Should DC apply to UMD? (and does it feel very "big")

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My only comment for you is that if your kid needs merit aid for undergrad and is considering med school, go in-state. Save any money for med school.

I would say go in state if it's the cheapest option.

Sometimes, with need based aid and merit aid, the cheapest option isn't your in state schools. I know plenty of people in that situation.

The OP doesn't mention needing need-based aid, only merit, so I have a feeling they won't qualify for much need. Maryland likely won't be cheaper than a SUNY. Yes, they need to go with the cheapest option, which could theoretically be private. Med school is hella expensive. Save your $$ for med school! Maryland out-of-state tuition & fees is almost $42K (this is before housing). SUNY instate tuition & fees is around $9K per year (again, before housing). That means she's got to get a ton of aid for them to become closer numbers.

Binghamton instate is 32K according to the website.

That’s for instate tuition, fees , room and board.

OP here, sorry if I wasn't clear. She doesn't want to stay living at home/commute to college- that is not an option, so whatever that cost is would not be a factor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My only comment for you is that if your kid needs merit aid for undergrad and is considering med school, go in-state. Save any money for med school.

I would say go in state if it's the cheapest option.

Sometimes, with need based aid and merit aid, the cheapest option isn't your in state schools. I know plenty of people in that situation.

The OP doesn't mention needing need-based aid, only merit, so I have a feeling they won't qualify for much need. Maryland likely won't be cheaper than a SUNY. Yes, they need to go with the cheapest option, which could theoretically be private. Med school is hella expensive. Save your $$ for med school! Maryland out-of-state tuition & fees is almost $42K (this is before housing). SUNY instate tuition & fees is around $9K per year (again, before housing). That means she's got to get a ton of aid for them to become closer numbers.

Binghamton instate is 32K according to the website.

That’s for instate tuition, fees , room and board.

OP here, sorry if I wasn't clear. She doesn't want to stay living at home/commute to college- that is not an option, so whatever that cost is would not be a factor.

I don't think that's who people are saying though. You can live close by but doesn't mean she has to commute/come home. Our kids did not come home on the wkds even though UMD is only 30 min away.

[Anonymous]

She should visit and see what she thinks. My DC found it too impersonal but respected the academic opportunities. Liked U Mass Amherst as the "whole package" much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UMD is the old school college where the kid comes out more grown up, more mature and resilient. Hovering moms don't like it. Not the place for shrinking violets. Men like it a lot. No hand holding, the town is a little hardscrabble (although the violent crime is well below Charlottesville). The UMD alumni have had far greater impact on USA and World economy, culture than almost all peer institutions I believe because of the lack of appeal to weaklings but that's just a opinion. Since the Big Ten invitation UMD has become very hard to get into with incoming SAT/ACTs 4th in the Big Ten basically tied with UCLA but behind the privates and Michigan. It's a big research school with the 8th biggest research budget among publics in the country. The Big Ten invite was mostly due the the research budget and is a Big Ten style school

Nailed it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've taken some classes on the UMD campus. I treasure my time there. It's a great, relatively affordable public institution with amazing programs especially but not exclusively in STEM, being superior to UVA in many of those respects.

That being said:

If your daughter is looking out of state for a school with a good "classic college experience," be wary. It's obviously not an ivy or SLAC, but it's also unlike a typical Big Football School. Perhaps due to its gritty suburban location, the feel on campus is less bro-y and "together" than somewhere like Ohio State.

Coupled with the fact that some near peer institutions have *much* better pre med advising, I would explore other options.

Gritty suburban location?!?

LOL 🤣

I had originally written "dumpy" but "gritty" sounded more positive to me. It's hard to capture in this medium, but College Park is not your cute college town out of central casting.

As much as I love UMD, this statement isn't wrong. If this is important to you, maybe you should look around other schools. School itself though isn't too bad - my kids actually liked it. It's just that the areas around the school isn't that pretty. Again, it has nothing to do with education itself but I know some folks put premiums on these things. We didn't.

Then go to High Point.

Geez.

