<p>So - changing topic a bit - my son is spending a lot of time this Thanksgiving with 2 older friends from BBYO who are now freshman at Maryland - and they love it. We have previously agreed that we were not pursuing Maryland due to the size - and how it impacts class size, registration and housing. I’m also not crazy about the crime there and the area surrounding the campus. But, now I am second guessing myself as these friends seem to be having a good time. They are both good kids - I respect them - they are not kids who are just there to party - so if they are having a good experience - and are involved in Hillel and so forth, maybe I need to rethink Maryland? S2 has not asked to visit the school or pursue it in any way - but I’m just wondering - do any of you reading this have kids at Maryland? </p>
<p>I also think it is better to go away to college - meet new people - hear new perspectives. I think living where we do and going to UMD is just a continuation of hs - you can pretty much stick with your hs friends - not much of a growth experience there.</p>
<p>Obviously I could call the parents of these 2 boys and ask them what they think - but it’s kind of hard to say frankly - “I have a negative opinion of UMDCP - but want to hear what you think about it.”</p>
<p>RVM: I share your ambivalence about Maryland. My daughter applied, but it’s one of her bottom choices. She really really prefers to be IN a city, and she dislikes College Park. I felt that she should apply just in case she doesn’t get into her top choices. She shares your concern about it being an extension of High School.</p>
<p>My older daughter has many friends who attend and love the school. It seems like most kids find their niche in spite of the size. My nephew graduated from the Business school a year ago and found a good consulting job in DC. He had a great time socially, but didn’t seem overly challenged academically. I get the impression that you really need to look out for yourself. </p>
<p>Overall, I think that Maryland is a good school for kids that want a big school, rah-rah experience. Most kids who attend seem very happy, and all the graduates I know have gotten jobs. I do think that a lot of in-state kids stick with old friends and don’t branch out as much as they could. I also have a lot of concerns about the safety of the campus and surrounding area. A “B” student would probably be offered freshmen connection, unless he/she has high test scores. That opens up another issue. </p>
<p>Why not visit and see how you and your son like it? I think it’s a good idea to have it as an option. You can’t beat the value in-state.</p>
<p>FWIW I have 2 cousins who went to UMD. Both were happy with it but one was in the honors program and one was not. The one who was not ran into the typical things you expect at a large university, large lecture classes, and some difficulties registering for classes. They attended a number of years ago. Their mom expressed that the educational experience was, as would be expected a much better experience in honors. I would expect that iUMD bears similarities to UT Austin. Great resources and opportunities if you are one who will persue them. Lots of clubs and activities and fun available but also opportunities to all through the cracks if you don’t choose to stay on top of things. One thing available at UT Austin are “FIGs” (first year interest groups). Freshmen can sign up to be in one of these in their major or even as undeclared. They can dorm with people in their FIG and they will be in some intro classes together. It is the university’s way of making a huge school seem smaller for those students who seek that. Students I’ve spoken to have said that the FIG friends they made were friends for life. Perhaps UMD has a similar program.</p>
<p>Rockville Mom: My best advice to you about UMCP: Have your son apply to Smith Business school as an entering Freshman. If he is accepted, seriously consider this school because of in-state tuition and outstanding Hillel. There are many Jewish kids there. The honors housing at Anne Arundal hall is really beautiful-among the best I have seen for college dorms. I don’t think location (close to home, College Park, etc.) should be major factors for consideration because Smith Business is tops, Jewish community resources are abundant, sports is available, and the school has plenty of excellent resources.</p>
<p>The deciding factor in your case is really about acceptance to Smith Business at the UMCP campus. Some kids get accepted and end up with classes at the Shady Grove campus-not sure your son would be happy with this outcome because of the commuter feel. Some kids may not get an acceptance to Smith-then what?</p>
<p>If your son is accepted to Smith Business UMCP location, I would seriously consider it. Worth an application.</p>
<p>RVM: Mdcissp makes a good point about applying to the Smith school and seriously considering UMCP if he gets accepted into that program. The business school is very selective, but it seems even harder to transfer in later on. Kids who don’t get into the business school usually major in economics. The few I know who did this did get jobs after graduation.</p>
<p>My nephew got a direct acceptance into the business school. For what it’s worth, he felt that his involvement in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) helped him get in. He was very involved in the school and state level, and competed in the national competition. If your school has this EC, it might be a good thing for your son to get invovled in.</p>
