Anonymous wrote:Yes, there are researchers at UMD who have done some exciting things.

However, as a school for local kids it has little appeal. If you've gone to a Whitman or Churchill, it feels like a step down. If you've gone to a Quince Orchard, it feels like high school, only bigger. If you've gone to Einstein, it's almost your back yard.

Ergo, close to zero buzz.

I went to Churchill . I look at the list that guy made*^^
Umd is one of the best schools in the country. Every world university ranking except us news ranks it ahead of UVA . Which is based on research . I went to Umd .. I am an entrepreneurial type.

UMD is awesome. DH went there and DS wants to. But as a VA resident, there's no way he's going there.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, there are researchers at UMD who have done some exciting things.

However, as a school for local kids it has little appeal. If you've gone to a Whitman or Churchill, it feels like a step down. If you've gone to a Quince Orchard, it feels like high school, only bigger. If you've gone to Einstein, it's almost your back yard.

Ergo, close to zero buzz.

You make a very interesting point. A BS/BA today is pretty much expected and not given much credit beyond checking the box. In a lot if ways, it's the new HS Diploma. What sets you apart is your graduate degree. Under that premise, UMD should be considered great since in a lot if ways for local kids, it's an extension of HS.

Umd is a school for big personalities with big dreams. If your DS/DD is a shrinking violet, it is not the place . Umd alumni make up like half of espn. Connie Chung, Kiren Chetry, Heidi Collins , Juliana Rancik, Larry David, Jim Henson , Sergi Brin, Stenny Hoyer, Dianne Weist, Karen Allen, Gale King, Carly Fiorina, Kevin Plank..
Are all Umd grads... Lots of broadcasting and entrepreneur types and inventor / creator types . Not really the school for shrinking violet conformer types or people who are easily depressed.

I think it's because it's too local. I went to RM for high school long before the internet. When I had to do a real research paper, I hit the stacks at UMD. When I wanted to observe classes before committing to a major, I hit amongst the rows if students. And by the time it was time to apply to college, I had already spent many nights partying in CP. While it offered a fantastic education, I wanted to leave home. I wonder how many kids that grow up in Charlottesville apply to UVA?

Yes, there are researchers at UMD who have done some exciting things.

However, as a school for local kids it has little appeal. If you've gone to a Whitman or Churchill, it feels like a step down. If you've gone to a Quince Orchard, it feels like high school, only bigger. If you've gone to Einstein, it's almost your back yard.

Ergo, close to zero buzz.

^^^ that's why I didn't send my kids away. They go away, then come back for a job. Never see their college again never see their friends again and end up going to Umd basketball / football games.

My kids never come home. They hang out in cp, Annapolis , DC and Baltimore ... Visit the jersey and ny folks on holidays !

That to me is waaay better than being stuck in Blacksburg for 4 years.

I agree, UMD CP is a great school, and the campus is attractive.

DC wasn't interested because she wanted to go farther away from home. She also couldn't get psyched about the great college drop-off consisting of a 10-mile drive on University Boulevard through Langley Park (which is ugly) to get to her new college. I think she could have gotten past the Langley Park entry (and of course it's possible to get to UMD by other roads). Really, it was the desire to go a little farther away.

^^^ that's why Umd joined the BiG 10.
The schools are more big- time than the ACC.

Umd is awesome.. Most national championships , Nobel and Pulitzer/academy award alumni in the ACC. Installations from NASA, NIH,homeland security, NOAA, FDA, national physics institute, the international foreign language institute , the national archives... ON CAMPUS.
UMD has the highest reasearch budget in the ACC by far.
UMD alumni invented/created

The muppets
Seinfeld
The wire
Boondocks
Broke watergate
Underarmour
Google
The universal price code
The large screen stadium TV
Coronary stents
Linear programming
The octane system
The hybrid engine
Sirius satellite radio
The miniaturized insulin pump
The automatic parachute
Retractable landing gear
Pulse Dopplar radar
Diary of a wimpy kid
Apollo 13
Syndicated baywatch
Outback Steakhouse
Nautica
Frequent flyer systems


Check out what VT or UVA alumni have created...
I'll help you... Nothing.

Most non SLAC, non Ivy schools get looked down on in this forum

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMD College Park is ranked well ahead of Virginia Tech and is comparable to many of the schools discussed regularly. The Business and Engineering schools are among the best in the country - the campus is beautiful and the sports teams will soon be in the Big 10, arguably the most prestigious athletic conference. What's not to like?

It's local, it's public, the campus is ugly, and it's in PG. It has good programs but it's not exciting at all.

Have you been there lately? Its a very nice campus, food is decent, facilities are nice, lots of activities and shopping, dining and everything one needs in the local area.

Anonymous wrote:UMD College Park is ranked well ahead of Virginia Tech and is comparable to many of the schools discussed regularly. The Business and Engineering schools are among the best in the country - the campus is beautiful and the sports teams will soon be in the Big 10, arguably the most prestigious athletic conference. What's not to like?

It's local, it's public, the campus is ugly, and it's in PG. It has good programs but it's not exciting at all.

If one lives in MontCo UMD CP is a no-brainer.
Of course, the high-schoolers fiercely compete against each other to be admitted to UMD CP, just like NoVA kids for admission to UVA and W&M.

UMD College Park is ranked well ahead of Virginia Tech and is comparable to many of the schools discussed regularly. The Business and Engineering schools are among the best in the country - the campus is beautiful and the sports teams will soon be in the Big 10, arguably the most prestigious athletic conference. What's not to like?