Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 19:52     Subject: UMD Banneker Key Scholarship
Anonymous wrote:These are not academic merit scholarships! This year, in one of the most prestigious HS magnet program in MCPS, the 2 kids that got the BK scholarship are at the bottom of the class. Kids with much better stats and international awards like gold olympiad medals were not selected.
It is ok to use these scholarships to attract some kids, but UMD needs to define what the merit means to avoid creating false expectations that academic merit is the intend. That's in the spirit of honesty and transparency that any education institution should be operating on.


My kid had near perfect stats and got it. Asian from MoCo magnet w/ no hooks of any kind. All of her friends who won it have similar stats as far as I know. I am not sure what you mean by "kids with much better stats".
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 18:19     Subject: UMD Banneker Key Scholarship
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:These are not academic merit scholarships! This year, in one of the most prestigious HS magnet program in MCPS, the 2 kids that got the BK scholarship are at the bottom of the class. Kids with much better stats and international awards like gold olympiad medals were not selected.
It is ok to use these scholarships to attract some kids, but UMD needs to define what the merit means to avoid creating false expectations that academic merit is the intend. That's in the spirit of honesty and transparency that any education institution should be operating on.


LOL. Talk about a sore loser.

You need to study the origin of B/K scholarship before running your mouth. B and K were separate scholarships with different yet specific purposes. UMD still tries to live with spirits of the original intent. And shut up.


UMD states "This exceptional scholarship opportunity is offered to only a select group of applicants who have demonstrated significant academic leadership and accomplishment in high school.."

I have no problem with "UMD still tries to live with spirits of the original intent" but they needs to be transparent with that. This is what the post is about.


My DS, unfortunately, did not get selected despite extremely high stats and scores. However, I don't believe that qualifies him just because of his stats. Perhaps his rec letters were great but not top notch and did not indicate full maturity with leadership. Who knows.

Congrats to the students who received these awards.


Same here. DD has tippy top academic stats and wasn’t selected to interview. That is Ok, there are lots of great kids out there. Not all of them can be selected.

But as a note to future parents, it isn’t quite so straightforward as just high stats.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 17:32     Subject: UMD Banneker Key Scholarship
Anonymous wrote:Selecting BK students is tough and subjective since all Honors students are top students with great achievements. Those gold medals students will go to MIT/ivyes anyway.


What happens to the scholarships if they were picked but end up going elsewhere come May decision?
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 17:27     Subject: UMD Banneker Key Scholarship
Selecting BK students is tough and subjective since all Honors students are top students with great achievements. Those gold medals students will go to MIT/ivyes anyway.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 17:19     Subject: UMD Banneker Key Scholarship
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:These are not academic merit scholarships! This year, in one of the most prestigious HS magnet program in MCPS, the 2 kids that got the BK scholarship are at the bottom of the class. Kids with much better stats and international awards like gold olympiad medals were not selected.
It is ok to use these scholarships to attract some kids, but UMD needs to define what the merit means to avoid creating false expectations that academic merit is the intend. That's in the spirit of honesty and transparency that any education institution should be operating on.


LOL. Talk about a sore loser.

You need to study the origin of B/K scholarship before running your mouth. B and K were separate scholarships with different yet specific purposes. UMD still tries to live with spirits of the original intent. And shut up.


UMD states "This exceptional scholarship opportunity is offered to only a select group of applicants who have demonstrated significant academic leadership and accomplishment in high school.."

I have no problem with "UMD still tries to live with spirits of the original intent" but they needs to be transparent with that. This is what the post is about.


My DS, unfortunately, did not get selected despite extremely high stats and scores. However, I don't believe that qualifies him just because of his stats. Perhaps his rec letters were great but not top notch and did not indicate full maturity with leadership. Who knows.

Congrats to the students who received these awards.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 17:11     Subject: UMD Banneker Key Scholarship
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:These are not academic merit scholarships! This year, in one of the most prestigious HS magnet program in MCPS, the 2 kids that got the BK scholarship are at the bottom of the class. Kids with much better stats and international awards like gold olympiad medals were not selected.
It is ok to use these scholarships to attract some kids, but UMD needs to define what the merit means to avoid creating false expectations that academic merit is the intend. That's in the spirit of honesty and transparency that any education institution should be operating on.


LOL. Talk about a sore loser.

You need to study the origin of B/K scholarship before running your mouth. B and K were separate scholarships with different yet specific purposes. UMD still tries to live with spirits of the original intent. And shut up.


UMD states "This exceptional scholarship opportunity is offered to only a select group of applicants who have demonstrated significant academic leadership and accomplishment in high school.."

I have no problem with "UMD still tries to live with spirits of the original intent" but they needs to be transparent with that. This is what the post is about.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 17:03     Subject: UMD Banneker Key Scholarship
Anonymous wrote:These are not academic merit scholarships! This year, in one of the most prestigious HS magnet program in MCPS, the 2 kids that got the BK scholarship are at the bottom of the class. Kids with much better stats and international awards like gold olympiad medals were not selected.
It is ok to use these scholarships to attract some kids, but UMD needs to define what the merit means to avoid creating false expectations that academic merit is the intend. That's in the spirit of honesty and transparency that any education institution should be operating on.


LOL. Talk about a sore loser.

You need to study the origin of B/K scholarship before running your mouth. B and K were separate scholarships with different yet specific purposes. UMD still tries to live with spirits of the original intent. And shut up.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 16:53     Subject: UMD Banneker Key Scholarship
These are not academic merit scholarships! This year, in one of the most prestigious HS magnet program in MCPS, the 2 kids that got the BK scholarship are at the bottom of the class. Kids with much better stats and international awards like gold olympiad medals were not selected.
It is ok to use these scholarships to attract some kids, but UMD needs to define what the merit means to avoid creating false expectations that academic merit is the intend. That's in the spirit of honesty and transparency that any education institution should be operating on.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 12:32     Subject: UMD Banneker Key Scholarship
Anonymous wrote:MCPS, got email on Friday


Thanks and Congratulations. Can you share stats and major?
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 11:42     Subject: UMD Banneker Key Scholarship
MCPS, got email on Friday
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 10:52     Subject: UMD Banneker Key Scholarship
Can anyone from MD confirm that they got the BK email? We have only heard OOS kids getting the email on Friday.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 08:13     Subject: UMD Banneker Key Scholarship
Anonymous wrote:Yes, DC was offered the full BK a couple of years ago. Was a panel interview over Zoom. They seemed to play bad cop, good cop. DC went elsewhere (better fit) but had nothing but good things to say about UMD.


What does good cop/bad cop mean in this context?
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 08:09     Subject: UMD Banneker Key Scholarship
Anonymous wrote:Yes, DC was offered the full BK a couple of years ago. Was a panel interview over Zoom. They seemed to play bad cop, good cop. DC went elsewhere (better fit) but had nothing but good things to say about UMD.


where did they go?
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 05:26     Subject: UMD Banneker Key Scholarship
Yes, DC was offered the full BK a couple of years ago. Was a panel interview over Zoom. They seemed to play bad cop, good cop. DC went elsewhere (better fit) but had nothing but good things to say about UMD.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 05:16     Subject: UMD Banneker Key Scholarship
DS is a freshman now - full BK. Such an amazing gift to have everything paid for!
Good luck to everyone!