What is UMBC student life like? (Snobs need not answer)

[Anonymous]

Have you considered SMCM? That school is in a great setting (if you like kayaking, sailing, and the like). Not near a city though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been on campus a few times but not for official visits, and I’ve visited the website. What do students enjoy on campus and how do they gather?

Nice school. Scholars programs are great. Lots of people stay on campus on weekends. New Events center means lots of concerts and sports events right on campus.

[Anonymous]

On of my daughter's good friends from HS is at UMBC. She's a first-generation college student who is very happy there. Her first year she came home a lot on weekends, but over time she established a good group of friends. She's a senior now and tends to stay on campus most weekends. This isn't a family with a lot of money, so she usually does on-campus activities, rather than going out to restaurants or clubs in the area. My daughter, who goes to a SLAC in a cute, rural New England town, has visited her friend at UMBC and reports that people are friendly and campus life has "a low-key fun vibe".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you considered SMCM? That school is in a great setting (if you like kayaking, sailing, and the like). Not near a city though.

I have spent time on both UMBC and SMC- I think the campuses and student bodies are exact opposites. UMBC is very STEM based and St. Mary's is very much a liberal arts vibe and much smaller. St. Mary's campus is very charming. St. Mary's is in a rural part of southern MD, and remote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On of my daughter's good friends from HS is at UMBC. She's a first-generation college student who is very happy there. Her first year she came home a lot on weekends, but over time she established a good group of friends. She's a senior now and tends to stay on campus most weekends. This isn't a family with a lot of money, so she usually does on-campus activities, rather than going out to restaurants or clubs in the area. My daughter, who goes to a SLAC in a cute, rural New England town, has visited her friend at UMBC and reports that people are friendly and campus life has "a low-key fun vibe".

I’d agree with this. Low key, low cost fun. Both ethnically and socioeconomically diverse.