UMBC Open House

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DC went to a similarly packed Open House at UMBC about 18 months ago and was similarly turned off.

We dragged DC back for a more personal tour of the engineering facilities after DC got accepted.

DC grudgingly admitted that UMBC up close and personal was as good as any school they had visited.

However, in the same sentence, DC stressed that they had been accepted by several private and OOS schools that merit aid made competitive price wise.

In the next sentence, DC explained that the other schools were about 1/3 the size of UMBC so no matter how much UMBC tries and even if they succeed, they are seen as NOT UMd CP and NOT a small supportive engineering school.

I think this is why UMBC is excited about their victory over UVa. They are finally getting the idea that if they want to fill a Virginia Tech like niche, they need to become a well rounded large university and NOT be defined by what they are not.

Have you been to Virginia Tech? It’s a large research university with a big campus that looks almost like West Point. The Virginia equivalent of UMBC is probably George Mason and, quite frankly, UMBC has a ways to go before it’s even on par with Mason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Didn't mind how many people were there but when you send out over 100 people with one tour guide then it becomes very crowded in a hurry.

[Anonymous]

Why wouldn't you just attend a smaller tour on a non-Open House Day? What did you expect especially after a big, unexpected victory?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't you just attend a smaller tour on a non-Open House Day? What did you expect especially after a big, unexpected victory?

Because not everyone can take off a day from work to attend a tour during the week. You had to pre-register so they knew how many people would be there.
We did the open house at UMD and while it was crowded they had plenty of tour guides available and each group was only about 20 people.
Also, during regular tour days there is no option to meet with staff about various colleges, financial aid, etc.
If you are going to have an open house at least be prepared for the amount of people. Also, they scheduled it on the same day as several other unrelated events. The food court was a madhouse with a bunch of pre-school kids all over the place. Lines were crazy long and every table taken by little kids not there for the open house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It’s not what I meant, sorry you jump to race. The OP stated there were only 2 schools in MD. I was pointing out a third since many people do not know it exists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't you just attend a smaller tour on a non-Open House Day? What did you expect especially after a big, unexpected victory?

Because not everyone can take off a day from work to attend a tour during the week. You had to pre-register so they knew how many people would be there.
We did the open house at UMD and while it was crowded they had plenty of tour guides available and each group was only about 20 people.
Also, during regular tour days there is no option to meet with staff about various colleges, financial aid, etc.
If you are going to have an open house at least be prepared for the amount of people. Also, they scheduled it on the same day as several other unrelated events. The food court was a madhouse with a bunch of pre-school kids all over the place. Lines were crazy long and every table taken by little kids not there for the open house.

Those are excuses. I get 3 personal days off per year but managed to tour the 6 or so schools that were my son's top choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't you just attend a smaller tour on a non-Open House Day? What did you expect especially after a big, unexpected victory?

Because not everyone can take off a day from work to attend a tour during the week. You had to pre-register so they knew how many people would be there.
We did the open house at UMD and while it was crowded they had plenty of tour guides available and each group was only about 20 people.
Also, during regular tour days there is no option to meet with staff about various colleges, financial aid, etc.
If you are going to have an open house at least be prepared for the amount of people. Also, they scheduled it on the same day as several other unrelated events. The food court was a madhouse with a bunch of pre-school kids all over the place. Lines were crazy long and every table taken by little kids not there for the open house.

Those are excuses. I get 3 personal days off per year but managed to tour the 6 or so schools that were my son's top choices.

Good for you. Do want a patent of the year award? I don’t get any personal days and I’m a single parent with young kids. Glad you had the flexibility that I don’t.

[Anonymous]

UMBC. University of MD for B/C students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't you just attend a smaller tour on a non-Open House Day? What did you expect especially after a big, unexpected victory?

Because not everyone can take off a day from work to attend a tour during the week. You had to pre-register so they knew how many people would be there.
We did the open house at UMD and while it was crowded they had plenty of tour guides available and each group was only about 20 people.
Also, during regular tour days there is no option to meet with staff about various colleges, financial aid, etc.
If you are going to have an open house at least be prepared for the amount of people. Also, they scheduled it on the same day as several other unrelated events. The food court was a madhouse with a bunch of pre-school kids all over the place. Lines were crazy long and every table taken by little kids not there for the open house.

Those are excuses. I get 3 personal days off per year but managed to tour the 6 or so schools that were my son's top choices.

Good for you. Do want a patent of the year award? I don’t get any personal days and I’m a single parent with young kids. Glad you had the flexibility that I don’t.

And I am a single parent too. Open Houses are huge so why were you surprised at this?

[Anonymous]

U
Made
Bad
Choices

[Anonymous]

I think you and your DC are overreacting. It’s a big school with limited resources. Maybe they just had an off day. Remember, you need UMBC more than it needs you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you and your DC are overreacting. It’s a big school with limited resources. Maybe they just had an off day. Remember, you need UMBC more than it needs you.

Not really but hope you like it there. Felt like a prison and we couldn’t wait to get out of there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't you just attend a smaller tour on a non-Open House Day? What did you expect especially after a big, unexpected victory?

Because not everyone can take off a day from work to attend a tour during the week. You had to pre-register so they knew how many people would be there.
We did the open house at UMD and while it was crowded they had plenty of tour guides available and each group was only about 20 people.
Also, during regular tour days there is no option to meet with staff about various colleges, financial aid, etc.
If you are going to have an open house at least be prepared for the amount of people. Also, they scheduled it on the same day as several other unrelated events. The food court was a madhouse with a bunch of pre-school kids all over the place. Lines were crazy long and every table taken by little kids not there for the open house.

Those are excuses. I get 3 personal days off per year but managed to tour the 6 or so schools that were my son's top choices.

Good for you. Do want a patent of the year award? I don’t get any personal days and I’m a single parent with young kids. Glad you had the flexibility that I don’t.

And I am a single parent too. Open Houses are huge so why were you surprised at this?

As I said, which for some reason you can’t seem to comprehend, we were expecting something similar to UMD. This was only the 2nd open house we have attended. Why are defending the school for doing a poor job? Do all schools do this poorly. Reading CC it seems as though other schools do a much better job. In our opinion UMBC did a poor job of selling the school to us. You were not even there but somehow think we did something wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:U
Made
Bad
Choices

UMBC produces Rhodes scholars. It's not just a basketball powerhouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you and your DC are overreacting. It’s a big school with limited resources. Maybe they just had an off day. Remember, you need UMBC more than it needs you.

Not really but hope you like it there. Felt like a prison and we couldn’t wait to get out of there.

Unless your kid can get into UMCP or you have $ for OOS/privates, UMBC is the next best thing for instate kids.