<p>Michigan and Michigan State both have multiple fine honors-type programs.</p>
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<p>I think Abe is right on this. UMCP has one of the best honors programs, including gemstones, and hum/honor. Based on what I saw/heard, their honors program and students are top qualities. Many in-state top students (Montgomery Blair, Churchill, Whitman, Woodson, etc) turned down JHU and like for the UMCP Honors for better education and absolute free-ride (Tuition/R&B/Books) - they are actually getting paid to attend the school :).</p>
<p>IMO, if you are into science/engineering, its not illogical to turn down 45K+ JHU engineering for a free UMCP Honors (pampered/world-class cs/eng programs, close to DC, a slew of potential internships and employers including NASA/Goddard, NRL, Pentagon, NIH, and a slew of beltway contractors including Lockheed, Booze Allen & Hamilton) !!!</p>
<p>UMCP does indeed throw numerous merit scholarships at top in-state students, and the existence of multiple honors programs available to these students (University Honors, Honors Humanities, Gemstone) makes the offer even more attractive.</p>
<p>Maryland students with SAT scores of about 2300 and unweighted GPAs of 3.9 or thereabouts have a very good chance of going to UMCP for FREE. About 200 such students are offered full-ride scholarships (called Banneker/Key Scholarships) each year. It’s very hard to argue with FREE, especially if you’re planning to go to medical or law school, where you will accumulate substantial debt.</p>
<p>I think, though, that when you’re talking about UMCP vs. Hopkins, the correct comparison is with Johns Hopkins as a whole, not its honors program. I don’t think Johns Hopkins has an honors program.</p>
<p>American U is on of my safeties… is their honors college good?</p>
<p>how about rutgers honors college
does that count for a lot more than regular rutgers in the real world</p>
<p>In the real world, i.e., employers, I doubt if any honors college will mean all that much unless the hiring manager is well-attuned to higher education. It will look like an honorific on the grad’s resume, perhaps like graduating with high honors, magna cum laude, etc.</p>
<p>The real difference should be in the quality of the education - smaller classes, better profs, exclusive lectures/seminars, and many of the other characteristics described above.</p>
<p>r-dooley - you may be right but grads from the honors college at Penn State report that employers “cherry pick” those students - I would say this is an advantage. I do agree though that the educational experience is what really counts. You want to look for a program that’s more than window dressing.</p>
<p>Passionflower–</p>
<p>Roger’s right in that being in the honors program will just look like another honor on a resume. The rutgers honors program does have its own smaller classes and seminars and a bunch of other stuff (honors dorms, etc.) though so it is definitely a program to look into. In general, I don’t think it’s very smart for students to go OOS to a different state school (besides, say, W&M or UVa) because most state schools have the same vibe and provide nearly the exact same experience. Check out the rutgers board on CC or <a href=“http://rchonors.rutgers.edu%5B/url%5D”>http://rchonors.rutgers.edu</a> . Also keep in mind that with the consolidation of the undergrad colleges at RU starting in one year, the honors program will be a little bit different, but not that much.</p>
<p>And I beg to differ on the comment on Echols @ UVa. I was admitted to Echols and the only benefits are really that you get to choose your courses first… and maybe honors housing, i forget. And I didn’t get into the Ivies, so the people who were admitted didn’t necessarily get into HYP. :)</p>
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<p>I’d agree. I’m Echols at UVA. I wouldn’t say it’s an “honors program,” it just offers some perks to the students who demonstrated the greatest desire to learn–NOT necessarily the students with the best stats. I get priority registration and freedom from all course and division requirements, and I have to say, it’s AWESOME. 
That’s really about all, though; there are no special “Echols” classes and no seperate advisors or administrators for Echols students. We’re very much a part of the university and I don’t feel that as a whole we’re of higher quality than the rest of the university. Everyone here is very high quality! :)</p>
<p>Will somebody please answer my question about American’s honor college?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>what is a honors program?</p>
<p>bump!!!</p>
<p>thanks for the advice on rutgers honors program. i have a few friends that go there (in state), mainly for financial reasons because rutgers gives lots of merit money in state, and they say there are a few seminar type classes, but that’s about it</p>
<p>university of michigan - ann arbor.</p>