<p>IUP = Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
IUPUI = Indiana University/Purdue University in Indianapolis.</p>
<p>Robert E. Cook Honors College is at IUP. It is one of the older, and thus more established, honors schools. Some of the other honors programs are tag-along “me, too” type programs, which amount to fairly little right now, although they may develop further as years pass.</p>
<p>thanks for the clarification… Now I’ll be able to find it in the book</p>
<p>Indiana University of Pennsylvania</p>
<p>JLauer #177: Bingo.</p>
<p>bingo to what?</p>
<p>To the point you made in post #177 about Honors Colleges being variable and at some places being “the thing to do.”</p>
<p>so… does that mean that many/most honors programs are worthless? Or do they still have some merit? There are some “side bennies” to many programs – early reg, best dorms (often the newest or remodeled), smaller classes and taught by profs. I have looked at some class listings and some of the classes seem a bit P.C. Is that typical?</p>
<p>It might depend on the subject matter. For instance, in my son’s engineering program, the honors math covered two terms of material in one term and was more proof oriented, the honors physics class met 5 times per week instead of three, the honors engineering class had different assignments. The technical courses were just plain “more”…more work, more in-depth, etc. He feels they were worthwhile. I can’t really speak about honors versions of humanities and social sciences. Anyone?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t go so far as “worthless.” But by anecdotal accounts, some honors programs may in fact offer the benefits as stated but they don’t much affect the overall experience. I’m sorry, as D never thought of pursuing any of these, I didn’t particularly pay attention to which progams were what…but I’ve heard accounts across the spectrum, from very good to “how fast can I transfer out of here?”</p>
<p>Like most things, you should research the honors college individually before either crossing it off as “worthless” or blindly accepting what you’re told. </p>
<p>Go to the campus and look at the honors program office itself. Is it a small, out-of-the-way shack or is it a large building in the middle of campus with its own classrooms and libraries? </p>
<p>Check out the classes offered too and see if there are many upper-level classes offered as many programs just offer honors versions of intro-level classes. Also, see if you can get honors credit for doing extra work in regular courses.</p>
<p>Look at the professors who are teaching the honors classes- are they brand-new or are they some of the most distinguished scholars at the university who have won awards for their teaching?</p>
<p>See how much of an emphasis there is on undergraduate research. Lots of students involved in research is usually a good sign of a great deal of opportunities and students with the initiative to go out and learn on their own.</p>
<p>Also, look at the honors housing. Is it just a few floors of a high-rise, or is it a seperate dorm with its own distinct atmosphere? </p>
<p>Talk to the people running the honors program. How big is the staff? Are they bored, cavalier, or noninterested? Or do they eagerly talk about their honors graduates’ recent Goldwater and Truman scholarships? </p>
<p>A caveat: Don’t just trust the guides/Reader’s Digest. It’s a lot harder to get information on honors colleges and some do a very good job with publicity although not so well on academics. </p>
<p>I looked around at a lot of honors honors programs and was fortunate enough to find an honors program that has the best features I mentioned above. If done right, they can be an Ivy-League academic experience at a state-school price.</p>
<p>Just got sent info from U of AL. They just completed new honors dorms. Each suite is like a 4 bedroom/2bath apartment with a living room and kitchenette. Each kid has his own room and only has to share a bathroom with one other person and each sink is outside the toilet/shower area. The two new honors dorm buildings are next to each other and have a swimming pool, dining hall and coffee shop just for them.</p>
<p>vig180 When you were “looking around” at honors colleges, which ones did you like best, which ones were “just ok” and which ones did you not like? Would like to know what you personal opinion was about the ones you investigated or visited. </p>
<p>thanks a bunch</p>
<p>Con’t from post #191</p>
<p>And, the dorms have a cleaning service to clean the bathrooms and the kitchenette and living room. The kids clean their own private rooms.</p>
<p>jlauer, sounds really nice!</p>
<p>Honors Program and Engineering? University of Maryland, of course!</p>
<p>Very competitive program, graduates are snatched right up in what is, (at least for the time being) officially the very best job market in the US.</p>
<p>yulsie… GREAT to know this, thanks!</p>
<p>vig180 Did you see my request at post #180? :)</p>
<p>If you google Robert E Cook honors it will take you right to the Indiana University of Pennsylvania honors site.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I would love to read posts from people who are either in honors colleges now or have visited them during college visits.<br>
What were your impressions?
What perks are offered (better dorms, pre reg, etc)
Is it worth it?
etc… anything else that comes to mind…</p>
<p>Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University -
<a href=“http://www.asu.edu/news/stories/200602/20060214_meritscholars.htm[/url]”>http://www.asu.edu/news/stories/200602/20060214_meritscholars.htm</a></p>
<p>You may want to note the new Biodesign Institute where some of the science students are able to get first class experience in science Internships.
<a href=“http://www.asu.edu/news/stories/200603/20060302_biolab.htm[/url]”>http://www.asu.edu/news/stories/200603/20060302_biolab.htm</a></p>
<p>My son is a student at the Honors college and is in the second year of Biochemistry. He interned last summer with the Department of Energy at PNNL (Pacific Northwest National Laboratories) and is currently looking for a research position at the Biodesign Center. </p>
<p>I’ll soon write our impressions and stats I know or learned in the last 2 years</p>