University of Maryland CP - how hard is it really to get in now?

[Anonymous]

GPA 4.21 is an A though, not a B+ right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GPA 4.21 is an A though, not a B+ right?

No, given that many classes are on a 5.0 scale. Also, you can take Honors rather than AP or IB classes and still get the 1 point bump, meaning an A gets you a 5.0, even though your classes might not be that tough. That is why a "4.0" student no longer means what it used to mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GPA 4.21 is an A though, not a B+ right?

No, given that many classes are on a 5.0 scale. Also, you can take Honors rather than AP or IB classes and still get the 1 point bump, meaning an A gets you a 5.0, even though your classes might not be that tough. That is why a "4.0" student no longer means what it used to mean.

unweighted 4.0 though is an A

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GPA 4.21 is an A though, not a B+ right?

No, given that many classes are on a 5.0 scale. Also, you can take Honors rather than AP or IB classes and still get the 1 point bump, meaning an A gets you a 5.0, even though your classes might not be that tough. That is why a "4.0" student no longer means what it used to mean.

That's helpful, thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think 2017 stats are available yet.

Again, not really so interested in the stats, but would love to hear from other parents who have been through/heard the same things.

All the kids expected to get in, got in. At least DC's circle of magnet kids.

+1

I don't know anyone in the SMAC magnet who has not been admitted. In fact, something like 33% of them get full rides.

[Anonymous]

I believe there is a big difference between in-state and out-of-state admissions. Compared to how UMD used to admit in-state students, yes, things have changed dramatically, and what they consider for admissions is much different. I've heard stories about twins with almost identical academics/test scores/extracurriculars with one getting in and other one rejected. There's a lot more at play here.

[Anonymous]

My DS has gpa of 4.3, not a great ACT score, didn't get it. Rumor is that MD in state get mostly with early decision.

[Anonymous]

The key to getting into Maryland is to not only have the requisite scores and GPA but to apply by the November 1st priority deadline. If you don't apply by November 1st it gets extremely hard to get into the school. Most of the kids admitted, applied by the priority deadline. If you want to increase the chances your kid will get into UMD, take advantage of the Terp Young Scholars Program where high school kids can take a college level class over the summer. If he does well(they must really study hard) this will demonstrate the ability to successfully take a college level class and will show the school the kid can handle it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The key to getting into Maryland is to not only have the requisite scores and GPA but to apply by the November 1st priority deadline. If you don't apply by November 1st it gets extremely hard to get into the school. Most of the kids admitted, applied by the priority deadline. If you want to increase the chances your kid will get into UMD, take advantage of the Terp Young Scholars Program where high school kids can take a college level class over the summer. If he does well(they must really study hard) this will demonstrate the ability to successfully take a college level class and will show the school the kid can handle it.

Good advice but a lot of confusion centers around the rejection of kids who have proven they can handle the workload.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GPA 4.21 is an A though, not a B+ right?

No, given that many classes are on a 5.0 scale. Also, you can take Honors rather than AP or IB classes and still get the 1 point bump, meaning an A gets you a 5.0, even though your classes might not be that tough. That is why a "4.0" student no longer means what it used to mean.

true but lack of rigor will cost your DC. 4.2 w/ honors is not the same as 4.2 with AP/IBs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The key to getting into Maryland is to not only have the requisite scores and GPA but to apply by the November 1st priority deadline. If you don't apply by November 1st it gets extremely hard to get into the school. Most of the kids admitted, applied by the priority deadline. If you want to increase the chances your kid will get into UMD, take advantage of the Terp Young Scholars Program where high school kids can take a college level class over the summer. If he does well(they must really study hard) this will demonstrate the ability to successfully take a college level class and will show the school the kid can handle it.

Good advice but a lot of confusion centers around the rejection of kids who have proven they can handle the workload.

admission is not based on who can handle college workload and who can't. every school has limited seats, only so many can be admitted. in many cases, a lot of qualified kids are turned down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The key to getting into Maryland is to not only have the requisite scores and GPA but to apply by the November 1st priority deadline. If you don't apply by November 1st it gets extremely hard to get into the school. Most of the kids admitted, applied by the priority deadline. If you want to increase the chances your kid will get into UMD, take advantage of the Terp Young Scholars Program where high school kids can take a college level class over the summer. If he does well(they must really study hard) this will demonstrate the ability to successfully take a college level class and will show the school the kid can handle it.

Good advice but a lot of confusion centers around the rejection of kids who have proven they can handle the workload.

admission is not based on who can handle college workload and who can't. every school has limited seats, only so many can be admitted. in many cases, a lot of qualified kids are turned down.

Just like every other top school. Maryland is a competitive school to get into. There are no guarantees. Maryland is not necessarily a safety school like some people think. There is a very competitive pool of applicants trying to get into Maryland. Kids are applying from all over the place. Have you spoken to students at Maryland lately? The students I have met are Ivy League caliber kids. Many got into Ivy Leagues and chose to go to Maryland. That says a lot.

[Anonymous]

At DCs Bethesda high school the admit rate was about 75% (last year, data not available for this year yet). I don't know anyone who got a surprise rejection.

You can look up the stats by high school (for a number of schools) in Bethesda magazine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The key to getting into Maryland is to not only have the requisite scores and GPA but to apply by the November 1st priority deadline. If you don't apply by November 1st it gets extremely hard to get into the school. Most of the kids admitted, applied by the priority deadline. If you want to increase the chances your kid will get into UMD, take advantage of the Terp Young Scholars Program where high school kids can take a college level class over the summer. If he does well(they must really study hard) this will demonstrate the ability to successfully take a college level class and will show the school the kid can handle it.

Good advice but a lot of confusion centers around the rejection of kids who have proven they can handle the workload.

admission is not based on who can handle college workload and who can't. every school has limited seats, only so many can be admitted. in many cases, a lot of qualified kids are turned down.

Just like every other top school. Maryland is a competitive school to get into. There are no guarantees. Maryland is not necessarily a safety school like some people think. There is a very competitive pool of applicants trying to get into Maryland. Kids are applying from all over the place. Have you spoken to students at Maryland lately? The students I have met are Ivy League caliber kids. Many got into Ivy Leagues and chose to go to Maryland. That says a lot.

three reasons for this - out of control college cost increase; high HHI in this area (particularly in MoCo) but not high enough to full pay; and a lot of high performing kids in MCPS. UMC families make too much to qualify for FA and low cost/merit scholarships from UMD makes a prefect sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The key to getting into Maryland is to not only have the requisite scores and GPA but to apply by the November 1st priority deadline. If you don't apply by November 1st it gets extremely hard to get into the school. Most of the kids admitted, applied by the priority deadline. If you want to increase the chances your kid will get into UMD, take advantage of the Terp Young Scholars Program where high school kids can take a college level class over the summer. If he does well(they must really study hard) this will demonstrate the ability to successfully take a college level class and will show the school the kid can handle it.

Good advice but a lot of confusion centers around the rejection of kids who have proven they can handle the workload.

admission is not based on who can handle college workload and who can't. every school has limited seats, only so many can be admitted. in many cases, a lot of qualified kids are turned down.

PP here - that is exactly my point.