Anonymous wrote:My DD was just accepted and was wondering how they did once in college. It seems like everyone these days gets straight As in HS. DD is looking into a stem major. TIA

Anonymous wrote:This thread is from 2021. The students who were accepted to UMD in the Spring of 2021 have probably graduated or will soon. Do those students or their families have any piece of advice or "in retrospect" comments?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big face plant first semester.

DS was smart but never studious. Pulled easy As on tests but never very good about keeping on top of turning in work on time. Not super concerned about grades - mostly As, some Bs, all advanced courses. At UMD he learned:
- can’t turn in homework late
- missed quizzes during discussion can’t be made up
- it matters that you go to lecture to learn the topic
- if you bomb a midterm with a 37%, it’s a 37%
- you can’t actually cram an entire semester at the end and pull out a passing grade on the final
- there might be a curve, but don’t count on it
- UMD uses +/- grades, so your percentage matters
- if you are off 0.1 from the next grade, it doesn’t get bumped

UMD is very selective. If your MCPS student was a accepted, they are well qualified to be there. Whether or not they are mature enough, is kid dependent.

50% of MCPS grads end up back at Montgomery College

Anonymous wrote:MCPS students typically are very successful at UMD, not just coursework but in leadership positions on campus. So many opportunities for success at UMD.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big face plant first semester.

DS was smart but never studious. Pulled easy As on tests but never very good about keeping on top of turning in work on time. Not super concerned about grades - mostly As, some Bs, all advanced courses. At UMD he learned:
- can’t turn in homework late
- missed quizzes during discussion can’t be made up
- it matters that you go to lecture to learn the topic
- if you bomb a midterm with a 37%, it’s a 37%
- you can’t actually cram an entire semester at the end and pull out a passing grade on the final
- there might be a curve, but don’t count on it
- UMD uses +/- grades, so your percentage matters
- if you are off 0.1 from the next grade, it doesn’t get bumped

UMD is very selective. If your MCPS student was a accepted, they are well qualified to be there. Whether or not they are mature enough, is kid dependent.

Thanks PP- my DD is a hard worker not super smart. She has to study a lot so that’s what concerns me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has changed so much in the past five years, that I would have concerns:

1) Five years ago, students in MCPS took mid-year and final year exams. These exams had weight and they prepared MCPS students on how to study for a cumulative test that took two hours. Current graduating seniors never had that experience.

2) Late work at UMD is not accepted and students do not get 50% for an assignment not handed in.

3) Realize, in college As and Bs are earned. With a bell curve, that means you have to do better than the average for an A or B. A college student has to learn from mistakes and realize not everything will be As and Bs.

4) Professors will lock you out of class if you are late and they will kick you out if you are disruptive (ie. phone rings or talking).

5) Grades are not everything to get you beyond an undergraduate degree. If a STEM student, apply to join a research team such as UMD’s FIRE program. If not STEM, college internships are needed for real life experience. What your child does outside of the classroom in college is vital for either your first job or grad school.

Not one instructor at UMD accepts late assignments? How about that.

DP - friend of mine teaches at UMD and he does not accept even 1 min after due time. But I'd think others might.

Yeah, people do that, but it's jerk thing to do.

Its not a jerk thing to do. You need to be responsible and get your work in. Teach your kids this now. He probably makes a rare exception but there is no excuse to get in assignments late and if you need to you contact the professor and talk to them.

Yeah, it is a jerk thing to do to mark the work late at 12:01 am when it's due at 12:00 am.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has changed so much in the past five years, that I would have concerns:

1) Five years ago, students in MCPS took mid-year and final year exams. These exams had weight and they prepared MCPS students on how to study for a cumulative test that took two hours. Current graduating seniors never had that experience.

2) Late work at UMD is not accepted and students do not get 50% for an assignment not handed in.

3) Realize, in college As and Bs are earned. With a bell curve, that means you have to do better than the average for an A or B. A college student has to learn from mistakes and realize not everything will be As and Bs.

4) Professors will lock you out of class if you are late and they will kick you out if you are disruptive (ie. phone rings or talking).

5) Grades are not everything to get you beyond an undergraduate degree. If a STEM student, apply to join a research team such as UMD’s FIRE program. If not STEM, college internships are needed for real life experience. What your child does outside of the classroom in college is vital for either your first job or grad school.

Not one instructor at UMD accepts late assignments? How about that.

DP - friend of mine teaches at UMD and he does not accept even 1 min after due time. But I'd think others might.

Yeah, people do that, but it's jerk thing to do.

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has changed so much in the past five years, that I would have concerns:

1) Five years ago, students in MCPS took mid-year and final year exams. These exams had weight and they prepared MCPS students on how to study for a cumulative test that took two hours. Current graduating seniors never had that experience.

2) Late work at UMD is not accepted and students do not get 50% for an assignment not handed in.

3) Realize, in college As and Bs are earned. With a bell curve, that means you have to do better than the average for an A or B. A college student has to learn from mistakes and realize not everything will be As and Bs.

