How difficult is it for a Maryland resident to get into UMCP these days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:For those of you that are MD residents and whose children went to UMCP - did any of them feel like it was highschool all over again? I know the school is large but I worry about the temptation to just hang with the same crew as high school and thus not really spreading your wings. My own bias is definitely present here - I chose not to go to my flagship state school (Univ of Wisconsin) because I wanted to branch out and was worried I would just stay in my comfort zone with my very good HS friends that were going to UW.

I think that attending a school with 37,000 students is going to provide a far broader experience than some private little pampering school. I went to UMBC. Sure, there were people I already knew and it was nice to see a familiar face, but I also got to know a lot of people who did not fit the same mold as the people of my hometown. Some students were older and were going back to school. Others were attending part-time while working and paying their own way. The ones who were already working in professional fields turned out to be great contacts when it came time to find internships and full-time employment after graduation.

During my internships, I worked with students from some of the more expensive private colleges and they were the ones who acted like they were still in high school. They were the ones whose parents packed their lunches and woke them up for work every morning. Why attend a school where every student comes from the same kind of place with the same kind of SES?

Excuse me? Attending a fancy, expensive private college is not the only alternative to attending your home state flagship school. Get a grip.

For good students, mid range private schools will often come out to be less than or roughly equivalent to state school tuition...

So much misinformation out there on the cost of college.
True, attending another state's public school is an option, it's just an unnecessary expense when the school in your backyard is perfectly fine.

(I assume that was the statement you inserted into another quote.) People keep saying that but I haven't seen a situation where a private school comes out to $10k per year with free room and board.

I have not seen this either, and believe me, we've looked!! Merit aid does not bring the cost of a private school down to the cost of UMD, unless the kid is a top-tier kid whose stats will get them into an Ivy or a top-tier SLAC (think Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore). Kids with outstanding stats might get lots of $$ from a lower-level SLAC to make it equal the in-state cost of UMD, but I have not heard of this happening. Anyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you that are MD residents and whose children went to UMCP - did any of them feel like it was highschool all over again? I know the school is large but I worry about the temptation to just hang with the same crew as high school and thus not really spreading your wings. My own bias is definitely present here - I chose not to go to my flagship state school (Univ of Wisconsin) because I wanted to branch out and was worried I would just stay in my comfort zone with my very good HS friends that were going to UW.

I think that attending a school with 37,000 students is going to provide a far broader experience than some private little pampering school. I went to UMBC. Sure, there were people I already knew and it was nice to see a familiar face, but I also got to know a lot of people who did not fit the same mold as the people of my hometown. Some students were older and were going back to school. Others were attending part-time while working and paying their own way. The ones who were already working in professional fields turned out to be great contacts when it came time to find internships and full-time employment after graduation.

During my internships, I worked with students from some of the more expensive private colleges and they were the ones who acted like they were still in high school. They were the ones whose parents packed their lunches and woke them up for work every morning. Why attend a school where every student comes from the same kind of place with the same kind of SES?

Excuse me? Attending a fancy, expensive private college is not the only alternative to attending your home state flagship school. Get a grip.

For good students, mid range private schools will often come out to be less than or roughly equivalent to state school tuition...

So much misinformation out there on the cost of college.
True, attending another state's public school is an option, it's just an unnecessary expense when the school in your backyard is perfectly fine.

(I assume that was the statement you inserted into another quote.) People keep saying that but I haven't seen a situation where a private school comes out to $10k per year with free room and board.

I have not seen this either, and believe me, we've looked!! Merit aid does not bring the cost of a private school down to the cost of UMD, unless the kid is a top-tier kid whose stats will get them into an Ivy or a top-tier SLAC (think Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore). Kids with outstanding stats might get lots of $$ from a lower-level SLAC to make it equal the in-state cost of UMD, but I have not heard of this happening. Anyone?

These schools do not give merit aid.

[Anonymous]

I find this thread really interesting. If you are an upper middle class family in this area with a very bright kid you cannot get need-based financial aid and so your main options are UMD or paying close to $70K a year for a private SLAC or university. Most of top tier universities and SLACs do not offer merit aid. So I am very interested in learning more about the "good" SLACs and universities that offer significant (more than $10K a year) aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find this thread really interesting. If you are an upper middle class family in this area with a very bright kid you cannot get need-based financial aid and so your main options are UMD or paying close to $70K a year for a private SLAC or university. Most of top tier universities and SLACs do not offer merit aid. So I am very interested in learning more about the "good" SLACs and universities that offer significant (more than $10K a year) aid.

a lot of schools DO give 10-15k so called "merit" aid but not 35-40k range pp was talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find this thread really interesting. If you are an upper middle class family in this area with a very bright kid you cannot get need-based financial aid and so your main options are UMD or paying close to $70K a year for a private SLAC or university. Most of top tier universities and SLACs do not offer merit aid. So I am very interested in learning more about the "good" SLACs and universities that offer significant (more than $10K a year) aid.

