<p>To the OP, I think your question essentially boils down to whether your daughter prefers a larger state school to a liberal arts college coupled with an REU. I’ve been to both types of institutions. I know a number of my friends at my state flagship would feel suffocated by Oxford while many of my Oxford friends likely would have felt lost among the tens of thousands of anonymous faces that pass by every day.</p>
<p>Both are good schools. At UMD there will be far more opportunities but they may not be as obvious or as substantial as the fewer ones at Oxford. At Oxford she’ll recognize everyone by the 3 month mark. At UMD she’ll always be meeting new people but the bonds formed among classmates may not be as tight. </p>