<p>"Freshmen Connection offers a selection of Maryland courses that helps fulfill major requirements and the University’s general undergraduate requirements. The Freshmen Connection course offerings are scheduled in campus classrooms during off-peak times, 3-9 p.m., Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Fridays. All Freshmen Connection students must register for UNIV100. Finally, Freshmen Connection course offerings are only open to freshmen who confirm spring admission to the University of Maryland. "</p>
<p>mhc - my son’s acceptance said he was admitted for Spring and waitlisted for Fall and will find out June 1st.
I believe there was a link to Freshman connection. That was an option.</p>
<p>Got in Spring, freshman Connection option?
I like Maryland, gonna chat with some kids I know who go there and get a feel for the off campus living situation. They’re upperclassman and I think live off campus in rentals? Is there any reason why out of state freshman-connect freshman can’t live together off campus? I’m confused, someone said that u don’t take classes with the other regular admits? My sister (a senior at a nother school) has only taken like 2 classes before 1 pm EVER. She’s a strong believer in classes during the late afternoon & early evening. Sleeps in, can party when she wants and rarely gets closed out. Just sayin…</p>
<p>Does anyone know what the chances of coming off the waitlist for the fall semester are? They accept a lot of people and not everyone will go there, is there a chance that a lot of people end up getting switched into the fall semester from the spring?</p>
<p>folks not buyin the freshman connection/start college in spring option. They want me to give PSU a second look. Can’t wait until June, already deferred at Illinois, don’t hear from Delaware until March-should focus on positive-HATE rejection although its not a surprise!</p>
<p>likelyhood - I also got into PSU and am waiting on Delaware, although I’m not considering Delaware anymore. I was pretty much going to go to PSU over UMD anyway, and this Spring admission more or less solidified it.</p>
<p>If you really want to be at UMD, don’t let Spring admission stop you. My d is a freshman and has high school friends that did both – attended Freshman Connection and others that went to a Community College for a semester and are now at UMD. The University View apartments are located right next to campus, and this past year, housed 6 floors of Freshman. They are more expensive than the dorms, and you must sign a lease for a year. In addition, the Varsity is a new building that is opening right next to the View. I don’t know whether or not they will house Freshman, but it’s probably worth a look. I looked at the View, as my d was interested in moving off campus for the Spring. In the View, each student has their own room and either their own bathroom or share a bathroom with one other student, depending on whether you are in a 2, 3, or 4 bedroom. There is also a small living space, a kitchen, and each unit has their own laundry. UMD has an apartment option on the dining plan that is available for those who would rather not cook. I don’t know for sure that this is available for Freshman connection students, but I can’t imagine why it wouldn’t be. Many of the Freshman that sign a lease sublet their room for the second semester. This is fairly common, as those that travel abroad for second semester are in the same situation. I don’t think any of these students are missing out on the college experience. There are, of course, many area houses as well that are rented to students. It’s pretty easy to find a room, if you would prefer that option. Just search for off-campus housing UMD. Some of the surrounding areas are better than others, so do your homework.</p>
<p>Our DS is now a jr at UMD, he still has friends that did Freshman Connection. Yes, you take classes between 3 and 9, but you also get to live the traditional life of going to football games, dorm parties, moving into dorms in Jan., etc.</p>
<p>Basically as long as you do well the 1st semester you transfer over to the typical student, thus, the 3-9 classes only exist if you opt to take classes at that hour.</p>
<p>For many the reason they do this is because 4 months of that is worth 4 yrs at UMDCP.</p>
<p>You just need to ask yourself do you want UMD enough?</p>
<p>Anyone have any thoughts on UMD Spring/Freshmen Connection vs Penn State Fall? I think the schools are similar in many respects, although I think PSU is ranked a bit higher. It’s funny, many people get into PSU and not into Fall UMD and many get into Fall UMD and not into Fall PSU. That’s what makes this whole process frustrating (interesting). Anyway, I’m leaning toward PSU, but just want to hear other thoughts. I also got into Pitt, but I’ve decided to pick between PSU and UMD.</p>
<p>PA - I wouldn’t pick a school based on USNews rankings…
Are you a PA or MD resident? If money is not a problem, I would pick the school best suited for your major and where you will be happiest. Pitt has an urban atmosphere, Penn State has the great college town, MD has a crappy college town but DC nearby.
I think many freshman are happy with FC, but as a parent, I do not want my Son to live off campus. Good luck with your decision! My son too, has been accepted to all three, Spring for MD (waitlisted) but he is deciding between Pitt and Penn State. We are in-state MD but money is not a factor.</p>
<p>@PA, … there is much to consider, but I would give a lot of weight to standard Fall admission. First semester is stressful enough without the added complications.
As for ranking, it depends which one you consider, PSU > UMd on USNWR but UMd > PSU on ARWU … it depends greatly on major.</p>
<p>Thanks all for the comments. I’m OOS for both Md and Pa, but fortunately money’s not an issue. One thing that was interesting to me was the survey that came out in the WSJ last November that ranked all US schools in terms of what schools companies lhire from. Both UMD and PSU did well in that (PSU was actually #1 in the US). It was a very interesting read.</p>
<p>On the rankings, I’ve seen the ARWU rankings before, but I’m not sure what they’re measuring since they have UVa as 96 and UWisc as 17 (ahead of UMich). In any event, even on that PSU and UMD are very close. I think people are right though - I don’t think Spring would be worth it.</p>