Choosing between several good college options
There is no real standardization of these and kids value different things, so you really have to investigate each different program in depth to see what it provides.
I’ve heard multiple people say they found this book helpful for that purpose, although I note the last edition was 2020-21:
https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Honors-2020-2021-University-Programs-ebook/dp/B08KH4B2T1/
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Listing the schools would help. Honors programs vary widely in worth.
Early registration, special dorms, small classes with the best professors, research/work opportunities and dedicated advising would be high in the list.
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Of course, it also depends on whether the base university is a good fit (academic programs, cost, etc.) for the student.
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You can do a search and almost all colleges have had some discussion on CC. Here is a thread with comparisons. Honors Programs/Colleges: Great, Good, Meh Experiences and Recommendations
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Know that it is ok to not worry about this component as much as you may think it is critical to their experience.
There are many posts where the kid is not in the honor program they were initially accepted into and yet thriving.
Some pop of the programs add lots of conveniences, but if they are going in with extra credit they may already trigger some like course selection. Some programs have a ton of constraints that do not mesh with their course interests.
Choose one that provides unique experiences and is small relative to the college.
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Can you actually list the universities and programs?
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Many honors programs most valuable component is better freshman year housing, because the honors college dorm will have top students, who might behave better. Some offer priority registration, smaller and honors-exclusive sections, some offer a small scholarship, too. Some operate as a smaller school-within-a-school, while some are virtually meaningless.
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