Scholars program at UMD

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have a child in the Scholars program at UMD? If so, which program are they in? Did they get their first choice? Do they enjoy it? What are the pros and cons?

[Anonymous]

My child was in the program. 2020 grad. International Studies. It was so-so. Felt like it was a lot of busy work. Didn't get that much out of it but sounds nice on a resume. The honors program has much more rigor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child was in the program. 2020 grad. International Studies. It was so-so. Felt like it was a lot of busy work. Didn't get that much out of it but sounds nice on a resume. The honors program has much more rigor.

Comparable to Health class in Montgomery county public schools? Or the IBDP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child was in the program. 2020 grad. International Studies. It was so-so. Felt like it was a lot of busy work. Didn't get that much out of it but sounds nice on a resume. The honors program has much more rigor.

Comparable to Health class in Montgomery county public schools? Or the IBDP?

? You think IBDP is a lot of busy work? IBDP has a lot of real work.

UMD Honors program is not much better than Scholars program.

[Anonymous]

Can you choose more than one? Some overlap, don't you think?

College Park Scholars programs has a distinct thematic focus. Students study a variety of contemporary and historical issues related to that theme. About 75 students enroll in each of the 13 'Scholars' program every year.
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Arts: role of the Arts as a catalyst for healing, transformation and action

Business, Society and Entrepreneurship: Developing students’ entrepreneurial mindset

Civic Engagement for Social Good: Inspiring community collaboration and meaningful change

Data Justice: Information, analytics and computing for social change

Environment, Technology and Economy: Empowering students to build a just and sustainable world

Global Public Health: Inspiring future global health advocates to center justice and equity worldwide

International Studies: Investing in global citizenship
for a more just world

Justice and Legal Thought: Analyzing the role of law to advance social justice

Life Sciences: Exploring the entirety of the natural world, from tiny microbes to complex ecosystems

Media, Self and Society: Analyzing urgent questions about our media-filled lives

Public Leadership: Changing the world through effective, ethical leadership

Science and Global Change: Using science to understand and respond to the global climate crisis

Science, Technology and Society: The socially responsible application of science and technology

[Anonymous]

About 16% of Freshmen are in it

[Anonymous]

My kid did it. Not a class he enjoyed, but he wasn’t a liberal arts kid interested in the cross disciplinary topic. It felt good to him to get it but it didn’t add anything meaningful to his UMD experience. -Junior math major

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid did it. Not a class he enjoyed, but he wasn’t a liberal arts kid interested in the cross disciplinary topic. It felt good to him to get it but it didn’t add anything meaningful to his UMD experience. -Junior math major

Do you have to choose something if you get in or not accept to do the scholars program? For kids who knows they arent interested in the cross disciplinary topics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child was in the program. 2020 grad. International Studies. It was so-so. Felt like it was a lot of busy work. Didn't get that much out of it but sounds nice on a resume. The honors program has much more rigor.

LOL. No. At least not UH which is half of the honors kids. Its 6(?) 1-2 credit classes of near lock As. Not to say its not worthwhile or that its not good quality, interesting classes, some are very good. But it is not rigor. And not designed to be as far as I know. Now some honors niches (and scholars) may have some rigor and def some have busy work as the PP indicates.

If you're in a hard major, I'd consider carefully the value of and busy-work-heavy optional program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid did it. Not a class he enjoyed, but he wasn’t a liberal arts kid interested in the cross disciplinary topic. It felt good to him to get it but it didn’t add anything meaningful to his UMD experience. -Junior math major

Do you have to choose something if you get in or not accept to do the scholars program? For kids who knows they arent interested in the cross disciplinary topics

He reluctantly chose something that was marginally interesting. He only did it his freshman year - decided it wasn't worth it... It wasn't busy work, just not interesting to him. I feel like it's a program that tries to make a huge school feel smaller - more liberal arts like. I like that they offer it, even if my kid didn't get much out of it. Studying abroad, on the other hand, offered him small class sizes and lots of professor attention - like at a LAC. That was a great experience for a UMD kid!