Or you can go 2 years at MC or HCC get straight A's for $5000/yr then commute UMD cp or shady grove for 14k a year. Be a serious student , commit to your major and be highly educated for a total of $38000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find this thread really interesting. If you are an upper middle class family in this area with a very bright kid you cannot get need-based financial aid and so your main options are UMD or paying close to $70K a year for a private SLAC or university. Most of top tier universities and SLACs do not offer merit aid. So I am very interested in learning more about the "good" SLACs and universities that offer significant (more than $10K a year) aid.

Or you can go 2 years at MC or HCC get straight A's for $5000/yr then commute UMD cp or shady grove for 14k a year. Be a serious student , commit to your major and be highly educated for a total of $38000.

Pretty much the deal everywhere. Va has Uva/Wm but not too many kids get in and they take a lot of out of state kids. VT is kind of a downer and the rest of the Va schools are exactly like UMBC , Towson U, Salisbury U, St Mary's College and Frostburg U.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find this thread really interesting. If you are an upper middle class family in this area with a very bright kid you cannot get need-based financial aid and so your main options are UMD or paying close to $70K a year for a private SLAC or university. Most of top tier universities and SLACs do not offer merit aid. So I am very interested in learning more about the "good" SLACs and universities that offer significant (more than $10K a year) aid.

It is discussed at some length on this thread:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/530436.page

[Anonymous]

Case western, Tulane, Miami, Pittsburgh give high merit money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find this thread really interesting. If you are an upper middle class family in this area with a very bright kid you cannot get need-based financial aid and so your main options are UMD or paying close to $70K a year for a private SLAC or university. Most of top tier universities and SLACs do not offer merit aid. So I am very interested in learning more about the "good" SLACs and universities that offer significant (more than $10K a year) aid.

It is discussed at some length on this thread:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/530436.page

Very helpful thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD admitted last year to UMCP Scholars. 3.4 gpa, 2080 SAT.

Is there a separate application process for the Scholars program? Once on campus do you take classes only or mostly with other students in the program? It sounds interesting (and affordable!). My DD seems to really be interested in UMCP despite the fact that she's not a person who wants a school with big football, greek system etc. I want her to look at mostly SLACs but I would never want to discourage her from applying to Maryland so I'm interested in hearing more about this option.

No separate app is required. Just make sure your DD applies by Nov 1 priority app due date.

+1 Yes, you must apply early, and be very serious about essays and short answers. There is not special admission process, but it seems they look for kids who are excellent students AND have been very involved in their school and communities during high school.

[Anonymous]

As to merit aid. Duke for example, although not a SLAC gives a free ride to Robertson and Presidential scholars. This is technically merit aid since those who do not require FA are eligible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middle 50 percent average incoming scores

SAT. ACT

UMD 1340. 32
Ucla. Not rep. 31
Unc. 1315. 32
Wisc. 1255. 29
Ill. 1345. 29

All other Big ten schools are lower than UMD ,Wisconsin and Ill except NW and Mich.

Seems the bad economy and Big Ten move is pushing UMD into rarified air.

Pretty cool beating ucla and Unc . Wisconsin seems to have slipped. I know Illinois has a really high math SAT requirement .

Wisconsin does focus on GPA. Also Wisconsin has turned away athletes who don't make the cut because of academics unlike UNC.

Wisconsin seems more focused on GPA than test scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As to merit aid. Duke for example, although not a SLAC gives a free ride to Robertson and Presidential scholars. This is technically merit aid since those who do not require FA are eligible.

You are "technically" correct but, from practical standpoint, it is EXTREMELY difficult to get those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middle 50 percent average incoming scores

SAT. ACT

UMD 1340. 32
Ucla. Not rep. 31
Unc. 1315. 32
Wisc. 1255. 29
Ill. 1345. 29

All other Big ten schools are lower than UMD ,Wisconsin and Ill except NW and Mich.

Seems the bad economy and Big Ten move is pushing UMD into rarified air.

Pretty cool beating ucla and Unc . Wisconsin seems to have slipped. I know Illinois has a really high math SAT requirement .

Wisconsin does focus on GPA. Also Wisconsin has turned away athletes who don't make the cut because of academics unlike UNC.

Wisconsin seems more focused on GPA than test scores.

UMD. 1340 32
UVA. 1355. 31

UMD being the STEM school for a highly educated region and the Big Ten move is jacking the scores every year.