How did your MCPS student do at UMD?

[Anonymous]

My kid was a goofball in high school. I like the description of a 'hare' above. That was my kid. Smart. But happy to take a nap along the way and may or may not finish the race.

Something clicked when she went to college (UMD). Maybe the fear that 'college is harder' so she took it seriously. Maybe that we weren't looking over her shoulder (that always made things worse).

But it seems like she takes school very seriously now--doesn't miss classes and such. (Though obviously impossible for me to tell.)

And I can confirm that grades are good.

I think the diversity of answers you're seeing above may have to do with majors. Engineering and CS are low-grading disciplines-- they're happy to give Cs and below so kids can potentially really struggle. Some other fields will be much easier than HS since kids can more or less avoid taking the classes that aren't in their preferred fields.

[Anonymous]

Although I graduated from UMCP 20 years ago, I still remember accidentally missing a final exam in my Junior year. Just got the times mixed up. The professor let me take it later. What happened to people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD was just accepted and was wondering how they did once in college. It seems like everyone these days gets straight As in HS. DD is looking into a stem major. TIA

Beautifully! STEM major. 2024 MCPS grad and can graduate December 2026.

Thanks MC2!

Can, but will?

Why throw away a gift of 4 years of public university education?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Although I graduated from UMCP 20 years ago, I still remember accidentally missing a final exam in my Junior year. Just got the times mixed up. The professor let me take it later. What happened to people?

Then as now, some people are petty and vicious to cover up their insecurities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has changed so much in the past five years, that I would have concerns:

1) Five years ago, students in MCPS took mid-year and final year exams. These exams had weight and they prepared MCPS students on how to study for a cumulative test that took two hours. Current graduating seniors never had that experience.

2) Late work at UMD is not accepted and students do not get 50% for an assignment not handed in.

3) Realize, in college As and Bs are earned. With a bell curve, that means you have to do better than the average for an A or B. A college student has to learn from mistakes and realize not everything will be As and Bs.

4) Professors will lock you out of class if you are late and they will kick you out if you are disruptive (ie. phone rings or talking).

5) Grades are not everything to get you beyond an undergraduate degree. If a STEM student, apply to join a research team such as UMD’s FIRE program. If not STEM, college internships are needed for real life experience. What your child does outside of the classroom in college is vital for either your first job or grad school.

1) All of this was true when I attended UMCP 20 years ago. Every single point, including no acceptance of late assignments.

2) These are generally true of other competitive schools, public and private.

DD graduated mcps 5 years ago with no midterms or finals. I think they disappeared before DS 18 graduated. It's been a long time. My kids managed fine in college.

[Anonymous]

I’m think I’m the OP of this zombie thread. My DD struggled in STEM.

All 100/200 Chem classes are weeders as are 100/200 Math classes.

If your child attended a strong HS, it’s no guarantee of success in those classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m think I’m the OP of this zombie thread. My DD struggled in STEM.

All 100/200 Chem classes are weeders as are 100/200 Math classes.

If your child attended a strong HS, it’s no guarantee of success in those classes.

Did she switch to another major?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has changed so much in the past five years, that I would have concerns:

1) Five years ago, students in MCPS took mid-year and final year exams. These exams had weight and they prepared MCPS students on how to study for a cumulative test that took two hours. Current graduating seniors never had that experience.

2) Late work at UMD is not accepted and students do not get 50% for an assignment not handed in.

3) Realize, in college As and Bs are earned. With a bell curve, that means you have to do better than the average for an A or B. A college student has to learn from mistakes and realize not everything will be As and Bs.

4) Professors will lock you out of class if you are late and they will kick you out if you are disruptive (ie. phone rings or talking).

5) Grades are not everything to get you beyond an undergraduate degree. If a STEM student, apply to join a research team such as UMD’s FIRE program. If not STEM, college internships are needed for real life experience. What your child does outside of the classroom in college is vital for either your first job or grad school.

