Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the responses. OP here. My kid is worried that people may think that she must not have been accepted to better in-state options, or other privates/OOS options. But truly UMD fits her the best in all considerations.

If it's that important that others know of kid's other great acceptances, why don't you get her or custom make for her a t-shirt or other item that says: "got into UVA and HMudd and chose UMD." Then take a photo of kid with that t-shirt etc., send it over to UMD admissions or whomever at UMD if you want to assist UMD in marketing (not that they need that kinda help).

Anonymous wrote:I'm a tenured professor at UMD, and have had several excellent students from NOVA in my classes, including ones that went to big name schools like TJ.

Are these NOVA students in STEM but not CS?

I'm a tenured professor at UMD, and have had several excellent students from NOVA in my classes, including ones that went to big name schools like TJ.

How is the social scene in UMD for NOVA students? Is it harder because kids go home for weekends?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know anyone who hates on UMD. Everyone I know thinks very highly of it. Kids from all over the country are dying to get in.

I am from Maryland, and think poorly of it. Moved to VA for better state schools for my kids. It’s not well regarded with the private school set.

Oh Lord. UMD is the 2nd top public university in the DC/MD/VA area after UVA. We're private school parents and have never heard of UMD as being poorly regarded. That's ridiculous.

+2 I have had kids at 3 different DMV private high schools and UMD is considered a top choice if one wants to stay close to home.

+3 My son is heading there from a well-known private in MoCo. It's a great school and a hard admit. It's quality has improved faster than its reputation. People still acting like it is the UMD of the 90s/00s. It's not. And people are finding out via a challenging admissions profile and lots of rejections of kids who would have been a slam dunk a decade ago.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know anyone who hates on UMD. Everyone I know thinks very highly of it. Kids from all over the country are dying to get in.

I am from Maryland, and think poorly of it. Moved to VA for better state schools for my kids. It’s not well regarded with the private school set.

Oh Lord. UMD is the 2nd top public university in the DC/MD/VA area after UVA. We're private school parents and have never heard of UMD as being poorly regarded. That's ridiculous.

+2 I have had kids at 3 different DMV private high schools and UMD is considered a top choice if one wants to stay close to home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know anyone who hates on UMD. Everyone I know thinks very highly of it. Kids from all over the country are dying to get in.

I am from Maryland, and think poorly of it. Moved to VA for better state schools for my kids. It’s not well regarded with the private school set.

Oh Lord. UMD is the 2nd top public university in the DC/MD/VA area after UVA. We're private school parents and have never heard of UMD as being poorly regarded. That's ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:Why is your kid not choosing Harvey Mudd? Is it a financial issue? That would be the best option among the ones you listed

Why spend twice as much to go to a much smaller school 2,500 miles away?

Why is your kid not choosing Harvey Mudd? Is it a financial issue? That would be the best option among the ones you listed

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know anyone who hates on UMD. Everyone I know thinks very highly of it. Kids from all over the country are dying to get in.

I am from Maryland, and think poorly of it. Moved to VA for better state schools for my kids. It’s not well regarded with the private school set.

True. If OP’s kid’s goal was to join some elite country club, it would obviously be foolish to pass up UVA, the country club of colleges. But it doesn’t seem like that’s OP’s kid’s goal.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know anyone who hates on UMD. Everyone I know thinks very highly of it. Kids from all over the country are dying to get in.

I am from Maryland, and think poorly of it. Moved to VA for better state schools for my kids. It’s not well regarded with the private school set.

Congrats to DC. Some of the smartest kids I know went to UMD!

Anonymous wrote:For my kid's STEM major, UMD makes more sense, particularly given the scholarships and research opportunities. Kid also has other options, including UVA and Harvey Mudd. Kid worries about people's perception if choosing UMD.

All positive. It's a great school.

Oh FFS. I would tell kid they could go to community college with that attitude.

I live in PA and my child graduated from W&M and yes, he was accepted to Pitt and Penn State. Your DD’s worry is unfounded.