Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of at least 2 magnet kids with high gpa’s/test scores, at least one is a National Merit Semi, and rejected from UMD this year. Anyone who thinks UMD is a slam dunk (especially for STEM) is delusional.

Then honestly, what do they need to do? My kid (8th grade) is going to the magnet next year. I don't want her to have a nervous breakdown because it's that difficult to even get into UMD.

I literally don't get it. They are already taking a very difficult course load. I have heard don't even bother releasing your Sat scores until it's > 1500. Everyone gets straight A's, or else. We don't have the money for private.

Honestly this whole thread is just making me depressed. My kid is smart but she's not going to win any national awards.

She need to not go to UMD. They only admit a few kids from Blair, so it’s super tough because you are competing against other magnet kids. If she applies to any other school, she will do fine.

Thi is completely wrong. UMD admits over 100 kids from Blair every year

But there are 750 students and 200 from
magnet. The non-magnet class also gets UMD offers. I assume majority of magnet students would apply for UMD, even as a safety school. That would mean many magnet students get rejected.

Anonymous wrote:Wait there are 200 Blair SMCS kids?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of at least 2 magnet kids with high gpa’s/test scores, at least one is a National Merit Semi, and rejected from UMD this year. Anyone who thinks UMD is a slam dunk (especially for STEM) is delusional.

Then honestly, what do they need to do? My kid (8th grade) is going to the magnet next year. I don't want her to have a nervous breakdown because it's that difficult to even get into UMD.

I literally don't get it. They are already taking a very difficult course load. I have heard don't even bother releasing your Sat scores until it's > 1500. Everyone gets straight A's, or else. We don't have the money for private.

Honestly this whole thread is just making me depressed. My kid is smart but she's not going to win any national awards.

She need to not go to UMD. They only admit a few kids from Blair, so it’s super tough because you are competing against other magnet kids. If she applies to any other school, she will do fine.

Thi is completely wrong. UMD admits over 100 kids from Blair every year

But there are 750 students and 200 from
magnet. The non-magnet class also gets UMD offers. I assume majority of magnet students would apply for UMD, even as a safety school. That would mean many magnet students get rejected.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of at least 2 magnet kids with high gpa’s/test scores, at least one is a National Merit Semi, and rejected from UMD this year. Anyone who thinks UMD is a slam dunk (especially for STEM) is delusional.

Then honestly, what do they need to do? My kid (8th grade) is going to the magnet next year. I don't want her to have a nervous breakdown because it's that difficult to even get into UMD.

I literally don't get it. They are already taking a very difficult course load. I have heard don't even bother releasing your Sat scores until it's > 1500. Everyone gets straight A's, or else. We don't have the money for private.

Honestly this whole thread is just making me depressed. My kid is smart but she's not going to win any national awards.

She need to not go to UMD. They only admit a few kids from Blair, so it’s super tough because you are competing against other magnet kids. If she applies to any other school, she will do fine.

Thi is completely wrong. UMD admits over 100 kids from Blair every year

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of at least 2 magnet kids with high gpa’s/test scores, at least one is a National Merit Semi, and rejected from UMD this year. Anyone who thinks UMD is a slam dunk (especially for STEM) is delusional.

Then honestly, what do they need to do? My kid (8th grade) is going to the magnet next year. I don't want her to have a nervous breakdown because it's that difficult to even get into UMD.

I literally don't get it. They are already taking a very difficult course load. I have heard don't even bother releasing your Sat scores until it's > 1500. Everyone gets straight A's, or else. We don't have the money for private.

Honestly this whole thread is just making me depressed. My kid is smart but she's not going to win any national awards.

