interesting chats have me looking for in-state MD options

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your question is THE college question and obviously not easy to answer. I’ll offer my perspective, with the standard caveat that it’s just one (or three) experience(s) and not remotely scientific. I have one at one of those mentioned (not UMCP), one at a solid Big Ten Honors College and another at a top 25 SLAC. The work that the second two are expected to do is far more demanding and they are surrounded by very different kids. Will it be worth it? That could take decades to answer or may ultimately be unanswerable. But two of my kids are getting great educations and one is getting the degree box checked, if inexpensively.

Isn’t UMD CP a big ten with a honors college?

Yes, UMDCP is a big ten school w/ honors college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My BIL went to St Mary's and in his estimation the school has gone downhill a lot since he went there. He wouldn't let his own kids apply there.

I don't blame your BIL. I wouldn't let my kids apply there either.

[Anonymous]

Closer to home is best 98% of the time.

[Anonymous]

UMCP is for really good students. It's very hard to get into the best majors and there are tons of distractions. I would only send a serious student to CP and the academics are brutal. But you will get amazing job placement. We stopped recruiting from UMDCP because the students are highly sought after... But I hire engineers.

Towson is a great college for kids that can't handle CP. They have a ton to do in Baltimore. Would I choose it over Amhert. No... But is Amherst even an option? If so go to CP for free of you can handle the large school and save the $$$ for graduate school.

UMBC is a great school. It's turning into a stem school and it has very serious students. This is where you will find students who are.smart enough to.Go SLAC but parents that can't afford it. Not much of a. College town is my only knock on UMBC.

Salisbury has a great business school of your child doesn't want the.Big 10 experience. Perdue is located in Salisbury and they have poured money into.the business.program.

I don't know much about st. Mary's or frostburg. I

If your friends are snobby they will look down their nose at you if your child goes to anything but CP in case that is your sociAl group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous[b wrote:]My BIL went to St Mary's and in his estimation the school has gone downhill a lot since he went there. He wouldn't let his own kids apply there[/b].

Could you elaborate? I know that the honors designation is a joke. I really like the ability to have a SLAC at a public price. Some departments are supposed to be strong (biochemistry?).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UMCP is for really good students. It's very hard to get into the best majors and there are tons of distractions. I would only send a serious student to CP and the academics are brutal. But you will get amazing job placement. We stopped recruiting from UMDCP because the students are highly sought after... But I hire engineers.

Towson is a great college for kids that can't handle CP. They have a ton to do in Baltimore. Would I choose it over Amhert. No... But is Amherst even an option? If so go to CP for free of you can handle the large school and save the $$$ for graduate school.

UMBC is a great school. It's turning into a stem school and it has very serious students. This is where you will find students who are.smart enough to.Go SLAC but parents that can't afford it. Not much of a. College town is my only knock on UMBC.

Salisbury has a great business school of your child doesn't want the.Big 10 experience. Perdue is located in Salisbury and they have poured money into.the business.program.

I don't know much about st. Mary's or frostburg. I

If your friends are snobby they will look down their nose at you if your child goes to anything but CP in case that is your sociAl group.

Is UMBC any farther away from Baltimore than Towson? You can literally see the Baltimore skyline from the UMBC campus. Now, Towson has a great mall close by and is a college town (including Goucher and Stevenson). UMBC is surrounded by a grittier neighborhood, but I would think that both Towson and UMBC are close to Baltimore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]My BIL went to St Mary's and in his estimation the school has gone downhill a lot since he went there. He wouldn't let his own kids apply there[/b].

Could you elaborate? I know that the honors designation is a joke. I really like the ability to have a SLAC at a public price. Some departments are supposed to be strong (biochemistry?).

dp - smcm's problem started years ago. you can google washPost articles. they have many issues including, but not limited to, lack of state funding and under enrollment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are several threads on this forum about SLAC's that give generous aid (normally 2nd tier, unless your kid is a superstar), as well as St. Mary's College of MD. I suggest you search this forum for more details, including individual experiences.

OP, you may find this thread helpful:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/240/784622.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your question is THE college question and obviously not easy to answer. I’ll offer my perspective, with the standard caveat that it’s just one (or three) experience(s) and not remotely scientific. I have one at one of those mentioned (not UMCP), one at a solid Big Ten Honors College and another at a top 25 SLAC. The work that the second two are expected to do is far more demanding and they are surrounded by very different kids. Will it be worth it? That could take decades to answer or may ultimately be unanswerable. But two of my kids are getting great educations and one is getting the degree box checked, if inexpensively.

PP - Interesting answer. When you said “one of those mentioned,” were you referring to a) Smith and top 50 or b) the other in-state MD options? Thanks for clarifying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My BIL went to St Mary's and in his estimation the school has gone downhill a lot since he went there. He wouldn't let his own kids apply there.

Thank you for this.