Does this mean that MCPS doesn’t give semester and final exams now? Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m think I’m the OP of this zombie thread. My DD struggled in STEM.

All 100/200 Chem classes are weeders as are 100/200 Math classes.

If your child attended a strong HS, it’s no guarantee of success in those classes.

Did she switch to another major?

I'm curious too OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big face plant first semester.

DS was smart but never studious. Pulled easy As on tests but never very good about keeping on top of turning in work on time. Not super concerned about grades - mostly As, some Bs, all advanced courses. At UMD he learned:
- can’t turn in homework late
- missed quizzes during discussion can’t be made up
- it matters that you go to lecture to learn the topic
- if you bomb a midterm with a 37%, it’s a 37%
- you can’t actually cram an entire semester at the end and pull out a passing grade on the final
- there might be a curve, but don’t count on it
- UMD uses +/- grades, so your percentage matters
- if you are off 0.1 from the next grade, it doesn’t get bumped

UMD is very selective. If your MCPS student was a accepted, they are well qualified to be there. Whether or not they are mature enough, is kid dependent.

50% of MCPS grads end up back at Montgomery College

Typically for non-academic reasons.

Finances
Health issues (including mental health)
Family issues
Bad for socially

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Although I graduated from UMCP 20 years ago, I still remember accidentally missing a final exam in my Junior year. Just got the times mixed up. The professor let me take it later. What happened to people?

Then as now, some people are petty and vicious to cover up their insecurities.

Maybe UMD is different but my kids found their profs usually has some amount of flexibility. Like a late paper lost 5% an hour or 10%a day. Lowest grade could be dropped. Curves etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Although I graduated from UMCP 20 years ago, I still remember accidentally missing a final exam in my Junior year. Just got the times mixed up. The professor let me take it later. What happened to people?

Then as now, some people are petty and vicious to cover up their insecurities.

Maybe UMD is different but my kids found their profs usually has some amount of flexibility. Like a late paper lost 5% an hour or 10%a day. Lowest grade could be dropped. Curves etc.

I graduated from college nearly 30 years and late assignments got a % drop, not a zero.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD was just accepted and was wondering how they did once in college. It seems like everyone these days gets straight As in HS. DD is looking into a stem major. TIA

Beautifully! STEM major. 2024 MCPS grad and can graduate December 2026.

Thanks MC2!

Can, but will?

Why throw away a gift of 4 years of public university education?

Four years aren’t needed thanks to MC2.

Looking at going directly to grad school. An advanced degree is a must in the field. Career can’t start until after grad school.

There’s no economic incentive to taking unneeded undergrad courses and a fair amount of economic incentive to starting a career 1-1.5 years earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has changed so much in the past five years, that I would have concerns:

1) Five years ago, students in MCPS took mid-year and final year exams. These exams had weight and they prepared MCPS students on how to study for a cumulative test that took two hours. Current graduating seniors never had that experience.

2) Late work at UMD is not accepted and students do not get 50% for an assignment not handed in.

3) Realize, in college As and Bs are earned. With a bell curve, that means you have to do better than the average for an A or B. A college student has to learn from mistakes and realize not everything will be As and Bs.

4) Professors will lock you out of class if you are late and they will kick you out if you are disruptive (ie. phone rings or talking).

5) Grades are not everything to get you beyond an undergraduate degree. If a STEM student, apply to join a research team such as UMD’s FIRE program. If not STEM, college internships are needed for real life experience. What your child does outside of the classroom in college is vital for either your first job or grad school.

Does this mean that MCPS doesn’t give semester and final exams now? Wow.

I think they are back as part of the new grading policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m think I’m the OP of this zombie thread. My DD struggled in STEM.

All 100/200 Chem classes are weeders as are 100/200 Math classes.

If your child attended a strong HS, it’s no guarantee of success in those classes.

Did she switch to another major?

Yes she switched to easier STEM. Ended up with two Ws on transcript to avoid failure. Retook both classes and earned a minor in a different non-STEM area. That’s what she’s pursuing in grad school.