[Anonymous]

Someone thinks UMDCP matches UCLA?
Oh my word that is the most hilarious, out of touch thing I've read on DCUM in a very, very long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone thinks UMDCP matches UCLA?
Oh my word that is the most hilarious, out of touch thing I've read on DCUM in a very, very long time.

are you talking about "...SAT/ACTs 4th in the Big Ten basically tied with UCLA"? so you disagree?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone thinks UMDCP matches UCLA?
Oh my word that is the most hilarious, out of touch thing I've read on DCUM in a very, very long time.

Did it make you feel better when you posted this? Where did you go to college. Let's critique that. Let us know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone thinks UMDCP matches UCLA?
Oh my word that is the most hilarious, out of touch thing I've read on DCUM in a very, very long time.

are you talking about "...SAT/ACTs 4th in the Big Ten basically tied with UCLA"? so you disagree?

Not sure but I think it has the same or higher research budget also around 1.2 billion. DC folks are mad Uva and UNC stuck in the ACC with no invites to the big ten. UNC might eventually get one since it has a big research budget but it will have to explain giving diplomas to illiterates for decades. UVA is not getting invited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UMD is the old school college where the kid comes out more grown up, more mature and resilient. Hovering moms don't like it. Not the place for shrinking violets. Men like it a lot. No hand holding, the town is a little hardscrabble (although the violent crime is well below Charlottesville). The UMD alumni have had far greater impact on USA and World economy, culture than almost all peer institutions I believe because of the lack of appeal to weaklings but that's just a opinion. Since the Big Ten invitation UMD has become very hard to get into with incoming SAT/ACTs 4th in the Big Ten basically tied with UCLA but behind the privates and Michigan. It's a big research school with the 8th biggest research budget among publics in the country. The Big Ten invite was mostly due the the research budget and is a Big Ten style school

Went to UMD. This is a great description. Slightly more males there than females which is rare at big schools these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMD is the old school college where the kid comes out more grown up, more mature and resilient. Hovering moms don't like it. Not the place for shrinking violets. Men like it a lot. No hand holding, the town is a little hardscrabble (although the violent crime is well below Charlottesville). The UMD alumni have had far greater impact on USA and World economy, culture than almost all peer institutions I believe because of the lack of appeal to weaklings but that's just a opinion. Since the Big Ten invitation UMD has become very hard to get into with incoming SAT/ACTs 4th in the Big Ten basically tied with UCLA but behind the privates and Michigan. It's a big research school with the 8th biggest research budget among publics in the country. The Big Ten invite was mostly due the the research budget and is a Big Ten style school

Went to UMD. This is a great description. Slightly more males there than females which is rare at big schools these days.

Even though it's Big Ten... More of a basketball, lacrosse school than Football. Too many pro teams around for a semi pro level college football power. They just shoot for 8 wins

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UMD is the old school college where the kid comes out more grown up, more mature and resilient. Hovering moms don't like it. Not the place for shrinking violets. Men like it a lot. No hand holding, the town is a little hardscrabble (although the violent crime is well below Charlottesville). The UMD alumni have had far greater impact on USA and World economy, culture than almost all peer institutions I believe because of the lack of appeal to weaklings but that's just a opinion. Since the Big Ten invitation UMD has become very hard to get into with incoming SAT/ACTs 4th in the Big Ten basically tied with UCLA but behind the privates and Michigan. It's a big research school with the 8th biggest research budget among publics in the country. The Big Ten invite was mostly due the the research budget and is a Big Ten style school

A PP. Many state flagships have increased in difficulty to get into since Gen X parent times. From everything I read, UMD is on a big upswing. That means even more smart kids there than when we parents went to school.

I went to Pitt when it was somewhat underappreciated. I had a great experience and 100% would repeat. So I really put weight on how the individual feels during their visit. I think Pitt's continued weakness from my POV is that the business portion of collegetown where students eat and shop is lacking. The pandemic hurt the area businesses.

