UMD Admissions from MCPS

[Anonymous]

UMD can only take so many kids from each school. They have great programs at a great price, so it’s become much more competitive than people realize.

[Anonymous]

Wow, things have really changed from the late 80's-early 90's. It used to be " do you have a checkbook? Great just get it out and we're good" or "Did your kid finish high school? If yes, then great they're in!"

That's the truth. Not sure what's really changed in terms of the education these kids are getting. Neither of my kids wanted to go there, though luckily, they both got in, so they had that option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately the bar is different at different HS. I am 100% sure it is more difficult to get into UMD CP out of a magnet or W school.

Don't students from those high schools/magnet want to go elsewhere tho?

Maybe no if they were trying for CS which has one of the best programs on the east coast (after MIT). Another limited enrollment program is business.

I work with top CS, cybersecurity, and AI scientists. They don’t hire based on an applicant’s school/program. They look at what the candidate has accomplished (often in their free time), they give practical problems to solve/architect, and generally look for people who can think outside the box.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the reason why UMD rejects students from Moco is because they think moco kids would go somewhere else instead of UMD? Yield rate?

I don't think so. My observation from my county (not MoCo) is UMD attempts to scoop up valedictorians and top ten percent.

In a certain year, I knew of three or four valedictorians who chose UMD. At least one is in honors but I am mot sure that all are.

I’ve also seen evidence they will accept those outside of top ten if student has significant accomplishments, such as national champion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the reason why UMD rejects students from Moco is because they think moco kids would go somewhere else instead of UMD? Yield rate?

I don't think so. My observation from my county (not MoCo) is UMD attempts to scoop up valedictorians and top ten percent.

In a certain year, I knew of three or four valedictorians who chose UMD. At least one is in honors but I am mot sure that all are.

I’ve also seen evidence they will accept those outside of top ten if student has significant accomplishments, such as national champion.

What about this who are not vals or don't have national championship related to their resume?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the reason why UMD rejects students from Moco is because they think moco kids would go somewhere else instead of UMD? Yield rate?

I don't think so. My observation from my county (not MoCo) is UMD attempts to scoop up valedictorians and top ten percent.

In a certain year, I knew of three or four valedictorians who chose UMD. At least one is in honors but I am mot sure that all are.

I’ve also seen evidence they will accept those outside of top ten if student has significant accomplishments, such as national champion.

What about this who are not vals or don't have national championship related to their resume?

rhoae

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the reason why UMD rejects students from Moco is because they think moco kids would go somewhere else instead of UMD? Yield rate?

I don't think so. My observation from my county (not MoCo) is UMD attempts to scoop up valedictorians and top ten percent.

In a certain year, I knew of three or four valedictorians who chose UMD. At least one is in honors but I am mot sure that all are.

I’ve also seen evidence they will accept those outside of top ten if student has significant accomplishments, such as national champion.

What about this who are not vals or don't have national championship related to their resume?

ick auto correct. *those

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More recent posters on this thread: Why dont you go to the COLLEGES forum with your questions?

It’s a tougher crowd over there. Their straw men would be incinerated in minutes outside of the MCPS bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the reason why UMD rejects students from Moco is because they think moco kids would go somewhere else instead of UMD? Yield rate?

I don't think so. My observation from my county (not MoCo) is UMD attempts to scoop up valedictorians and top ten percent.

In a certain year, I knew of three or four valedictorians who chose UMD. At least one is in honors but I am mot sure that all are.

I’ve also seen evidence they will accept those outside of top ten if student has significant accomplishments, such as national champion.

What about this who are not vals or don't have national championship related to their resume?

Those kids are getting in too. That person is uninformed. Admits are the “top” 20 to 30% of the class from MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the reason why UMD rejects students from Moco is because they think moco kids would go somewhere else instead of UMD? Yield rate?

I don't think so. My observation from my county (not MoCo) is UMD attempts to scoop up valedictorians and top ten percent.

In a certain year, I knew of three or four valedictorians who chose UMD. At least one is in honors but I am mot sure that all are.

I’ve also seen evidence they will accept those outside of top ten if student has significant accomplishments, such as national champion.

What about this who are not vals or don't have national championship related to their resume?

Those kids are getting in too. That person is uninformed. Admits are the “top” 20 to 30% of the class from MCPS.

Nope. And if so that is still a high gpa. We know a few kids not admitted to UMD this year. These are kids with 4.2+ gaps, AP/IB classes, good SATs, and no they were not all applying to CS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, things have really changed from the late 80's-early 90's. It used to be " do you have a checkbook? Great just get it out and we're good" or "Did your kid finish high school? If yes, then great they're in!"

That's the truth. Not sure what's really changed in terms of the education these kids are getting. Neither of my kids wanted to go there, though luckily, they both got in, so they had that option.

