Just curious- how big do the merit offers at UMBC get?

Thank you UMBC for offering my DS a very generous merit scholarship and making her feel special.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s it like? Academics sound great, but what is social life like? What do students do for fun?

Study! They're a pretty high performing bunch!

So high performing that less than half of them even graduate in four years

That's just a function of income level of the students.

wut? low income kids can't graduate in 4 years?

Lots of things can get in their way: They have to juggle more work hours and school. Their families may run out of money to pay. They may need to take on more work to support families etc. "Extras" such as books, transportation may be a bigger burden. Their families may not have as much experience with college and not be able to provide the nudges around registration, deadlines that college-education parents provide. They may not have been as well-prepared by their high schools for the rigor of college work. Not rocket science to figure this out...

+1 signed
- UMBC professor

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s it like? Academics sound great, but what is social life like? What do students do for fun?

Study! They're a pretty high performing bunch!

So high performing that less than half of them even graduate in four years

That's just a function of income level of the students.

wut? low income kids can't graduate in 4 years?

Lots of things can get in their way: They have to juggle more work hours and school. Their families may run out of money to pay. They may need to take on more work to support families etc. "Extras" such as books, transportation may be a bigger burden. Their families may not have as much experience with college and not be able to provide the nudges around registration, deadlines that college-education parents provide. They may not have been as well-prepared by their high schools for the rigor of college work. Not rocket science to figure this out...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMBC strikes me as the equivalent to GMU in VA. Both rapidly on the rise, outgrowing a commuter reputation, attracting a strong faculty due to their increased research profile and location, serve a group of diverse, increasingly well-prepared students who often have to juggle jobs and school. I think schools like this struggle to match the "fun image" of classic fully residential campuses with a long history of traditions, but they have lots of pockets of energy and fun for students who seek it. I think there's a smoother transition to post-college life from places like these because it's not so romanticized and idyllic.

What is this based on? Can you provide some objective data points?

Both universities were started fairly recently (GMU 1956 as an arm of UVA, UMBC 1966) and and since that short time, GMU has now received the top R1 classification in the Carnegie system--highest research activity and UMBC is getting close to that level now (currently R2). Given that both were just commuter schools with little research activity 30 years ago, that seems rapidly on the rise. UMBC recently entered the top 10 in undergraduate teaching in USNWR for national universities. Both schools are noted for gains exceptional equity--URMs have graduation rates similar to their non-URM peers. GMU's enrollment growth has been notable--48% of the growth in the past 10 years in VA state enrollment has gone to GMU and it has the largest enrollment in VA. Both are ranked in the mid 100s in the USNWR.
Both receive accolades on various "innovation" and "up-and-coming" ranking systems though those aren't terribly objective.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. DD is thinking about Psychology.

I knew at least one bio/psych major who participated in a program that worked with teen mothers and their babies in Baltimore, doing in-home interventions just to help them have a better understanding of baby development and coping strategies for the challenges of parenting. I don't know if that is still going on (it was a long time ago!), but there are lots of opportunities for service-learning. Nany of them are coordinated by the Shriver Center at UMBC. They also have a living/learning community; there is more info here: https://shrivercenter.umbc.edu/shriver-living-learning-center/

Thanks so much PP. I’ve heard the internship opportunities are amazing. As to graduating in four years, many STEM students take 4 1/2 or 5 years, especially with study abroad, co-ops, or internships. Not too worried about that. We have another DC at UMD for STEM, and may need 4 1/2 years due to changing major (and that’s with 11 APs going into college)! It happens.

DD isn’t looking for typical frat atmosphere but does like clubs, intramural sports, and going out to dinner, movies and theater. That’s what we’re looking for.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s it like? Academics sound great, but what is social life like? What do students do for fun?

Study! They're a pretty high performing bunch!

So high performing that less than half of them even graduate in four years

That's just a function of income level of the students.

wut? low income kids can't graduate in 4 years?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s it like? Academics sound great, but what is social life like? What do students do for fun?

Study! They're a pretty high performing bunch!

So high performing that less than half of them even graduate in four years

That's just a function of income level of the students.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. DD is thinking about Psychology.

I knew at least one bio/psych major who participated in a program that worked with teen mothers and their babies in Baltimore, doing in-home interventions just to help them have a better understanding of baby development and coping strategies for the challenges of parenting. I don't know if that is still going on (it was a long time ago!), but there are lots of opportunities for service-learning. Nany of them are coordinated by the Shriver Center at UMBC. They also have a living/learning community; there is more info here: https://shrivercenter.umbc.edu/shriver-living-learning-center/

Anonymous wrote:UMBC strikes me as the equivalent to GMU in VA. Both rapidly on the rise, outgrowing a commuter reputation, attracting a strong faculty due to their increased research profile and location, serve a group of diverse, increasingly well-prepared students who often have to juggle jobs and school. I think schools like this struggle to match the "fun image" of classic fully residential campuses with a long history of traditions, but they have lots of pockets of energy and fun for students who seek it. I think there's a smoother transition to post-college life from places like these because it's not so romanticized and idyllic.

What is this based on? Can you provide some objective data points?

UMBC strikes me as the equivalent to GMU in VA. Both rapidly on the rise, outgrowing a commuter reputation, attracting a strong faculty due to their increased research profile and location, serve a group of diverse, increasingly well-prepared students who often have to juggle jobs and school. I think schools like this struggle to match the "fun image" of classic fully residential campuses with a long history of traditions, but they have lots of pockets of energy and fun for students who seek it. I think there's a smoother transition to post-college life from places like these because it's not so romanticized and idyllic.

Anonymous wrote:Not a fun place. Smart kids but zero energy or school spirit on campus.

+1.

OP here. DD is thinking about Psychology.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I loved it. Many of my friends went on to good PhD programs and were well-prepared for them and now have great careers. The UMBC professors were accessible, and the students serious (international and commuter students are not there to party). However, there was also lots of fun and whimsy. There were lots of people doing interesting things on campus, just not as centered around alcohol and frats as other places (I have experienced College Park, as well). UMBC is a smaller, friendlier place, and it does feel like one big community. I'm very glad I went there. Moreover, the campus has just gotten nicer since I graduated.

Thank you, pp. How long ago did you graduate?

About 10 years ago. I'd encourage you to go visit and check out library and the Commons to see what those spaces feel like. And if you are thinking of living on campus, try to find out about the living/learning communities. There may be other spots to visit that I'm not aware of--talk to one of those student tour guides; those people tend to be plugged into a lot of student life.

If you don't mind sharing, do you know what you are thinking of majoring in?

Anonymous wrote:I loved it. Many of my friends went on to good PhD programs and were well-prepared for them and now have great careers. The UMBC professors were accessible, and the students serious (international and commuter students are not there to party). However, there was also lots of fun and whimsy. There were lots of people doing interesting things on campus, just not as centered around alcohol and frats as other places (I have experienced College Park, as well). UMBC is a smaller, friendlier place, and it does feel like one big community. I'm very glad I went there. Moreover, the campus has just gotten nicer since I graduated.

So helpful ... looks like there’s a movie theater nearby to ...