<p>I’m visiting the school near the end of February and wanted to know what you think needs to be seen that isn’t seen on the campus tour. Also what are some places that should be checked out during my down time (restaurants, shops, etc.)?</p>
<p>Some of the most advantageous time that we spent on college visits was just wandering around campus and checking out who was hanging out where…in Stamp, etc. It gives you a “feel” for the campus in a way that no tour can give. Tours and school promo movies will always say basically the same stuff. If you can talk to specific people about programs that you’ve read about that you MIGHT be interested in after you are at UMD (things like the Writer’s House, Language House, student government, etc.) that also will give you a better perspective. If the social scene is your big draw, time your visit to be there with current students who share your same tastes in entertainments…partiers vs. not? Movies? etc.</p>
<p>Definitely check out the North Campus dorms, as most tours don’t take you there. (Which says a lot about the dorms, because they sacrifice the chance to show off the gym which is completely amazing.) I don’t remember how much you go through Stamp but definitely check that out. Check out either the Diner or South Campus Dining Hall.
In February there won’t be a ton of people outside, but walk around the mall on the first warm day of the year and it honestly looks like they got every college brochure stereotype from our school. (From people sitting on blankets with guitars, playing frisbee, napping, or even the bored TAs who decided to have class outside). Similarly check out the quad (where you probably won’t live until sophomore or junior year if at all). McKeldin and CSPAC are also beautiful inside but depending on your major you should also check out some classroom buildings. (Just try not to look lost or go through any doors in science buildings marked with any sort of hazardous material or keep out sign)
The main lecture hall in BPS or CHEM will show you the upward limits of your class sizes. The Dairy is also a good stop, but trying the ice cream at either dining hall is just as good. </p>
<p>As for off campus, right on Route One, Yogi Berry and a few of the sushi places are staples, as is Noodles and Company and Panda. There is no big undergrad bar at the moment (pause for a moment of anger at the stupid guy from Turtle) but you can see Bentley’s and a few others. You can check out Frat row, but if you’re into parties most will take place at the satellite houses behind Frat Row on College Ave.
If you go up Route One a mile or two you get to IKEA, Best Buy and Shoppers. Next to Shoppers is Mama Lucia and it will be your savior if you’re from an area that survives on New York pizza. </p>
<p>On campus, especially hanging out around the dorms not during a peak class time most students will talk to you. (If you’re comfortable with it, the people smoking outside the Diner on North Campus and in front of other dorms are often some of the nicest people and they’ll chat a while). Don’t go out of your way to engage people with backpacks and/or headphones on. They’ll give you the wrong impression of the school if they’re running late for class…and if it’s a weekend afternoon or night and they have a backpack they don’t want to stop long for other reasons. Almost anyone will give you directions though providing you’re asking about main buildings or can give a location (The mall, the quad etc) because very few people know each individual dorm or class building. (The exception being La Plata or other north campus dorms)
If you want to find out about Honors or Gemstone those students mostly live on North Campus but mixed with other groups, but if you see people on North Hill (behind the library) outside Queen Anne’s or Anne Arundel they are almost always honors. Honors Humanities is housed in Wicomico and there are always people on the front steps there but it’s pretty out of the way. Writers House is not housed in Jimenez (the name of the program is misleading, but that’s a class room building) but a few buildings over in Dorchester, but that also houses Global Communities so if someone doesn’t seem to understand you there…they are probably in Global Communities. Writer’s House will be very easy to find and talk to even the director of the program. (Maybe shoot her an email first so you know when she’s not busy but she’s usually lurking around) Honors and Gemstone are bigger so this is a bit harder.
Also if you’re from New York especially and mention this to someone else from New York they will pretty quickly latch on to you. (in my first writing class a girl from Westchester came to sit in on the class and she mentioned where she was from to a few of us before class started, she ended up almost overwhelmed by the three people who instantly started talking to her about it)</p>
<p>If there are other things you are interested in let me know and I can make some reccomendations.</p>
<p>Wow, Gina, thanks for going out of your way to describe so well the Terp atmosphere.
Is there any way you could copy-past this post and place it in Terpnet, since us Freshmen will find it very informative, and takes some of the anxiety away!!
Also, is it true that they serve bubble tea? and where is it?
Thanks again!</p>
<p>Do I have to sign up for Terp Net? If so I never did and you’re welcome to copy/paste my post. </p>
<p>There’s no bubble tea on campus except on special nights at the Diner, but Yami Yami’s (a sushi place next to Bookholders and the book exchange) and Panda both have it.</p>
<p>Thanks!
to answer your question, on the admission email, online, there was a link to go to Terpnet.
Although about 1000 signed for it and probably more people are signing as we are speaking, I imagine it’s like the social network for the school. I signed with my email, the student ID and then you create a password, and that’s it!
It has all news about UMD, posts, even the fight song!</p>
<p>Well I’ve got to go to class now, but like I said feel free to repost and I’ll look into whether or not I can join as a sophomore/junior.</p>
<p>Thanks Gina, have a great day!</p>
<p>Gina, thank you for that post. The thoroughness of it is appreciated. But one thing you have slightly wrong, regarding the tours:
"Definitely check out the North Campus dorms, as most tours don’t take you there. (Which says a lot about the dorms, because they sacrifice the chance to show off the gym which is completely amazing.) I don’t remember how much you go through Stamp but definitely check that out. Check out either the Diner or South Campus Dining Hall. "</p>
<p>When I went on a tour, we were taken for a walk through both the Diner and the Gym (which I agree, looks pretty amazing). I believe the dorm we were taken into was Dorchester, so I don’t know how that compares. We were taken on a walk by of two of the North Campus Communities on the way to and from the gym & Diner. Maybe I got lucky and just had a great tour guide; however, I’m going to guess that this is normal?</p>
<p>We’re also visiting end of February, so this was very helpful. Thanks!</p>
<p>Amy-I’m just remembering the tours I took, and they didn’t go to North Campus, and Dorchester is far nicer than the high rises (Though I’m surprised they took you there instead of Queen Anne’s which is the nicest and only about a hundred feet away). So they might have changed up the tour a bit, or I could have just caught the tour on a weird day.</p>
<p>I’m not absolutely positive that it was Dorchester that I saw, as I’m just going based on what I remember and a map. But as it would make no sense for them to show us St. Anne’s and I’m sure that was the area, I’m pretty sure that was it. Why they decided to show my group this? Who knows. Maybe it was because it was a somewhat high-traffic time. (I went during my spring break last year.) It’s no surprise that they choose to show the nicer ones though. Alway something to be kept in mind.</p>
<p>Anyway, I have to agree with your advice about just walking around campus and looking around. At all the schools I’ve looked at, I’ve found it’s worth the time. Thanks again for the thorough advice.</p>
<p>I was glad that we asked (and got to see) the rooms in Denton before DD moved in 4 years ago…and was able to get a peek at how differently people rearrange the furniture in such a “little” space. I was a lot more disheartened at the rooms than my D was when she first moved in. Plastering the walls with posters and bringing in a rug to put on the floor makes it not look quite so bleak.</p>