What does it take for UMD honors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the poster with the kid whose stats were called Ivy material. Meh, it's really not her dream. She was deferred to Swarthmore which was her first choice (ED1). She has applied to a number of schools across the range, but UMD is a great option. Direct admit to Smith, cheap tuition, and lots of opportunities on campus. We are not ruling it out at all, regardless of where else she is admitted. But this idea that high stats gets you in is a myth. Colleges are looking to build a "class" and have lots of criteria. A strong student with good extracurriculars is not enough--it just gets you in the lottery. Right now UMD is her top choice, but RD decisions could change that.

what major? SAT?
I hear a 4.3 GPA with most rigorous AP exam scores, is viewed as more competitive than a 4.9 GPA with few IB courses. Why?

[Anonymous]

Last year, my son was accepted into Honors with a 4.67 wGPA. Same APs, with mostly 5s, and 35 ACT.

However, he's an MD resident, so not sure how that impacts Honors admissions.

He ended up going elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last year, my son was accepted into Honors with a 4.67 wGPA. Same APs, with mostly 5s, and 35 ACT.

However, he's an MD resident, so not sure how that impacts Honors admissions.

He ended up going elsewhere.

Me again. I think it's the GPA that did it, OP. In my son's year, I heard of MD residents that were outright rejected from UMD with 4.2 wGPAs!!!

[Anonymous]

What does it take for UMD Honors? DS was captain of varsity sport, Eagle Scout, participated on academic teams as well. And had stats like PP’s kid.

Never seen anyone get into Honors College with grades alone. They ALL have stats like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS told me today he was accepted but not to honors. 12 AP classes, 1510 SAT, 4.37W GPA (3.97UW). We are in VA. What did he do wrong?

This makes me incredibly sad, that you assume your student did something wrong. UMD is a competitive school for admissions, no doubt he was up against students with similar or better stats, maybe his essay didn't resonate with the honors selection this year. But he didn't DO ANYTHING WRONG and should he attend can get an amazing education without being in honors.

[Anonymous]

What is Carillon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4.93w/4.0uw in IB magnet with 35 ACT and solid EC’s

That's insane. Are they planning to attend? Seems ivy material.

My DC rejected from T15 (cs major) had the same GPA, IB magnet 1580 SAT (800 math).

UMD honors direct admit to CS with merit.

Had 58 credits going in. Will graduate in 3 years with two degrees, all for < $100k. Not bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4.93w/4.0uw in IB magnet with 35 ACT and solid EC’s

That's insane. Are they planning to attend? Seems ivy material.

I think that’s the answer to the question. Honors trying to pull away from Ivy’s

Why would anyone pick UMD honors over say Cornell? Seems laughable when most would choose the latter.

You got Cornell money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4.93w/4.0uw in IB magnet with 35 ACT and solid EC’s

That's insane. Are they planning to attend? Seems ivy material.

I think that’s the answer to the question. Honors trying to pull away from Ivy’s

Why would anyone pick UMD honors over say Cornell? Seems laughable when most would choose the latter.

money. We're donut hole family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4.93w/4.0uw in IB magnet with 35 ACT and solid EC’s

That's insane. Are they planning to attend? Seems ivy material.

You must not have had a kid like this apply for admissions yet.

Honors CS+merit last year for my non-URM son 4.85 UW/4 W 35 ACT 13 AP (almost all 5s). Calc BC in 10th. Decent EC (varsity athlete, academic competition wins, internships). Zero ivy admit, one WL. Loving UMD also planning to graduate in 4 years with double major and masters. Honors + money did lessen the blow of the MANY rejections.

I think this year was even rougher than last for getting into honors. Like it or not, UMD is trying to get a diverse group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS told me today he was accepted but not to honors. 12 AP classes, 1510 SAT, 4.37W GPA (3.97UW). We are in VA. What did he do wrong?

Nothing. I know of a few kids with 1580+ and similar AP, 4.0 that did not get it either. He might get some merit which does not look like came out yet.

[Anonymous]

Maybe essays and ECs were more of a factor for honors. You can't just go by stats. Also, coukd have prioritized a variety of majors or MD in state or who knows what. Agree with the poster who pointed out that he did nothing "wrong."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:4.93w/4.0uw in IB magnet with 35 ACT and solid EC’s

4.87w/4.0uw in STEM magnet, 1590 SAT, Aced NMSQT PSAT, 13 APs (11 5s, 2 4s), solid ECs, leadership position, research experience, published paper etc. Ivy material? Yes, you bet. UMD has more Ivy material students based solely on merit, than Ivies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4.93w/4.0uw in IB magnet with 35 ACT and solid EC’s

That's insane. Are they planning to attend? Seems ivy material.

My DC rejected from T15 (cs major) had the same GPA, IB magnet 1580 SAT (800 math).

UMD honors direct admit to CS with merit.

Had 58 credits going in. Will graduate in 3 years with two degrees, all for < $100k. Not bad.

That's great. BTW, as a CS major he can go for a one year Masters degree too. So, in 4 years he will have a double majors in undergrad and a Masters degree. You should check that out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4.93w/4.0uw in IB magnet with 35 ACT and solid EC’s

That's insane. Are they planning to attend? Seems ivy material.

My DC rejected from T15 (cs major) had the same GPA, IB magnet 1580 SAT (800 math).

UMD honors direct admit to CS with merit.

Had 58 credits going in. Will graduate in 3 years with two degrees, all for < $100k. Not bad.

That's great. BTW, as a CS major he can go for a one year Masters degree too. So, in 4 years he will have a double majors in undergrad and a Masters degree. You should check that out.

pp here.. that is the plan. So 4 years, < $130K = 2 bachelors and 1 masters in CS, zero debt, cash gift, and a car.

I was just focusing on the undergrad part.

Of course, it was a blow to their ego to not get admitted to a T15, but I think they're happy with their plan. They did get on a WL for one of the T15, but decided not to pursue it because they wanted this plan.