<p>phil413, my son is going to OU in the fall as a National Merit Scholar and will be in the Honors College. There are many benefits of participating in the Honors College. That thing that appealed most to my son was that the honors college felt like a small liberal arts college within the bigger university setting…sort of the best of both worlds. Honors college classes are much smaller than regular classes. For example, one class my son is enrolled in for the fall has a max of 18 students in the honors college. The non-honors sections of the same class have 150 students. They offer reading groups for the students, more personal attention, special library privileges, opportunities to build relationships with faculty, etc. Also, the only way to graduate with honors is to participate in the honors college. </p>
<p>As for joining the honors college adding a whole year to your daughter’s undergrad experience, I don’t think that’s right. Students have to take a certain number of hours in the honors college, but it can be, for example, an honors biology course instead of a “regular” bio course. I believe there are also three other classes they have to take that are specific to the Honors College, but I’m thinking a couple of those can be used as general electives. Also, there is an honors thesis. </p>
<p>Have you toured OU and the Honors College yet? If not, you should consider it.</p>