UMBC Open House

[Anonymous]

The 4 year graduation rate is pretty terrible here - 33%.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure your negative attitude only added to how your child felt about UMBC. Complaining about how crowded the open house was? Give me a break!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The 4 year graduation rate is pretty terrible here - 33%.

Does this number exclude students who transferred to another school?

[Anonymous]

Best mascot ever!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Random comment

After beating #1 UVA in b-ball, they just best #1 Albany in Lacrosse

Wow, who cares.

Sounds like a butthurt UVA fan

[Anonymous]

I see you posted this exact same thread on College Confidential. I get it, you don’t like UMBC and feel the need to tell everyone.

We went to a small tour over spring break and it was really well done – much better than the large open house at UMD back in February. People complained about the UMD open house here also but it is sort of what you should expect for a big open house. It just goes to show that both schools are popular. It would be silly to judge a school based on its parking at a large open house. May I suggest that you stick to small daily tours at this point? Anyway, the small tour we went on was a few days after the big UMBC win over UVA and they did mention it, but only tongue in cheek. It sounds like you consider UMD your only “viable in-state option” but if you decided to check UMBC off your list for its “run down” buildings, you might want to take a closer look at UMD. The dorms at UMBC are overall much, much nicer and many of the academic buildings are as well.

That said, my DS will be applying to both UMD and UMBC next fall and I would be thrilled if he goes to either school. Both are great and both have pros and cons. Apparently both manage to offend some people with their sub-par large open houses. Luckily most people can look beyond them to judge a school by its academics and offerings.

[Anonymous]

I agree it’s a terrible campus and if anyone tells otherwise they are fooling themselves. Just because the OP reached this conclusion during an open house shouldn’t change anything. Tours can make it or break it for a lot of kids. Not every campus fits the eye of everyone. UMBC has a lot of defenders on this site.
If I had to chose somewhere other than UMD, it would be Towson before UMBC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see you posted this exact same thread on College Confidential. I get it, you don’t like UMBC and feel the need to tell everyone.

We went to a small tour over spring break and it was really well done – much better than the large open house at UMD back in February. People complained about the UMD open house here also but it is sort of what you should expect for a big open house. It just goes to show that both schools are popular. It would be silly to judge a school based on its parking at a large open house. May I suggest that you stick to small daily tours at this point? Anyway, the small tour we went on was a few days after the big UMBC win over UVA and they did mention it, but only tongue in cheek. It sounds like you consider UMD your only “viable in-state option” but if you decided to check UMBC off your list for its “run down” buildings, you might want to take a closer look at UMD. The dorms at UMBC are overall much, much nicer and many of the academic buildings are as well.

That said, my DS will be applying to both UMD and UMBC next fall and I would be thrilled if he goes to either school. Both are great and both have pros and cons. Apparently both manage to offend some people with their sub-par large open houses. Luckily most people can look beyond them to judge a school by its academics and offerings.

Last I checked there are not any rules about posting on more than one site that I’m aware of.

[Anonymous]

Check out UMES then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree it’s a terrible campus and if anyone tells otherwise they are fooling themselves. Just because the OP reached this conclusion during an open house shouldn’t change anything. Tours can make it or break it for a lot of kids. Not every campus fits the eye of everyone. UMBC has a lot of defenders on this site.
If I had to chose somewhere other than UMD, it would be Towson before UMBC.

Towson has ZERO reputable STEM programs. No thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree it’s a terrible campus and if anyone tells otherwise they are fooling themselves. Just because the OP reached this conclusion during an open house shouldn’t change anything. Tours can make it or break it for a lot of kids. Not every campus fits the eye of everyone. UMBC has a lot of defenders on this site.
If I had to chose somewhere other than UMD, it would be Towson before UMBC.

Towson has ZERO reputable STEM programs. No thanks

Not everyone is a STEM major. Many of the teachers who interact with your child on a daily basis have probably attended Towson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out UMES then.

What’s wrong with UMES?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check out UMES then.

What’s wrong with UMES?

UMES is a black majority college. Not sure if thats what pp meant.

[Anonymous]

I was there. I found the campus sort of sterile but I really don't understand the criticism that "it was too crowded." Doesn't that just mean that lots of kids are interested in UMBC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was there. I found the campus sort of sterile but I really don't understand the criticism that "it was too crowded." Doesn't that just mean that lots of kids are interested in UMBC?

This is my thought. I would think twice about a school that was empty on a open house. It’s great that other kids are looking for similar attributes in a college that your DC is looking more for.