[Anonymous]

OP, my DC is currently at St. Mary’s. What specific questions do you have? As a LAC, it is very different from other MD state schools. If you’re comparing it to top tier LACs, you will be disappointed, but it is a solid LAC and my high stats kid is very happy there. The in-state cost with merit aid came in at much less than other schools my DC was accepted to. St. Mary’s just opened a beautiful new stadium this weekend and is about to start building a new performing arts center. If your DC wants a small, affordable LAC, definitely go visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your question is THE college question and obviously not easy to answer. I’ll offer my perspective, with the standard caveat that it’s just one (or three) experience(s) and not remotely scientific. I have one at one of those mentioned (not UMCP), one at a solid Big Ten Honors College and another at a top 25 SLAC. The work that the second two are expected to do is far more demanding and they are surrounded by very different kids. Will it be worth it? That could take decades to answer or may ultimately be unanswerable. But two of my kids are getting great educations and one is getting the degree box checked, if inexpensively.

Isn’t UMD CP a big ten with a honors college?

Sure, but mine went elsewhere. Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your question is THE college question and obviously not easy to answer. I’ll offer my perspective, with the standard caveat that it’s just one (or three) experience(s) and not remotely scientific. I have one at one of those mentioned (not UMCP), one at a solid Big Ten Honors College and another at a top 25 SLAC. The work that the second two are expected to do is far more demanding and they are surrounded by very different kids. Will it be worth it? That could take decades to answer or may ultimately be unanswerable. But two of my kids are getting great educations and one is getting the degree box checked, if inexpensively.

PP - Interesting answer. When you said “one of those mentioned,” were you referring to a) Smith and top 50 or b) the other in-state MD options? Thanks for clarifying.

One of those mentioned as an alternative in-state - Towson, Salisbury, St. Mary’s, Frostburg. Just trying not to be too specific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMCP is for really good students. It's very hard to get into the best majors and there are tons of distractions. I would only send a serious student to CP and the academics are brutal. But you will get amazing job placement. We stopped recruiting from UMDCP because the students are highly sought after... But I hire engineers.

Towson is a great college for kids that can't handle CP. They have a ton to do in Baltimore. Would I choose it over Amhert. No... But is Amherst even an option? If so go to CP for free of you can handle the large school and save the $$$ for graduate school.

UMBC is a great school. It's turning into a stem school and it has very serious students. This is where you will find students who are.smart enough to.Go SLAC but parents that can't afford it. Not much of a. College town is my only knock on UMBC.

Salisbury has a great business school of your child doesn't want the.Big 10 experience. Perdue is located in Salisbury and they have poured money into.the business.program.

I don't know much about st. Mary's or frostburg. I

If your friends are snobby they will look down their nose at you if your child goes to anything but CP in case that is your sociAl group.

Is UMBC any farther away from Baltimore than Towson? You can literally see the Baltimore skyline from the UMBC campus. Now, Towson has a great mall close by and is a college town (including Goucher and Stevenson). UMBC is surrounded by a grittier neighborhood, but I would think that both Towson and UMBC are close to Baltimore.

As far as surrounding the campus, Towson does have a lot to offer. Not much is around UMBC. They are both about the same distance away but Towson itself has a lot to do while the area around UMBC, not so much. I went to Loyola which is in N. Baltimore and I often drove into Towson for errands. I believe a whole bunch of Baltimore schools have connecting shuttle bus service. They didn't offer this when I was at Loyola.


"The Baltimore Collegetown Shuttle now goes to five schools - Goucher College, Towson University, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Johns Hopkins University (Homewood Campus), and Morgan State University. In addition to the five schools, we stop at Towson Town Center, Penn Station, Towson Place Shopping Center, and Loch Raven Plaza.

We’re making some changes to the Baltimore Collegetown Route. Due to a decrease in student use, Loyola University Maryland will no longer participate in the Collegetown Shuttle program effective July 1, 2019. Stops 406 and 411 will no longer function. Goucher College, Johns Hopkins University, Morgan State University, Notre Dame of Maryland University, and Towson University – will still enjoy this program."


https://baltimorecollegetown.org/shuttle/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMCP is for really good students. It's very hard to get into the best majors and there are tons of distractions. I would only send a serious student to CP and the academics are brutal. But you will get amazing job placement. We stopped recruiting from UMDCP because the students are highly sought after... But I hire engineers.

Towson is a great college for kids that can't handle CP. They have a ton to do in Baltimore. Would I choose it over Amhert. No... But is Amherst even an option? If so go to CP for free of you can handle the large school and save the $$$ for graduate school.

UMBC is a great school. It's turning into a stem school and it has very serious students. This is where you will find students who are.smart enough to.Go SLAC but parents that can't afford it. Not much of a. College town is my only knock on UMBC.

Salisbury has a great business school of your child doesn't want the.Big 10 experience. Perdue is located in Salisbury and they have poured money into.the business.program.

I don't know much about st. Mary's or frostburg. I

If your friends are snobby they will look down their nose at you if your child goes to anything but CP in case that is your sociAl group.

Is UMBC any farther away from Baltimore than Towson? You can literally see the Baltimore skyline from the UMBC campus. Now, Towson has a great mall close by and is a college town (including Goucher and Stevenson). UMBC is surrounded by a grittier neighborhood, but I would think that both Towson and UMBC are close to Baltimore.

Same distance or shorter to federal hill/fells point but further to other hangout spots in northern areas of Baltimore.