How did your MCPS student do at UMD?

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

Is it hard to get into UMD College Park for an education degree ?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

Thanks PP- my DD is a hard worker not super smart. She has to study a lot so that’s what concerns me.

[Anonymous]

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.

Thanks PP- my DD is a hard worker not super smart. She has to study a lot so that’s what concerns me.

What concerns you, that your kid has to study a lot??
Why is that concerning?

[Anonymous]

MCPS students typically are very successful at UMD, not just coursework but in leadership positions on campus. So many opportunities for success at UMD.

[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.

Thanks PP- my DD is a hard worker not super smart. She has to study a lot so that’s what concerns me.

What concerns you, that your kid has to study a lot??
Why is that concerning?

As an MCPS kid who then went to UMCP and had to study a lot - your DD will be fine. Sure, some of the “hare” students do well in college, generally. UMCP was no exception, particularly in the STEMs. But the “tortoises” like me also thrived. I actually found college easier than high school in that way. I studied hard but that cadence was rewarded in college much more so than high school. I graduated at the top of my class and went on to do very well in grad school too.
Also, as a side note: don’t take the need to study a lot as an indication of smarts - if you are.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

Thanks PP- my DD is a hard worker not super smart. She has to study a lot so that’s what concerns me.

That's an interesting concern. No easy grades in college. If you want to do well, you have to study hard. Hard work wins over smartness.

[Anonymous]

DC 1 graduated with 3.8+ GPA, got PhD @ top west coast school, now working

DC 2 (barely) graduated with 3.0+ GPA, in grad school (and doing better)

DC3 graduated with 3.8+ and in medical school

All MCPS grads

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

Not one instructor at UMD accepts late assignments? How about that.

[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.

Not one instructor at UMD accepts late assignments? How about that.

DP - friend of mine teaches at UMD and he does not accept even 1 min after due time. But I'd think others might.

[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.

Not one instructor at UMD accepts late assignments? How about that.

DP - friend of mine teaches at UMD and he does not accept even 1 min after due time. But I'd think others might.

Yeah, people do that, but it's jerk thing to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not one instructor at UMD accepts late assignments? How about that.

DP - friend of mine teaches at UMD and he does not accept even 1 min after due time. But I'd think others might.

Yeah, people do that, but it's jerk thing to do.

All of these things may be true of some profs but definitely not all. Anyone who gets in to UMCP has sat for a good number of AP exams so I would not worry about having to take finals. Most of these kids also rarely got the 50% minimum. While there might be a curve, the average grade is not typically a C. Profs will take late papers (often with a penalty though)