UMD Admissions 2024 Is it that selective now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anecdotal, however I'm hearing numbers from school sources of around 10% and under admission rates for CS and Engineering.

I believe it. They cut the CS majors by half, and lots of high stats kids are getting rejected at the T20s, so UMD becomes a backup. And now, even UMD for CS is tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair magnet kids didn’t even get in this year- I know of three. It was a tough cycle- maybe the new normal?

These new trends directly correlate to the cost/worth of private universities.

+1 more and more high stats kids (who tend to be MC/UMC) going to state flagships due to cost.

[Anonymous]

I know at least 2 Blair kids, NMSF, who got rejected (and i heard there might be a 3rd). Couple other ones got in, but got Scholars and not Honors……over 1550 SAT’s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Incredibly shortsighted of Maryland to reject kids with SATs over 1450. The state is shooting itself in the foot. Call your legislators and demand change.

1450s is a likely admit, as long as grades are in line with the SATs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what is your child's weighted GPA and are they in the top 10-20% of the class? Nine AP classes with only 1 B and assuming other classes are honors except art/PE should mean that your child has a high weighted GPA. I suggest taking the SAT one more time or going TO to increase the odds.

Also, as the PP noted, county and major/college do matter. Even though UMD doesn't admit by major, they do consider major in the final admissions process when shaping the final round of acceptances. In other words, AOs make sure all majors are represented. Some majors, such as CS, engineering, and business, are much more competitive, and the competitive students accepted have high stats (SAT/ACT and GPA).

? I thought they do admit by major.

In the admissions letter from UMD for DC, it states the major and advising college.

If you don't get into that major, then it won't state the major.

This is correct. UMD does admit students to their majors; they'll be placed in Letters & Sciences if the aren't admitted to their majors. For non limited-enrollent programs (LEPs), it's pretty straightforward to get into the major after meeting the gateway requirements, but for LEPs like CS, it's becoming increasingly more difficult to get into that major if not admitted the first time.

We are talking about two separate processes. UMD doesn't consider major in the initial admissions process. Students who apply to LEPs are admitted to their major, as you describe. The admissions process is outlined on the website and AOs have explained the process.

"Prospective students should indicate their preferred major when completing their online application for admission. However, your preferred major does not affect your admissibility to the university. Admitted students who selected an LEP as their major are reviewed by the specific program to determine admission to that major."

https://admissions.umd.edu/academics/limited-enrollment-programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know at least 2 Blair kids, NMSF, who got rejected (and i heard there might be a 3rd). Couple other ones got in, but got Scholars and not Honors……over 1550 SAT’s.

CS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Incredibly shortsighted of Maryland to reject kids with SATs over 1450. The state is shooting itself in the foot. Call your legislators and demand change.

1450s is a likely admit, as long as grades are in line with the SATs.

Not from MoCo anymore, not a sure thing. My kid a 1550 got rejected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Incredibly shortsighted of Maryland to reject kids with SATs over 1450. The state is shooting itself in the foot. Call your legislators and demand change.

1450s is a likely admit, as long as grades are in line with the SATs.

Disagree. Possible (50/50) not likely.

[Anonymous]

Yeah- new parents. UMD is NOT a sure thing with a 1450. I’m sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Incredibly shortsighted of Maryland to reject kids with SATs over 1450. The state is shooting itself in the foot. Call your legislators and demand change.

1450s is a likely admit, as long as grades are in line with the SATs.

Disagree. Possible (50/50) not likely.

UMD Fall 2023 class: SAT midpoint 1445. 48% of total admits, including FC, submitted scores. Submitting 1450 is a likely, though of course not definite admit.

https://irpa.umd.edu/CampusCounts/Admissions/apps_ug.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He does have time to improve his SATs and maybe pick up a cool activity this summer. And work on some really great essays. But yeah, it might nit happen and he needs to know that's okay, his worth is not based on what college he goes to. There are many good alternatives and paths. I know plenty of people who went to top schools and flamed out and plenty who went to less ranked schools but used connections and internships and have great careers.

You get into this mental bubble in high school where there's this hyper focus on where you go to school. But it doesn't pan out like that as an adult.

Can you elaborate on what you mean by “pick up a cool activity this summer?” (NP)

I work in an engineering lab and we have both college and high school summer interns. If you want some experience on scientific analysis equipment, it's a great gig. It's getting a little late in the year, but these opportunities do exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He does have time to improve his SATs and maybe pick up a cool activity this summer. And work on some really great essays. But yeah, it might nit happen and he needs to know that's okay, his worth is not based on what college he goes to. There are many good alternatives and paths. I know plenty of people who went to top schools and flamed out and plenty who went to less ranked schools but used connections and internships and have great careers.

You get into this mental bubble in high school where there's this hyper focus on where you go to school. But it doesn't pan out like that as an adult.

Can you elaborate on what you mean by “pick up a cool activity this summer?” (NP)

I work in an engineering lab and we have both college and high school summer interns. If you want some experience on scientific analysis equipment, it's a great gig. It's getting a little late in the year, but these opportunities do exist.

Good to know, thanks PP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He does have time to improve his SATs and maybe pick up a cool activity this summer. And work on some really great essays. But yeah, it might nit happen and he needs to know that's okay, his worth is not based on what college he goes to. There are many good alternatives and paths. I know plenty of people who went to top schools and flamed out and plenty who went to less ranked schools but used connections and internships and have great careers.

You get into this mental bubble in high school where there's this hyper focus on where you go to school. But it doesn't pan out like that as an adult.

Can you elaborate on what you mean by “pick up a cool activity this summer?” (NP)

I work in an engineering lab and we have both college and high school summer interns. If you want some experience on scientific analysis equipment, it's a great gig. It's getting a little late in the year, but these opportunities do exist.

How would a kid find out about opportunities like that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP- we are in the same boat. I heard UMD has committed to TO for at least another year. My kid is retaking the test but not expecting miracles there since he did do prep work for the first try.

We are looking at all of the other in-state options as well as neighboring states’ schools that might give merit as a plan B. Kid doesn’t want to be far and I want to keep costs in line with instate. I feel Virginia has more options for those that don’t get into UVA but that is water under the bridge at this point.

“This is the way”. My kid was rejected from UMD this cycle and looking at Naviance/Scoir they were right at the line where kids were getting spring admission in the past years. Luckily we were prepared and they had also applied to another in-state school (UMBC) and looked at several out of state schools where merit was a good possibility like Delaware, Ohio State and Michigan State.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anne Arundel HS kid stats

4.1W (3.7 UW) (all honors with the exception of some electives)
top 10-15% in class (can't remember exact rank - probably top 12%ish)
9 AP/IB/DE courses
TO
Varsity sport (captain)
NHS
3 years working

Undecided major

Rejected

wow.. I wonder if it was the TO, or if it was because they selected undecided major.

That’s a low weighted gpa. Indicates the kid didn’t take many APs. Honors means nothing. Especially since many schools are doing “honors for all”. You have to take APs