Honors programs at big universities

maggiedog
Thu, 05 Jun 2014 17:07:07 +0000

I have heard great things about some honors programs. However, both of my kids applied to, got in to, and ultimately chose against honors programs at big state U’s, in favor of private more “elite” schools. Why?

It was different for each child. For one child, it came down to having more like-minded peers and not feeling, once again, like part of a smaller circle of “nerdy kids” among a larger group of partiers like in high school.

For the other, it was about the quality of the education, since most of the classes would not be in the honors college, especially in a subject like engineering, which has a similar trajectory regardless of whether you are in honors or not.

For BOTH of them, it came down to finances. I cannot emphasize enough that IT COST LESS TO SEND THEM TO SELECTIVE PRIVATE SCHOOLS than to both an in-state and OOS university. The assumption that private schools cost more is for those who do not have financial need. For those who do, big U’s may not be worth it.