<p>I sense that U. Maryland CP is good if you are accepted into honors/scholars/gemstone or have admittance to a special program. Otherwise, UMCP sounds very big, lost in the crowd, etc. Is it still worth pursuing UMCP if you are not in a special program?</p>
<p>UMCP can be as big or as little as you want it to be. You can go through all your classes and be basically anonymous…don’t get to know other people in your class, never go to your professor’s office hours, etc. Or, you can get involved in lots of activities, introduce yourself to people in your classes (great for study groups, etc.), MAKE A POINT to go introduce yourself to your professor and go to office hours with specific questions, etc.</p>
<p>Both of my D’s are programs that you mention, but especially for my older D, that’s not where she made most of her friends. </p>
<p>By halfway through her first semester, younger D didn’t go across campus without seeing someone she knew (maybe not all great friends, but when you see people that you at least say “hi” to, it makes things seem a lot smaller all of a sudden).</p>
<p>Being in a special program at MD does not significantly decrease the “size” of the school, in my opinion. </p>
<p>But good news for everyone is that MD does not feel big - it is true that you will rarely walk across campus without seeing faces you recognize. Although MD may be large at its face, engineering classes are on one side of campus, business on another, freshman are grouped together, etc. etc. Basically, you will see a lot of the same faces because you will bond with people on your floor, with people you see when you are walking to class, with people IN your classes even (I made a great friend in a 400-person econ class - we both liked to sit in the front). </p>
<p>It is true that at MD you have to put in extra effort early on to find out what programs are available, what clubs you like best, etc. It’s good to do a special program such as Eco-House, language house, global communities, etc. but all of these things you can apply to as a student at MD, you don’t have to et accepted right away. But Honors students face the same challenges as everyone else, and again, if you make the effort to seek out what activities and programs you’d like to do - and follow up and be consistently involved in a couple things - then MD will feel just small enough to feel comfortable but big enough to feel as if the world is stretched out in front of you too…</p>
<p>It is a great school in that respect and I would not worry about it being too big :). It’s size and proximity to an awesome city are only a plus…trust me you will not feel alone…if nothing else you will have a great group of friends from your dorm or another freshman dorm nearby :).</p>
<p>Scholars, Gemstone and Honors are great programs, but I don’t believe any one student in those programs chose UMD just for the program. Part of the appeal is the size, and a bigger part is the campus.</p>
<p>Take UMDCP and compare it to NYU or Rutgers. The campus feel is totally different. UMD campus is very unique it has that “traditional” college campus feel. There is a constant bustle on the campus with buses and kids everywhere. There is the Stamp, that kids hang out at for lunch besides the dining halls. There is their version of the DC Mall where they play frisbee. Yet, somehow or another they have made a large campus feel like a small town.</p>
<p>You really need to ask yourself, a few pertinent questions.
- Is the thought of 4000+ kids just in my graduating class overwhelming to me?<br>
- Do I want be in a class of 250+ for classes like Econ, Psych, Calc? Or do I want to be in a class of 50?
- What will I do on weekends? If taking the Metro into DC is frightening because of strangers or getting lost on it, than you need to think again about UMDCP
- Does it matter if they have a football team or Basketball team? Again that’s basically what kids do when the teams are playing.
- Fraternities or sororitories…are you interested in joining one?<br>
- If you are coming from OOS from somewhere else, remember east coast life is as unique as wherever you are coming from. Don’t expect it to be the same. I remember 2 yrs ago there was a student who transferred after their 1st semester, in the end they admitted one problem they had was getting use to weather and the people. MD gets cold very quickly to someone born and raised in SO Florida.
