How did your MCPS student do at UMD?

[Anonymous]

I'm a Prof (not at UMD) and I'd say that the comments about flexibility are completely professor-dependent. Universities give faculty broad parameters (policy on illnesses; policy on non discrimination). And beyond that, faculty set their own policies about flexibility and there are enormous variations. Some are real hard-asses-- 100% attendance expected; no makeups or late submissions without a doctor's notes (and frankly, with some of those faculty we sometimes need to intervene and make them do the makeup when a kid had a clear, documented emergency). And some faculty are completely flexible about absolutely everything.

It's not a UMD thing. You'll find the same variation everywhere. And it's always been there. I've been teaching 25 years and these differences have always occurred (though post-COVID I'd say a lot of faculty are a lot more flexible than before for a lot of different reasons).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

2019 graduate-no midterms or finals in high school

[Anonymous]

My magnet kid is now at UMD in a stem discipline and the work is not hard, but he had to learn how to manage his time - that was hard. I think he actually has undiagnosed adhd that he sort of brute-forced through high school but when he was footloose and fancy free on campus, he dug himself into pretty pretty big holes. I don't know if this is pecular to UMD or just to colelge though.

[Anonymous]

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

Any kid I know from MCPS did great.

How is this even a question?

Stop with the everyone gets an A crap it's not true.

What is true is MCPS is a large diverse population and plenty of kids graduate with A's, B's, etc some even don't graduate. All of that has more to do with parents than the schools.

[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

Any kid I know from MCPS did great.

How is this even a question?

Stop with the everyone gets an A crap it's not true.

What is true is MCPS is a large diverse population and plenty of kids graduate with A's, B's, etc some even don't graduate. All of that has more to do with parents than the schools.

The mcps booster has arrived. The question asks how does/did YOUR kid who attended a mcps do when they are/were at UMD

[Anonymous]

I have a UMD grad and a senior. Both are products of MCPS. They both enjoyed UMD and earned good grades. They didn’t find it stressful and felt very well prepared. But I do think the answer is somewhat major dependent (mine were business school not STEM). Further, it’s also dependent on how independent they were in HS. We know many parents who micromanaged their students to ensure good grades and those kids struggle more. The key to success we found was for kids to be comfortable talking to professors and know how and when to ask for help.

[Anonymous]

MCPS prepare my kids well for the academics and a big college experience.

The first year transition for DC1 had some bumps as they learned to balance a job, academics, relationships, and campus living.

Both kids grew a lot and really benefitted from the variety of clubs/activities outside of class.

DC1 currently in graduate school (STEM). Graduate of College Park. Eventually became a TA and got great recommendations from professors.

DC2 humanities major at a different big 10. Diligent student and doing great.

Good luck!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS prepare my kids well for the academics and a big college experience.

The first year transition for DC1 had some bumps as they learned to balance a job, academics, relationships, and campus living.

Both kids grew a lot and really benefitted from the variety of clubs/activities outside of class.

DC1 currently in graduate school (STEM). Graduate of College Park. Eventually became a TA and got great recommendations from professors.

DC2 humanities major at a different big 10. Diligent student and doing great.

Good luck!!

Can you write which MCPS?

[Anonymous]

I have a ‘25 MCPS grad from Poolesville SMCS in the top 3% with all the trimmings including publications for a scientific magazine in the US and abroad. She got accepted in other schools but chose UMDCP because she likes the connection with NASA, they have an observatory and they were so welcoming and friendly. She is happy there, still all A’s and has formed a few study groups, joined a few clubs and will start on her research in the Spring. We have been very pleased with her at UMDCP.

[Anonymous]

^ magnet students are a minority of the students in mcps

[Anonymous]

My experience with students (not my own kids) at UMD is that those who struggle either a. Got by with a lot of cheating in high school b. Had a lot of help from parents to complete work through high school or c. Took weed-you-out science intro classes early on. It can be a shock to the system if you’re used to As snd hoping for a B-. But thefe is a shocking amount of cheating in MCPS that the system needs to take a hard look at if they want their grads to be successful college students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My experience with students (not my own kids) at UMD is that those who struggle either a. Got by with a lot of cheating in high school b. Had a lot of help from parents to complete work through high school or c. Took weed-you-out science intro classes early on. It can be a shock to the system if you’re used to As snd hoping for a B-. But thefe is a shocking amount of cheating in MCPS that the system needs to take a hard look at if they want their grads to be successful college students.

Can you be more specific? How? Where?

[Anonymous]

DS was engineering at UMD. Busted his a$$ and graduated magna cum laude.

[Anonymous]

OP wrote this thread in 2021. Likely kid has graduated from UMD now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Yeah, you're just two years less educated.