Anonymous
Post 03/10/2026 16:06     Subject: Re:Should DC apply to UMD? (and does it feel very "big")
With OOS and high stats, your child could get merit or even a full BK scholarship.

They seem to give merit more to OOS.

One of mine attends, and I’ve seen there are many ways to make the school feel smaller and for each student to feel connected through clubs and LLCs.



Anonymous
Post 03/10/2026 11:36     Subject: Should DC apply to UMD? (and does it feel very "big")
MD resident and would never send my kid to UMD College Park. It is located in PG County - enough said. Too big; certainly NOT a beautiful campus.
Anonymous
Post 03/10/2026 09:32     Subject: Should DC apply to UMD? (and does it feel very "big")
Honors Colleges at UMd make the large school feel very manageable. Choose a smaller HC and your kid is living with 70 kids, many with compatible interests. Best of both worlds.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2026 21:08     Subject: Should DC apply to UMD? (and does it feel very "big")
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There are so many better options for a girl with those stats within 8 hours of Long Island.


Forgive my ignorance. I have a friend who loved her time at UMD so that's why I thought of it. Please give me some suggestions- I really appreciate it.


For starters, the Virginia state schools aren't much further away, are much better, and are smaller. UVA and William & Mary are both probably targets for a LI valedictorian. They're expensive though, and don't give a lot of merit aid.



Yes, it seems that Virginia has better state schools.


It depends on majors. For STEM, UMD is just as good if not better.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2026 14:45     Subject: Should DC apply to UMD? (and does it feel very "big")
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There are so many better options for a girl with those stats within 8 hours of Long Island.


Forgive my ignorance. I have a friend who loved her time at UMD so that's why I thought of it. Please give me some suggestions- I really appreciate it.


For starters, the Virginia state schools aren't much further away, are much better, and are smaller. UVA and William & Mary are both probably targets for a LI valedictorian. They're expensive though, and don't give a lot of merit aid.



Yes, it seems that Virginia has better state schools.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 00:15     Subject: Should DC apply to UMD? (and does it feel very "big")
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:UMD is not a target for anyone. It's hard to get into.


Not for OOS with high stats. We’re in NY (public) and the Naviance stats are super clear. It’s a safety for T10-seeking kids with a 4.0 and 1550+
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 00:14     Subject: Should DC apply to UMD? (and does it feel very "big")
Anonymous wrote:UMD is not a target for anyone. It's hard to get into.


Not for OPS with high stats. We’re in NY (public) and the Naviance stats are super clear. It’s a safety for T10-seeking kids with a 4.0 and 1550+
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2026 21:54     Subject: Should DC apply to UMD? (and does it feel very "big")
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DC is from Long Island. High stats, probably valedictorian. ECs are strong but no national competitions or anything. Wants to be a doctor.

I want her to be a comfortable driving distance away (under 7-8 hrs). She has plenty of reaches-for-all on her list. Lots of NE schools- she loves cooler weather and I love that they're not that far. She doesn't have strong opinions on the size of the school other than small LACs do not appeal to her, and mid-size sounds good.

I think she would be fine with the relatively larger size of UMD... I also think the size on paper doesn't always match how one experiences a campus.

For those whose kids attend(ed)- did it feel very big?
And just more generally... Do you think DC should add UMD to her list as a Target? If your kid went OOS (or was accepted), was merit aid offered? Thank you!


Paying OOS cost is not wise for most public schools. UMD gives good merit scholarships though (for a public uni). What does she want to study?


You are responding to an old post from last summer. That OP said pre-med. Maybe OP will read this and can respond with what their kid actually ended up doing.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2026 21:53     Subject: Should DC apply to UMD? (and does it feel very "big")
Anonymous wrote:There are so many better options for a girl with those stats within 8 hours of Long Island.


I agree. And better merit options. UMD is $62,300 OOS. I think you could get a full tuition at a SLAC or maybe even a free ride somewhere (see list of 50 free ride schools in recent post here asking about sane).
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2026 21:51     Subject: Should DC apply to UMD? (and does it feel very "big")
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:UMD is the old school college where the kid comes out more grown up, more mature and resilient. Hovering moms don't like it. Not the place for shrinking violets. Men like it a lot. No hand holding, the town is a little hardscrabble (although the violent crime is well below Charlottesville). The UMD alumni have had far greater impact on USA and World economy, culture than almost all peer institutions I believe because of the lack of appeal to weaklings but that's just a opinion. Since the Big Ten invitation UMD has become very hard to get into with incoming SAT/ACTs 4th in the Big Ten basically tied with UCLA but behind the privates and Michigan. It's a big research school with the 8th biggest research budget among publics in the country. The Big Ten invite was mostly due the the research budget and is a Big Ten style school


Including USC? I don't really consider them to be on UMCP's level.


Why not ?