FWIW, notification dates from several years ago

maryversity
Thu, 15 Jan 2015 01:39:26 +0000

Ok people, I know you are all anxious. First off, deep breaths. IF it helps to know, I am posting the specific notifications from the Nov 1, 2011 priority application round (2012 Fall matriculation)

The email admission notification was on Jan 30 or 31 but the snail mail letters were dated as follows (but of course we received them several days after these dates):
Jan 27 congrats on admission and scholars in same letter
Feb 3 separate scholars letter with info about filling out interest survey to select specific program
Feb 8 congrats on admission to A James Clark School of Engineering
Feb 21 congrats on presidential scholarship
March 14 congrats on getting into specific program in scholars

Stats? graduated magna cum laude from huge competitive high school, 36 on math section of ACT, great leadership ECs, assuming great letters of rec

With those stats why scholars and not honors? Nothing wrong with scholars, people, just different types of programs. However, for those curious, it is likely because AP classes were in math and sciences only, none in English, so no “breadth.” Also, LOTs of leadership/outside activities…

What I have witnessed over the past several seasons is that Banneker Key invites are sent out as invites in early February for interviews only to a small percentage of students invited to honors college. No rhyme or reason. No predicting but most were the standard Ivy league candidates, with a few exceptions.

Getting invited to honors college does not guarantee merit money. Getting invited to scholars instead of honors does not mean you will not get merit money. Again, no predictability. OOS (out of state) has potential to get “more” total merit $ than IS (in state) BUT IS tuition is less so technically, when you compare side by side, it is actually pretty balanced/equivalent percentage awards.

In addition to the Presidential (4 year awards) and Dean’s (1-2 year awards), there are also departmental scholarships. For incoming freshman, it’s somewhat limited to the tippy top students of course, but after you matriculate, there are LOTS of merit scholarships available. At least in engineering, it’s one application only and you are considered for all scholarships available and matched to one, if appropriate.

Also important to note is that if you applied to a LEP (limited enrollment program), you can be admitted to the university itself but not the LEP you applied to. I have seen MANY outstanding students admitted to the university, invited to either honors college or scholars but NOT the LEP they applied to (placed in Letters and Sciences to start - understand you can always reapply to the LEP again as an internal transfer after you matriculate and take specific (“gateway”) courses successfully).

In addition to honors and scholars, there are several other great living-learning communities such as CIVICUS, Global Communities, etc and then for engineering students only there is FLEXUS (women) and VIRTUS (men) that is not only a living-learning community but also extensive academic support specific for engineers to ensure retention.

Ok. I hope that covers enough to give you all some information to give peace of mind until decisions come out. Please trust me. I know admissions people think they are being helpful when they give a specific date to callers but I truly believe they really are just trying to get you to stop calling…despite everything you hear, I have yet to witness an actual release date before January 28th. As I said in another thread, the ONLY indicator that I know of that has been reliable in the past has been that glitch which may or may not still exist this year…the glitch is that SOME but NOT all accounts will suddenly have a housing link appear the day before decisions are released. It does not mean you are in if you have it, NOR does it mean that you didn’t get in if you don’t have it. No rhyme or reason. Just an odd glitch. But there it is. That’s all I know.

It’s only 2 more weeks now…

Best of luck to everyone…