She need to not go to UMD. They only admit a few kids from Blair, so it’s super tough because you are competing against other magnet kids. If she applies to any other school, she will do fine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is wild. My child graduated a few years ago and I believe only around 25% of his class had a 4.0 uw gpa. And nearly everyone was admitted to UMD. Most students were admitted into honors programs and many received some merit aid. Close to half of the graduating class opted to attend UMD.
Regarding the OP’s concerns, here is our experience fwiw
We loved the program and the school. DS got a stellar education in science and math, and learned how to think deeply and critically, and learned how to do research. He was so prepared to thrive in college as a result of the excellent education he received at Blair. The students generally support each other and it is not a competitive or toxic environment. First semester was stressful and 11th grade was stressful but otherwise he was able to manage very well and still have time to sleep, read and participate in several extracurricular activities including one which was very intense.
College admissions are tricky. Yes I am sure it is easier to stand out at the home school but I feel like most students ended up with good options. Maybe a quarter admitted to top 20 schools? Of course not everyone can afford to go to these schools.
For my child it was a wonderful formative experience and I will always be grateful to MCPS for providing him with such an amazing opportunity. He would have been pretty miserable and unchallenged at his home school.

Agree. But UMD suddenly is WAY more competitive than it used to be regarding kids from Blair. But we still wouldn't changing sending our kid to Blair for Anything!

Anonymous wrote:This thread is wild. My child graduated a few years ago and I believe only around 25% of his class had a 4.0 uw gpa. And nearly everyone was admitted to UMD. Most students were admitted into honors programs and many received some merit aid. Close to half of the graduating class opted to attend UMD.
Regarding the OP’s concerns, here is our experience fwiw
We loved the program and the school. DS got a stellar education in science and math, and learned how to think deeply and critically, and learned how to do research. He was so prepared to thrive in college as a result of the excellent education he received at Blair. The students generally support each other and it is not a competitive or toxic environment. First semester was stressful and 11th grade was stressful but otherwise he was able to manage very well and still have time to sleep, read and participate in several extracurricular activities including one which was very intense.
College admissions are tricky. Yes I am sure it is easier to stand out at the home school but I feel like most students ended up with good options. Maybe a quarter admitted to top 20 schools? Of course not everyone can afford to go to these schools.
For my child it was a wonderful formative experience and I will always be grateful to MCPS for providing him with such an amazing opportunity. He would have been pretty miserable and unchallenged at his home school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of at least 2 magnet kids with high gpa’s/test scores, at least one is a National Merit Semi, and rejected from UMD this year. Anyone who thinks UMD is a slam dunk (especially for STEM) is delusional.

Then honestly, what do they need to do? My kid (8th grade) is going to the magnet next year. I don't want her to have a nervous breakdown because it's that difficult to even get into UMD.

I literally don't get it. They are already taking a very difficult course load. I have heard don't even bother releasing your Sat scores until it's > 1500. Everyone gets straight A's, or else. We don't have the money for private.

Honestly this whole thread is just making me depressed. My kid is smart but she's not going to win any national awards.

She need to not go to UMD. They only admit a few kids from Blair, so it’s super tough because you are competing against other magnet kids. If she applies to any other school, she will do fine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of at least 2 magnet kids with high gpa’s/test scores, at least one is a National Merit Semi, and rejected from UMD this year. Anyone who thinks UMD is a slam dunk (especially for STEM) is delusional.

Then honestly, what do they need to do? My kid (8th grade) is going to the magnet next year. I don't want her to have a nervous breakdown because it's that difficult to even get into UMD.

I literally don't get it. They are already taking a very difficult course load. I have heard don't even bother releasing your Sat scores until it's > 1500. Everyone gets straight A's, or else. We don't have the money for private.

Honestly this whole thread is just making me depressed. My kid is smart but she's not going to win any national awards.

She need to not go to UMD. They only admit a few kids from Blair, so it’s super tough because you are competing against other magnet kids. If she applies to any other school, she will do fine.

But she wants to do stem. And we need her to do in-state! I guess umbc?

Why would she be so limited, why can't she go to wherever she applies to and is accepted, irrespective or public/private?

Most kids can't afford college and end up taking some amount of loans, some less, some more. That's ok, and I would say it's even good because it encourages them to work and study hard, teaching them responsibility.

There are many stem options in the country besides the in state colleges. Some give better financial aid than others.

NP here. You sound like Marie Antoinette.

Some of us need an in state option because we cannot pay more than $30k a year. Sure there’s financial aid but it’s not guaranteed and many of us won’t qualify for need based aid but still don’t have $80k a year per child available even if we’ve been saving their entire lives.

