<p>I just stumble into this thread and found a lot of good and interesting information. Anyone has new information to add for the group of juniors that are going to apply to college soon. Thank you.</p>
<p>Update on Schreyer Honors at PSU.
My son decided to attend and is finishing his freshman year (business major). It’s very good program. Dorm was great. Priority registration was very helpful. He’s had mostly small classes and mostly good professors. Honors classes are generally more difficult - he takes 2 or 3 per semester. That said, PSU is very big - and the honors college does not completely shelter you from this. In my son’s case, that’s fine - he likes it. But don’t go in expecting it to feel like a small LAC. IMO, the happiest Schreyer kids are those that would have considered PSU even w/o Schreyer. PSU’s strongest programs (Eng, Science, Business) become even stronger with the honors college.<br>
BTW, Schreyer admissions seems to be getting even more competitive. Many kids were rejected from our local high school this year - and they had very strong profiles from what I understand. I think they got more apps this year because they transitioned to an online system. I don’t think it’s quite as selective as an Ivy - but it’s getting close. If you apply, take time on the application - they read them multiple times…</p>
<p>For those thinking about next year: </p>
<p>St. Mary’s in Maryland is a state honors college, I believe, and is a hidden gem.</p>
<p>Virginia Tech has an honors program that is tiered, with about 200 of the 1500 or so honors students (out of a 20,000 or so undergraduate body) in honors community housing. Program invitations are sent out to candidates based on the basic application; then housing invites are sent to a subset of those that apply. The program isn’t well publicized–not sure why–and doesn’t have “honors classes” but is a good opportunity to be part of a smaller community, with other perks, within a large state U. The residential opportunity is especially attractive, if invited into it, and provides a small scholarship. Especially good for engineering and pre-vet, I think. My D loved it but decided on the smaller William and Mary instead; her best friend will matriculate.</p>
<p>toneranger, does Schreyer offer merit scholarships to admitted students automatically? How generous are they? Thank you.</p>
<p>yes - the scholarships are automatic. Amount: $3500 (not much!)
They offer full scholarships to a select few.
Also, certain schools also offer scholarships (science for example) to top students. These are separate applications.
My son cobbled together multiple scholarships. We’re also in-state - so the overall cost is very low.</p>
<p>Thank you very much.</p>
<p>bump…</p>
<p>book_worm, what schools are you consider now?</p>