UMD EA Today?

[Anonymous]

In-state, direct admit to Business School. 4.5 weighted, test-optional. Invited to a non-honors LLP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In-state, direct admit to Business School. 4.5 weighted, test-optional. Invited to a non-honors LLP.

Now that your student is in, may I ask, why test optional with that GPA? Can't be a covid/testing center issue at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In-state, direct admit to Business School. 4.5 weighted, test-optional. Invited to a non-honors LLP.

Now that your student is in, may I ask, why test optional with that GPA? Can't be a covid/testing center issue at this point.

Ha. You think everyone going TO is still related to Covid?

[Anonymous]

The portal had an acceptance letter that included the invitation to the Honors College for my CMNS kid. I don't know if other schools at UMD do it differently. My high-stats nephew got into Engineering but letter didn't say anything about Honors.

My older kid is at UMD and quite frankly I don't think the Honors experience has been anything to write home about, although he also started in 2020 and COVID may have affected the experience.

[Anonymous]

Was anyone's DC accepted for the 2nd semester and waitlisted for the 1st semester? Not sure what to think of that. 4.68 W/3.98 UW. 1400 SAT. Drama and singing.

Put down major in English. Maryland resident.

[Anonymous]

DS applied to CS and alternate major was undecided. The acceptance letter says that he is admitted to Letters & Sciences and into the FIRE program. There is no mention of CS or first choice. Can anyone tell us what this means? Can he transfer to CS later? We are planning to contact UMD next week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In-state, direct admit to Business School. 4.5 weighted, test-optional. Invited to a non-honors LLP.

Now that your student is in, may I ask, why test optional with that GPA? Can't be a covid/testing center issue at this point.

Ha. You think everyone going TO is still related to Covid?

No, of course not, just the previous 2 years, that is why I am wondering....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS applied to CS and alternate major was undecided. The acceptance letter says that he is admitted to Letters & Sciences and into the FIRE program. There is no mention of CS or first choice. Can anyone tell us what this means? Can he transfer to CS later? We are planning to contact UMD next week.

Yes, if he meets requirements in two years he can transfer in. And there is not limitation on classes. It really is okay that they did not get direct admit. Congrats on acceptance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In with Honors. But no decision from Music School?

Keep checking. I think they were separate, and I feel like mine got the music school before the info on honors last year. Hopefully more good news for your kid!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS applied to CS and alternate major was undecided. The acceptance letter says that he is admitted to Letters & Sciences and into the FIRE program. There is no mention of CS or first choice. Can anyone tell us what this means? Can he transfer to CS later? We are planning to contact UMD next week.

what is FIRE program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC rejected. So sad. 3.7, lots of ECs, APs & honors, 98% ACT scores, dad's an alum.

OP, that is super surprising. 3.7 unweighted? ACT score was high enough. Did he write a decent essay and answer the short answer questions on the common app? Bs in AP and honor courses should not have tanked his application.

Essay and short questions were honestly really good. I don't get it. DC is in at several other schools but wanted MD as a first choice. We're all slightly stunned.

.

DP. I'm so sorry. Hugs to your kid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC rejected. So sad. 3.7, lots of ECs, APs & honors, 98% ACT scores, dad's an alum.

OP, that is super surprising. 3.7 unweighted? ACT score was high enough. Did he write a decent essay and answer the short answer questions on the common app? Bs in AP and honor courses should not have tanked his application.

Essay and short questions were honestly really good. I don't get it. DC is in at several other schools but wanted MD as a first choice. We're all slightly stunned.

Crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS applied to CS and alternate major was undecided. The acceptance letter says that he is admitted to Letters & Sciences and into the FIRE program. There is no mention of CS or first choice. Can anyone tell us what this means? Can he transfer to CS later? We are planning to contact UMD next week.

what is FIRE program?

https://www.fire.umd.edu/clusters
This is what we found. We are also trying to figure out what this is. Definitely, this is not something we applied to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS applied to CS and alternate major was undecided. The acceptance letter says that he is admitted to Letters & Sciences and into the FIRE program. There is no mention of CS or first choice. Can anyone tell us what this means? Can he transfer to CS later? We are planning to contact UMD next week.

what is FIRE program?

https://www.fire.umd.edu/clusters
This is what we found. We are also trying to figure out what this is. Definitely, this is not something we applied to.

sounds like a team of research groups. I would encourage your kid to take it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In-state, direct admit to Business School. 4.5 weighted, test-optional. Invited to a non-honors LLP.

Now that your student is in, may I ask, why test optional with that GPA? Can't be a covid/testing center issue at this point.

The advice we saw on online forums was not to submit if the test scores don't "match" the GPA. U/W GPA of 4.0 included 6 AP, 3 dual enrollment, and multiple high-school honors classes, so the rigor was there. Excellent essay, leadership, job experience, community service, and ECs.

The student has ADHD and does not perform well on standardized tests (max was 1290), but works very hard for good grades and is a strong writer. Even with an A in every AP class, all AP scores were only 3s or 4s. The student did not want the SAT to be the reason for rejection. An SAT of 1300 is about 87th percentile nationally, but probably far below the average test score of admitted UMD freshmen, especially in a limited enrollment program like Smith.

Instead of investing time and money into extended test prep, we invested in ECs/sports, volunteer opportunities, and many hours on essay editing/revision.