4) Professors will lock you out of class if you are late and they will kick you out if you are disruptive (ie. phone rings or talking).

5) Grades are not everything to get you beyond an undergraduate degree. If a STEM student, apply to join a research team such as UMD’s FIRE program. If not STEM, college internships are needed for real life experience. What your child does outside of the classroom in college is vital for either your first job or grad school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big face plant first semester.

DS was smart but never studious. Pulled easy As on tests but never very good about keeping on top of turning in work on time. Not super concerned about grades - mostly As, some Bs, all advanced courses. At UMD he learned:
- can’t turn in homework late
- missed quizzes during discussion can’t be made up
- it matters that you go to lecture to learn the topic
- if you bomb a midterm with a 37%, it’s a 37%
- you can’t actually cram an entire semester at the end and pull out a passing grade on the final
- there might be a curve, but don’t count on it
- UMD uses +/- grades, so your percentage matters
- if you are off 0.1 from the next grade, it doesn’t get bumped

UMD is very selective. If your MCPS student was a accepted, they are well qualified to be there. Whether or not they are mature enough, is kid dependent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has changed so much in the past five years, that I would have concerns:

1) Five years ago, students in MCPS took mid-year and final year exams. These exams had weight and they prepared MCPS students on how to study for a cumulative test that took two hours. Current graduating seniors never had that experience.

2) Late work at UMD is not accepted and students do not get 50% for an assignment not handed in.

3) Realize, in college As and Bs are earned. With a bell curve, that means you have to do better than the average for an A or B. A college student has to learn from mistakes and realize not everything will be As and Bs.

4) Professors will lock you out of class if you are late and they will kick you out if you are disruptive (ie. phone rings or talking).

5) Grades are not everything to get you beyond an undergraduate degree. If a STEM student, apply to join a research team such as UMD’s FIRE program. If not STEM, college internships are needed for real life experience. What your child does outside of the classroom in college is vital for either your first job or grad school.

Not one instructor at UMD accepts late assignments? How about that.

DP - friend of mine teaches at UMD and he does not accept even 1 min after due time. But I'd think others might.

Yeah, people do that, but it's jerk thing to do.

Its not a jerk thing to do. You need to be responsible and get your work in. Teach your kids this now. He probably makes a rare exception but there is no excuse to get in assignments late and if you need to you contact the professor and talk to them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has changed so much in the past five years, that I would have concerns:

1) Five years ago, students in MCPS took mid-year and final year exams. These exams had weight and they prepared MCPS students on how to study for a cumulative test that took two hours. Current graduating seniors never had that experience.

2) Late work at UMD is not accepted and students do not get 50% for an assignment not handed in.

3) Realize, in college As and Bs are earned. With a bell curve, that means you have to do better than the average for an A or B. A college student has to learn from mistakes and realize not everything will be As and Bs.

4) Professors will lock you out of class if you are late and they will kick you out if you are disruptive (ie. phone rings or talking).

5) Grades are not everything to get you beyond an undergraduate degree. If a STEM student, apply to join a research team such as UMD’s FIRE program. If not STEM, college internships are needed for real life experience. What your child does outside of the classroom in college is vital for either your first job or grad school.

Not one instructor at UMD accepts late assignments? How about that.

DP - friend of mine teaches at UMD and he does not accept even 1 min after due time. But I'd think others might.

Yeah, people do that, but it's jerk thing to do.

Its not a jerk thing to do. You need to be responsible and get your work in. Teach your kids this now. He probably makes a rare exception but there is no excuse to get in assignments late and if you need to you contact the professor and talk to them.

Anonymous wrote:My kids do not go to UMCP but have heard from many parents that their students are doing better at Maryland than they did in High School. It obviously is not easier but students are have risen to the occasion. Most of these kids started off freshman connection, science (pre-med), business, communications majors. Very happy to hear this for them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has changed so much in the past five years, that I would have concerns:

1) Five years ago, students in MCPS took mid-year and final year exams. These exams had weight and they prepared MCPS students on how to study for a cumulative test that took two hours. Current graduating seniors never had that experience.

2) Late work at UMD is not accepted and students do not get 50% for an assignment not handed in.

3) Realize, in college As and Bs are earned. With a bell curve, that means you have to do better than the average for an A or B. A college student has to learn from mistakes and realize not everything will be As and Bs.

4) Professors will lock you out of class if you are late and they will kick you out if you are disruptive (ie. phone rings or talking).

5) Grades are not everything to get you beyond an undergraduate degree. If a STEM student, apply to join a research team such as UMD’s FIRE program. If not STEM, college internships are needed for real life experience. What your child does outside of the classroom in college is vital for either your first job or grad school.

Not one instructor at UMD accepts late assignments? How about that.

DP - friend of mine teaches at UMD and he does not accept even 1 min after due time. But I'd think others might.

Yeah, people do that, but it's jerk thing to do.