SC Scholars vs. UMD Scholars vs. OSU Honors

old_bay_mom
Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:19:25 +0000

After reading the responses here plus on the same question under OSU and UMD, I’d say go to OSU. It puts you in a pretty great honors program that comes with all the percs - small, discussion-based classes, priority registration, etc., which you won’t get either as a CP Scholar or a USC Capstone Scholar (both are essentially living-learning community programs, which are fun but not that good at overcoming the disadvantages of very large state universities). OSU is well ranked for your chosen programs. DD is in USC’s Honors College and loves it, but it works like OSU’s. The Capstone program doesn’t, although all the kids I know who are in it are happy and don’t feel disadvantaged. USC is a beautiful school with some strong depts. and a friendly atmosphere. The in-state kids take the OOSers home for fall break pr a few days after May exams until we can pick her up. I hear OSU has the same sort of friendliness - just mid-western instead of southern hospitality.

You already know what you’re in for at UM-CP. Same huge school, impersonal administration & professors, and the typical northeast kids that you’ve been in high school with. If you want to see life from a different region of the country, try OSU or USC. Yeah, it’s four years away from home, but hey, IT’S ONLY FOUR YEARS! And by the 2nd semester of freshman year, you’re established in college life and really DON’T want to come home more than 1-2 times per semester.

DD got into UM-CP Scholars, but hated the limitations - you have to apply to get into the over-enrolled majors, you couldn’t take the honors classes, and the amazing internships/research positions were reserved for the very top of the dept’s undergrads, so most students were on their own to find much less prestigious opportunities. IMHO, you’re looking for what makes the college smaller & more personalized to your interests & needs.

You can find worthwhile internships regardless of where you go to school, especially since you’ll probably be home in MD for summers. Top-notch grad programs are full of students from all state flagship universities - it’s more about your GPA, research/internship experiences, and connections with your professors that’ll set you apart for grad school. So figure out where you’ll be treated the best, and go there if you can afford the tuition, room & board, travel expenses, etc. Good luck!