My dc with lower scores has five slac offers on the table, all with merit bringing the cost of attendance between 22k-35k. Usnw rankings 50-100 ish

I think you, like a lot of posters here just aren't aware of how many options your kid has

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of at least 2 magnet kids with high gpa’s/test scores, at least one is a National Merit Semi, and rejected from UMD this year. Anyone who thinks UMD is a slam dunk (especially for STEM) is delusional.

Then honestly, what do they need to do? My kid (8th grade) is going to the magnet next year. I don't want her to have a nervous breakdown because it's that difficult to even get into UMD.

I literally don't get it. They are already taking a very difficult course load. I have heard don't even bother releasing your Sat scores until it's > 1500. Everyone gets straight A's, or else. We don't have the money for private.

Honestly this whole thread is just making me depressed. My kid is smart but she's not going to win any national awards.

She need to not go to UMD. They only admit a few kids from Blair, so it’s super tough because you are competing against other magnet kids. If she applies to any other school, she will do fine.

By a few you mean the bulk of the magnet students end up at UMD with merit.

Only 175 offers for a school with 3000 students is significantly lower than many of others high schools, especially with around 200 kids each year who are in the magnet programs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of at least 2 magnet kids with high gpa’s/test scores, at least one is a National Merit Semi, and rejected from UMD this year. Anyone who thinks UMD is a slam dunk (especially for STEM) is delusional.

Then honestly, what do they need to do? My kid (8th grade) is going to the magnet next year. I don't want her to have a nervous breakdown because it's that difficult to even get into UMD.

I literally don't get it. They are already taking a very difficult course load. I have heard don't even bother releasing your Sat scores until it's > 1500. Everyone gets straight A's, or else. We don't have the money for private.

Honestly this whole thread is just making me depressed. My kid is smart but she's not going to win any national awards.

She need to not go to UMD. They only admit a few kids from Blair, so it’s super tough because you are competing against other magnet kids. If she applies to any other school, she will do fine.

But she wants to do stem. And we need her to do in-state! I guess umbc?

Why would she be so limited, why can't she go to wherever she applies to and is accepted, irrespective or public/private?

Most kids can't afford college and end up taking some amount of loans, some less, some more. That's ok, and I would say it's even good because it encourages them to work and study hard, teaching them responsibility.

There are many stem options in the country besides the in state colleges. Some give better financial aid than others.

NP here. You sound like Marie Antoinette.

Some of us need an in state option because we cannot pay more than $30k a year. Sure there’s financial aid but it’s not guaranteed and many of us won’t qualify for need based aid but still don’t have $80k a year per child available even if we’ve been saving their entire lives.

My dc with lower scores has five slac offers on the table, all with merit bringing the cost of attendance between 22k-35k. Usnw rankings 50-100 ish

I think you, like a lot of posters here just aren't aware of how many options your kid has

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of at least 2 magnet kids with high gpa’s/test scores, at least one is a National Merit Semi, and rejected from UMD this year. Anyone who thinks UMD is a slam dunk (especially for STEM) is delusional.

Then honestly, what do they need to do? My kid (8th grade) is going to the magnet next year. I don't want her to have a nervous breakdown because it's that difficult to even get into UMD.

I literally don't get it. They are already taking a very difficult course load. I have heard don't even bother releasing your Sat scores until it's > 1500. Everyone gets straight A's, or else. We don't have the money for private.

Honestly this whole thread is just making me depressed. My kid is smart but she's not going to win any national awards.

She need to not go to UMD. They only admit a few kids from Blair, so it’s super tough because you are competing against other magnet kids. If she applies to any other school, she will do fine.

But she wants to do stem. And we need her to do in-state! I guess umbc?

Why would she be so limited, why can't she go to wherever she applies to and is accepted, irrespective or public/private?

Most kids can't afford college and end up taking some amount of loans, some less, some more. That's ok, and I would say it's even good because it encourages them to work and study hard, teaching them responsibility.

There are many stem options in the country besides the in state colleges. Some give better financial aid than others.

NP here. You sound like Marie Antoinette.

Some of us need an in state option because we cannot pay more than $30k a year. Sure there’s financial aid but it’s not guaranteed and many of us won’t qualify for need based aid but still don’t have $80k a year per child available even if we’ve been saving their entire lives.