Two years ago, Yeshiva University instituted its Honors program in an effort to woo an increased number of high-quality students and improve the University's general academic environment and reputation. This year, CUNY is trying a similar tact. The publicly funded university is allotting some $1.25 million in scholarships and incentives to try and compete with more prestigious private universities. CUNY Honors students will receive full scholarships and other perks, including a $7,500 stipend, a free laptop, and New York City cultural Passes. The program received an enthusiastic initial response of 1,600 applicants, many with Ivy-League-caliber records.

The Honors College was conceived by CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein in response to a Giuliani administration report blasting CUNY as an "institution adrift." The program accepted four hundred students with an average SAT score of 1300, which is some five hundred points higher than the school average. The school is counting heavily on the advanced program to raise the level and reputation of the entire University. CUNY has committed a significant number of its top faculty and resources to the new college and scrapped remedial programs at the campuses where the Honors College will run.

The CUNY Honors College naturally appeals to many promising students daunted by the high costs of competitive private schools. Many students who would have never ordinarily considered CUNY were clearly enticed by the program's accompanying attractive financial package. With a pool of talented students and the University's strong commitment, the program shows potential for success. However, it lacks the established reputation of its private competitors, and the CUNY name may continue to deter potential applicants. Nevertheless, even if the new college fails to raise the general level of CUNY, it should offer participants an affordable high-level education.

Yeshiva's Honors Program shares a number of commonalities with that of CUNY, but it is also remains fundamentally different. Students with a 1400 SAT and a 3.8 GPA are eligible to apply for the Honors Program Ira Marienhoff Scholarship of $10,000. It remains unclear how many students who would have otherwise gone elsewhere for schooling, turned to YU because of the program. The financial incentives aren't nearly as alluring as CUNY's, and the Schottenstein Program does not really stand distinct from the rest of the University. Regardless, it has managed to draw to its doors an exceptional group of students pursuing advanced courses. A number of new and exciting courses have been introduced under the auspices of the Schottenstein Program, and the expansion has promoted academic values throughout the broader University.

As CUNY embarks on the journey set out by its new Honors College, directors could take some tips from Yeshiva. Granted, CUNY boasts a far larger infrastructure than we at Yeshiva and is also willing to allocate more funds to the program's success; still, the programs' fundamental goals seem quite similar. Part of the Schottenstein Program's success has stemmed from the close relationship that it shares with the remainder of the college, and CUNY may be making a mistake by keeping theirs separate. With enough of an investment, it is not particularly difficult to set up an elitist institution for a limited number of students. The challenge for CUNY's Honors College, much like the one facing Yeshiva, is to integrate an elite stream into the framework of the general college, ultimately complementing one another and improving academics throughout the entire university, not just for a select minority.