- Be honest if you are an OOS, are you incredibly close to the family. I know you want to spread you wings and fly, but it is amazing how quickly you realize that you would rather fly small distances than the long ones…that means are you okay when the majority clears out of the dorms for Columbus day weekend to just hang by yourself for 3 days because it costs too much $$$ and time to go home.</p>
<p>In the end it is how you view yourself as a person that will decide whether it is too big for you personally. I suspect, that you fear it is, and already have concerns. Remember Scholars/Gemstone or Honors will not guarantee you that close knit camaraderie that you may be looking for, it can make it easier, but will not guarantee it. I went to a small private college and dated Bullet who went to UMD. I hated the small life and spent weekends traveling from Philly to CP to see him. I loved the games and even the crappy dorms. It was vibrant and everything I wanted, except for my major. UMD was my adopted college. Our children have never visited my college, and I have never gone back after graduating. OTOH, we have pictures of them at varying ages rubbing Testudos nose. They have had UMD t-shirts (typically goading Duke for Bball) since they were small. Now DS is there to carry on the tradition. Once you get bit by the TERP you are hooked forever!</p>
<p>Forgot to add if you can’t defend why you have a turtle as your mascot, you should not attend ;)</p>
<p>Living half an hour from campus, we end up spending time there frequently. Although the school is relatively large it has never felt intimidating. There are people coming and going at all times but the only large crowds we’ve ever encountered have been at the games.</p>
<p>I love the feel of the campus and just hope my d will consider going there also.</p>
<p>I’m having the same problem deciding what I would do if i am not accepted into a special program. I feel that I have the grades/classes/essays/recs/ECs, but my SATs are a little low. Will admissions consider the december test? I got a 1250/1600 :(. Ultimately I think my choice my come down to CP (No program) vs St Marys College of Maryland (honors college). Is not being a program that big of a deal? Should it influence my decision? I absolutely love Maryland though</p>
<p>Voice of experience, once removed: If you love the college and don’t get accepted into an LEP, go anyway. </p>
<p>S was accepted into an LEP but not one that has special housing, so he lives in the standard freshman dorm. Everyone has groups that they fit into and friends are what makes the college comfortable. Once you find your major, what department you spend most of your time with, that will become your home. It’s easier if you are an outgoing person, but I think it’s true for anyone…if you love the college then go there and make it your home whereever you fit in.</p>
<p>surf they will not accept the dec test for ED. I don’t think your 1250 is that low if you have a high gpa.</p>
<p>Centh is correct, if you love the college than you should go regardless of getting into the programs. You don’t appear in your post concerned about the size of the school, or transitioning. You appear to be more concerned about getting into an LEP. UMD due to its size has a lot more options regarding specialties for minors, and internships than a smaller college. UMDCP, especially in the govt program has a strong standing in the DC area. Their aerospace engineering program offers internships at NASA Goddard, not too bad. Additionally Lockheed is located 30 miles away…that helps too when looking for a job in 4/5 yrs.</p>
<p>One thing kids forget to think about is that college is more than just going to classes, your social life is also a large issue.</p>
<p>Thanks Centh and Bullet…i think i will go to cp even if im not accepted lep b/c i love it…and i also love that its located so close to DC and that it has an awesome social scene.</p>
<p>I think goodness of academic program fit is key to choosing the college. Although UMCP has a lot going for it (near DC, extra-curriculars, many majors, etc.), I am concerned about my son being a number in huge classes if he does not get into one of the specialized small programs such as scholars. Also, concerned that UMCP has “impacted”, competitive programs-great if you get in, but what if you don’t get into a desired impacted program such as Smith Business? </p>
<p>UMBC has a nice campus with excellent athletic facilities, but feels isolated off the highway and really need a car to go anywhere. It is not walking distance to a town, DC metro, etc. </p>
<p>Have not seen St. Mary’s college, but is very small compared to UMCP.</p>
<p>I’ll comment on St. Mary’s College just cuz it doesnt have much of a thread. I’ve visited the campus 4 times and absolutely love it; its right on the st marys river and the facilities are great. The only reason I did not apply ED there is because I feel that the school may be too small for me and figured that I should apply to some medium sized/large schools to see what I like since i am very indecisive. St Mary’s is an actual honors college, which i guess means that instead of having a distinct program, everyone who goes to the school is in the honors program, which i thought was neat. I absolutely 100% recommend your son visiting St Mary’s, it is an awesome college. UMCP and St Mary’s do have 2 very distinct ‘feels’. best of luck.</p>
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<p>Everyone will have to attend huge classes for general studies / core classes whether you’re in regular, honors, or scholars or gemstones. The only difference is that honors/gemstone students sometimes take extra classes or sessions that are smaller. Overall, one could be in a class with a mixture of students from regular to honors, scholar, gemstone. It’s not like once you’re in an honor program, you will have completely separate classes from regular people. You will still be in the same classroom, taking the same class, studying the same materials but might have extra classes or sessions to attend. That’s the difference. </p>
<p>For the limited enrollment programs, there are certain classes that people need to take to get into the school, for example Smith Business school. The requirements are not extreme and everyone who completed the required classes with 3.0 or higher should get in. If you can’t get in, you might need to study a different major or try to bring up your grade.</p>
<p>How large are the introductory classes the first two years at UMCP? Thanks so much.</p>
<p>You can go to Testudo and actually see the classes that are being offered for Spring, 2010:</p>
<p>[UM</a> Testudo | Schedule Of Classes](<a href=“http://www.sis.umd.edu/bin/soc?term=201001&crs=DEPT]UM”>http://www.sis.umd.edu/bin/soc?term=201001&crs=DEPT)</p>
<p>I took a look at the intro to Psych class, which is one of the largest, I believe. For the lecture sections, it looks like there are around 300 students. However, for most classes that are too big for one-on-one student/teacher interaction every class period, there are discussion sections scheduled once per week. For Psy100, it looks like it limits them to about 25-28 students. In these sections, the TA’s clarify info covered in class, may have in-class work assignments that clarify the material, answer questions, hold study sessions, etc. When students register, they register for the lecture and the discussion at the same time. That’s why you will see the same professor listed (in the first PSYCH class listed) multiple times for the same day/time. Note that the discussion sections vary by day and time.</p>
<p>Econ is also a large one. DS said his lecture had about 250+ and discussion section led by the TA’s were about 30.</p>