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Just today, I received a letter from the USC Resident Honors program. They allow high school juniors to apply for admission into the program and to the university a year early.

Does anyone know of other programs such as USC's? I remember getting information from Simon's Rock College my sophomore year, and they still send it to me, although if I remember correctly you must be a sophomore to be accepted into their programs.

Both Simon's Rock and RHP offer substantial scholarship money (quarter to full tuition), but I think completing senior year AP's and courses at the local university would in essence be the same thing (free first year).

Of course, I'm not comparing going to local state U during your senior year to moving halfway across the country.

How competitve is entry into these programs? Do you know of any others?

If anyone is familiar with these types of programs, please post your accounts here.

By Thenarrator (Thenarrator) on Saturday, November 01, 2003 - 10:11 pm: Edit

I know of the Clarkson School program. In this program, you would take regular freshman courses at Clarkson university in what would normally be your senior year of high school.

Because the Clarkson school doesn't give High school diplomas, you would have to work something out with your home school regarding grad reqs with clarkson credits, or take the GED. And also because you won't have ur diploma til the end of your clarkson year, you would only recieve advanced standing status if you so choose to attend any other college/university.

I'm not sure how great the program is, but it does seem appealing. AP classes are taught at the college lvl, but high school classes nonetheless. Theses programs would basically make you a fully matriculated freshman. +i'm sure the experience is great, intellectually timulating, and fun.

I'm looking into clarkson, but i'm not sure i'm applying yet.

If anyone knows of any other programs like this, i'm interested in hearing about them as well.

By Takingiteasy (Takingiteasy) on Saturday, November 01, 2003 - 10:20 pm: Edit

I got one from USC too. How did u do in school or on the SATs? cause i want to see how they found ppl to send it to.

By Z00b (Z00b) on Saturday, November 01, 2003 - 10:35 pm: Edit

I have 4.0UW full IB diploma, but I've never taken the SAT's. Last years PSAT score wasn't spectacular either. (204)

By Thenarrator (Thenarrator) on Saturday, November 01, 2003 - 10:45 pm: Edit

i want to apply for USC, but i haven't taken the sat/act yet....will USC RHP still consider me if i send in my app early and send in my score when i take it ?

By Z00b (Z00b) on Saturday, November 01, 2003 - 11:27 pm: Edit

I remember reading that you will still be considered if you don't have the tests by the Dec priority deadline, but you are less likely to receive the best merit scholarships.

By Tro348a (Tro348a) on Monday, November 03, 2003 - 03:07 pm: Edit

RHP is pretty awesome. I came expecting everyone in the program (there are about 27 of us) to be total nerds who hated high school and were maladjusted. This couldn't be farther from the truth. While there are some geeks and grade-grubbers (about 5), everyone else is just normal. I got full-scholarship, but not everyone does. Plus, I still get to apply to all of the schools I would have applied to as a Freshman admit because I haven't yet graduated from high school.

By Quain (Quain) on Monday, November 03, 2003 - 05:30 pm: Edit

UIUC also has an early entrance program.

By Z00b (Z00b) on Monday, November 03, 2003 - 06:01 pm: Edit

Tro, would you mind sharing more of your experience about RHP? Do you know just how selective the program is? How many students receive scholarships? Are there any special courses, seminars, etc? Or are you just another USC student?

Thanks.

I am very interested in this program, but don't think the cost (without scholarship) would be justifiable.

By Tro348a (Tro348a) on Monday, November 03, 2003 - 06:29 pm: Edit

Z00b, I've been told that around 400-500 students applied, and that about 40 were admitted. I know of only three of us that received full tuition scholarships. Everyone who is admitted, though, gets the quarter-tuition Dean's scholarship. There aren't really any special seminars, but Penny, the director of the program, keeps close watch on our progress. For instance, about a month ago, I was missing class quite frequently, and Penny got into contact with me and straigtened me up, so to speak. She encourages all of the RHPers to do the Thematic options Honors progam here, which is an alternative to the regular general education core of classes at SC. She encourages us to drop by and talk about any adjustment issues we're having, and we have the option of attending monthly seminars with her; actually, I just remembered we have one this Wednesday.

Other than that, we are just regular USC students, unless you make it known that you're in RHP. And anyways, most of the people don't even know what RHP is. They're just shocked when they learn I'm 16. However, most of the people in RHP are 17 or 18, with just one girl that turned 16 in september and me.

That's all the stuff I can think of at the moment.

EDIT: Some people (one of my best friends) in the program astound me with their wit, logic, and plain raw intelligence. Others surprise me with their superior talent and determination. Some, however, leave me wondering what the selection criteria for the program were; I mean, they're good students, but compared to the rest, they just seem dull. Also, the SAT cutoff for the program is not hard and fast. There are people in the program with as low an SAT score as 1390; I don't think ANYONE scored perfectly on their SATs.

By Doobee (Doobee) on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 03:14 am: Edit

I went to USC's RHP, and I transferred later on, I can tell you more about it.

By Electricmonkey (Electricmonkey) on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 - 06:12 am: Edit

I was in the RHP program...a lot of people in it get the full-tuition scholarship (er...I missed my scholarship interview because I got lost, so I ended up getting only half...not good...hehe). My roommate got a 1590 on her SATs and I got a 1600, but I don't know about the rest.

I really liked it, mainly because I got to leave high school and study subjects that I was interested in. Someone during my year actually ran away (I think she plotted the whole thing)...drama drama drama.

There can be a social stigma, but only if you act immature or go around telling everybody you're in RHP...like, "Look at how young I am! I'm so smart...love me..." (hehe, of course, that's just hypothetical). And then people might go, "What do you expect? The person's in RHP."

The part that I didn't like, though, was how since I was under eighteen, I had to get my mom's signature every time I had to fill out a form. It was a pain in the neck running to Kinko's and faxing all the paperwork. But, uh, yeah, besides that, it was cool...

By Gromitjb (Gromitjb) on Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 11:45 pm: Edit

What do your stats need to be like to get in?

I got a 1410 SAT (which i don't know if got sent in or not) a 33 ACT and a 225 PSAT.. Big problem is my gpa is only 3.61, but thats with a ton of APs and lots of E.C.s
Do I have a chance? How good of one?
Thanks!

EDIT: Sorry if this should go in the other forum, but i figured RHP isnt a big enough topic to be so spread out. Thanks again.