<p>Maryland does have Living/Learning communities similar to the ones Spectrum mentioned. I’ve heard mixed reviews, but they work out well for some kids. They have a range of programs that vary in selectivity, but would all be a reach for a “B” student.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input - I think I am going to remain silent and see if he brings it up - if he does - then we will visit. I don’t know that he would be accepted at all - particularly into the business school. He’s also pretty ambivalent about majoring in business - his math skills do not seem strong enough. I still feel he’d be better off at a smaller school - but his older friends who are home this week are at MD, Virginia Tech and Illinois - so he is hearing a lot about large universities and I’m waiting to see if that changes his thinking.</p>
<p>RVM, most kids enjoy going to and being at the college they enroll in. What’s not to like, the freedom, meeting new people, new opportunities, new experiences. Being on their own enough to set their own schedules and come and go when they want. But still the security of meals and a room.</p>
<p>I think if at all possible and a child is not afraid of it, going away to school is important, almost an intrinsic part of the college experienced. It facilitates and enhances all of those things and makes it more new and exciting. Usually they will meet some sorts of kids they never would have close to home.</p>
<p>'m glad though for the heads up on some of the issues you mention at UMD. I hadn’t known anything about those, but will look into them if my daughter is accepted.</p>
<p>I suggest you study all the majors of the schools you are considering. My concern with UMCP, if not accepted to Smith Business, then are there alternative majors that would be acceptable? Same concern at all schools—make sure there are at least 2 acceptable majors in case one does not live up to expectations. I heard a concern at UMCP is if you are not accepted to Smith Business, then what? Also heard that Economics major is the largest major at UMCP–is that good at graduation when you are one of many majors at the same school?</p>
<p>Also, not sure if variable grades in Pre-Calculus means weak Math to the point of not being a Business major. I heard that Accounting, for example, involves a lot of Math, but is not Calculus oriented.</p>
<p>If not a Business major, then which majors is your son interested in? I thought he was interested in Sports Management with a Psychology minor. Does UMCP have Sports Management? UMCP has a huge list of majors. I suggest looking at the long list of majors and going on the college tour. You will be able to ease your mind with more data about UMCP both in person and on its web site.</p>
<p>Rockville - I share your concerns but with Rutgers. </p>
<p>For all of your reasons not to apply there are just as many reason to apply. I like MDCISSP’s idea of studying majors. That is the approach I was planning on to get my son to look at some schools that are off his radar - we are stuck on Penn State, Maryland, Delaware. Why should I pay for OOS tuition? It’s a frustrating circle.</p>
<p>With the economy still so uncertain - having an additional financial backup college would also have its benefits.</p>
<p>When some of you mentioned the Smith school of business I started to explore it for admissions requirements to see if my S is even a candidate for this but I couldn’t find any real numbers regarding prior freshman profiles. Have any of you seen this information? I am expecting this or any MD school would be an unlikely choice for S due to the OOS COA but since we have family in MD it is one of the easier OOS destinations.</p>
<p>business week has a ranking of business schools – [Top</a> Undergraduate Business Programs 2010 - BusinessWeek](<a href=“Bloomberg - Are you a robot?”>Bloomberg - Are you a robot?) Smith at maryland ranks #36 in 2010.</p>
<p>their profiles for the individual schools contain info not only for admission to the overall school, but to the business program. here is link for maryland’s info – [University</a> of Maryland: Undergraduate Profile ? BusinessWeek](<a href=“Bloomberg - Are you a robot?”>Bloomberg - Are you a robot?)</p>
<p>So much to catch up on this thread! Keep up the great contributions, everyone!
mhc, thanks for clarifying my point about proselytizing in the military. The best known examples are in the Air Force Academy, because that was a lawsuit, but according to a local rabbi here who acts as a liason to the military, proselytizing is rampant in Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy. When he prevented messianic “rabbis” from being certified as military chaplains, he had to do it through the Senate Armed Services Committee, because the military brass would not acknowledge that this was not acceptable to the larger Jewish community. I know that you do not want to bring this up to the mom and grandma of this cousin who is joining up, Rockvillemom, but what would you think about asking your young cousin what he plans to say if someone starts proselytizing? A little anticipatory guidance might go a long way. I have discussed with my children that saying, “Thank you, but we have our own covenant” is an effective way to respond to this.
I think that this is similar to discussing with our kids what they will say to students who make anti-Zionist remarks in college.
