UMBC versus UMCP - what's the difference?

TerpGrad06
Fri, 16 Apr 2010 23:28:46 +0000

As a somewhat recent graduate of UMD-CP (2006) I will warn that some aspects of this post will be at least slightly slanted in favor of College Park. I had a blast at College Park. If you are looking for the traditional college experience (i.e. large beautiful campus, big time sports, large on campus community, etc) then choose College Park over UMBC. Some people on this thread said they felt lost and the school was too large. I have to respectfully disagree. While it can feel that way the first semester of your freshman year. By the second semester of freshman year, sophomore year at the latest the campus begins to feel smaller. By then you’ve narrowed the mass of new people you met down to the 3-4 or so people that make up your circle of friends and once you’ve declared a major most classes are in the same area, if not building.
I do agree that the social scene can be a bit overwhelming and a bit tempting to an 18-19 year old that has all this new found freedom but finding a balance between work and play is a part of being an adult. Some people at College Park master that balance some people, unfortunately don’t. The perspective that College Park seems to take is they provide you with all the resources (excellent academics, strong social scene, etc) now learn how to manage. The difference between College Park and a smaller school like UMBC is that instead of being pushed along in the right direction you are expected to take that initiative. Yes I have had classes that ranged anywhere from 30 students to 500 students but I had professors that knew me on a first name basis is both types of classes. Professors are accessible and willing to help you but you have to make the effort. There’s no attendance taken in class like in high school. You don’t get marked absent. You are expected to know why you and/or your parents chose to invest $100,000 plus in your education.
In summary you cannot go wrong with either choice. From what I hear UMBC is a good school. But what I know from my experience is that all my friends from UMD-CP that were technical majors (Engineering, Comp Sci, Pre Med) are all doing very well. If you want the big school experience then go to UMD-CP. If you don’t want the big school experience OR you are worried about succumbing to the many social temptations of UMD-CP then go to UMBC or another smaller school. Remember, Johns Hopkins is a small school and out ranks both. Good luck. Go Terps!
P.S. Sorry for the long post.