UMD - Spring Admission

[Anonymous]

My child is so sad that they got offered Spring Admission/Freshman Connection at UMD. They have decided that they won't take it. They got accepted to other schools (one large state honors college) and are deferred for two and still are waiting to hear from a few in April but it was their first choice and they wanted to go there. They have strong grades/high SATs and feel so disappointed. Are other high stat kids offered FC from one of the MCPS highly ranked high schools going to do FC? It would be so much cheaper. They know it was a reach for some kids who are thrilled to be in FC but they are so strong and motivated, good student, etc.

Hoping to hear some experiences to share with them to try to get them to reconsider.

[Anonymous]

If you read the other UMD thread, you would see that some high stat kids from W schools were flat out rejected.

No one knows who is in FC. You stay in the same dorms; eat in the same food halls. You just can't take morning classes. Just say you aren't a morning person.

[Anonymous]

My OOS pretty high stats kid got it and I’m not at all bothered. Way better (for him) than what some other colleges offer…Semester abroad, summer start, satellite campus etc. Looks to be almost 1000 kids who do it…that’s a huge amount all in the same boat!

Personally we are not letting the spring admit at UMD be a show stopper. Not getting direct into Business however is a concern and might rule out UMD

[Anonymous]

Know someone who was shocked last year to receive this option. He is at UMD having a great experience. I understand the bruised ego, but if the school is otherwise a good match, it makes sense to get over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Know someone who was shocked last year to receive this option. He is at UMD having a great experience. I understand the bruised ego, but if the school is otherwise a good match, it makes sense to get over it.

+1
Take advantage of the time. Neighbor with high stats, great ECs, from a magnet program was offered spring admit. Did semester at sea for the fall and loved those 3 months. Rocking it as a Junior now at UMD and still glad about the experience.

[Anonymous]

What major? I wouldn't take it if I wanted to do Business or Comp Sci. Otherwise, it is really no different than regular admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What major? I wouldn't take it if I wanted to do Business or Comp Sci. Otherwise, it is really no different than regular admission.

why not? Do you mean because the person wouldn't be a direct admit to CS? That's a different story, though. Even regular admit who aren't admitted directly into CS would be an issue because of how difficult it is now to get in via transfer.

[Anonymous]

My OOS kid also got Spring Admit and she is not bothered by it. In fact, she loves the idea of not have morning classes! But as a parent I am a bit surprised by all these different "categories": honors, scholars, regular fall, spring admit. It feels a bit like 1st class, 2nd class, 3rd class etc. Is that what it feels like for freshmen when they get to campus?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is so sad that they got offered Spring Admission/Freshman Connection at UMD. They have decided that they won't take it. They got accepted to other schools (one large state honors college) and are deferred for two and still are waiting to hear from a few in April but it was their first choice and they wanted to go there. They have strong grades/high SATs and feel so disappointed. Are other high stat kids offered FC from one of the MCPS highly ranked high schools going to do FC? It would be so much cheaper. They know it was a reach for some kids who are thrilled to be in FC but they are so strong and motivated, good student, etc.

Hoping to hear some experiences to share with them to try to get them to reconsider.

For one semester, they don't have 8 a.m. classes. That's it. The next semester, they can take classes at any time. I would take the freshman connection if it's your kid's first choice for school. They usually house them in the same dorms. I know of at least one kid who received this, and they are taking it.

[Anonymous]

My MCPS W kid was rejected with high stats. It was her first choice, and she is devastated. She would have preferred FC to fall admission (smaller cohort, easier transition to a large school, no early morning classes) but wasn't given the option. She got HC at two large publics and significant merit at a SLAC, but she'd still prefer FC. Congrats to your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My OOS pretty high stats kid got it and I’m not at all bothered. Way better (for him) than what some other colleges offer…Semester abroad, summer start, satellite campus etc. Looks to be almost 1000 kids who do it…that’s a huge amount all in the same boat!

Personally we are not letting the spring admit at UMD be a show stopper. Not getting direct into Business however is a concern and might rule out UMD

Business is not competitive. Just need to satisfy prerequisites and you're in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My MCPS W kid was rejected with high stats. It was her first choice, and she is devastated. She would have preferred FC to fall admission (smaller cohort, easier transition to a large school, no early morning classes) but wasn't given the option. She got HC at two large publics and significant merit at a SLAC, but she'd still prefer FC. Congrats to your kid.

[Anonymous]

My son was offered the same last year. We passed. But in examining the offer, they did offer him to live on campus and even take classes in the fall. BUT, I don't think you would have much say in which dorm you would be assigned for the fall (so my first semester Freshman could be paired with a Junior in a dorm that is NOT mostly freshman) and the classes he could take were limited to evening classes. To me it just sounds like a terrible way to start out your college experience...feeling "other than" from the start. Such a gross money grab for UMD. We're from DC so instate tuition wasn't a hook for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My OOS kid also got Spring Admit and she is not bothered by it. In fact, she loves the idea of not have morning classes! But as a parent I am a bit surprised by all these different "categories": honors, scholars, regular fall, spring admit. It feels a bit like 1st class, 2nd class, 3rd class etc. Is that what it feels like for freshmen when they get to campus?

My kid is a sophomore at UMD. No class system at all. Think all these different categories ARE good...no one can keep them straight! Really just think it's an opportunity for students to meet in smaller groups. My student actually quit his honors program after year 1. GREAT for meeting kids, but the academic part didn't interest him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son was offered the same last year. We passed. But in examining the offer, they did offer him to live on campus and even take classes in the fall. BUT, I don't think you would have much say in which dorm you would be assigned for the fall (so my first semester Freshman could be paired with a Junior in a dorm that is NOT mostly freshman) and the classes he could take were limited to evening classes. To me it just sounds like a terrible way to start out your college experience...feeling "other than" from the start. Such a gross money grab for UMD. We're from DC so instate tuition wasn't a hook for us.

Huh? Would you have preferred a denial?