · 10-20-2008, 12:56 PM

You will have to investigate the honors dorm situation at each school.

Some schools assign the nicest/newer dorms to honors as sort of a "carrot" to atract students with higher stats.

Some schools assign the nicest/newer dorms to honors because the honors kids are usually less destructive to the dorms.

At UA... the nicest dorms are the honors dorms BUT... they do have a building that has the same floor plans, But that dorm is just for freshmen. Students have to pay more to be in those dorms than they would if they were in "regular dorms." The honors dorms are very coveted. They are not filled with "nerds".

It's all "personal choice." Some prefer the "old style" dorms with "community bathrooms," because some consider those to be great places to meet people. Some like the "perks" that some honors dorms have... such as private rooms within suites, sharing a bathroom with only one person, computer labs, study rooms, game rooms, etc.

MidwestMom2Kids_ · 10-20-2008, 01:01 PM

At Ohio State and at the University of Texas, the honors dorms are in older buildings. These dorms are loved, but they are not the fanciest dorms on campus.

JL50ish · 10-20-2008, 01:10 PM

When we visited Auburn U, their honors dorms are in VERY OLD and BEAUTIFUL buildings that have been completely remodeled and updated, but have all the charm of well-built old structures. They are highly desired because they are situated within the school's "Quad" - which makes it easier to get to class in the morning.

However, when we visited Clemson, U of AL, & Mississipi State, all of their honors dorms were brand new and had a lot of "extras".

So, again, you have to research each school. Usually you can go online and get the honors dorm info right from your home - often with pictures and floorplans.

worried_mom · 10-20-2008, 01:11 PM

It really depends on the college, so you'll have to check each one out individually. I know of many schools where the honors dorm (or dorms, in some cases) are definitely NOT the newest or most physically attractive. But each honors dorm that I have seen does have the same "atmosphere" in terms of housing students who were more serious about their studies and having far fewer "party animals" (who plan to drink their way through college).

JL50ish · 10-20-2008, 01:14 PM

>>> But each honors dorm that I have seen does have the same "atmosphere" in terms of housing students who were more serious about their studies and having far fewer "party animals" (who plan to drink their way through college). <<<

I think that is the "common denominator" of most/all honors dorms. I'm not saying that the honors kids never have parties... but they certainly are fewer and they certainly are less rowdy.

My son (this is second year in an honors res hall) has never complained about noise - he's a "quiet kid" so he'd be bothered by a lot of craziness.

geezermom · 10-20-2008, 01:29 PM

Agree with others--it depends on the school. I wouldn't count on the dorm being the selling point. Can't you convince your daughter that smart kids do have fun? Or, if she's considering large universities, doesn't she want smaller honors classes? Visit and talk to some students in honors. She'll find every "type."

JL50ish · 10-20-2008, 01:38 PM

Geezer offers some very good points...

Being in an honors program is not just about being in honors dorms.... it is the other "perks"

Such as:

Priority registration...... those who are not in honors often have a harder time getting the classes that they want (or at the right time) because the honors kids get "first pick" of classes.

Smaller classes.... honors classes are usually restricted by size.

Best profs..... Usually the better profs are assigned to the honors classes.

More visibility.... profs know the honors students. My son was offered a T/A position after his FRESHMAN year! So... he gets paid to help in a lab 3 hours a week... not a bad deal - he'll make $500 this semester from this little job - which paid for his books for the semester! (He also has another part-time job).

pugmadkate · 10-20-2008, 02:06 PM

In addition to the perks of being in a honor program, my niece found living in a honors dorm to be a good experience. At her school, the honors program has a few floors in a regular dorm, so there's no difference in that aspect. She shared with us that she spent way less time "negotiating" with her roommate and neighbors than her friends on regular floors.

I don't know how it works at other schools, but at her school being in the honors program comes with a grant. In otherwords, everyone has to maintain their GPA and so rules about noise and the like were followed whereas on other floors the RA's were less strict and left it up to the students to figure it out. In fact, she had several friends who simply gave up on their roommate/floor and would come to the honors dorm area to study and hang out.

I'm lucky that she has convinced my son, a junior in high school, that honors college and dorms are the way to go. Perhaps find someone who has a child in a honors dorm to talk to your daughter directly?

barrons · 10-20-2008, 02:15 PM

sometimes the nicest dorms are private ones.