I think the Metro accessibility of College Park is a good add. Some say that the area around there is improving. Also, we had a girl go to UMD from our Michigan high school about three years ago (for journalism) and she had great things to say. She had already had two big name internships in the DC area and was recognized as the top student in her UMD college. So UMD sent a formal recognition to her and her choice of inspiring high school teacher that was read out at our local school board meeting.

OP asked me my impression of SUNY Binghamton. From what I've read, the college does its job well at a great price. The city is a bit Rust Belty but I enjoyed my brief visit to downtown (visited the public library's history center to do genealogy research, ate at the Lost Dog café, walked around the old immigrant neighborhoods). It reminded me of parts of Pittsburgh in the leaner times in which I grew up (80s/90s). I didn't meet students or take a tour. Just drove around.

My Binghamton-born family member went straight to Cornell long ago. We were mainly in the area to see Cornell (ILR) when we passed through. From what I've read, these days, some Cornell transfers do come from SUNY Binghamton. I see the logic there and think that's a good plan for a kid looking to transition from near-urban suburbia to a more inward-focused campus setting. A lot of diehard Cornell waitlisters get sophomore transfer offers.

As a resident of another state (MI), I didn't think Binghamton was a fit for my 2 kids, but I became more interested in the possibilities/eyes were opened from visiting. It seems like a really good value for in-staters. My kid ended up at U of M, which was his preference (did not stay on Cornell ILR WL).

I understand the "it's not exciting to be close to home" and "pretty campus" mindsets. That depends a lot on the individual student. Also, as a woman, I pay attention to campus safety and feel (which is mostly vibes because universities these days are quite organized about security). I feel a bit more comfy with Pittsburgh than Cleveland. Even though Pitt and CWRU are both urban and located in cultural/hospital districts.

[Anonymous]

Yes she should apply. My kids had a great experience at UMD. It doesn’t feel that big once you learn your way around. As someone else mentioned there are LLCs to make it smaller that she can opt in to. My kids weren’t in the honors college (sounds like she would be offered honors) but that would also make the college smaller. My very introverted DD did fine there though I expected her to choose a small school. One caveat is that because it is a large school, kids needs to be able to self-advocate and there can be some annoying administrative red tape at times. Overall, my kids were very happy with their classes and professors.

I hear there is some good merit aid opportunities for off the charts applicants. However, there’s not a lot of merit aid otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone thinks UMDCP matches UCLA?
Oh my word that is the most hilarious, out of touch thing I've read on DCUM in a very, very long time.

are you talking about "...SAT/ACTs 4th in the Big Ten basically tied with UCLA"? so you disagree?

Not sure but I think it has the same or higher research budget also around 1.2 billion. DC folks are mad Uva and UNC stuck in the ACC with no invites to the big ten. UNC might eventually get one since it has a big research budget but it will have to explain giving diplomas to illiterates for decades. UVA is not getting invited.

Being inside the Big Ten rep inside Washington DC beltway just brings in so much research money. The collaboration with the federal installations is cost savings for the government and almost impossible for others to compete with. Also high level scientists prefer the major city locale with a massive research infrastructure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've taken some classes on the UMD campus. I treasure my time there. It's a great, relatively affordable public institution with amazing programs especially but not exclusively in STEM, being superior to UVA in many of those respects.

That being said:

If your daughter is looking out of state for a school with a good "classic college experience," be wary. It's obviously not an ivy or SLAC, but it's also unlike a typical Big Football School. Perhaps due to its gritty suburban location, the feel on campus is less bro-y and "together" than somewhere like Ohio State.

Coupled with the fact that some near peer institutions have *much* better pre med advising, I would explore other options.

Gritty suburban location?!?

LOL 🤣

I had originally written "dumpy" but "gritty" sounded more positive to me. It's hard to capture in this medium, but College Park is not your cute college town out of central casting.

As much as I love UMD, this statement isn't wrong. If this is important to you, maybe you should look around other schools. School itself though isn't too bad - my kids actually liked it. It's just that the areas around the school isn't that pretty. Again, it has nothing to do with education itself but I know some folks put premiums on these things. We didn't.

Then go to High Point.

Geez.

lol exactly