Anonymous wrote:Thanks to those giving feedback. It is encouraging. Do other schools do this? We didn't even realize this Spring admit was a possibility. We thought you were in or out in the Fall and that was it.

A lot of colleges now offer these alternative starts. Some don’t go on campus or start classes until spring, other colleges send students abroad for the fall semester, etc. It’s become a much more common path and your student will get the same diploma.

No difference and you live in the dorms. Don’t think twice about it. Only for the first semester. Don’t hesitate.

Anonymous wrote:I know you asked about recent experiences but I wanted to share that DD who is now a UMD alum started with freshman connection. I tell everyone with reservations that it’s a great experience. Your student really isn’t missing out on much. The only difference is later class times which is a plus for a lot to kids. Even with later classes, she was able to avoid evenings. On the plus side, freshman connection classes are smaller in size. Kids live in the dorm, eat in the dining hall and are indistinguishable from regular fall admits. Nobody can tell who is freshman connection. My niece who is a current UMD student also entered through freshman connection and had the same great experience.

100%. My kid is a junior was a fall admit. One of his best friends was admitted via Connection. No one thinks twice about it.

Thanks to those giving feedback. It is encouraging. Do other schools do this? We didn't even realize this Spring admit was a possibility. We thought you were in or out in the Fall and that was it.

I know you asked about recent experiences but I wanted to share that DD who is now a UMD alum started with freshman connection. I tell everyone with reservations that it’s a great experience. Your student really isn’t missing out on much. The only difference is later class times which is a plus for a lot to kids. Even with later classes, she was able to avoid evenings. On the plus side, freshman connection classes are smaller in size. Kids live in the dorm, eat in the dining hall and are indistinguishable from regular fall admits. Nobody can tell who is freshman connection. My niece who is a current UMD student also entered through freshman connection and had the same great experience.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all, appreciate all the feedback.

For some reason we also got classified as out of state, even though we've lived in Moco for over 20 years, so need to sort that as well. Either way happy to have UMD as option.

Our DC also is accepted Spring 2027, invited to the Freshman Connection and listed as out of state. We have lived in MOCO for over 20 years, too. I looked on the website and couldn't find an explanation (e.g. that all Freshman Connection pay OOS or something) so I'm hoping that's an error.

My child got it last year. He declined. Was worried about ability to do extracurricular things, clubs etc which he felt like he would need to help with admission to the B school. Turned it down for a direct admit biz school elsewhere. I seem to recall around 1000 kids do it so certainly plenty in the same boat

Thanks all, appreciate all the feedback.

For some reason we also got classified as out of state, even though we've lived in Moco for over 20 years, so need to sort that as well. Either way happy to have UMD as option.

My daughter was a freshman connection. She ended up liking it. She liked having the later
classes as she could sleep in. She was fully integrated with the college, there was no different. She was in a dorm like everybody else and made friends. In the spring, she was a regular admission. It was a good experience for her. This semester, she is studying abroad. UMD has been a great experience overall. And it all started with the freshman connection.

My son did the Freshman Connection program last year in the fall. He was able to get the classes that he needed and was accepted in the engineering program by the Spring. His classes were a little later but everything else was the same.

I’ve consistently heard pretty positive things about it.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone here have recent feedback on UMD Spring admits who did the Freshmen Connection option? I searched the forum but the latest threads are a few years old. Thanks in advance.

Join this Facebook group. Lots of info there. Most people love Freshman connection.

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DET3QwtGs/

My Junior Terp was Freshman Connection. He didn’t love the later classes but you can do better if your student goes to an earlier Orientation. He lived on campus and it all worked out well.

Anyone here have recent feedback on UMD Spring admits who did the Freshmen Connection option? I searched the forum but the latest threads are a few years old. Thanks in advance.