Regarding UMCP, very popular around here and the students love it!</p>
<p>links to business week reports – [url=<a href=“Bloomberg - Are you a robot?”>Bloomberg - Are you a robot?]Business</a> School Rankings and Profiles: EMBA, Executive Education, MBA, Part-time MBA, Distance MBA<a href=“there%20are%20tabs%20for%20links%20to%20undergrad%20programs%20as%20well%20as%20mba%20programs.”>/url</a></p>
<p>One of the schools we are very interested in is Elon. I am assuming that the course requirements for a business major, a sports mgmt major and a psychology major are fairly similar from one college to the next - so I printed out the course requirements for a major and for the minor in each at Elon to use as a sample - and we are going to review these over winter break and see if this provides S2 with any more clarity. Not that it has to - I think many college freshman have no idea of what they want to major in - let alone a high school junior - but I’m curious to see what he thinks.</p>
<p>mhc48 - I agree with you completely. I would prefer my son to go away to college - even if it is just 3-6 hours - very different from being within an hour’s range. It’s a wonderful chance to meet different types of people and to be completely independent.</p>
<p>Case in point - last year - S1 was 5+ hours away and came down with swine flu the very first week of school. If he had been at Maryland or someplace very close - I am sure we would have either brought him home or gone back and forth to bring him meals, cold remedies, etc. But given the distance, he had to completely handle being sick on his own. It was a dreadful experience for him - but one that also benefited him in terms of maturing and gaining independence. Every other issue that has come up - he has handled on his own and I generally don’t even know there was a problem till it is long since resolved. From what I have seen so far, the kids who go to Maryland come home a lot - holidays - a weekend here and there, etc. Not saying it’s a bad experience - but it is not the same.</p>
<p>I have to add that S1 has 3 good friends at Maryland and S2 has at least 2 - and they all love it. I have not heard of anyone who is unhappy or planning to transfer. So, it may be the things that worry me - large class sizes, difficulty in registering for classes. the need for most students to live off campus after freshman year and the crime around campus - don’t bother them as much as they worry me.</p>
<p>mhc48 - at risk of sounding sexist - since you have a daughter - do look closely at the campus safety issue. The area around campus is very rough. There have been a number of muggings already this school year - even when kids are trying to be safe and travel in groups. The need to live off campus means students are often walking from campus to their off campus apartments late at night. This may be the norm at many large universities - but it worries me.</p>
<p>We are from the northeast and we know two kids from this area that are at Univ. of Maryland now and are very happy. One in honors college, one not. I also told you way at the beginning of this thread that our cousin transferred FROM Elon TO UMCP and loves it too!! She is a sophomore. Her family lives in Maryland, not too far away from the school. They like the fact that she’s nearby…but as you point out there could be plusses and minuses of living so close. But on the other hand, a child could still figure out and navigate his own healthcare issues, even if his parents are closer! Not sure the exact reasons she transferred, but it may have had something to do with her boyfriend being at UMCP and the fact that she thought Elon was too small for her. (I personally think it’s a great size)</p>
<p>My S1 has UMCP on his list and has already applied priority application while waiting for Dec. 15th to come around for his ED choice. Since we live oos, the financial aid may not be so great for us, but the school is a contender as much as any of the other 10-12 schools on his list. It is, however, the largest one he’s applying to and that does come with positive and negatives.</p>
<p>It’s certainly worth keeping all your options open at this point.</p>
<p>chocchip - I agree - it’s too early in the process to rule schools out. I may have been premature in my negative assessment of Maryland. A funny note - on the Elon Forum - I read a post from a student who transferred FROM Maryland TO Elon - so apparently it goes in both directions.</p>
<p>And I learned today that the Smith Business School at Maryland does not offer any minors. Maryland also does not offer a sports mgmt major - and they have discontinued a previously offered Sports Commerce minor. So, unless S2 decided to major in business and wants to try to be accepted as a direct admit to Smith as a freshman - I don’t think it fits well academically. Kind of surprises me that such a large university does not have business minors.</p>
<p>I have a close friend whose daughter is in the Freshman Connection program, is doing well and loving it. Someone else I know has a S in that program and it isn’t going as well - he’s not handling the responsibility of college and having too much fun. Both went to a small private school (different cities). Depends on the student. </p>
<p>On another note, I just dropped off D for her bus back to UD… and I miss her already!!</p>
<p>The Freshman Connection program - I find it kind of insulting - it’s a way of saying that you were not strong enough to be admitted for the fall - but you can be a second class citizen and take classes at odd hours and commute from home. I guess it works for some - but I would be offended if that was my son’s outcome.</p>
<p>"Freshmen Connection offers a selection of University of Maryland courses. These courses, known as CORE, help you get started on fulfilling requirements towards graduation. You’ll also register for UNIV100, a one-credit course required of all students in Freshmen Connection. Credits and grades earned in the program are recorded on your University of Maryland transcript and are included in your Maryland GPA. You’re encouraged to take a full academic load (full-time status for undergraduate students is based on registration for 12 or more credits).</p>
<p>Credits and grades earned in the program are recorded on your University of Maryland transcript and are included in your Maryland GPA. Courses are taught by University faculty in campus classrooms 3 – 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Friday. Freshmen Connection follows the University’s fall academic semester schedule and the program adheres to all University policies and procedures."</p>
<p>“On-campus housing is not available for students in Freshmen Connection. All students in Freshmen Connection make their own arrangements for housing.”</p>
<p>Just for comparison purposes - Towson does offer a sports mgmt major and a business minor, so I think my original assessment that Towson worked better for S2 than Maryland was correct. </p>
<p>LINYMOM - so glad you had a great visit - S1 just left as well. He’s back in 2 weeks for a month long break!</p>