Honors Colleges

mikemac
Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:50:46 +0000

As for mikemac’s dissing of honors programs in the thread he cites in post #2, it again reflects gross generalizations that do not apply to all honors programs. The University of Michigan, for example, has an outstanding honors program offering small classes with students whose stats are comparable to those of the most selective colleges in the country. Honors students at Michigan are required to take at last half honors classes, but may take all honors classes if they so choose.

Michigan honors is a typical example of an honors program – well worth doing if you are going to the school, but it doesn’t seem to me to be comparable to a true elite U or LAC. The special advising, getting to know other top students, special classes, etc are all valuable and make your experience at a good school even better. But bclintonk didn’t notice or chooses not to tell you that while you can take all honors courses, you can only do so the 1st 2 years. After that there’s a smattering of upper-division honors courses, many of which are just honors thesis credits (in other words, not a real class with other students and a professor). See [Honors - University of Michigan](http://www.lsa.umich.edu/umich/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=8daaee8a3ccf8110VgnVCM100000a3b1d38dRCRD&vgnextchannel=b3304a0c80686110VgnVCM1000004701010aRCRD) to see what is offered this winter quarter; 100 level classes are for freshman, 200 for sophomores, and so on. Look at how few depts offer any real classes after the 1st 2 years. And the school discloses that right on their website

In your first two years, you’ll be expected to take an average of half your coursework in Honors courses, although you’re certainly permitted to take more if you wish.
[Honors - University of Michigan](http://www.lsa.umich.edu/umich/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=994b2f8a85dc8110VgnVCM100000a3b1d38dRCRD&vgnextchannel=26530ae24f186110VgnVCM1000004701010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default)

Note the key words In your first two years After that you’re out in the regular U, mostly taking ordinary classes although some honor are offered upper division (see the link I gave above). But take a look – this winter Econ offers exactly one upper-division honors class, none in English, one in History, none in Psych, and so on. Compare that to what you’d experience at a top U or LAC where all the courses are going to be at the same level you enjoyed lower-division, taken with the same bright kids. Then ask yourself if the experience is really the same …