Wha? You think they are getting a subpar education at UMD? I beg to differ as a mom of almost 3 graduates of UMD. On the contrary, my kids got a superior education at a somewhat responsible price. So glad they aren’t in debt, and I didn’t have to shell out $200,000/child. My kids are all employed and making top salaries in their fields. UMD has a great reputation in the professional world. I feel like those paying top dollar to educate their children are suckers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the reason why UMD rejects students from Moco is because they think moco kids would go somewhere else instead of UMD? Yield rate?

I don't think so. My observation from my county (not MoCo) is UMD attempts to scoop up valedictorians and top ten percent.

In a certain year, I knew of three or four valedictorians who chose UMD. At least one is in honors but I am mot sure that all are.

I’ve also seen evidence they will accept those outside of top ten if student has significant accomplishments, such as national champion.

What about this who are not vals or don't have national championship related to their resume?

Those kids are getting in too. That person is uninformed. Admits are the “top” 20 to 30% of the class from MCPS.

Nope. And if so that is still a high gpa. We know a few kids not admitted to UMD this year. These are kids with 4.2+ gaps, AP/IB classes, good SATs, and no they were not all applying to CS.

Are they in the top 15-20% of their class? What level of SAT scores? At some schools, tons of kids fit the profile you mentioned and UMD can't take them all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the reason why UMD rejects students from Moco is because they think moco kids would go somewhere else instead of UMD? Yield rate?

I don't think so. My observation from my county (not MoCo) is UMD attempts to scoop up valedictorians and top ten percent.

In a certain year, I knew of three or four valedictorians who chose UMD. At least one is in honors but I am mot sure that all are.

I’ve also seen evidence they will accept those outside of top ten if student has significant accomplishments, such as national champion.

What about this who are not vals or don't have national championship related to their resume?

Those kids are getting in too. That person is uninformed. Admits are the “top” 20 to 30% of the class from MCPS.

Nope. And if so that is still a high gpa. We know a few kids not admitted to UMD this year. These are kids with 4.2+ gaps, AP/IB classes, good SATs, and no they were not all applying to CS.

According to B-CC’s school profile 40% of graduating seniors have GPAs of 4.51+. I expect they are the only school were a 4.2 is not near the top 20-30% of the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the reason why UMD rejects students from Moco is because they think moco kids would go somewhere else instead of UMD? Yield rate?

I don't think so. My observation from my county (not MoCo) is UMD attempts to scoop up valedictorians and top ten percent.

In a certain year, I knew of three or four valedictorians who chose UMD. At least one is in honors but I am mot sure that all are.

I’ve also seen evidence they will accept those outside of top ten if student has significant accomplishments, such as national champion.

What about this who are not vals or don't have national championship related to their resume?

Those kids are getting in too. That person is uninformed. Admits are the “top” 20 to 30% of the class from MCPS.

Nope. And if so that is still a high gpa. We know a few kids not admitted to UMD this year. These are kids with 4.2+ gaps, AP/IB classes, good SATs, and no they were not all applying to CS.

According to B-CC’s school profile 40% of graduating seniors have GPAs of 4.51+. I expect they are the only school were a 4.2 is not near the top 20-30% of the class.

At Poolesville it’s 60% at 4.51+. So no BCC is not the only school where you need to likely be 4.7 or higher to be in the top 20%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the reason why UMD rejects students from Moco is because they think moco kids would go somewhere else instead of UMD? Yield rate?

I don't think so. My observation from my county (not MoCo) is UMD attempts to scoop up valedictorians and top ten percent.

In a certain year, I knew of three or four valedictorians who chose UMD. At least one is in honors but I am mot sure that all are.

I’ve also seen evidence they will accept those outside of top ten if student has significant accomplishments, such as national champion.

What about this who are not vals or don't have national championship related to their resume?

Those kids are getting in too. That person is uninformed. Admits are the “top” 20 to 30% of the class from MCPS.

Nope. And if so that is still a high gpa. We know a few kids not admitted to UMD this year. These are kids with 4.2+ gaps, AP/IB classes, good SATs, and no they were not all applying to CS.

According to B-CC’s school profile 40% of graduating seniors have GPAs of 4.51+. I expect they are the only school were a 4.2 is not near the top 20-30% of the class.

At Poolesville it’s 60% at 4.51+. So no BCC is not the only school where you need to likely be 4.7 or higher to be in the top 20%.

The massive grade inflation and grading policies in MCPS makes it harder for top students to distinguish themselves. Grade inflation results in a lot of average students having the same GPA as very strong students. This is good for average students and hurts strong students.

Unpopular opinion- if you really want your strong student to go to UMD you should consider a private without grade inflation and a strict grading policy. Your student will have a better chance of separating themselves from the pack there. Yes, you’ll have to pay for tuition in high school but you’ll probably save money overall if your child gets in state tuition at UMD (compared to oos public or private college tuition).