UMD Honors is highly competitive. I wouldn’t count on getting an invitation. I only know two who got invites from my kid’s magnet program and they had perfect stats.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMD will have a more robust residential life, especially on weekends. I'm impressed by the opportunities available to honors students.

But since you are willing to pay OOS tuition, are there close by private schools that are worth considering?

Not true anymore. 6,600 students live on GMU's campuses. All freshman are required to live in dorms unless they get a waiver. My DD had four great years in the dorms at GMU and a very full social and academic life.

And when I was on campus during the 90s - there was still a strong campus life. Grad school during the 2000s - I could see people having fun at midnight. I doubt the PP knows anything about GMU.

Anonymous wrote:Helping my DD research. She is good student with strong stats (so far.)

How would you compare these for someone who is social and wants the “college experience” but also would like to know that home and parents are not that far away?

(She is our second. First kid was like bye c ya later!)

For someone who is social, I would say UMD. It's bigger, part of the Big 10, and has more of the typical college experience.

Anonymous wrote:Go visit both on a weekend. The difference will be stark.

One of my DC's goes to UMD so we've seen that campus several times. The younger one is applying to GMU because they have a major that UMD doesn't. We went on a tour there and DC hated the campus. IMO, GMU is a solid school (especially for DC's major), but that's DC's last choice, though I think some of it has to do with how close it is to home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMD will have a more robust residential life, especially on weekends. I'm impressed by the opportunities available to honors students.

But since you are willing to pay OOS tuition, are there close by private schools that are worth considering?

Not true anymore. 6,600 students live on GMU's campuses. All freshman are required to live in dorms unless they get a waiver. My DD had four great years in the dorms at GMU and a very full social and academic life.

UMD CP has 39 houses, and 9601 beds, and the purple line lightrail that stops right in front of the Student Union (Stamp) should open late 2027.

Anonymous wrote:Op, you/your DD have no decision to make until she gets into both

Are you this rude on every thread asking for comparisons between different schools?

DS lives on campus and is in a fraternity at GMU. We see him about twice a month. He's always busy with friends and tons of things to do.

That said, it is convenient to have him nearby for appointments or special occasions. But there is no way he wants to be hanging out at home with us lol.

Anonymous wrote:UMD will have a more robust residential life, especially on weekends. I'm impressed by the opportunities available to honors students.

But since you are willing to pay OOS tuition, are there close by private schools that are worth considering?

Not true anymore. 6,600 students live on GMU's campuses. All freshman are required to live in dorms unless they get a waiver. My DD had four great years in the dorms at GMU and a very full social and academic life.

So she would only go to UMD if she got into the Honors program?

She's not considering any schools in DC?

Go visit both on a weekend. The difference will be stark.

Op, you/your DD have no decision to make until she gets into both

UMD will have a more robust residential life, especially on weekends. I'm impressed by the opportunities available to honors students.

But since you are willing to pay OOS tuition, are there close by private schools that are worth considering?

Go visit both since they are nearby.

Where are you in-state?

Helping my DD research. She is good student with strong stats (so far.)

How would you compare these for someone who is social and wants the “college experience” but also would like to know that home and parents are not that far away?

(She is our second. First kid was like bye c ya later!)