This op/ed from the NYT mentions SHC, but it also addresses a number of points re. honors programs/colleges that are worth considering.
The first is the distinction between an honors program versus a fully developed honors college
The second is a college that utilizes a formal holistic approach to select their recipients versus those that just select based on submitted standardized test scores/GPAs.
My read of this and the feeling I got from looking into honors programs (versus colleges) is that programs using a statistic only selection process are using this mechanism to distribute aid to the best students to boost statistics. Not sure how this would do so, however, as the honors students would make up a small percentage of the student population. Well, except for UAB. Geesh, do they really have 6500 students in their honors program as cited in the article?
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/opinion/sunday/frank-bruni-a-prudent-college-path.html?_r=1
It is not UAB (which would be U of Alabama at Birmingham) it is UA. They may have that many in their honors program; which strictly uses GPA and test scores to determine entrance. You have the scores, you are considered in the program. They are really trying to increase their reputation and primarily focusing their efforts in building a top Engineering program. Students with top scores and grades get free tuition and room & board for 4 years…actually think they get a few Thousand dollars in addition. Students w slightly lower scores can get 3/4 or 1/2 off of tuition. They built all new dorms with four bedrooms and two full baths in each “unit”. I think they are plowing some of there athletic money back into the general university in both infrastructure and substantial merit aid for above average students. I think they still have a stigma to over come, but they are getting some really top students. Their top 25% of the past several incoming classes match up with nearly any school in the country…but the bottom 50% only require a pulse and a check book. It will be interesting to see how it ends up. My son applied and would have half or 2/3rds tuition discount…don’t recall for sure, but decided to go to PSU. Two of his friends did chose to go to Alabama this fall. As tuition continues at absurd levels, I think top students from lower/low middle income families will have a tough time passing up these types of options going forward. I guess time will tell.
^^^ Re: UA
Yes, I too think it’ll be interesting to see what happens to UA as this goes on. Perhaps they’ll finally see more diversity in their sorority recruitment videos. (For those who don’t get the reference: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/08/18/university-alabama-criticized-racially-homogeneous-recruitment-video/31900097/)
Speaking from my kids’ HS (a top CA HS in the SF Bay Area), this year a very surprising four (!!!) students are on record as going to UA. This is up from 1 last year, and zero the previous 5 years.
OP, thanks for the link to the NYT op-ed. Missed it last week. It’s indeed great that SCH is mentioned as one of the top Honors Colleges.
I seem to recall that last year either the overall student body or the incoming freshman class became a majority out of state for the first time. Although I agree with you, I am not so sure that that diversity has spread into either the fraternity or the sororities. I think you have a good old boy network still taking place there. Would be interesting to see how well those two populations do or do not get along. Certainly seems to be a clash of cultures.